Table of contents for 22-Aug-2019 in Chat

Katea reckons she’s found the secret to a happy marriage but could you and your other half do the same? (p24). Caroline was tragically murdered while on a trip of a lifetime – but why did three different men confess to the crime (p14)? What started with a mouth ulcer sent Debbie’s life down a terrifying path. She shares her story and what keeps her fighting (p10). There’s loads more real-life stories as well as fiendish puzzles, recipes (p27), home buys (p49), fashion (p12) and more. Put the kettle on and get stuck in!…

Waste not  If you're having trouble getting the last of the sauce out of the bottle, just leave it upside down in a jug of hot water for a few minutes. It'll go all runny so there'll be no waste! Christine Alexander, Haywards Heath On ice If you have time, you can pre-prepare vegetables, then place the chopped pieces in a bag and keep them frozen until you need them. Agnes Carmichael, Bellshill In the tub A small Pringles tin, with the lid underneath to keep it dry, makes a great toothbrush and paste holder! Jennifer Shelden, Orpington Super support  I needed some extra support for my shoes, so I sewed strips of strong elastic across the front. Works like a dream. Lillian Smith, Preston Spag bowl When you've eaten…

The jury took seven hours to find Ian Previte guilty of the robbery and murder of Caroline Stuttle. Sentencing Previte to life, with a minimum of 15 years, Justice Peter Dutney said, ‘Miss Stuttle should have been enjoying the holiday of a lifetime. Instead, with your act of throwing her off the bridge, in the dark, in a strange country, for a few miserable dollars, you killed her in the most dreadful way.’ Caroline’s heartbroken family have since set up a charity in her name. Caroline’s Rainbow Foundation works to raise awareness of the importance of safe travel to anyone who shares her dreams of seeing the world. Visit carolinesrainbow foundation.org for more information.…

Spotty bits QI keep getting disgusting acne around my vagina. How can I stop it? Tracey, Glossop A Acne is common in this area because it's rich in sweat and oil-making glands. Shaving, tight or wet clothes, ingrowing hairs or infections from spa-pools can be triggers. Don't use soap or deodorant in the area, and ask your GP about antibiotic treatment. Pool phobia QI have a ‘thing' about swimming pools - I won't use them in case someone's peed! Friends say I'm daft. Lolly, Richmond A Urine shouldn't contain any bugs, unless the swimmer has an infection such as cystitis, which you couldn't catch through pool water anyway. Wee in the pool isn't a nice thought -but, actually, it is harmless!…

Gluten-free scones Serves: 4 (makes 8) Prep time: 15 min Cook time: 10-15 min • 250g gluten-free flour, plus extra for dusting • 1tsp gluten-free baking powder • 3tbsp creme fraiche • 100ml cream • 75-100ml milk, plus extra to glaze • 1 egg, beaten • 1tbsp sugar, to top • Jam and clotted cream, to serve You will need: • 6cm round cutter 1 Preheat the oven to 220C/ Gas 7. In a large bowl, mix together the flour and baking powder. In a jug, measure out the creme fraiche, cream and milk and whisk in the egg. Pour the wet mixture into the dry. Mix until it forms a soft dough. 2 Place the dough on a well-floured surface and shape to a circle of about 5cm thickness.…

Aries 21 March - 20 April A tricky project at work needs a lot of your time to make it come right - but the next day you’re told that everything’s been changed, so you can leave it. Makes you wonder why you bother sometimes! Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April - 21 May Should you run for the bus? If the next one is due soon, then no. But if there’s a long wait, then yes. The same is true this week - miss the chance you get and the next one may not be for months. Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May - 21 June Meeting up with someone you haven’t seen for a while reminds you why that is - every…

Michelle Gleave, 29, Crewe My tummy growled as I sat hunched at my desk. I can eat when I’m home, I thought, ignoring the hunger pangs. It was November 2016, and I’d started a new job in IT. It was supposed to be an exciting fresh beginning. But I was so mortified by my 15st 7lb, size-18 body, I barely spoke to anyone. I’d avoid leaving my desk because I felt self-conscious. I wished I could be invisible, not worry about people noticing my fleshy rolls. So I certainly wasn’t going to eat in front of anyone! I’d starve myself all day. And by the time I got home, I was so ravenous I’d demolish a huge takeaway in front of the telly. Guzzle a bottle of wine. Alone. Safe…

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Coronation Street Steve has big news for Emma To find out if Emma is his daughter, Steve pretends she’s got something in her hair and yanks out a tuft, which he sends off for DNA testing. When Steve gets the results and reveals that he’s her real dad, Emma struggles to deal with the news and decides to leave Weatherfield. So Amy reminds Steve and Tracy that, as Emma’s family now, they must stop her. Emmerdale Moira can’t resist Nate Moira shared a passionate moment with Nate a couple of weeks ago, but has resisted taking it any further - mainly because of her husband Cain! But this week when Moira once again finds herself alone with Nate, the sexual tension is off the scale and she can’t help but…

Danielle Gibson, 32 Clocking the cheeky smile on my partner Tony’s face, I whipped out my phone to film what was coming next. ‘What super power would you love to have?’ he asked our twins Destiny and Miracle, then 10. ‘To fly!’ they chorused. It was February 2017, and I sat feeding our second set of twins Angel and Grace, then 2 months, somehow managing to point my camera at Tony and the older girls. He nipped to the shed, returned with a bungee cord and harness. ‘Your wish is my command!’ he grinned, to shrieks of joy from the girls. Before long, they’d got their wish and were flying between the trampoline and tree. This was typical of Tony. A talented welder, he’d often make things for us, always…

Blockbuster crime drama Donnie Brasco was released in 1997 , with screen legends Johnny Depp and Al Pacino taking on the roles of Brasco and Lefty. Brasco was portrayed as shy around the Mob in the early days - but as he goes deeper undercover , it becomes difficult to see where the mobster ends and the FBI agent begins. Pistone said Depp's portrayal was spot on, and when he closed his eyes, he couldn't tell if it was Depp talking, or himself . At the film's climax, Lefty is seen removing his jewellery before going off to his implied execution by the Mob . In reality, it was Mob ‘captain' Sonny Black who did this. Lefty was actually sentenced to 15 years in jail, before being released and dying…

Robert Brown, 40, Ipswich Walking into the soft-play centre, I felt a little tug on my hand. ‘Daddy, can I go play now?’ asked my girl Poppy, then 9. ‘Of course!’ I smiled, and off she raced to join her friends. It was February 2018 and we were enjoying a nice daddy-daughter day out. Poppy’s mum and I had separated in 2012. Taking a seat, I could see where Poppy was playing. Only, as I turned my attention to the menu on the table, my vision went blurry. Thinking it was dust, I rubbed my eyes. But the more I tried to focus, the blurrier my sight became. I could see the words and prices, but my peripheral vision was black. Weird... When Poppy had finished playing, an hour or…

Vanessa Swannell, 47, Taunton Dance music echoed round the sports centre as I stretched my arms and legs in time to the beat. It was March 1992, and as a new mum to baby Coral, then 8 months, I loved my weekly me-time at keep-fit class. But as the instructor told us to do 10 star jumps, I adjusted my leotard and skulked towards the studio door. ‘I’m dying for a wee,’ I muttered, heading for the loo. No jumping on trampolines or jogging for me! I’d done pelvic floor exercises religiously during my pregnancy. But things down there had never been the same after giving birth to Coral the previous July, aged 19. The result? Anything energetic with a full bladder left me with a damp patch. And star…

Katea Gidley, 54 As Pete handed me a cup of tea, I looked up from my computer. ‘Just what I needed,’ I smiled. It was summer 2014, and me and Pete, then 45, had been business partners for about five years. We were colleagues first, before setting up our own talent-solutions business. Gradually, we’d become good friends. And we’d been through a lot together. Both our marriages had broken down the previous year, and we’d given each other a shoulder to cry on. Pete had been there when my dad died in January 2011, too. We started spending more time together outside work. Walks at the weekend, dinners out. It was nice to have someone to talk to, who understood what I was going through. ‘You act like he’s your…

Jess Kibbler, 20, Leamington Spa Picking up yet another adorable sleepsuit from the shop rail, I quickly added it to the pile already in my shopping basket. ‘Do you really need all of them?’ my mum Joanne, 44, laughed. ‘I can’t help it!’ I replied. ‘He’s going to look so cute in these!’ It was last September and I was four months pregnant with a little boy. To say that me and Jake, 19, were excited was an understatement. Our little lad already had a wardrobe bigger than mine, with piles of onesies with cars and dinosaurs on. Even one that said I’m a little fighter. See, my pregnancy hadn’t been plain-sailing. I’d suffered hydronephrosis – when urine can’t drain from the kidneys to the bladder due to a blockage…

1980: Left for dead on rubbish tip Two 11-year-old boys, John Greenwood and Gary Miller, were beaten and buried under a mattress on a rubbish tip in Whiston, Merseyside, on 16 August 1980. When the school friends were found by a dog walker at the site, they were rushed to hospital with head injuries. Sadly, both boys died. A man was initially charged with murder, went to trial and was acquitted, and when Merseyside Police reopened the investigation in 2017, no fresh leads were found. The killings remain a mystery. 1960: Murder at the lighthouse On 18 August 1960, a man and his son arrived on Little Ross Island, off the coast of Dumfries and Galloway, to walk and have lunch. But on arriving at the lighthouse, they…

John Frieda Frizz Ease Weightless Wonder Featherlight Smoothing Crème, £5.99, Boots I’ve relied on Frizz Ease to tame my thick, frizzy hair for years but the cult formula was a little too heavy for finer tresses. Luckily they’ve launched a whole new range (shampoo, conditioner and crème) designed to smooth frizz without weighing hair down. This crème is the perfect shield for humid or rainy days. Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Natural Bronze Body Lotion, £7.49, Superdrug Eke out your summer glow for a little longer with a light layer of this glow-giving moisturiser. I always find the fake stuff works best applied to skin which already has a natural tan, and super-nourishing cocoa butter will give your skin an extra boost. Hallyu Watermelon Sheet Mask, £4.99, Superdrug I’m a sucker…

Giulia Lamarca, 27 Climbing on the back of my friend’s motorbike, the engine roared into life. ‘Ready!’ I called. It was October 2011, and I loved the feeling of zooming down the road on two wheels. I usually drove a Vespa scooter myself. But that sunny day, my friend had picked me up after my shift at a local ice-cream parlour. As we sped off, I thought nothing of the journey home. I’d travelled the same route a million times. Knew every twist, turn, hill and ditch. Only today, as we turned a corner, the bike skidded out of control. I felt myself being ripped from the seat. The bike bounced and crashed into some railings, while I was flung into the air. And when I smashed back down onto…

Bridget, 62, Waterford Skipping down the garden path, I had a big, beaming smile on my face. It was summer 1964 and, aged 7, I’d just had my confirmation at church, meaning I could receive Holy Communion for the first time. My parents were devoutly Catholic and usually I found church boring – but this was my special day. Mum had bought me a beautiful new dress and I loved swishing around in it. It was a world away from my usual, tatty jumpers and skirts. After the service, Mum took me home, while Dad headed to the pub as usual. He spent most of his time there, but that’s the way we liked it. You see, Dad had a temper. He’d often take it out on Mum, or me,…

Aged just 19, Caroline Stuttle was on the verge of a huge adventure. She had her heart set on a career in forensic psychology – but before heading to uni, she wanted to see the world. She worked hard as a waitress, saving every penny to make her dream come true. In early 2002, she left her home in Yorkshire, with her best friend Sarah. A recording device was placed in his cell The pair jetted off to Australia, arriving in Sydney before travelling to Queensland. The friends also planned to travel to New Zealand, Fiji and Los Angeles in the US. Caroline made the most of her time as a backpacker. She went camel trekking and windsurfing, met new friends who shared her love of travelling. She was living…

Swerving nausea Q I've let my husband book a cruise - but I get terrible seasickness! Wilhemina, Colchester A It usually improves after a few days - sailors used to call it ‘getting your sea legs'. Go on deck for fresh air, but keep towards the middle of the ship to reduce movement. Keep your eyes on the horizon, avoid strong smells, and try ginger, plus sickness pills or patches. Best mattress? Q Since I bought a new, expensive mattress, I wake up with backache! Is something wrong with it? Di, Carmarthen A Probably not, your mattress just doesn't suit you. We used to think that a firmer mattress was better for back pain, but for many people, the opposite is true. Experiment with a board under the mattress to…

A common ailment, thought to affect millions of women, stress incontinence is the unintentional loss of urine. It can happen when movement or activity — such as running, sneezing or coughing - puts pressure on your bladder, causing wee to leak. Causes of stress incontinence include obesity, pregnancy and vaginal birth, and increasing age. Treatments can involve lifestyle changes, such as losing weight or giving up alcohol, bladder training and pelvic-floor exercises, along with the use of incontinence products and medication. Surgery may also be considered.…

Q living What is separately the best thing ? about A For one, I don't have to do Pete's laundry! All jokes aside, my girls and I have routines that we like, and it means we still get to spend time together in our own space. Pete isn't their dad, and I never wanted to force them into a situation where they had to live with a completely new family. Q you Let’s make get personal time for . sex .. How ? do A There are plenty of opportunities for Pete and I to be intimate, so there's no issues when it comes to our sex life. I'll often have a ‘sleepover' at Pete's at the weekend, so we get time on our own then. And, of course, we…

The nurse gave me a sympathetic look. ‘You won’t hurt him,’ she promised, explaining I could carry him using a special mat. ‘That way you won’t touch his skin,’ she said. Nervously, I agreed. It was tricky, there were wires and machines everywhere, and I was so worried about brushing his raw body. But when I finally had him nestled in my arms, I’d never felt love like it. Despite everything, Kaiden was perfect. Still, I knew he’d have a long fight ahead. ‘I’ll do anything it takes,’ I promised my baby. His condition was still undiagnosed, all doctors could do was hope his skin would grow. For the next six weeks, Kaiden was kept in Intensive Care. Because he was basically just one big open wound, he was prone…

The cost of filling up your car might be on the rise, but you can slash what you pay. Here's how… 1 Find the cheapest fuel You can save cash if you plan ahead. Before refuelling, check websites that let you compare the price of petrol and diesel at garages near you, such as confused.com/ on-the-road/petrol-prices or petrolprices.com, so that you can find the cheapest. 2 Don't get weighed down If your boot is filled with stuff you don't need, then get rid of it pronto, as you're paying to cart the extra weight around! Also, remove roof boxes or roof racks if you're not using them, too. 3 Look after your motor Regular maintenance and servicing of your car will improve its efficiency and can therefore improve your fuel consumption,…

1 I’m really lazy when it comes to body care so I love this product, which is applied to wet skin then towel dry as normal. Sanctuary Spa Wet Skin Radiance Jelly, £10, Boots 2 Sharing the scent of its shampoo would have been enough for me but the smooth finish of Aussie’s latest launch had me sold. Aussie Scent-Sational Shine Conditioning Mist, £9.99, Boots 3 A little of this goes a really long way so the teeniest dot is enough to banish my dark circles. L’Oreal Paris Infallible More Than Concealer, £9.99, Superdrug…

1 There are four Progressive Jackpots on this slot game, and you can choose to play for one from 25p a spin. 2 There are four bonus games, and the Progressive Jackpot can be won during any of the four games. 3 To get through to a bonus game, you need to match three or more bonus symbols on a spin to reveal the secret doors. 4 You could win the Progressive Jackpot with any spin – even on a 25p spin. 5 The largest Progressive Jackpot win to date is £990,685.…

Helen Hayes, 49, Wilmslow No girl ever forgets her first love. Growing up, Andrew Lever’s boys school was opposite my girls school. ‘Fancy going out with me?’ he’d winked one day at the school gates. I blushed but agreed. I was 13, he was 14, and we’d steal time together at lunchtime and walk home holding hands. But, when I was 16, he dumped me to go off to college. My first heartbreak... I thought I’d never get over it. But, of course, I did. He was just as I recalled... cheeky, romantic Life went on – and in August 1993, I married Dave. It took us seven gruelling years of IVF, but we finally welcomed our son in March 2000. But in June 2004, Dave suffered a brain haemorrhage…

Joseph Pistone was a talented cop. Born in 1939 to a Sicilian family in Erie, Pennsylvania, Joseph joined the FBI at 30. Between 1969 and 1974, Pistone served in various positions in the force. In 1974, he transferred to New York City, where he started working undercover. His first goal? To infiltrate a notorious vehicle-theft ring. It was a huge success. Pistone’s undercover work led to 30 arrests, boosting his profile among his colleagues. But there was a bigger challenge on the horizon. In 1976, the Bonanno family were one of five Mafia clans dominating organised crime in New York City. Police suspected the Bonannos of a portfolio of crimes, ranging from loan sharking, money laundering and drug trafficking to murder. They needed an undercover officer to infiltrate the Mob.…

Going the extra mile How wonderful of Zach (6 June issue) not to give up on Cora Rose, the poodle that had been in a car accident. Zach had founded Marley's Mutts, a rescue home for animals, and when a shelter contacted him about Cora Rose, he just knew he had to try and help her. In the end, Cora Rose had to lose both her front legs, and didn't adapt well to using a cart to move around, so now she just bounces and is quite happy with that! A lot of people would have given up on Cora Rose, but not Zach. I'm so pleased that there are people like him around who will go that extra mile for animals. Especially when you consider that there is so…

Dear Ruby and Olivia, When we met, back in January 2015, I was at rock bottom. Aged, 21, I’d just been sectioned. Sent to a secure mental-health unit after my GP became concerned about my welfare. I was terrified – yet it’d been a long time coming. My mental-health problems started when I was just 13. Born with cerebral palsy, I’d been advised by a doctor that if I ever gained too much weight, it’d make my condition worse. So I’d started controlling what I ate. Hiding food in my pockets, refusing meals. Obsessed with counting calories, my mental and physical health both began to deteriorate. The bullies at school didn’t help. My wheelchair and walking sticks made me a target. I was always in and out of hospital, too,…