Table of contents for 01-Nov-2018 in Chat

Alison had just become a granny but the happy time didn’t last and saw her raising the newborn for truly tragic reasons (p6). Danielle’s story on p20 is a real shocker. She was very ill and didn’t know it but somehow her pet dog did… And on p24, Sheila and her girls made dieting look like so much fun, we’re tempted to give it a go! On top of those fab stories and our usual prize puzzles, we have new coats for winter (p12), tried-and-tested chilli con carne (p29) and a snoop round Kirsty’s stylish bargain-filled home (p40)... Have a great week!…

Mahala Rigden, 53, Cleveleys Stepping down the aisle, I looked around at adoring faces gazing at me. There were only 20 guests, but that’s all I needed... And the man of my dreams, starry-eyed at the altar. Coming to a stop next to my security-guard fiance...Pete, 30. ‘You look gorgeous,’ he smiled. ‘You, too,’ I whispered. It was 31 January 2000 and I was wearing a simple cream, knee-length dress and jacket. Divorced once already, I wanted to focus on the things that were important, this time. Not the flowers or the gown. But our vows. We promised to stick together. For richer for poorer, in sickness and in health... We celebrated afterwards at our local pub, and then settled into married life. But over the next year, I was…

Emma Torr, 31, Nottingham Brushing her curly locks, I admired my youngest daughter’s thick head of hair. ‘There!’ I cooed, tying her plait. ‘Just like a little princess.’ Beaming Enya-Rose, then 2, twirled in a happy circle. My little girl loved dressing up, pretending to do her make-up like her mummy. A real girly girl! But in October 2016, I noticed something about her was different. Her hair. It was thinner than before, with clumps on top, the sides wispy and flyaway. In some places you could see her scalp. I took her to the doctor’s. The GP had a look, but wasn’t concerned. Maybe it was my imagination. But a month later, a lady approached me in the shops. ‘Such a shame you’re going through this,’ she said, gesturing…

Danielle King, 33, Basildon Clambering up and down ladders, stocking shelves and updating price tags, I had one of those jobs that constantly kept you on your feet. So whenever my legs began to ache or my feet began to pulse, I never took too much notice. ‘God, I’m wiped out,’ I’d moan to a colleague at the pet store. ‘Me, too,’ she’d agree, stretching out. But it was all part and parcel of the job – at the end of the day, someone had to do it. It was August 2016 – and despite my aching joints, I was fit and healthy. I lived at home with my two puppies Chaz and Dave, who were always buzzing around me. But lately Dave seemed to be acting up. With my…

Sheila Haggerty, 62, Worcester Arriving at the airport in London, the cold air felt like a sheet of ice against my skin. ‘It’s so cold,’ I shivered to my husband Kim, 53. It was November 2011, and after 12 years living in Tenerife, we were moving back to the UK to be close to our daughters Nicola and Julie, and our six grandkids. ‘Better get used to it, Mum,’ smiled my eldest, Nicola, 36, as she piled our bags into her car. Still, I knew we’d made the right decision. I lit a cigarette, blowing the smoke out the car window. ‘Mum!’ cried Nicola. ‘Not in the car.’ ‘Oh, sorry love,’ I said, quickly putting it out. ‘You should give up,’ said Nicola. ‘I have.’ I was shocked. Nicola had…

We have all experienced the pain of backache from time to time but there are ways to ease the pain and prevent it from returning. Things like lifting heavy objects, sitting for long periods, driving, poor posture and not being active enough can all be contributing factors. Most of these habits you can tackle with easy lifestyle changes. Tempting as it is to do nothing, being active is usually your best bet to tackle back pain and stop it coming back. Walking, swimming and yoga are great ways to exercise and stretch the muscles that strengthen your back. When heavy lifting is unavoidable, use a good technique (the NHS website has some good tips on this). And remember what your teacher always told you... Stand up straight! Your back will…

Waitrose Chilli Con Carne with Rice, 450g, £2.75 This has a generous amount of very finely ground meat and the best rice of those tested, but the sauce is a little sweet. Co-op Chilli Con Carne with Rice, 400g, £2.60 Good depth of flavour and a nice level of heat from the chilli, but the spices tasted a little raw. M&S Chilli Con Carne with Fluffy Rice, 450g, £2.50 A rich and flavourful sauce, with nice, large-sized pieces of mince. A delicious, warming and comforting meal for one!…

FUHRER FURORE A politician in India, Naramalli Sivaprasad, caused a scene when he attended Parliament dressed as Adolf Hitler, in protest against the country's Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Donning a jacket with swastikas and a fake moustache, he turned up in the controversial outfit to highlight the PM's alleged lack of funding for the state he represented. Sivaprasad claimed the PM was out of touch with the people, comparing Modi to the German dictator. CLUCKING MAD! A dad faces up to two decades in jail after shooting his son in the chest after an argument over chicken wings. John Louis Caver, 77, attacked his son while they watched a football game at home in Alabama. Caver's then-wife couldn't stop him from shooting and wounding his son. District attorney Michael Jackson…

Anne Weir, 65, Darlington I used to love going to the bingo hall but then, in 2011, I heard about Chat Mag Bingo from my daughter Amy, 34. ‘You mean I can play online?’ I’d asked surprised. ‘It’s fun,’ she grinned. It didn’t take long for me to get the hang of it and I began to enjoy the convenience. All the fun of bingo from the comfort of my kitchen table. I could pop the kettle on, do a load of laundry, and still be a social bingo butterfly. I’d have small wins once in a while but, having also won over £3,600 in three big bingo jackpots, I’d loved treating the family. I’d even booked a Mediterranean cruise, enjoyed a shopping trip to Manchester and bought things for…

Emmerdale Happy ever after..? Ross and Rebecca have had plenty of heartache, what with Ross’ acid attack and the crash that killed Rebecca’s sister Chrissie and her dad Lawrence. With their romance rekindled, the pair were to leave the Dales for a fresh start, but Rebecca has stuff to sort first and Ross says he’ll go alone. Will he leave without her..? EastEnders Birth shock! Ever since she found out she was pregnant, Hayley’s been worried that everyone will find out Alfie is her baby’s father. But, when her waters break, she’s frantic the truth will come out, so keeps quiet about being in labour. In agony, she drives to hospital. But the cab breaks down and she’s forced to give birth alone. Will she and her baby survive? Meanwhile,…

John Christie grew up in rural Yorkshire as the sixth of seven children. With five dominating older sisters, and a father who liked to dish out beatings, the boy’s personality never had the chance to fully develop. But John Christie’s intelligence did. He excelled at school, with an astonishingly high IQ and a talent for Maths, and he worked his way up to the top rank of the Boy Scouts. Nevertheless, Christie was a loner. When he hit his teenage years, and became interested in girls, he soon became even more socially isolated. He suffered with erectile dysfunction, and rumours quickly spread – with other school kids nicknaming him ‘Can’t-do-it-Christie’. It wasn’t an issue he would grow out of, and it triggered a feeling of dread around women. Nevertheless, in…

Pillow talk Q My new boyfriend talks in his sleep! What should I do - is it dangerous to wake him? Kirsty, Leith ASleeptalking often runs in families, though it can be triggered by stress, tiredness or illness. Waking him isn't dangerous but generally there's no need. I suggest he avoids alcohol or heavy meals before bed, and talks to his doctor if he's anxious or depressed. My smelly ear Q I had a smelly discharge from my ear and have been told it's a cholesteatoma. What is that? Val, Bexleyheath A This is a growth of dead skin inside your middle ear, behind your eardrum. It could continue growing and destroy your hearing, so you may need surgery to remove it. What a nerve! Q I get burning, tingling…

Everyone knows our canine friends have incredible powers of smell. That's why they're used in the police force and bomb squads. So why not use them in medicine, too? With this heightened sense of smell, dogs are able to detect minute odours now understood to be associated with some cancers and other diseases. Charities like Medical Detection Dogs are working to train canines to detect the odours known as ‘volatiles' which are associated with the disease. They're present in urine, skin swabs and breath samples -and, thanks to the nose structure of dogs, they could one day be a valuable asset in early cancer diagnosis.…

Celeb secrets Keep calm like Amanda Seyfried  When she’s not dancing around Greek islands singing Abba songs for Mamma Mia movies, actress Amanda Seyfried keeps that jet-setting stress at bay with the calming powers of lavender. She says she never steps on to a plane without a little bottle of lavender oil to dab on her temples and pulse points, and she counts a relaxing lavender body oil among her favourite beauty products. Tisserand Lavender Body Oil, £9.95 Stay dewy like Meghan Markle  Meghan was famously quoted as saying she uses Nivea Q10 body lotion religiously! If it’s good enough for a duchess it’s good enough for us. Now the formula has been upgraded with a boost of vitamin C, so it doesn’t just hydrate and firm you up from…

1 Excess weight can make back pain worse for some people. It's certainly another incentive if you've been thinking about losing weight. 2 Check that your shoes aren't worn down as this can affect your posture. 3 If your work involves sitting for long periods, get up regularly to have a walk around. Try not to sit for more than 30 minutes at a time, and try to take a stroll at lunchtime. 4 Try a combined approach, using pharmacy-strength pain relief, with drug-free solutions and small lifestyle changes. Visit your local LloydsPharmacy for pain relief advice tailored to your needs. 5 Identify your triggers and symptoms by using a pain diary. Pick up your FREE pain diary at your local LloydsPharmacy. It's full of advice and support to help…

Giselle Minehane, 50, Dublin I let out a deep sigh as I trudged through my front door in the early hours of the morning. It was March 2015 and I’d just finished a night shift at my nursing job. Drained and exhausted, I knew I’d only get a few hours sleep before I had to be up again to take the kids to school. My life was like groundhog day. Work, eat, sleep – repeat! And now, stress was getting on top of me. That morning, while I was waiting for Cain, 16, Ellie, 14, Zach, 12, and Jacob, 10, to get ready for school, I felt myself begin to unravel... ‘Hurry up!’ I yelled upstairs. ‘We’re coming, Mum!’ four voices called back. It doesn’t sound like much, but it…

Aries 21 March - 20 April A chance for you to make some money by picking up an unusual item that others have ignored at a bargain price. Either way, it’s a blink-andyou’ll-miss-it opportunity, so if it’s what you want, go for it. • Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April - 21 May You can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs. If you want a better life, then you must make some sacrifices - so the big question is, what do you want to keep, and what are you willing to throw away? • Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May - 21 June You’ll be surprised by the size of something this week. You hadn’t realised it would be so big, or so expensive,…

Alison Madgin, 53, Wallsend, Newcastle Rolling my eyes, I grabbed the remote, turned up the TV. Still, my favourite soap was drowned out by the Spice Girls. ‘Samantha!’ I shouted upstairs. ‘Turn it down!’ Instead, the volume went up. It was 2007 and Samantha, 17, was pushing the boundaries. Teenagers! Still, I loved all of my kids madly – Lee, 21, Samantha and Carly, 16. When Samantha began working as a dental nurse, as well as a part-time cleaner and barmaid, that year, I was really proud. But, in September, she lost her sparkle. ‘What’s wrong?’ I said, watching her push food around her plate. ‘I just feel sick,’ she muttered. Loss of appetite, sickness… ‘Are you pregnant?’ I asked her. ‘I’m sorry, Mum,’ she cried, bursting into tears. I…

Sex booster Q I've seen a lube advertised that expands your G-spot for better sex. Does it work? Tammi, Brighton A Your G-spot is an area inside the vagina, at the front, which some people say is particularly sensitive and swells during sexual arousal. Others think it's sensitive simply because it's close to your clitoris. Either way, what you do with your lube is far more important than what's in it! Monthly whiff Q When I have my period, there's a very noticeable smell. Can I stop it? Martha, Scarborough A If this is a new smell or there's soreness or discharge, see your GP to rule out infection. Otherwise, it's likely to be the normal smell of old blood. Change your tampon every few hours, wash daily, avoid soap…

1 Antiseptic cream I’ve kept a tub of Sudocrem Antiseptic Healing Cream, £2.15, in my bathroom for as long as I can remember. It’s my go-to for chapped lips and heals potential spot scars and hair curler burns in a jiffy. 2 Eyeliner I have dark features so for me a touch of black eyeliner perfectly defines my eyes without it looking too much. On a ‘barely-there’ make-up day I apply a very little Freedom Pro Kohl Eyeliner in Black, £2, super-close to my lash line. 3 Hyaluronic acid OK this sounds scary but it’s an ingredient that holds up to 1,000 times its weight in water. The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 face serum, £5.90, keeps my skin unfathomably dewy.…

Serves: 6 Prep: 15 min Cook: 20 min Cost per serving: £1.12 • 3tbsp light olive oil • 4-6 onions, peeled and sliced • 150g light-brown sugar • 12 thick sausages • 150ml balsamic vinegar • 1tbsp wholegrain mustard • Salt and freshly ground black pepper • 6 flour tortilla wraps 1 Heat oil in a large frying pan and cook onions for a few min, until they start to soften. Add sugar and cook over a low heat for about 5 min, stirring occasionally, until sugar has dissolved. 2 Add sausages to the pan and cook for 15-20 min, until sausages have cooked through and onion has caramelised. 3 Add the vinegar and mustard to the pan and simmer until the liquid has cooked down to a spooning consistency.…

Admitted to the hospital for inpatient therapy and rehab, I began strolling the corridors one day. And that’s when I wandered into the hospital gym. Eyeing the weights, I thought, Why not? Giving them a go, I spent an hour at a time lifting dumbbells. Feeling my muscles flex and relax, a sort of calm came over me. Focusing on my breath, in... out... With new focus, I got more out of my group and one-to-one therapy sessions. I was stunned by the person who I saw in the mirror I was in the gym every day. And, eight weeks later, when I was discharged, the dark thoughts were gone. Filled with gratitude for the care I’d received, I made myself a promise, I’ll do anything to stay out of…

Millions of people may be damaging their credit rating without realising, so here's what you need to know. 1 Pay up It's essential to keep up with your repayments to maintain a good rating. ClearScore found 31% of Brits have missed a single payment in the last year, while 12% have defaulted, missing several payments. This is a key factor that could damage your rating. 2 Get sorted Make sure you're on the electoral roll. Also, before you apply for credit, lots of sites now let you ‘soft search' your application, so you can see how likely you are to be accepted without having to make a formal application - these leave a footprint on your credit file. You can view your credit reports from the three main credit-reference agencies…

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Dark Heart ITV Still haunted by the deaths of his parents when he was a teenager, DI Will Wagstaffe (Tom Riley) is determined to solve the most horrific of crimes while struggling to hold his own fractured life together, in the first two-part story of this new crime series. Will knows he can't escape his past but, unless he finds a way to move forward, he'll lose everything he holds dear, from his relationship with his girlfriend Sylvie and sister Juliette (Charlotte Riley) to the adulation of his nephew Harry. Ben Hanlin’s Live & Deadly: Drowned ITV2 Magician Ben Hanlin (below) and Joey Essex attempt a dangerous live Halloween feat - escaping from a flooded chamber while shackled to the floor! They’ve had five days to perfect the deadly stunt,…

Now Elaine answers YOUR questions Q Did anyone think the christening was silly? Stacey Woodward, Nantwich A A lot of people were quite rude about it. But others told me that they thought it was really sweet. So I tried to focus on the positive comments. Q What do you think your husband would have thought about the ceremony? Rachel Thomas, Menai Bridge A I think my husband Colin would've joked about me being nuts. But I do know that he'd have loved Coco as much as I do. So wouldn't have hesitated. Q Would you ever consider throwing any other big celebration for Coco? Angela Scott, Preston A We're actually planning a wedding for next year as Coco has a boyfriend - Alfie - a Jack Russell who lives…

The horrors of Rillington Place were turned into a film in 1971. The cast of 10 Rillington Place includes Richard Attenborough, John Hurt and Judy Geeson. The film opens with the disturbing scene of Christie luring Muriel Eady to his flat, before raping and murdering her. The story then follows Christie as he manipulates his neighbours Beryl and Timothy, convincing them he's skilled enough to perform a safe abortion. After Christie kills Beryl and her daughter in the film, Timothy is arrested for the murders - with Christie even testifying against him in court. The movie depicts how Ethel grows scared of her husband and tries to leave , but also becomes his victim. Then new tenants in Christie's flat complain of a smell. When the…