Table of contents for 14-Jul-2016 in Chat

When we renewed our vows, I was proud Astra was there The pair of them are welcome to each other Me, Chris and Astra – once friends ‘Is that a real snake?’ I heard a voice say. ‘What’s he been up to now?’ I sighed. At the front door, my hubby Shaun was paying a taxi driver – the one asking the question. In Shaun’s hand was a carrier containing a baby green common boa constrictor! ‘You know I’ve got a phobia of snakes,’ I said. But Shaun barrelled inside, regardless. And that was how Mitch – the snake! – became a member of the family. I wasn’t happy about it. Especially when Shaun got Princess – a 4ft Burmese python – too. But marriage is a compromise, after…

Trigger finger Q My middle finger bends OK, but then won't straighten until it suddenly pops straight with a click! What's up? Diane, 51 A Sounds like a trigger finger. The tendon, or sinew, which bends your finger is catching as it passes through a sheath in your palm. A finger splint, a steroid injection or, if necessary, surgery should fix it. Throat lump Q There's a constant lump in my throat. Tests haven't shown anything and I'm told it's muscle tension, but I can really feel it! Kimberly, 33 AGlobus is the sensation of a hard lump caused by spasm of your throat muscles,. Relaxation exercises, counselling or CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) to deal with underlying stress should help. Tummy pains Q I was in hospital with severe abdominal…

My name appeared in flashing lights on my screen I called all our kids – they were chuffed! My hubby John, 64, and I used to love an evening at the bingo hall. We still do! But when I spotted a promotion for Chat Mag Bingo online, with a fab sign-up bonus, we had to give it a go. So, in August last year, we both joined, receiving £35 to play with, when we deposited £10. ‘This is great fun!’ I said to John, as we explored all the different bingo rooms. And online bingo suits us to a tee now we’ve retired! With some downtime at home, being able to play our fave online bingo games from the comfort and convenience of our own sofa is perfect. Plus, there…

Bach Rescue Remedy Dropper, £7.99, Holland & Barrett Formulated from flower essences, just put a few drops in your drink or on your tongue to help you relax. Top tip: Great for nervous flyers. Soap & Glory Mini The Daily Smooth Body Butter, £2.50, Boots Use this anywhere in need of some TLC during and after your flight! Top tip: Drink plenty of water to keep your skin looking its best. Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm in Zinnia, £5.99, www. feelunique.com This has the same nourishing ingredients as the original balm, but with a hint of tint. Top tip: Apply a pop of colour to make you look less washed-out after your flight. Tangle Teezer Compact Styler in Pink Sizzle, £12.49, Boots You really can't beat…

All parents want to protect their kids. Wrap them in cotton wool. But I never imagined that I’d have to do exactly that. Every day, I cover my boy in bandages, from neck-to-toe… My beautiful son Jonathan arrived naturally on 2 June 2000, weighing 6lb 8oz. A first-time mother, I counted each precious finger and toe at Montfort Hospital, Ottowa. Next day, a doctor came to see him. ‘There are blisters on his fingers,’ he said. Scared he had an infection, they arranged to transfer Jonathan to specialists at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario. As a nurse attached a drip to his arm, I watched the tape lift off, taking a patch of skin with it. Next, blisters swelled in his throat, blocking his airwaves. He was incubated instantly.…

Bellatrix and Lord Voldemort were cake-toppers! Posing for a photo, my boyfriend Lewis suddenly dropped to one knee. ‘Will you marry me?’ he beamed. I stared at him, speechless. It was October 2014, and, for my 30th birthday, Lewis had surprised me with a trip to Universal Studios in Florida to visit Harry Potter World. We were in the middle of Diagon Alley, and a crowd was gathering to watch. Lewis repeated the question… ‘Yes!’ I squealed, flying into his arms as people started cheering. It was a real magic moment! Lewis and I had met through friends back in May 2012. He knew I was potty about Harry Potter, and, on our second date, he’d given me a little Lego figurine of my Hogwarts hero. Lewis is The One…

WhileI wasn't ashamed of mine, it was ugly... It didn’t sound fun. But it could be the answer to my problems. ‘You could have an ileostomy,’ my surgeon at Royal Cornwall Hospital, Treliske told me. I’d suffered with my bowels since childhood, but it’d got worse since I’d had my son Deano, 8. I’d sickness, constipation agonising cramps and nothing I’d tried had worked. Now my surgeon explained this option. ‘The small bowel is diverted through an opening in the abdomen called a stoma,’ the surgeon said. ‘A bag is placed over the stoma to collect waste products.’ Essentially, I’d carry my poo in a pouch on my front. It was daunting. But then I thought of Deano. Every morning, he’d rub my back as I vomited. He deserved a…

My phone rang. It was Jess' dad, and there was panic in his voice… Standing at the kitchen sink, I turned on the tap to do the washing up. Then I heard shouting coming from upstairs. ‘Muuuum! There’s something wrong with Jess,’ my daughter Jodie screamed. I dropped everything. My eldest daughter Jess, then 10, was lying on the floor of their bedroom, her body convulsing. Kneeling down, I tried to hold her still. ‘Jess! Are you OK?’ I asked, trying to stay calm. Within a minute or two, she came round and was back to normal – but I took her to A&E to get her checked out. My mum suffers with epilepsy – maybe Jess did, too. I pushed for an electroencephalogram (EEG) test to measure the amount…

Without telling anyone,I joined a dating site You may recognise me from when my story was in Chat in 2013. But now, things have moved on so much for me… Just a few years back, I was an attractive woman with a lust for life. I’d just come out of a relationship and had begun to piece my life back together. I lived for my kids – Gemma, now 32, John, 28, and Stuart, 25. I’d seven grandkids, too. Then my whole life changed… It was February 2011, and I was in excruciating pain. ‘My mouth hurts at the top, all the way round,’ I said to Gemma. I’d been back and forth to the dentist, who’d said I had an infection. But then, my top teeth – especially the…

I loved to wear pretty, feminine dresses Creeping into my mum’s bedroom, I opened one of her drawers. Spotting a pink, satin bra, I held it to my chest. I want to be a lady when I grow up, I thought. Trouble was, back then, I was a little boy called Maurice. From a young age, I knew I was different. Growing up, I hid how I was feeling. Then at 21, I met Anita, 22, at a social club. She was such fun and gorgeous. We fell in love and in August 1967, we tied the knot. We went on to have five children – three boys and two girls. But I was battling with my true feelings. One weekend, Anita and the kids were away and I bought…

If the chemo didn't work, she'd need to have her eye removed As I brushed my 1-year-old daughter Daisy’s thick, golden hair, she giggled happily. I’d just finished getting her ready for my cousin’s wedding. ‘Such a pretty girl,’ I told her, taking a few snaps on my phone. But when I looked back at them, I noticed a white glow in her right eye. ‘That’s odd,’ I said to my fiance Ross, 24. I’d read somewhere that a white flash in a baby’s eyes could be a sign of something serious. Concerned, days later in July last year, I took her to see our GP. ‘She just has a little squint,’ the doctor said after I’d showed her the photo. Back at home, I couldn’t shake the feeling it…

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Inspiring Like Kirby Campbell, I suffer from ulcerative colitis and was in hospital with a severe flare-up when I read her story about Sally Stoma ( A Friend in Need , 26 May issue). I was extremely upset as I'd just been told that I would require surgery - and then I read about Kirby's operation. Her optimistic attitude made me feel less afraid and more positive. I have a wonderful husband and two beautiful boys waiting for me and, thanks to Kirby, I will get home to them healthier and happier. Tracey Gillespie, via Facebook Set the scene I recently visited a care home for the elderly with lovely views of a landscape filled with trees and flowers. And yet everyone was sitting with their…

1 Preheat grill to hot. 2 Mix 450g turkey mince with 2tbsp sweet chilli sauce, 1tbsp soy sauce, 1tsp each minced ginger and garlic, the finely grated rind of a lime, 4 finely chopped spring onions, a small handful of chopped coriander and plenty of black pepper. 3 Divide and shape mixture into four evenly sized burgers. 4 Arrange burgers on a foil-lined pan and grill for 6-7 min on each side until golden. 5 Serve in toasted buns with lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise. Serves: 4 Cost per head: 96p LIFE! DEATH! PRIZES! For more foodie bargains, visit www.lifedeathprizes.com and click on ‘best buys’…

I know that I've taken my health for granted for so long. Never again As my mum put a plate of beans on toast down in front of me, I slid it away from me. ‘I’m not feeling very hungry,’ I lied. ‘You’ve got to eat something!’ she told me, exasperated. But, to be honest, I was actually ravenous. But as soon as I took a mouthful of the food, I could hear the cruel bullies’ taunts ringing in my mind. F.A.T! F.A.T! F.A.T! See my name was Fiona Turner. And though my real middle name was Margaret, some cruel kids at school had decided it should be Angela. ‘So your initials spell out fat,’ one had said. I’d always been plumper than other kids in my class and an…

Cancer 22 June - 23 July A little setback can be a useful thing. It gives you a quick dose of reality, and stops you from seeing something - or someone - in an idealistic way. Something similar happens now and, in the long run, you’ll be glad it did. Call 0905 817 0693* for more Leo 24 July - 23 Aug Some things seem a good idea at the time - especially if they’re a long way away. When you get closer in time or distance, you wonder what you were thinking. Don’t listen to what a mate tells you - use your common sense. Call 0905 817 0694* for more Virgo 24 Aug - 23 Sep If it’s going to cause a load of arguments with your friends,…

 ‘ had cancer,’ I told him, before We went shopping and saw a jewellery shop… I sending the new snap. ‘Don’t judge me on the way I look.’ But I needn’t have worried. Corrie asked what I’d been through, and I explained. ‘I thought you were going to say breast cancer,’ he said. Just days later, in March 2014, we met at Corrie’s house. I was terribly nervous, but he was waiting for me with a bunch of flowers. We just didn’t stop talking, and we met every day after that. Four weeks later, I introduced him to the kids. ‘He’s great, Mum,’ Gemma said afterwards. They all approved! Corrie, 44, and I talked about marriage and the future. ‘I’d like to get hitched,’ he said. In October 2014, we…

My Staffie followed me everywhere – even to the loo! Marley was my first baby – a gorgeous, black-and-white Staffie pup who me and my hubby Chris, 30, adopted 11 years ago. Soft as anything, we shared a special bond. When I fell pregnant with Thea, now 8, and Effy, 6, she was like my shadow. So much so that, when she started acting the same way four years ago, it gave me a tip-off. I bought a pregnancy test. Nine months later, Freddie arrived! ‘You knew before I did,’ I said, introducing Marley to our baby. Then, at the end of 2014, Marley started following me everywhere. ‘What’s up with you?’ I laughed as she squeezed between me and the cooker as I made tea. Even if I got…

My Classic Gin & Diet Tonic, £1, Asda If you're watching your weight, this tasty diet version has just 24 cal compared with 68 in the others - you do the maths! Gordon's Gin & Tonic, £1.87 The leading brand bar none, with its distinctive, slightly sour flavour. Some won't drink anything else - and sales prove it! Sainsbury's Gin And Tonic, £1.50 This has a lovely, fruity flavour with a nice, sweet finish. Very easy to drink - just add ice and a slice of lemon. Cheers! NEW Tyrrells Coronation Chicken Crisps, £2, Tesco Just the thing to have with your G&T, enjoy the flavour of roast chicken and mild curry on these limited-edition crisps - they're only available until October.…

Serves: 8 Prep: 10 min Cook: 20 min 75g butter, plus extra for greasing 150g golden syrup Grated zest of 1 orange 150g prunes, roughly chopped 150g pitted dates, roughly chopped 150g porridge oats ½tsp ground cinnamon 100g mixed seeds (such as sunflower and pumpkin) 75g dried cranberries 50g flaked almonds 50g brazil nuts, chopped 1 Preheat oven to 180C/Gas 4, and grease and base-line a 20x20cm square cake tin. 2 Put golden syrup, butter, orange zest, prunes and dates in a saucepan and gently heat until butter has melted, then cook over a low-medium heat for 5 min, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and mash everything together. 3 Tip into a bowl and mix in remaining ingredients. Press into tin and bake for 18-20 min until lightly golden. 4…

I'd needed six blood transfusions to save my life With two daughters – Ellie, now 16, and Maddison, 12 – I hadn’t expected to have more children. Then I’d met Matt Gaylor in 2010, and fallen head over heels... ‘I’d like to have kids with you,’ he’d said. The more we talked about it, the more I realised I felt the same way. So we started trying. Only nothing happened… By the time we married in 2012, I still hadn’t fallen pregnant, so we decided to pay privately to see a consultant. And, following tests… ‘You have Asherman’s syndrome,’ he said. He explained it was scarring and adhesions on the uterus. It was often caused by Caesareans, but I’d never had one, so it was a mystery why I was…

Sleepless nights and endless crying took their toll Call it a mother’s instinct but, as my belly swelled, I just knew… ‘We’re having twins,’ I said, rubbing my tummy in late 2014. ‘You’re crazy,’ my fiance Rhett, now 35, laughed ‘You’re only five weeks gone, you can’t know that.’ I couldn’t explain it, as twins didn’t run in our families, I just had a feeling... And, at my first scan, I was proved right! ‘Told you!’ I grinned to Rhett. We were shocked but overjoyed. I was really ill with morning sickness, but it was all worth it at 36½ weeks. On 13 May last year, our beautiful baby boys Lachie and Sam were born naturally, weighing 6lb 6oz and 5lb 8oz. We couldn’t wait to take them home. Only,…

1 York Minster The largest Gothic cathedral in Northern Europe took 250 years to build, and inside, you'll see why - it's stunning. With towering columns and beautiful, stained-glass windows, it's unmissable. 2 Chocolate Both Rowntree and Terry's started here, and KitKat is the biggest seller, with around five million produced in York every day! Dip into a sweet history lesson at The Chocolate Story before visiting the shop to load up. 3 Ghost hunting Take the York Ghost Bus Tours for a thrill-packed ride through Europe's most haunted city. Enjoy technical trickery, exciting ghost stories and professional actors delivering an award-winning comedy script! 4 The Walls No visit is complete without a stroll along the 3.4km-long, beautifully preserved medieval walls. 5 Get historical With over 30 museums and tourist…

Q What do you call a girl with a frog on her head? A Lily! Q Why did the chicken go to the seance? A To get to the Other Side..! Q Where do mice park their boats? A At the hickory dickory dock! Q What do cats have for breakfast? A Mice Crispies! Q What do you call a dog magician? A Obvious - a Labracadabrador ! Q What do you call 400 rabbits hopping backwards? A A receding hare line! And finally… A friend tried to annoy me with bird puns, but I realised that toucan play at that game...…

Seems she was back… and she was performing magic tricks The date: 30 May 1431. The day Joan of Arc died. She was burned at the stake – three times, just to be sure. Then her ashes were dumped into the River Seine in Rouen, France. Thousands witnessed the execution of Joan, the would-be saviour of the French, murdered for all to see. Or was she..? The story of Joan of Arc – the teenage peasant who claimed to have been sent by God to save the Kingdom of France – was well-known. The country was being torn apart by civil war. Joan’s side, the Armagnacs, believed Charles VII was the rightful king. The other side, the Burgundians, felt the title belonged to Henry VI, King of England. In February…

SPOT THE…SHEEP?  eet the bleaters genetically modified to M look like ‘spotty dogs'. The controversial experiment was performed by Liu Mingjun - Chief Researcher at China's Xinjiang Animal Husbandry Research Institute. The incredibly powerful technique may lead scientists into a baa-rave new world. GAME ON With no date for the prom, Californian student Chris Burwell decided to take computer game, Super Smash Bros. Melee , instead. Chris said, ‘I'm not a total loser, but I don't know any girls.' Maybe he'll learn to push a lady's buttons, too, one day... WHEELY HARD WORK If at first you don't succeed, try, try…960 times! South Korean Cha Sa-soon was 64 when she began learning to drive. Taking the test once a day, around five times a week, she passed…