Table of contents for 05-Sep-2019 in Chat

When you hear that 71-year-old Linda is a granny who loves gardening, you’d never guess what she got up to in her past (p40). Mark’s devastating story will make you want to hold your family closer (p10). Out hearts go out to him and his daughter Margot. And if you peer in the mirror and see hair sprouting where it shouldn’t, maybe Hope can inspire you not to reach for those tweezers? (p24). As well as all your regular faves, we’ve got the pick of the best jumpsuits (p12). And some adorable elderly pooches (p34). Could you give one a home? Enjoy!…

GUILTY On 13 December 2017 Ana Maria Cardona was found guilty of murder and aggravated child abuse once again. But this time the prosecution didn’t seek the death penalty for her. Instead, Cardona was jailed for life. Circuit Judge Miguel M de la O said, ‘I do not think you will be meeting Lazaro in the afterlife. ‘Your actions were monstrous. My mind recoils at the hellish existence you put Lazaro through that last year of his life. ‘There are wild beasts that show more empathy for their offspring than you showed Lazaro.’…

Hope Schmerfeld, 38 Wetting my razor and lathering on shaving cream, I started my morning routine. It was February 2017, I was 36. Only I wasn’t just shaving my legs or armpits. But my face, too. Since I was 14, I’d suffered with abnormal hair growth. It’d started slowly. The hairs on my upper lip getting darker, thicker, until I practically had a moustache. I did my best to defuzz before he woke up Distraught, I sobbed to my mum Cynthia, now 71. ‘Girls aren’t meant to look like this,’ I cried. ‘We’ll sort it out,’ she soothed. She took me to a salon near our home in Pennsylvania, asked them to wax my lip. As the beautician ripped the hairs out, I prayed that’d be it. But a few…

Sheryl McMichael, 53, Blackpool Watching the hockey players zooming across the ice, I was totally transfixed. ‘Look how fast they are!’ I gasped, nudging my friend. It was 1984, and I was watching the Blackpool Seagulls play at the Pleasure Beach Ice Rink. At the end of the match, we headed to the bar. And, there, I got chatting to one of the players. David McMichael, then 21, had travelled from Toronto to play for Blackpool for the season. He’d been decked out in protective gear on the rink, so I hadn’t seen him properly. But now, standing in front of me, with his blue eyes and handsome smile, I could see how attractive David was. ‘I’m only here for six months,’ he said. That night, a group of us…

Aries 21 March - 20 April You could be getting into an argument over nothing - so before you commit yourself to anything, make sure it’s a real issue, not just a trivial misunderstanding. Take a step back and get it in perspective. Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April - 21 May A friend is someone you can lean on in a crisis, right? Not always. Like the coats in your wardrobe, some will see you through a storm, others won’t. As long as you don’t get the two mixed up, you’ll be fine. Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May - 21 June You’ve had enough of trying to be all things to everybody. Angrily, you make clear what you will, and won’t, do.…

Chocolate fro-yo Smartie sandwich Makes: 1 Prep time: 5 min, plus freezing Cook time: 0 min • 50g scoop frozen yogurt (such as Waitrose LoveLife Calorie Controlled Belgian Chocolate), softened slightly • 2 wafer biscuits • 14g box Mini Smarties or hundreds and thousands 1 Place the frozen yogurt onto a wafer and use the back of a spoon to spread the yogurt to the edges. 2 Top with the remaining wafer, then sprinkle or press the Smarties round the edges. 3 Place in the freezer until firm or you're ready to serve. Ultimate silky chocolate mousse Serves: 4 Prep time: 10 min, plus chilling Cook time: 6 min • 30g egg yolks (from approx 2 large eggs) • 30g caster sugar • 150g milk • 175g dark chocolate, chopped…

Q Help! I love my weekly face mask but lately they seem to be aggravating my already spot-prone skin. Can you recommend one for my skin type that won’t cost the earth? Lucy Thompson, 29 A Part of Asda’s blemish-busting range at ‘are-you-sure?’ prices, their charcoal mask is amazing value. Made from charcoal and clay, it pulls oil and grime out of your pores to prevent new spots from forming. Combined with chemical exfoliant glycolic acid, the mask sloughs away at the ‘glue’ that holds dead skin cells together, revealing a brighter complexion. The Body Shop’s newly launched Tea Tree peel-off mask is another must-try and feels a little like an at-home chemistry class: add water to the tub, mix it up and apply. Unlike other peel-off masks that can…

Nickie Murtagh, 34, New Malden Combing my hair into a side parting, I noticed it. A small bald patch halfway towards the back of my head, the size of my little fingernail. It was February 2016, I was getting ready for a night out. ‘It doesn’t look too bad, does it?’ I asked my husband Liam, then 32. ‘Barely noticeable,’ he replied, kissing my head. Probably stress, I thought, blaming my three kids for running me ragged. Only, over the next few months, the bald patch grew. It was raised, too. By September, there was a lump the size of a one-pence piece. Worried, I booked a GP appointment. ‘It’s just a cyst,’ he said. Harmless. It wasn’t a cyst, it was a mole. I had skin cancer But over…

Mark Wilcock, 39, Southport Strolling along a country road, pushing our baby Margot in her pram, my wife Katherine, 35, had never looked more beautiful. Dressed simply, in jeans and a blue jacket, it was the happiness that shone from her causing that glow. And I felt exactly the same. ‘Margot’s going to love splashing in the pool,’ Katherine grinned at me. We were flying to Majorca the next day for our very first family holiday. We’d spent the morning packing, before Katherine went for a nap, feeling exhausted. By our afternoon walk she was back to her old self. Cracking jokes, making me laugh. Her dark hair shining in the sun. Katherine and I had become friends in 2008 when we both worked at Edge Hill University. We finally…

Julie Richardson, 43, Croydon Lifting the kettle, I felt a familiar shooting pain in my left wrist. I put it swiftly back down and clutched my arm protectively. ‘What happened?’ asked my fiance John, then 38. ‘Nothing,’ I fibbed. ‘It’s your wrist again, isn’t it?’ he asked. That was in 2010 when the pains started. You see, I’d been diagnosed with arthritis in 2006. It’d left me in a wheelchair. I was used to aches and pains, agony in my arms wasn’t uncommon. Yet this pain in my wrist persisted. Every day I’d wake up and it was pounding. ‘See the doctor,’ John begged. ‘It’s just my arthritis acting up,’ I said. Until one morning in June 2014, I woke up with almost no movement in it at all. It…

A cervical smear checks the health of your cervix - the opening to your womb from your vagina. The test isn't necessarily a test for cancer, but a test to help prevent it. All women aged 25-64 should be invited by letter - and, during the appointment, a small sample of cells is taken from the cervix. The sample is then tested for changes to the cells. Finding abnormal cells early means that they can be monitored or treated so that they do not get a chance to turn into cervical cancer.…

Q Apart from your face, do you have any excess hair in other places? A I have hair on my chest, shoulders and a patch on my back. Even my leg hairs are thicker than other women's. But I used to be able to hide all that and was more self-conscious of my face. Still, every morning - sometimes twice a day - I'd shave the lot. Q What are your pics like on your dating profile? A At the moment, I don't have any pictures of me with a beard because I don't want to receive nasty messages or be trolled. I'd rather tell the guy myself within a few messages. I don't take it to heart if they don't want to carry on getting to know me. I'll…

By April 2017, six months after I’d messaged David, I’d given up all hope that I’d hear back. But then, as I was sitting in bed one night, on my iPad, a Facebook message pinged through on my phone. It was him! Yes, he wrote. I am the same David McMichael. How are you? My heart raced as I typed out my reply. Over the next few hours, we sent messages back and forth. We had so much to catch up on. David told me he’d been married 30 years and had one son, but his marriage had recently ended. We spoke about the old times. When we were two lovesick youngsters. David didn’t play hockey any more, now worked in logistics. Glued to my phone, I could tell the…

1 How much do I need? The Money Advice Service recommends people have savings to cover three months' essential outgoings in case of emergency, such as losing a job. So add up how much you need each month for things like your mortgage, food and utility bills. Triple it to get your target amount. 2 How much can I save? Next, look closely at your monthly budget to see where you can slash spending. Could you save cash by switching your energy supplier? Do you have a gym membership you don't use? And, if you splurge on nights out, consider going out less often until your savings are healthier - it all adds up. Once you know how much you can realistically afford to put away, set this as your…

John Frieda Frizz Ease Weightless Wonder Conditioner, £6, Sainsbury’s This featherlight formula detangles and smooths to tame flyaways and frizz. Pantene Hair Biology Cleanse & Reconstruct Conditioner, £5.99, Boots Formulated to deeply cleanse greasy roots while nourishing dry lengths and ends. Lee Stafford Keep It Clean Balancing Conditioner, £7.49, Boots Use this super-hydrating conditioner from the mid-lengths to the tips to replenish lost moisture. Dove Daily Moisture Light Conditioner, £3, Tesco Uses clever ‘Oxyfusion technology’ to boost volume in fine, flat hair. Maui Moisture Hair Care Lightweight Hydration + Hibiscus Water Conditioner, £8.99, Boots Free from sulphates and hair-coating silicones, this formula leaves tresses soft, healthy and bouncy.…

Coronation Street Hope gets Fiz in a tizz Fiz is back from Birmingham where her daughter Hope’s been getting help with her behavioural issues and she’s fuming with Tyrone for the missing the deadline to secure the little girl’s place at the local school. As the couple row, Hope slips away, leaving her poor mum frantic with worry. Then, as Ali and Maria head off for an evening out, they hear Hope’s cries for help in the factory… Will she be OK? Emmerdale Kerry rumbles Moira and Nate Now Nate knows that Kerry and Amy were responsible for the fire at the factory which killed Frank, the mother and daughter worry he won’t keep their secret. But Kerry later discovers Nate has a secret of his own, when she goes…

Sue Bryan, 53 Dressed in a pink outfit, my daughter Jchandra, 8, zoomed from one side of the room to another. ‘When I grow up, I’m going to be a racing-car driver!’ she announced. ‘You’re going to tire yourself out,’ I laughed as she dashed around making car noises. But that was Jchandra, my little ‘tom-princess’. Obsessed with cars and sports, but too much of a girlie girl to be a tomboy. Parading around in pretty dresses, playing with Barbies. It was March 2009 and my two sons – Dustin, then 24, and Jerrett, 20 – had moved out. A single mum, it was just me and Jchandra. We were incredibly close. And when I met Duke, 62, when Jchandra was 13, we became a team. ‘If only I could…

Lyme disease Q I saw my GP with an infected insect bite and she diagnosed Lyme disease. What's that? Tess, Dunkeld A It's a bacterial infection caught through a bite from an infected tick, so keep your legs covered when walking through long grass! A red rash usually forms around the bite, followed by flu-like symptoms. Antibiotics should nip it in the bud. Weak bladder Q When I've had a wee, I suddenly need to go again just a few minutes later! Why? Di, Halifax A Often this means your bladder's not emptying completely when you wee, due either to a partial blockage or muscle weakness. More rarely a diverticulum, a wee-filled balloon of bladder lining which pokes out through a gap in your bladder muscle, is to blame. See…

• Omega 3 and 6 promotes a healthy skin and shiny coat. • An antioxidant blend with Vitamin E helps support their immune system. • Crunchy kibbles and tailored mineral levels help maintain strong, healthy teeth. • Taurine nourishes your pet’s heart – so you can feel their love every day. • High-quality animal protein helps maintain strong muscles – watch them leap and bound! • A tailored fibre blend includes prebiotics and beet pulp for healthy digestion. • Formulated to reduce urinary pH and maintain a healthy urinary tract for cats, and for dogs – enriched with essential minerals and vitamin D to support strong bones. For more information on IAMS for Vitality Cat and Dog Food visit IAMS.co.uk/forvitality…

Linda Calvey, 71, Chigwell As the prison guard slammed the door shut with a bang, I shuddered. ‘This is it, now,’ I gulped, looking around my dark, dingy cell in Holloway prison. With just the clothes I stood up in, a bed, small mirror and basin, this was going to be my new life. A far cry from the exotic holidays, upmarket restaurants, fancy clothes and expensive jewellery that I’d taken for granted for the past 20 years. After marrying my first husband Mickey Calvey in October 1970, I hadn’t wanted for anything. He’d come home from work with beautiful gifts for me – a gold necklace, fancy furniture, a bone-china tea set… Well, he’d call it work, but I knew full well his job wasn’t in an office or…

Dear slimmers, Like some other people, I know what it’s like to look in the mirror and hate what you see. That desperation to lose weight. The temptation to search for a quick fix at any cost. But before you consider something drastic like weight- loss surgery, please read on. My battle with my weight started when I was a teenager and doctors diagnosed me with an underactive thyroid. I started taking medication to control my weight. But by the time I left school, I was a size 16 – the biggest out of all my friends. I endured years of bullying. And misery only made my eating habits worse. Every day I binged on crisps, biscuits, chocolate and sweets. Anything to make myself feel that bit better. By the…