Table of contents for 06-Dec-2018 in Chat

It’s that time again… Christmas! In our bumper issue, Hayley tells us all about her plans for Boxing Day, which include bedding a married man (p46)! Susan’s festive family time turned into a living nightmare that left her playing dead under the Christmas tree (p50). And Demi-Leigh shares her extreme tactic for getting out of making the Christmas lunch..! (p12) As well as tons more real life, you’ll find mouthwatering party food starting on p40, 84 bargain gift ideas from p31 and glam looks for your festive do from just £14, on p14. Plus you could win big money with our fun puzzles. So sit down with a mince pie (or two) and devour the lot!…

Emma Tapp, 37, Basildon I watched the flurry of activity in the lounge – my son Ryan, 7, was hanging decorations, while my partner Trevor, 38, battled with a box of tinsel. Next, the tree... That was something my daughter Chloe, 15, loved doing. But she’d been coughing and sneezing for weeks and it was getting her down. The doctors said it was a virus, would clear up on its own. But, for Chloe, a common cold could be deadly. She’d had microcephaly at birth, meaning her head was smaller than normal, affecting brain development. She developed epilepsy and global development delay, which affected her speech and learning. Despite it all, Chloe was a happy and loving child. But, at 2am that night in December 2015, Chloe appeared next to…

Delay period? Q I'm away with my boyfriend over Christmas and my period's due. Can I delay it? Tammi, Harrogate A If you're on the Pill, you could take two packs, back-to-back, without the one-week break. But check first as this doesn't work with all Pills. Or your GP could prescribe hormones to start three days before your period's due and you won't bleed until you stop taking them. Cystitis fear… Q Every year, my Christmas is ruined as I come down with cystitis! Jo, Aberdeen A It could be because you have more sex over the Christmas break. Also, rushing around preparing and sweating over cooking may leave you dehydrated, all of which increases the risk of cystitis. Drink plenty of water and maybe ask your GP about a…

KNIT ME! Knit a festive Peppa Pig - the pattern's in Knitting & Crochet from Woman's Weekly , on sale 1 Nov to 6 Dec, £4.99, all major newsagents Treat yourself or someone special to a subscription this Christmas! Save up to 28% when you subscribe to Chat from only £9.49* Visit www.magazinesdirect.com/ch18 or call 0330 333 1113 and quote AKJ8.  Lines open Mon-Sat, 8am-6pm (UK time). *£9.49 payable every three months by UK Direct Debit, saving 28% on the full price of £13.59. Offer ends 4 Feb 2019. For full T&Cs, visit www.magazinesdirect.com/terms…

COME ON OVER Freezable fare to share with friends! Co-op Irresistible Pancetta & Roasted Sprout Pizza Natale, £5.25 FREEZABLE  Pizza is always a crowd-pleaser, but this seasonal special with sprouts might well divide the crowd. Buy one and find out! Tesco 12 Mini Chicken Fajitas, £2 (240g) FROZEN  Chicken, peppers and onion in a spicy sauce, all wrapped in deliciously crisp pastry. Aldi Specially Selected Sausage Plait, £1.99 FROZEN This puff-pastry plait is filled with British pork and a choice of Cheddar and Pickle or Cranberry and Stuffing fillings. Sainsbury’s Halloumi Fries with a Sweet Chilli Dip, £3 FREEZABLE Warm cheesy fingers coated in a crispy crumb – what’s not to love? SOMETHING SWEET Iceland Mince Pie Ice-cream Cones, £1.50 FROZEN  These combine the flavours of fruity mince pies with…

Most families spend Christmas enjoying a roast, pulling crackers and swapping presents... It’s a time to treasure with those we love most. But, for Lindsey Fletcher, 39, last Christmas was unforgettable for the most tragic of reasons… It apparently all began when she was a young child, aged just 5 and – she would later claim – was sexually abused by her step-grandad Michael Eaton. It would appear that his dark actions set her on a path destined to end in disaster. Driven by hatred, she attacked with a meat cleaver It seems that Fletcher felt unable to tell anyone of the abuse, instead turning to drugs in her teens, spiralling into life-long addiction. But the rage she felt because of Eaton’s alleged abuse ate away at her. It would…

Jordan Harrison, 30 Ever since I was a little girl, I dreamt of becoming a mum. And when my first child Avery was born in June 2010, I felt totally dazzled. I doubted my heart was big enough to contain the love I felt for my darling girl. I couldn’t wait for the day she’d look up at me with wonder in her eyes, as she asked me all her burning questions. Why the stars in the sky twinkled, why the grass was green... But things weren’t all rosy, though. The exhaustion of having a newborn was overwhelming, even with my fiance James, 35, on hand. I found it difficult to breastfeed, darkening my mood further. I felt sad, often bursting into floods of tears. Not quite how I’d pictured…

Jill Walsh, 61, Hull Strolling past the electronics aisle at the supermarket, I gazed at a glossy, white food processor on the shelf. Then I clocked the price – it was finally on offer. So I made a note to tell my hubby Steve, 58, when I got home. It was December 2016, and Christmas was fast approaching. But Steve and I never went crazy on presents. Each year, we’d swap a stocking of small bits and bobs, and buy one gift for the house together. A couple of years back, Steve had surprised me with a lovely new vacuum. Our son, Patrick, joked, ‘You’re the only man who could buy that for his wife at Christmas and get away with it!’ But my salary as a nurse, and Steve’s…

1 Pretty Animalz Penguin Sheet Mask, £4 The perfect stocking filler, or treat yourself to this sheet mask for some well earned TLC this party season. Containing lily flower, honeysuckle and grapefruit to really hydrate your skin. 2 Boutique Contouring Palette, £5, Sainsbury’s Give the gift of contouring this Christmas! This cruelty-free palette is the key to supermodel cheeks in a flash. It even doubles up as an eyeshadow palette for creating the base to a smoky eye. 3 Vintage Cocktail Bellini Soap Tin, £5.50, scottish finesoaps.com Do you have an aunt, sister or friend who lives for the weekend, especially a brunch? Why not treat her to this gorgeous cocktail-scented soap in a tin! 4 L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream, £8 This bestseller from L’Occitane not only nourishes but…

My daughter Imogen, 4, was ever so pleased with this chap she made (with a little help from Dad!). Joanne Thompson, Edlington When my son-in-law dressed up as Santa, my grandkids Libby, 4, and Isaac, 1, were a bit puzzled. Isaac was definitely a little unsure! Jan Robertson, Lytham St Annes Claudia, my 3-year-old, loves putting out tasty festive treats for Santa and Rudolph the night before Christmas. Rachel Brenchley, Sheffield My cat Roly loves nothing more than a good old lie-down and stretch after Christmas dinner. Melanie Daniels, Doncaster Christmas with my family is always full of fun. Here we all are, my parents Bev and Ralph, husband Ben, and our four kids Jack, 11, Josh, 9, Alfie, 7, and Annabelle, 3, dressed as elves for the day! Emma…

Demi-Leigh Elson, 21, Stoke-on-Trent Standing on tiptoes, my daughter Lola-Lea, 3, carefully pushed her envelope into the postbox. ‘I hope Santa gets my letter,’ she smiled. ‘I’d like our new baby for Christmas.’ My son Codie-Ray, 2, wriggled in his pushchair. ‘Baby for Christmas,’ he chimed in. ‘We’ll have to wait and see,’ I smiled. ‘Santa will only bring the baby at Christmas if he thinks it’s a good idea.’ It was early December 2017 and I was expecting my third child. With a due date of 26 December, our whole family was buzzing. When I’d met my partner Aaron Ousley, then 25, in August 2014, I was already mum to Lola-Lea, then just 5 months old. The following year, two weeks before Christmas, Codie-Ray was born. Then in April…

Allergy to Stilton? Q My dad always gets a Stilton at Christmas. I don't eat it because I'm allergic to penicillin, but he says that's nonsense! Ella, Coventry A Blue cheese does contain penicillin mould, but the amount in cheese is small and isn't usually enough to trigger allergies. However, if you're very allergic to penicillin, then the Stilton's best avoided. Can I still drink? Q My doctor's put me on antidepressants but I forgot to ask if I can still drink over Christmas. Lena, Doncaster A One or two drinks shouldn't cause a problem with most modern antidepressants. But, with older types, it can cause drowsiness, or with drugs called MAOIs, be dangerous. Read the leaflet, but remember booze can make depression worse, too. Turkey poisoning? Q Every year,…

Bauble baskets If you have a hanging basket (this one is fake), add Christmas baubles and you'll give it an instant festive facelift. Debra Stapley, Dover Waste not!  If you like sparkling wine, but don't want to polish off the bottle in one go, put an upside down teaspoon in the bottle neck to keep it fizzy for a few more days. Natalie-Jane Howard, Brentwood Cosy candlelight To make a tealight holder look more seasonal, cut some shapes out of Christmas giftwrap and tape them to the outside. K Liversedge, Everton Festive scent Fill your home with the smell of Christmas by pushing cloves into a satsuma. Then, use a skewer to thread a ribbon through the centre and pop it on your tree. Sammie Smith, Grays Cherry on top……

1 Always check the instructions on the packet when freezing and defrosting. But leaving food in the fridge overnight tends to be safer than defrosting in the microwave. 2 Don't refreeze anything once defrosted! 3 Wrap any open packs in clingfilm or put in a freezer bag to stop it getting freezer burn. 4 Organise your freezer properly! Keep ice cream and sweet treats at the top, veggie products in the middle, and meat at the bottom. 5 A full freezer is much cheaper to run, as it keeps itself cold without circulating more cold air. If you don't have enough frozen goods in your fridge, fill the space with big bottles filled with water.…

By Hayley Leeanna, 32, Peterborough Most people spend the Christmas period with their families, but I think it’s a romantic time of year, too. The music, the lights, the magic. I’ll see my family on Christmas Day, like most people, but for the rest of the holidays I’ll also be enjoying my own festive romances. Only, the men I date are already married. That may sound shocking, but hear me out... It all started in March this year, while I was away on holiday in Lanzarote with a friend. Relaxing by the pool with a magazine, I came across an article about dating sites for married people. Illicit Encounters is aimed at married or attached men and women looking for romance outside of their relationship. Or, to put it bluntly,…

No-turkey trauma Q Nelly, help! My daughter-in-law had a very different way of raising her lot – and now my grandkids have decided they’re vegan. I’m petrified as it’s my turn to cook Christmas dinner! I’ve no idea where to start. Apparently, even eggs aren’t allowed! My daughter-in-law said not to worry, but I do! I mean, can they have mince pies? I feel like cancelling Christmas and booking a cruise… Gaynor, 68 A I think they can have ice cubes – just get a couple of bags in and tell them to help themselves! Seriously, though, what relationship have you got with the grandkids? Can you ring or text them? Ask them to bring their own dish? Perhaps suggest making something together? Talk to them, then you can relax…

Aries 21 March - 20 April If the new way doesn’t work, do it the old way. OK, but how often can you keep on doing that before it doesn’t work any more? You can get away with it this Christmas, but this time really has to be the last. 7 Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April - 21 May It’s the season for end-of-year get-togethers, and you may run into someone you used to fancy, used to work with, or both. It’s obvious there’s still a bit of passion there. But if you fan the flames, be careful. 7 Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May - 21 June Nothing like a good argument, is there? Actually, this one really is good - it…

Rosaleen Moriarty-Simmonds, 57, Cardiff Adding the final touch to my painting, I pulled my head back and wiggled the ache out of my jaw. It was January this year – and taking inspiration from our still-festive lounge, I’d painted our Christmas tree sparkling with tinsel. I’d done it holding a paintbrush with my teeth. Missing my arms and legs at birth, I was part of a generation whose mums had been prescribed thalidomide when pregnant, with devastating results. At just 3, I’d been fitted for prosthetic limbs. They were stiff, heavy and uncomfortable. And with a crash helmet in case I fell over, I looked like a robot! I hated it. At 7, I ditched the arms. The doctors tried to persuade me to keep wearing them, hoping they’d help…

So inspirational I just wanted to say thank you for publishing My Secret Shame (20 Sept issue). As a sufferer of PCOS myself, I know how hard it can be to cope with excessive facial hair. Poor Nova went through all that at such a young age, at a time when life is hard enough without having PCOS. She's so brave to accept and own who she really is and to inspire others to do the same. I think everyone should feel as confident as Nova in being themselves and not feel the need to hide away their true selves. Alexandra Bennett, Tonyrefail RIP Shadow Our dog Shadow loved Christmas, and happily donned her Santa hat every year. She’d visit elderly neighbours, take cake and a…

Lisa Aldred, 45, Wigan As I sat in the audience at my daughter’s school, my eyes stung with tears. It was December 2007 – and for the first time, my daughter Rachel, 7, was starring in the Nativity play. Dressed head to toe in a white, sparkly costume, with a halo on top, Rachel was the perfect angel. ‘She looks lovely,’ the mum next to me whispered. Proud as punch, I nodded, unable to speak. On stage, Rachel’s green eyes shone and she was grinning from ear to ear. And as she spotted me in the audience, she waved, signalling in sign language… I’m so happy. Me too, I signed back. Grabbing my camera, I pressed down on the shutter as she sang along. Click, click, click. What a priceless…

In the small hours of Christmas Day 2015, children everywhere were tucked up in their beds, dreaming of the excitement to come. Stockings were filled and presents were heaped under trees, awaiting the magic that morning would bring. Tired mums and dads grabbed some sleep, too, in preparation for the busy, festive day ahead. But, at 3.34am, while it was still dark, an emergency-services operator in Augusta, Maine, took a frantic call. On the other end of the line was a frightened woman, a young mum. ‘I just…I just got shot,’ she managed to say. There were a few more garbled words. It was hard for the operator to make them out. Then the woman fell silent. But the line was still open. Using tracking software, the authorities traced the…

Q I've grown a beard, but my girlfriend complains of beard burn when we kiss! Does that mean it has to go? Simon, Sheffield A First, experiment with length - a longer beard might irritate less than stubble. Use conditioner when you wash and beard oil to soften the hairs. And make sure your girlfriend applies facial moisturiser after a snog. If all else fails, you might have to get out your razor. Write to Dr Martin Edwards at Chat, 161 Marsh Wall, London E14 9AP. Or e-mail chathealth@ti-media.com Sorry, he can’t reply personally.…

Olive Munro, 68, Ardtalnaig, Perthshire Flapping my hands towards each other, then fanning them out to the sides, I shook my head in frustration. I was trying to tell my hubby a story about a test I’d taken at a doctor’s appointment but I couldn’t find the words. ‘It’s a squeeze box,’ I sighed. ‘A musical instrument!’ Ronnie, 74, offered a guess. ‘Do you mean an accordion?’ he said, confused. That’s it! I continued my story – but, deep down, I was worried. Over the past few years I’d started to find my brain wasn’t working like it used to. Words had started to get away from me. Some conversations felt like a game of Articulate. Even the simplest maths sums seemed impossible. So in January 2015, I decided to…

NAUGHTY NIBBLES Have these in your freezer ready for when friends or family pop round… Honey-mustard sausage bites Makes: 40 Prep: 15 min Cook: 15 min Cost per serving: 18p • 3tbsp mustard • 1tbsp honey • 40 cocktail pork sausages • 375g ready rolled puff pastry • 1 egg, beaten • 1-2tbsp sesame seeds 1 Preheat oven to 220C/Gas 7. Mix together mustard and honey. Toss sausages in the mixture until well coated. 2 Unroll ready rolled puff pastry, then roll it a little thinner. Cut into 3cm-wide strips, then into 8cm-long pieces. Put one sausage in the centre of each piece of pastry. Brush one edge with beaten egg and roll up to encase the sausage. Pinch to seal and repeat with the rest of the sausages. 3…

The poor mutt’s temperature was barely registering, but she wouldn’t take her eyes off us. Like she was begging us to do something. So we wrapped her in heated blankets, gave her the tiniest sips of fluids. We wondered if an illness had meant that she couldn’t eat. And when the vet found a lump, we assumed the worst. But an ultrasound revealed that the lump was actually her kidney. ‘I’ve never seen a dog thin enough to feel its kidney,’ the vet said, shocked. There was just one conclusion. This was a case of simple, cruel, unthinkable neglect. We carried the dog to a kennel and I lay beside her. After a couple of hours, I put the tiniest scrap of food on my fingertips. ‘Would you like some?’…

1. Plan it Sit down and work out how much you can afford to spend on Christmas this year, including everything from presents and food  to socialising. Once you have your budget for gifts, draw up a list of who you want/need to buy for, and how much you can afford to spend on each person. 2. Find the best deals out there  Before you spend, always check price-comparison sites to make sure you're getting the cheapest deal. Also, sign up to retailers' e-mails, so you know about any offers. If you're not seeing family or friends you're buying gifts for until after Christmas, you could wait and pick up cut-price bargains in the January sales. 3. Don't panic!  Planning Christmas in advance means you'll be much less likely to…

Tracey Tyrrell, 39, Dovercourt, Essex Nestled on the sofa with a mug of tea, a blanket on my knees, I waited for a theme tune to ring out on the telly. The first episode of Strictly Come Dancing gave me a buzz! My husband Andrew, 37, usually did something else! But one evening in September 2016, someone else came into the lounge. ‘You should be in bed!’ I said. My daughter Audrey, 4, grinned, then clambered onto my knee. I said she might have trouble keeping up. I was wrong! ‘Please, Mummy,’ she said, eyes hopeful. How could I resist?! Spellbound, she gawped at the shimmering dresses. As she watched, I watched her – and a long-forgotten dream was sparking into life. When I’d been pregnant, I’d dreamt of taking…

Dear Mary, When you found me, life was hard. It was December 2016 and I was a tiny turkey, just 5 months old. Trapped in a cold, dark, cramped room with dozens of my brothers and sisters, things were grim. Every day, The Man would open the door, letting a sliver of light pour in. He’d throw food in, and we’d trot as fast as we could to have a peck. Gobble, gobble, gobble. Truthfully, I didn’t really have much appetite. So, sometimes, I hung back watching the others eat until they nearly burst. We all knew what The Man was up to... Fattening us up for Christmas dinner! My siblings all vanished. Fowl play, I reckon I dreamt of roaming fields, nibbling blades of fresh, green grass, singing to…