Table of contents for 24-Mar-2016 in Chat

He was sneaking up to the house, standing right outside my windows Chris faked taking an overdose in the video clip, trying to frighten me My life had been rocky. I left home at 14, lived in a youth hostel at 16. But that’s where I met Chris Ashurst, then 19, in January 1999. ‘I’ve not had it easy, either,’ he admitted. He’d fallen out with his family, had nowhere to go. ‘We should stick together,’ I grinned. Chris swept me off my feet and then we got a place together. With no family, Chris became a crutch. We were devoted to each other, and thrilled when I fell pregnant in spring 2012. Our baby boy Oliver was born by emergency Caesarean in November 2012. It’d been a difficult pregnancy…

Clare dumped him, but he didn't take it well Clare's Law had the support of high-ranking politicians THE CRIME When Clare Wood first met George Appleton, she welcomed him into her life. He was charming, and they had similar interests. But if Clare had known about his violent history or previous convictions and jail sentences for attacks on women, could the story have ended differently? And might Clare have avoided death at the hands of George Appleton? Officers listened as the terrified woman told them how the man threatened to scald her with a hot iron, stab her to death, burn down her house… ‘Help me!’ she pleaded with police. But there was nothing much they could do. Twenty-four hours later, Clare Wood called the police again. He’d been round…

Wearing jeans and a baggy top, I hid in the corner at a party I knew I was fat. How could I not? Strangers told me every day. ‘Salad dodger!’ they’d laugh in the street. Or ‘fat cow’, ‘beached whale’. Every nasty name or cruel remark chipped away at my self-esteem, until I dreaded going out in public. And instead of inspiring me to diet, it drove me to comfort food. Kebabs mostly. I’d slob on the sofa feeling sorry for myself, shovelling doner meat into my mouth. My problem was, I’d gone from chubby 8-year-old to obese adult – I didn’t know how to change. At age 13, I was 13st. And with every year that passed, I added another stone to my bulk. At 16 I weighed 16st,…

It all started when I was 7 and my mum took me to the local circus Contortion – not your usual hobby, but I absolutely love it. It’d all started when I was 7 and my mum Vivienne, now 55, took me to the local circus. I’d watched mesmerised as a contortionist teased her body into various unlikely positions and shapes. It inspired me. On the way home in the car… ‘I want to do that,’ I told Mum, wriggling around in the back seat. I tried to get my leg behind my head, still with my seatbelt on and, unbelievably, I could! ‘How did you do that?’ Mum asked gobsmacked. I didn’t know. A few years later, I started dance lessons with my older sister Stephanie, now 24. I…

With so much cashback to be earned, there’s no reason not to join – you’ll love it! By Emma Cullington, 32, from the Isle of Man Every time I do my monthly Tesco Direct and Boots shopping, I make sure that I go through Quidco. It’s where most of my cashback comes from. But I use it for special occasions, too. If I’m ever booking a holiday or buying an electrical item, I go through Quidco. I’ve earned £700 in cashback so far! You get to shop in the stores you love and earn yourself loads of cashback, too By Helen Yates, 31, from Bolton Quidco’s been great because you can shop in the stores you like best while looking at all the other shops that Quidco works with. My…

Nivea Indulgent Moisture Cocoa Caring Shower Cream, £1.99, Sainsbury's Thick, creamy, and leaves skin soft and smelling amazing. Top tip: Really good for an intense moisture boost. Tesco My Senses Cocoa Butter & Honey Soap, 75p, Tesco Contains vitamin E to pamper your skin. Top tip: Use all over your body or just on your hands. Vaseline Intensive Care Healing Serum With Pure Cocoa Butter, £7.99, Boots This nourishing serum makes a real difference from the first use. Top tip: Apply at bedtime and let it work its magic overnight. Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Lip Balm, £1.89, Superdrug A long-lasting formula that moisturises and protects from the elements. Top tip: Wear under lipstick for super-soft lips.…

A large piece of furniture was toppling towards Dylan’s head It was the day after my grandson Dylan’s second birthday – 16 March 2014. ‘Let’s spend your birthday money!’ I cooed. Wanting a table and chair for his bedroom, me, my daughter Lisa, 26, and Dylan headed to IKEA, Warrington. Arriving around 1pm, we browsed the furniture and homeware sections. I held Dylan’s hand as Lisa pushed a deep trolley around the store. Dylan and Lisa chose his furniture, while I picked up a new coffee table. In IKEA, you collect any flat-pack goods near the tills before paying. Lisa loaded boxes onto another, flat trolley, while I popped Dylan in the basket of the deep trolley, where he was standing happily. Then Lisa saw a cluster of cut-price items…

Pisces 20 Feb - 20 March You love a party, but when noisy guests finally leave, you’re glad to have the place to yourself again, even if there’s a mountain of clearing up. This week is like that. Was it all worth doing? Absolutely - but not too often! Call 0905 817 0701* for more Aries 21 March - 20 April You see a chance, and decide to go for it before anyone else does. It’s a long shot, and you might not hit your target. Should you wait until you get closer? No, because then it’ll slip away - it has to be now or never. Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April - 21 May You’ve a chance to live the dream, if only for a…

Chatting away with my friends, I poured another cup of tea. I was at a reunion lunch for the charity Blind Veterans UK. It’d supported my husband John when he lost his sight. Sadly, he passed away in 2007, but I still attended the charity’s events. I’d made so many friends, too. And now, as we nattered away, a man sat down next to me. ‘This is Walter,’ one of the charity’s welfare officers said. An ex-serviceman, he’d lost his sight to age-related macular degeneration. He had no central vision, could only see side-to-side. He’d recently lost his wife, but hoped to make some new friends at the lunch. And he’d come to the right place for that. ‘I’ll look after you,’ I smiled and reassured him. I took Walter…

What I loved A glorious display of dazzling daffs on a roundabout in the middle of a grim industrial estate. Can't tell you how much it cheered me up as I drove in a downpour looking for a tyre place… Yup, the little things..! What hacked me off Those celebs on The Great Sport Relief Bake Off - pretending they'd never cooked before! Yeah, right! (And am I really the only person on the planet who's never used a food processor??) What made me laugh A mate asking why it is that most nudists are the very people you don't want to see naked… That's SO true! Hope you get to show what you're made of this week!…

The details of Lizzy’s death were so disturbing that Sharon was advised not to be present in court. In the years since then, she’s learned some of the sickening truth but she can’t bear to know it all. No mother should… On 22 June 2002, Richard Cullen and Lizzy had been watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer at his house. He mentioned liking a character called Drusilla. When Lizzy joked he was a ‘nonce' for ‘fancying' her, Cullen went berserk. He taped her mouth and tied her hands behind her back and shoved her head down into the bed settee. Using a rubber mallet he hit her head at least five times. Then he strangled Lizzy with a shirt. Cullen admitted having sex with her body three…

GUILTY! It took the jury just three hours to find Rashad Owens, 23, guilty of capital murder. It meant Owens was handed an automatic life sentence without the possibility of parole. After the verdict, relatives of Owens’ victims read impact statements to the court. Sandy Le’s sister Pauline said, ‘That little tiny body you ploughed through was infinitely a better person than you will ever be. I hope your life ends in the confinement of cement walls.’…

Risky spot Q I have a small, scaly spot on my forehead. My doctor diagnosed solar keratosis and gave me a cream, but I've read it can turn cancerous! Maggie, 54 A Solar keratosis is caused by sun damage and is common in fair-skinned people who've seen a lot of sun. No-one's quite sure of the risk that it might turn cancerous, though it's probably quite low. Cream should work - if not, it can be burned or frozen off. Shin pain Q I've taken up running to keep fit, but now it gives me terrible pain on the outside of my shins. What's wrong? Clare, 33 A Sounds like shin splints. On the inside of your shin, it's caused by tendon inflammation, but when it affects the outside, it's…

Help for Heroes Egg, £5, Tesco All profits from the sale of this egg go to charity. It tastes really good, too! Cadbury Dairy Milk Bunny, from £1.49 Our favourite choc now comes as a bunny - in three sizes. The single size is £1.49, there's a bigger one at £3.09 and a pack of five tiny ones is £2.99 - ideal for giving to all your mates! Co-Op Loved By Us Popping Candy Egg, £5 As the chocolate melts, the candy explodes in your mouth. Fun - and very tasty! Lily O'Brien's Desserts Collection Egg, £12, Asda A big egg and smaller chocs, based on our fave puddings, including Creme Brulee and Key Limey Pie. What a treat!…

Serves: 12 Prep: 20 min Cook: 18 min 125g soft, unsalted butter 125g caster sugar 2 large eggs 125g self-raising flour ½tsp lemon extract 2tbsp milk 1 tub vanilla frosting Sugar-flower decorations, to decorate 1 Preheat oven to 200C/ Gas 6 and line a muffin tin with 12 cake cases. 2 Cream butter and sugar together, then beat in eggs, one at a time, with a little flour. Add lemon extract and fold in rest of flour, adding milk to make a soft, dropping consistency. 3 Spoon into cases, and bake for 15-18 min, until cupcakes are risen, golden and firm to touch. 4 Leave on a wire rack to cool. 5 Once completely cold, pipe a swirl of frosting on each cake and finish with a sugar-flower decoration to…

The couple who brought him in have been banned from keeping pets I love William and Harry. They’re both gorgeous, fun to be around and love cuddles. I’m talking about our dogs, not the princes! Me and my partner Chris, 32, have had Harry, 10, since he was a pup. A West Highland terrier, he likes a yap and a squeaky toy. Then there’s William, an 11-month-old lurcher we’ve had since January. William likes walks, long afternoons snoozing, and hugs. He deserves every single one of those hugs. I first spotted William while I was at work. I’m a press officer for the animal welfare charity RSPCA. That morning, a stray dog had been brought into our Coventry branch. A couple had found him wandering alone by the side of…

What are ISAs? Put simply, ISAs are tax-free or tax-efficient accounts for your savings or investments. There are two types of ISA... One for cash savings and another you can use for investing. You can put up to £15,240 each tax year into either type of ISA or split the allowed amount between both. How does an ISA differ from my current account? Did you know that when you use a current account, you give 20 per cent of the interest earned straight to the tax man? Yes, it's true. Use an ISA and you get to keep all the profits! Where does Quidco come in? Quidco partners with over 4,200 retailers to help you earn cashback rewards every time you shop... that includes when you open new bank accounts,…

1 Blanch 160g Tenderstem broccoli in boiling, salted water for 1 min. Drain and leave to cool. Reserve 12 pieces of Tenderstem then, in a food processor, finely chop the rest. 2 Put 50g couscous into a bowl and cover with 60ml of boiling water. Cover with clingfilm and leave for 5 min until completely absorbed. Fluff with a fork. 3 Mix chopped Tenderstem into couscous, with 80g crumbled feta. Finely chop 1 clove garlic, 3 sprigs fresh mint and 3 sprigs parsley. Mix in along with 2 pinches dried chilli flakes, 3 whisked eggs and seasoning. 4 Heat a nonstick pan on a medium heat, add 1tbsp oil and spoon in 1½tbsp of mix. 5 Fry for 1-3 min until golden on both sides, then keep warm while you…

In time, she’d experimented with make-up, jewellery, fitted clothing… Icouldn’t have been more proud of my son Alex. Aged 16, he’d just been appointed Head Boy at school and I was thrilled. ‘Well done, love,’ I told him. A quiet boy, he was different from most lads his age. He wasn’t one for chasing a football around a pitch. ‘Don’t want to get dirty,’ he’d moan. Me and my husband John, 59, tried to encourage him to get involved. But Alex just wasn’t interested. At school, he’d really come into his own, though, and I was chuffed he was doing so well. Then, in September 2011, aged 19, he went to university to study Natural Sciences. ‘I’m so proud of you,’ I told him. But, deep down, I could tell…

Lizzy lived just two streets away from mine Even though my Lizzy was 21, I saw her every day. ‘Hiya, Mam!’ she’d say stopping by. ‘Give me a hug and kiss.’ I loved having her round, even if she did blare out music when she was there! She was forever singing along to the song Footprints in the sand. It was her favourite. Lizzy lived just two streets away from mine, and from my back bedroom window I could see her room… She’d flick her bedroom light on and off so I could see she was safe and at home. In May 2002, Lizzy came by. ‘Come here and sit with me,’ she said patting the settee. I did as she asked. ‘Give me your little finger,’ she said. She…

One of our twins had anencephaly, where the brain doesn't develop Some stories just touch a nerve, and Teddy’s was one of them. Reading it in April last year, tears sprang to my eyes. Newborn Teddy had only lived 100 minutes. His twin brother Noah had been born healthy, but Teddy suffered a condition called anencephaly, where the skull and brain don’t develop properly. Parents Jess and Mike Evans knew Teddy would soon die. But, determined his life wouldn’t be in vain, they’d battled for him to become an organ donor, even though newborn organ donation was unheard of. So Teddy had become Britain’s youngest organ donor. Saved a life. Incredible! ‘What brave parents,’ I said to my hubby Drew, 51. My heart ached for them. ‘I’m not sure I…

Bin it Recycle a plastic cereal box as a small rubbish container to keep in your car. Barry Alvin, Porthcawl Spring serviettes Cut cardboard kitchen roll inners to size, stick on funny bunny faces and you've got napkin holders for Easter lunch! Michelle Pell, Evesham Piece of cake Peg your icing bag to a cupboard-door handle so you've got both hands free. It's much easier to put the icing in! Pam Kellow, Redruth Softly softly Put marshmallows into a bag of brown sugar to stop it going hard. Donna Peachey, South Cornelly Spec savers Keep a spare pair of glasses in the bathroom to read the tiny print that many beauty products have these days! Margo Barnes, Accrington Knee support Rather than throw out my old hot-water bottle, I turned…

So far, I've had 13 – but I know I could develop more I learnt about tumours at a young age… And I always knew I was at risk of developing them. See, Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome (VHL) runs in my family. It’s a hereditary condition causing tumours and cysts to develop on various parts of the body. They’re common on the brain, kidneys and eyes, and most are benign. My mum Joyce, 50, and nan Yvonne, 76, both have VHL. ‘You might have it, too,’ Mum would tell me and my siblings Jake, now 25, and Hope, 23. We’d all had to be screened until we were 16, before it could be ruled out. When I was 2, after Nan had suffered so many tumours in her eyes, she lost…

No deal There are travel concessions for pensioners, so why don't us oldies get discounts for groceries? Supermarkets' three-for-two or BOGOF bargains are no use to me. Knocking a few pounds off the price would be much more helpful, as I'm a pensioner who lives alone. I wish supermarkets would spare a thought for single pensioners. Or even just single people! Allyson Poole, Holywell Chip in It was interesting to read Les Holt’s opinion (We hear you!, 4 Feb issue) that the workplace practice of special-occasion collections should be stopped. When my daughter’s colleagues passed round the hat for her birthday, she said she wanted the money given to Help For Heroes. Maybe this is a good compromise. If all companies stipulated collections would go to charities only, it might…

I’d beaten cancer twice, life was great, then I started getting hot flushes... Bent double, pain stabbed in my abdomen. Doctors suspected I had appendicitis, but an ultrasound revealed a cyst on my right ovary. So, I was transferred to a gynaecological specialist at Sheffield’s Royal Hallamshire Hospital. Booked for ‘simple’ 40-minute keyhole surgery to remove it on 26 August 2011, I didn’t worry. But five hours later, I awoke feeling groggy. My belly bore loads of stitches, a five-inch scar. ‘What happened?’ I asked when my surgeon visited. He explained that, while I was under, they’d discovered a 200g germ-cell tumour. They develop from cells that produce eggs or sperm, so most affect the ovaries or testes. ‘To remove it, we had to take your right ovary and Fallopian…

Before he went back to Istanbul, I splashed out £800 on new clothes for him Everything was ready. The house was spick and span. A bottle of fizz in the fridge. I’d even made a banner for the front windows. Welcome home, Evren. It’d been six months since I’d last seen my husband Evren and, at last, he was coming home forever. We’d first met two years earlier, in 2005. Me and my mate, Natalie, had gone shopping at the Trafford Centre, where Evren was working on an ice-cream stall. ‘He’s a bit of alright,’ Natalie said as we’d queued. He had sun-kissed skin, long hair, a chiselled jaw, dark eyes… But, immediately, I snapped out of it. ‘He can’t be more than 20!’ I cried. Besides, a bloke was…

1 Walkers' paradise Take a stroll along the River Dove from Dovedale, following the river as far as you like, then wander back before jumping across the stepping stones to get back to the car park. 2 Pedal power Hire bikes to cycle the 13-mile Tissington Trail, following the old track path of the Ashbourne to Buxton railway. Stop off for a cuppa and a visit to a proper old sweet shop in Tissington. If you're lucky, Tissington Hall may also be open for visitors. 3 Check out Chatsworth House Stately homes don't come much grander than this! The rooms are just bursting with treasures, and there's a fabulous garden, complete with a water cascade and a fountain that shoots up 28m high, plus 1,000 acres of parkland to explore.…

MAMMOTH HUFF What do you do when you’ve got a broken heart? Scoff ice cream? Sob over a romcom? Well, when Asian elephant Bamboo was dumped by his mate for a rival male , he threw a jumbo tantrum in China and went on a rampage , damaging 15 cars! We hope he can forgive his ex, even if he’ll never forget… GET YOUR FREAK ON Bearded lady Jessa Olmstead met Grady Stiles III – AKA Lobster Boy – while working at the Venice Beach Freakshow. Grady has a condition that makes his hands look like claws. Now the pair have announced they’ve fallen in love. ‘If people talk about us, let ’em talk,’ says Jessa. Awww! SPEC SAVER! Bagel is a very cool cat - but it’s all down…