Table of contents for September 10, 2015 in Chat

My heart was racing. And it wasn’t even our Big Day – it was our second! A party for everyone who couldn’t be with us when Alan and I had tied the knot a few weeks earlier in Cyprus. 'You look beautiful,’ Alan, 61, smiled, kissing me. 'Thanks, I just hope I remember all the moves,’ I said, hugging him tight. Alan grinned. 'When you’re dancing with me,’ he winked, 'you don’t need to remember anything at all…’ It was May last year. Three years before, while we were in Greece for a friend’s wedding, Alan had proposed. 'This is the happiest moment of my life!’ I’d cried, as he’d slipped the solitaire engagement ring on my finger. 'You’re telling me!’ he’d laughed. Now, after three long years of scrimping…

Sore boobs QI read in Chat about Louise's sores under her boobs. I had them, too, until I applied antiperspirant to the area every day. Margaret, 75 Antiperspirants will dry A sweaty skin and so help prevent sweat rash. But a word of warning, they can also irritate inflamed or broken skin Try applying them just every two or three days, and wash off after a few hours. Boney knees QI've got slim legs and want to wear short skirts but my knees are knobbly! What can I do? Ella-May, 23 A Knobbly knees and thin legs often go together! Four bones meet in your knee joint, and each bone has knobs on its surface where muscles attach, meaning it's a knobbly structure. Try exercise to build muscle, and gaining…

Party madness Is it just me or have children's parties gone OTT? Parents are spending crazy money for them - I heard of a couple who spent £70k on their twins' first birthday! It's as if the parents are trying to impress other adults with their lavish outlay on something their children won't remember! I'm sure kids would still be happy with balloons, cake and games. What do other Chat readers think? Daniella Roberts, Ruthin Grumpy patient My aunt was having a good old moan about my uncle, who’s not best known for his cheery manner. She told me that when he was in hospital, even the nurses on the ward were sending him Get Well Soon cards! Rachelle Harding, Somersham You’ve been warned We came across this sign in…

Opening the front door, we lugged our suitcases in behind us. 'Home!’ I sighed happily. Me and my hubby Mark, 48, had just got back from a gorgeous week on the Greek island of Zante. We’d relaxed on the beach, enjoyed the sunshine. Gone on a boat trip to see the turtles. Bliss! Now we were back, feeling refreshed and sun-kissed. I couldn’t believe it was all down to a win on Chat Mag Bingo! I’d signed up back in March. I’d always loved a bit of bingo, so when I saw an offer to join, I thought it’d be lovely to enjoy a few games after my shifts as a carer. I signed up, and straightaway bought some 2p tickets for the 90-ball bingo in Emerald. Watching my numbers…

Swap…grilled rump steak…230 cal For…grilled tuna steak…135 cal SAVES 95 CAL! Diet bites Quick fix Sainsbury's Breakfast Biscuits, £1.50 A pack of four of these wholegrain biscuits is perfect for breakfast on the go - and only 214 cal. Gas away!  e'lifexir Flat Tummy plus, £9.99, www.naturesdream.co.uk Try chewing one twice a day after meals to help ease bloating. £50 What worked for you? I'll pay a full-fat £50 if I use your weight-loss story. Write to me, enclosing before and after pictures at: Losing It, Chat, Blue Fin Building, 110 Southwark Street, London SE1 0SU, or e-mail me: christine.parsons@timeinc.com…

Keeping hydrated is an important part of ensuring your child feels on top form. Water is vital for good health as our bodies depend on water to survive, but as kids don’t always think about drinking, it’s important for us to remind them. While they’ve been at home over the summer you’ve been able to keep an eye on what your kids are eating and drinking, but it’s not so easy when they’re out of your sight all day. So look for opportunities for your child to have a drink before, during and after school so that they’re getting the recommended daily six to eight glasses of water* . At home, offer water at breakfast and when your kids get in from school. Other good times to make sure there’s…

Makes: 2small loavesPrep: 10 minCook: 45 min 140ml hot black tea160g Meridian barleymalt extract90g unrefined darkmuscovado sugar200g raisins2 eggs, beaten250g self-raising flourPinch salt2tsp baking powder 2tbsp Meridian date syrup 1 In a bowl, combine tea, barley malt extract and sugar, and then stir in raisins and beaten egg. Leave to soak while you preheat oven to 150C/Gas 2, and line two 1lb loaf tins. 2 Combine flour, salt and baking powder, and then stir in tea mixture. 3 Spoon into loaf tin and bake for 45 min until well risen. Remove from oven and brush top with date syrup while still warm then leave to cool in tin. 4 Once cooled, wrap in foil and store in an airtight tin for two days while it develops its characteristic stickiness, or…

Family from Ireland… Dear Tony, I lost my mum in 1986, then my stepdad a few years after, but I never told them how much I loved them. Recently, I lost my brother, but never got to say goodbye. Are they together, and have they met my real father in spirit? Brian, Northampton Dear Brian, I've got a very strong sense of Irish connections in your family. Your mother tells me her name is Mary. I also believe she was 74 when she passed. She wants you to know she's met up with your stepfather and refers to him as The Quiet Man, like the old film title. In addition, she's met up with your biological father, too, and says that his name is William. Your late brother was a…

1 Heat 1tbsp oil in a large pan and gently fry 2 crushed cloves of garlic, a grated 3cm piece ginger, 1 diced red chilli, 1tsp turmeric and 2tsp curry powder for 2-3 min. 2 Stir in 300g Quorn Pieces, and fry for a further 1 min. 3 Add 4 diced spring onions, 100g cooked green beans, 4tbsp soy sauce, 400ml light coconut milk, 100ml vegetable stock and 150g cooked fine rice noodles. Bring to the boil then turn down and simmer for 5-10 min until piping hot. 4 Stir in 2tbsp finely chopped fresh coriander and the juice of a lime to serve. Serves: 4 Cost per head: £1.15 LIFE! DEATH! PRIZES P ! For more foodie bargains, visit www.lifedeathprizes.com/ fashion-food-and-beauty…

With so much cashback to be earned, there’s no reason not to join – you’ll love it! Emma Cullington, 32, Isle of Man Every time I do my monthly Tesco Direct and Boots shopping, I use Quidco. It’s where most of my cashback comes from. But I use it for special occasions, too. I’m ever booking a holiday or buying an electrical item, 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… Helen Yates, 31, Bolton Quidco's been great because you get to shop in the stores that you love while looking at all the other shops that Quidco works with. My best earning so far was £100 after taking out broadband. Now,…

Lifting my 5-year-old daughter Blaze into her pushchair, she let out a little sob. 'Don’t want to go in the buggy,’ she cried. 'You have to,’ I said sadly. She was so determined to walk, I decided to let her try... Within minutes, she had to climb back in her buggy. You might think she’s too old for a pushchair. But Blaze can’t walk far before her joints start hurting and she’s exhausted… It all started in April 2011, when Blaze was a year old. She got lots of coughs and colds. And when she started walking, she dragged her left leg and tilted her head. 'Why’s she doing that?’ I’d asked my mum Christine, 56. She suggested taking Blaze to see our GP, who put it down to a…

Lidl Batts Deluxe French Dressing, 250ml, £1.15 Made with cider vinegar, this has a delicious, fruity flavour, while the creamy texture coats salad leaves perfectly. Newman's Own French Dressing, 250ml, £1.50 Shake this well to mix the ingredients. We liked the oily consistency and the mild, yet tangy, flavour. Sainsbury's Taste The Difference French Vinaigrette, 255ml, £1.85 The perfect blend of rapeseed oil and white-wine vinegar, with a dash of Chardonnay and Dijon mustard. Voila, c'est magnifique! Pimm's Summer Crush, Gordon's Frozen Cooler, £2.99 each, Tesco Two alcoholic pouch drinks to freeze, squeeze and serve! Sip them as they defrost - or serve up as a pud!…

Lying in bed, my partner Wayne turned towards me. 'So, shall we get married?’ he asked, as casually as if he were asking me what was for dinner. 'Are you joking?’ I asked, stunned. 'I’m deadly serious,’ he said. 'I’d love to,’ I grinned. I shouldn’t have been so surprised – we’d been together seven years and had two daughters, Mollie, 4, and Lillie, 3. But, after years of dropping hints, I’d given up hoping Wayne, 37, would ever pop the question. Both huge football fans, we decided to get hitched at St Mary’s Stadium – home of our local team, Southampton. There was just one problem… I was the width of the goal! Growing up, I’d been sports-mad, competing in national swimming competitions. But training twice a day became…

I couldn’t imagine life without my kids. I’ve loved seeing them grow. All 150 of them! See, for years I worked as a childminder, looked after local children when their parents needed me to. My own two – Katie, now 24, and Harry, 19 – loved growing up in a houseful of kids. 'It’s like we have hundreds of brothers and sisters,’ they’d joke. Each child I looked after was special to me. Even after they’d grown up, most would stay in touch. So in 2014, when I decided to retire, I knew it’d be tough. 'You’re our favourite babysitter,’ my most recent little ones told me, upset. After 25 years in the job, I wanted to throw a huge party. 'Everyone I’ve ever looked after will be invited,’ I…

Art Gallery Wet afternoon? Get painting! Choose a theme, such as insects, and offer some ideas to get your kids started, such as a red ladybird with black spots or a butterfly with beautiful wings. Give each picture a title and display them in the kitchen for an instant art gallery . Musical Maracas Mix paint and PV A glue (half and half) and use to paint an empty water bottle . When it's dry, pour in some rice or small pasta shapes. W rap tape around the lid to seal, then play a favourite tune and shake your maraca. Egg Heads Stand clean egg shells in egg cups. Fill about two-thirds full with cotton wool and dampen with a little water . Draw a funny face in felt-tips on…

You had to be somebody to be invited to Madame de Pompadour’s parties. Mistress and advisor to French King Louis XV, she spent time with politicians, thinkers, artists, the rich and famous… Which is why she’d invited the Count de Saint Germain to her party in 1750. The Count had arrived in Paris from the court of the Shah of Persia, where he had been studying precious stones. He dressed in black, had diamond rings on each finger and diamonds on his shoes. Madame de Pompadour had never heard of the Count before he arrived in France. And neither had her friends. But, with his tales of foreign lands, his good looks and wealth, he’d soon been welcomed into Paris’ most fashionable circles. At the party, Madame de Pompadour introduced…

As the cafe door opened, I caught sight of a familiar face. 'I’ll have a cuppa, love,’ Larry smiled. Larry Pole was a mate of my ex, and he popped into my work often. He was 14 years older than me, but seemed nice enough. I’d been through a tough break-up – and my ex and I ran the cafe together. But, in January last year, we closed it down. Larry came round to my house occasionally. I assumed he was lonely and appreciated the company But, one night, after a couple of drinks, Larry kissed me. 'I really like you,’ he said. It was nice to feel wanted, and I was attracted to him... Afterwards, Larry visited more often. Still, I wasn’t in any rush to start a new…

Lil’ squealer As you can see, my 16-month-old daughter Amelia-Rose gets very excited when she knows she's about to eat crisps! Amber Murray, Manchester Not berry good At this stage of my 10-month-old great-grandson Elliot’s life, strawberries are definitely not his favourite fruit! P Hicks, Witney MY CUTE BABY PIC It's his first time on the beach, but my 8-week-old son Lennon seems to have picked up the chillax vibe! Laura Stewart, Jarrow In the night garden I’ve got my own Iggle Piggle, aka my adorable 2-year-old son Jamie. Lyndsey Hunter, Lemington, Newcastle Sticky fingers For my daughter Charlotte, 3, the best part of baking a cake is the licking-out-the-bowl time! Esther Newton, Thatcham Belle of the ball Dressed as her favourite Disney princess is my 3-year-old daughter Destiny. She's…

I’ll never forget the first time I set eyes on Bob across a very crowded nightclub floor in November 1989. Hes fit! I thought, admiring his tall, toned bod. We spent the evening chatting. Bob, then 34, worked at a builders’ merchants, a typical blokey bloke. On our first date, five days later, I discovered he was a true gentleman, too. Soon, we’d become an item, and I really couldn’t have been happier. But, about four years into our relationship… 'I like to dress up in women’s clothes,’ Bob told me. 'I’m not really into that,’ I replied, assuming it was a sexual thing. As our sex life was normal, I dismissed it. And when we got married in July 1994, I was over the moon. But, five years later,…

The sun was out and my fella David Lewis, 48, and I were driving along happily. We were off to grab some dinner, then walk our Jack Russell Pepsi in the park. It was 7.30pm, on 4 July this year. But as I turned into a car park, suddenly the warning Electrical fault flashed on the dashboard… I’d only had the second-hand, 2006 Renault Scenic for a few weeks. The private dealer said it’d been fully serviced when I handed over £2,000 in April. Must ve overheated, I thought. Spying a space, I nipped in and turned off the engine. Then, I rang the RAC – and it was a good job, too. Suddenly, vapour drifted out of the interior vents and car bonnet. 'There’s smoke, and… Oh, God… Flames!’…

How I lost it! Growing up , I'd always been on the ‘larger' side, but from 25, my weight gradually crept up . I tried lots of diets, but I always put the weight back on, as they only ever left me feeling more hungry and unsatisfied. Being overweight was putting stress on my knees. Sport was becoming harder, which in turn made me depressed and turn to food. I'd always wanted to go wing-walking, but, at just under 15st and a dress size-18, I needed to lose 3st to do it. So, in May 2014, I joined Slimming W orld, starting on the Food Optimising plan. I soon realised it wasn't a diet at all, just a healthy way of eating. The pounds began to melt away, and now…

Emmerdale Premature panic… Emotions run high as Vanessa goes into premature labour, with Kirin by her side. Plus David says Pollard needs him, so he buys back the village shop and tells Alicia that he’s not returning to Portugal. EastEnders Ashes & ashes Dot is welcomed back to the Square, but then demands to know why there are two urns in her cabinet… Plus Ian makes a decision and leaves Walford with Bobby, while Jane decides she’ll take the rap for Lucy’s murder. Hollyoaks Yee-haw! Everybody enters into the spirit (and the selfie) at Lindsey’s American-themed party. Plus Maxine bumps into Darren and he urges her to tell him if Patrick hurts her again. And Holly rejects Jason and runs off to Robbie.…

MeMeMe Light Me Up High Shine Lipgloss in Captivate, £6.99, mememecosmetics. com With light and mirror for touch-ups on the go! Top tip: Carry in your handbag on a night out. Models Own Hyperlips Lipgloss in Naturally Nude, £4.99, Superdrug This is a lovely pale shade with a really glossy finish. Top tip: Team with smoky eyes for a statement glamour look. Barry M Lip Boss in Thinking Outside the Box, £4.49, Boots Lots of shine with a subtle hint of sparkle. Top tip: Pick a shade that is as close to your natural lip colour as possible. Essence XXXL Nude Lipgloss in Just Nude, £2, Wilko Enhances your natural lip colour for simple, everyday wear. Top tip: Apply over lipstick to help it last longer.…

If you'd like help with a problem, write to: Ingrid, Chat, Blue Fin Building, 110 Southwark Street, London SE1 OSU, or e-mail ask-ingrid@timeinc.com Sorry, Ingrid can not reply personally. Try to see this girl as a happy addition to the family… No love for stepdaughter...  stepdaughter, 12, but I've totally failed. She's mean, greedy Q I've tried so hard to be a good mum to my and picks fights with my two girls. They've come to loathe her. But she's all sweetness and light when her dad's around. He can't see the bad in her. What do I do? Vicky, 36 A My heart breaks for the wee soul, it really does. She's caught in the crossfire with three of you shooting her down from all angles and only her…

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Big, sad brown eyes stared up into mine. My heart melted. 'This is Sammy,’ someone said. The lovely, gentle German shepherd pup had chunks of him missing. A leg, bits of his face… 'Poor thing!’ I cried. I knew right away I had to rescue him. It was April this year, and I’d come across Sammy being cared for in an animal shelter in Romania. Dogs are my life. In fact, my first word was 'dog’! At 14, I was a volunteer at my local RSPCA. And, by the time I was 36, I’d set up the charity Safe Rescue for Dogs. We rescued dogs of all shapes and sizes from the UK and abroad. Especially Romania, where there’s a terrible animal welfare problem – especially concerning stray dogs. Sammy…

Parrots, cockatiels, budgies…I’ve always been obsessed with birds. When I was growing up, my parents had an aviary full of chirpy chums. I spent hours in there, listening to them tweeting away. I’d hold out my hand and wait for one to swoop down and perch on my finger. I was fascinated by them. Aged 20, I flew the nest and got a place of my own. Then, in 1993, I had my son Mikhailion. But my life wouldn’t have been complete without a few feathered friends of my own. So I bought some budgies from my local pet store. Home, tweet home! Over the years, I trained my birds to do simple things like perch on my head and feed from my hand. I’d spend hours at it, rewarding…