Table of contents for 08-Feb-2018 in Chat

The news was totally unexpected. ‘You’re having twins,’ the sonographer smiled. I gasped, as my hubby Andy’s jaw dropped. We’d been married almost seven years before deciding to start a family. So we were thrilled in August 2016 when we found out I was pregnant. And now, we were having not one, but two babies! Reading up on twins, Caesareans popped up a lot. But I’d always hoped for a natural birth. ‘Both babies are head-down at the moment,’ the doctor told us at my 24-week scan. So there was still a chance that I could deliver them naturally. I suffered throughout my pregnancy, diagnosed with a condition called obstetric cholestasis, which made my skin unbearably itchy. But I was so excited to meet my babies. I was booked in…

My boyfriend Paul strolled into the living room, dressed in jeans and a smart shirt. ‘Get your glad rags on,’ he grinned. ‘I’m taking you out.’ Spontaneous, romantic. That was my Paul, 30. We’d met in April 2012, in the restaurant where I worked. After that, I bumped into him so much I wondered if it was purely coincidence. ‘Can I take you out?’ he finally asked. He’d been plucking up the courage for weeks. From that first date, we were never apart. Paul was a real gent, taking me out and buying my favourite flowers, pink gerberas. I had a 3-year-old girl, Laycee, from a previous relationship, and Paul was brilliant with her. He worked hard as a hospital cleaner, and every penny was for us. In October 2012,…

Running up the stairs, I felt a sharp pain in my left knee. I was 13 and had been getting pains in my knees. Mum took me to my GP, who thought it was growing pains. But they got worse, so I was back and forth to see my doctor. Sometimes the pain was so bad Mum took me to A&E. In the end, I was referred to an orthopaedic surgeon. ‘The alignment of your left kneecap is incorrect,’ he said. It was too high and lopsided and I’d need surgery to correct it. My right kneecap wasn’t aligned correctly either. But the pain in my right knee was mild and bearable. So I decided to just have the operation on my left. At 17 I had keyhole surgery to…

She was completely naked, looked wild with rage I saw a flash of white... one of my testicles slipping out Cheers!’ I cried as we all clinked glasses. The samba music was blaring, the drinks flowing. It was May 2016 and I was in a nightclub with my old friend Nunzia and my workmate Marco. I worked long hours as a chef in an Italian restaurant in Edinburgh, so it was great to let my hair down. I watched Nunzia giggle as Marco grabbed her around the waist, moving to the music. They’d clearly hit it off. What a relief! I thought. Nunzia and I had been ‘friends with benefits’ for a while, meeting up a couple of times a month. It was purely physical, no feelings. We both understood…

Back home, I frantically searched online for information Waiting patiently, I held the pregnancy-test stick tightly in my hand. I’d only done it out of curiosity. It was October 2013 and I’d been trying for a baby for two years with my partner Nathan, 25. Nothing had happened. We were ready to try IVF. Only, then... Pregnant, suddenly flashed up on the digital screen. ‘Ahhh!’ I screamed. Heart pounding, hands shaking, I took a photo and sent it to Nathan at work. We were both stunned – but thrilled to bits. We could hardly contain our happiness and excitedly made plans. Then a few days later, Nathan’s nan Pat, 71, called. ‘My horoscope says someone I know is having twins. I wonder if it’s you, Becky!’ she said. And two…

Beauty gadgets Nspa Expert Cleansing Brush, £15, Asda  Give your face a really deep clean by using this rotating brush along with your normal cleanser. You'll notice a big difference in skin texture and tone. StylPro Make-Up Brush Cleaner and Dryer, £39.99, Boots  Created by Apprentice winner and inventor Tom Pellereau, this device cleans and dries makeup brushes of all shapes and sizes in seconds. Neutrogena Visibly Clear Light Therapy Targeted Acne Spot Treatment, £29.99, Boots  Instead of squeezing spots and slathering on cream, simply hold this light onto your zit for two minutes to start the healing process with no fuss and no mess! Magnitone Blend Up Makeup Blending Brush, £50, feelunique.com  For a professional effect, this brush blends your make-up with 250 movements per second.…

I was really terrified that I’d passed it on to my children… Being a receptionist means keeping a smile on your face – but in late 1979, I was finding that hard... Working at a hotel in Gibraltar, I’d just had my first child, Lee. And I felt rotten. For six weeks, I was exhausted, had aches and pains. I gradually improved – but, as time passed, symptoms kept coming and going. Fatigue, pain, brain fogs... ‘Something really isn’t right,’ I explained to my doctor. But medics couldn’t find the cause of the problem. Life went on and I gave birth to my daughter Moyna in December 1980. But, throughout my 20s, symptoms tormented me. Until, living in the UK years later, I finally found some answers. It was 1992,…

I just wanted a bit of fun, some laughs, passion… Bunny boiler. You know the cliche – a scorned mistress seeking revenge... But, as a proud ‘other woman’, I hate the phrase. Yes, I date married men. But I don’t destroy lives, homes or marriages. In fact, I think I improve married men’s lives by being a companion they can talk to, laugh with – and, for a select few, spend the night with – before I send them home to their wives. You probably hate me. But hear me out… See, I was once a wife myself, married to a wonderful man for 11 years. But we ended up like siblings, flatmates. There was no sizzle left between us at all. ‘So are you ready for another 40 years…

Every time the baby kicked was tinged with sadness I’ll keep Mum’s memory alive for my girls The second my phone buzzed, I grabbed it and picked up. ‘Hello, Mum,’ I blurted, grinning. ‘Just calling for a chat,’ she replied. I’d already spoken to my mum Joan, 69, on the phone twice that morning. We were always ringing each other throughout the day for little catch-ups. I loved her to bits, and she was a doting grandma to my daughter Millie, 2. Hands on, she’d often look after her to help out me and my partner Ryan, 34. ‘I don’t know what I’d do without you,’ I’d tell her. Then, in 2016, Mum developed a nasty cough, told me she’d been bringing up blood. ‘You need to get checked out,’…

Picking an apple from the tree in my nana’s garden, I ran inside and gave it to her. ‘For you,’ I beamed. My nana Joan smiled sadly. ‘Your auntie Pauline used to pick apples from that tree,’ she sighed. With sadness and pain in her eyes, she often compared me to her daughter Pauline Reade. See, Pauline had passed away when she was just 16, so I’d never met her. My dad Paul was about 14 when she’d died. As I got older, I learned more about what’d happened to Pauline. And, suddenly, I understood Nana’s pain. Pauline had been brutally murdered. She was the first victim of evil Moors Murderers Ian Brady and Myra Hindley. On 12 July 1963, Pauline had been walking to a dance in Gorton, Manchester,…

Aldi Specially Selected Really Nutty Muesli, 500g, £1.59 This is packed with four different types of nuts: almonds, hazelnuts, cashews and Brazil nuts. This option from Aldi is a real bargain considering how nutty it is! Morrisons The Best Fruit & Nut Granola Muesli, 500g, £2.47 Golden granola clusters, caramelised hazelnuts and pecans make this luxurious. It's quite high in sugar but is a good option between a sugary granola and a plain muesli. Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Beetroot, Apple & Hazelnut Muesli, 550g £2.60  The earthy beetroot goes well with the sweet apple - and turns the milk a vivid pink! NEW Sainsbury's Sweet & Smoky BBQ Pulled Jackfruit, 350g, £3  Sainsbury's has launched a great new vegan-friendly range. You won't believe this is made from fruit!…

Freezy does it!  When ice cream's just out of the freezer, it can be very hard to serve. Pop a serving spoon in a mug of hot water for a few minutes before scooping, - so much easier! Hayley Tomkins, Swansea Hang it all  I spray-painted an old wooden candlestick to suit my room, screwed hooks round the top - and now have a great place to keep jewellery tangle-free! Jean Vaughan, Treharris Hole truth  So that's what the hole in your saucepan handle's for - keeping your utensils handy! Mary Jamieson, Newcastle Brush up  Keep an old, clean toothbrush by the kitchen sink - great for cleaning awkwardly shaped jars before reusing or recycling. Sonja McLachlan, Fort William Slice advice  Use an egg slicer to quickly and uniformly chop…

Incredible boy Victor is inspirational (12 Oct 2017 issue). He confronts every milestone with his charismatic smile. This brave 3-year-old has a rare overgrowth syndrome called CLOVES, which makes his determination even more incredible. Parents Jennifer and Jerry, and sisters Mary and Sofia, have witnessed his seizures and painful ops. But Victor empowers the family with his humour. I wish him every happiness. Jill Cohen, Moortown Boo to the queues Long waiting times to see a GP are endangering people’s health. It’s not fair that patients are bearing the brunt because there aren’t enough doctors. And those we have are overstretched. Kayla Maddocks, Waltham Cross A costly walk While walking my dog, a man came out of the butcher’s shop swinging a carrier bag of meat. My pooch went for…

Her eyes widened, no sounds came out of her mouth... Out in town, I was having one of those days. It was really busy, everyone was rushing, people were rude, bumping into me and my buggy. ‘Excuse me,’ I kept mumbling, red-faced. But no-one listened, just kept rushing on. It was 8 September last year. Out in town with my then 15-month-old daughter Morgan, she’d had enough, too. She was crying, upset because she was teething. People bumping into us would start her off. Scrambling in my bag for her dummy, I was gutted. We must’ve lost it! Thankfully, I had her favourite snacks on hand instead. Peeling open a pack of cocktail sausages, I gave her a piece. She sat up and munched away happily. By the afternoon, I…

Serves: 2 Prep: 10 mins Cook: 35 mins Cost per serving: £1.22 1 Preheat the oven to 200C/Gas 6. Cook a head of cauliflower, broken into florets, in a large pan of boling, salted water for 5 mins until tender. Drain well and tip into an ovenproof dish. 2 Melt 30g butter in a saucepan over a medium heat. Slowly stir in 30g plain flour and 500ml milk. Whisk continuously for 5-10 mins until sauce starts to bubble, then lower the heat and simmer for 5 mins, stirring occasionally. 3 Season with salt and pepper to taste, remove from heat and stir 2tbsp chopped parsley, 2tbsp pesto and 100g grated Cheddar into the sauce, reserving some Cheddar for topping cauliflower. 4 Pour the sauce over the cauliflower and sprinkle with…

The police hadn’t come with the news we wanted to hear. ‘We’ve stumbled across some body parts,’ an officer began. My heart thumped. ‘Body parts?’ I stuttered. ‘We’ve found a bit of bone,’ he continued. ‘It’s Pauline’s bottom jaw.’ ‘What do you mean?’ I gasped, horrified. Pauline’s body had been found 30 years earlier. ‘You must be mistaken,’ I said. ‘We’ve already buried her.’ The officer explained Pauline’s jaw had been found at Leeds University, where it’d been kept as police evidence. ‘But I don’t understand,’ I spluttered. Everybody knew Pauline had been killed by Brady and Hindley. Why keep any of her body parts? ‘Would you like to donate the remains to science, or bury or cremate them?’ I was asked. My head span. ‘I don’t know,’ I said,…

OVERTURNED In July 2016, prosecutors said they’d no longer seek to retry Ingmar Guandique, after revelations about Armando Morales – the cellmate who claimed Guandique confessed to killing Chandra Levy – came to light. A woman told police she’d got to know Morales after his release from jail and claimed he’d told her, ‘The prosecutors wanted me to lie. They knew they had the right guy. They just needed somebody to say it.’ Guandique has since been deported. Meanwhile, Gary Condit’s career was left in tatters – although no charges were ever brought against him. And so the question of who killed Chandra Levy remains unanswered – 17 years after her death.…

Weight worry Q I've put on weight recently and can't shift it. Is it because of my menopause? Tina, 53 A Loss of the hormone oestrogen after menopause can affect your body fat, building more fat around your middle, and might reduce your metabolic rate, meaning you burn fewer calories. Your best bet is regular exercise, which can reduce both these effects. Regular checks Q My husband's nagging me to have another medical checkup. Do I really need one every year? Sue, 63 A The NHS offers a check every five years if you're healthy and aged 40-74. Meanwhile, it's probably worth getting your blood pressure checked every year or so. Make sure your smears and jabs are up to date, and see your GP if you need help with…

WINNING BY THE SEASIDE Our hols were extra special  By Sherralea O’Brien, 43, from Gravesend Every year, we go to Devon for two weeks – it’s a tradition. My husband Nick, 61, and my son Charlie, 16, love it, too. Last July, we began the four-hour journey from home. Once we’d got there, both Charlie and Nick couldn’t wait to get down to the beach. ‘I’ll stay here,’ I said. On my mobile, I decided to advance six 10p tickets for the Tiki 90-ball Bingo game at 8.30 that evening. Later that night, I decided to watch my game play out. The jackpot was £1,000 – I just couldn’t imagine! And what happened next wasn’t a figment of my imagination. ‘Oh, my God!’ I screamed, as the numbers popped out.…

My eating was in a repetitive and vicious cycle One day, I hope I’ll love my body... The childish taunts followed me as I made my way through the playground. ‘Fatty!’ ‘Beast!’ Used to it, I just kept my head down and kept going. Growing up, I was always a little podgy. But it was when I lost my grandparents at the age of 8 that my weight began to spiral out of control. Now, at 13, I was dangerously overweight at 13st. I’d hoard sweets, chocolate bars, crisps, and secretly scoff them in my room. Doctors told me I was pre-diabetic. My size was not just affecting my looks, but my health, too. Both physical and mental. The hurtful remarks in the playground threw me into a deep…

Banoffee tarts Serves: 16 Prep: 30 mins, plus chilling Cook: 15 mins Cost per serving: 20p 1 Sift 225g plain flour and ¼tsp salt in a large bowl. Rub in 50g vegetable fat and 60g butter with your fingers until the mixture looks like breadcrumbs. Stir in just enough chilled water to make a soft but not sticky dough. Knead for a few moments until smooth, then wrap and chill for 10-15 mins. 2 Preheat the oven to 200C/Gas 6. 3 Roll out the pastry thinly on a floured surface and use a 7.5cm cutter to stamp out 16 rounds, rerolling the pastry as necessary. Use to line 16 patty tins. Prick the bases with a fork, line with scrunched-up foil, then bake for 10-15 mins. 4 Meanwhile, put 50g…

1 Visit the beach The long, sandy beach offers the very best seaside experience. Go on a walk on the promenade or watch beach volleyball while having an ice-cold Sangria. 2 Stroll around the city Wander around the little streets of Faro's dreamy Old Town, and make sure to visit Se de Faro, the magnificent cathedral located on the site of an old Roman temple. 3 Take in the sardine festival Held annually in August, as well as stalls offering grilled sardines and other fresh, local foods, you can also find markets with homemade jewellery and traditional, colourful tiles. Great to browse around for souvenirs. 4 Visit a top beach club A short drive from Faro, in nearby Portimao, you'll find the finest beach clubs in the Algarve. Blanco Beach…

He dumped her body in the bath, covered it with bleach THE CRIME On 5 August 1993, Cynthia Burger, 44, was raped and strangled to death in her own home, in an attack that was not what it seemed at first glance. It took detectives seven years to find the man who killed her - but, when they did, there would be no mercy for him. THE STORY Michael Schultz was a methamphetamine addict, constantly looking for a way to get his next fix. But he was also a man with hatred in his heart. He was a Nazi sympathiser, obsessed with the story about a German soldier named Ernest Burger, who’d turned in six fellow Nazi comrades to American forces during the Second World War. The Nazi soldiers were…

Aries 21 March - 20 April Quoting regulations doesn’t always win an argument. There are likely to be two awkward moments at work this week and in both cases you could insist on your legal rights - but it may be best to let things go. Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April - 21 May A dispute with your partner needs negotiation before you reach a result that satisfies you both. An ex sympathises, and you’re tempted to think you should get back together - but it’s probably not a good idea! Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May - 21 June You said there were certain things you’d never do again, especially in your love life. But a new romance is ripping up the…