Table of contents for 14-Jan-2016 in Chat

He was clever, a manipulator – and Mum didn't have a clue what was going on As the eldest,I felt it was my duty to protect my little sisters Hoisted up by my ankles, I giggled as James – or Jim – Lawton, 22, swung me round. My mum Karen, 50, introduced Jim to us in May 1993. At first, me and my two sisters Patricia, 3, and Terri-Ann, 1, liked him. Boisterous, he’d chase us around or lift us up at any opportunity. Mum worked long hours as a barmaid, and had met Jim in the pub after separating from our dad years before. Most evenings, we barely saw Mum, and Jim looked after us. One night, a few months after Mum had brought him home, I was in…

Linzi had been wearing the same dress for about a year whenI snapped I visit her every day, take her cakes, give her foot massages I was trying to be professional. But I couldn’t help sneaking glances at Linzi Chazen. My workmate and I were dampcoursing her kitchen. But Linzi was distracting me. Tall, with shoulder-length dark hair, nicely turned out. ‘I’m going to ask her out,’ I told my workmate. ‘It’s only 9am!’ he laughed. I’d been divorced three years, and had four children. I hadn’t been looking for love. But there was something about Linzi I couldn’t resist. So, when she got back from dropping her daughter, then 5, off at school… ‘Are you married?’ my mate suddenly asked her. ‘Do I look stupid?’ she laughed. I smiled.…

My happy boy – no matter what My heart melted as I held my newborn son in my arms for the first time. ‘Oh look,’ my mum Jane, 46, said as I handed baby Colby over for a cuddle. ‘He’s got a little heart-shaped birthmark on his face like the one you have on your back.’ I smiled, taking in his chubby little legs and the cute strawberry mark by his right eye. The last 18 months had been a complete whirlwind. I’d only been with Colby’s dad Jamie, 23, for six months when I’d found out I was pregnant. Just 18, I’d planned to go to university to study English. But now, in August 2013, as I held my tiny son, I knew he was the best thing to…

From huge discounts on clothes and beauty products, to top deals on electronics and home essentials, January’s the best time of year to bag a bargain! And, if you love the New Year sales, then you’ll love Quidco – the UK’s number-one cashback website. Quidco works with over 4,300 top brands, including all your online and high-street favourites, so you get value for money whenever you shop. Let's say, for example, that you know you want to buy online at Next… Search for Next on Quidco and browse available offers. When you've found one you like, click the offer link and buy on the Next website as you would normally. Quidco tracks your purchase and, when it's confirmed, pays cashback into your account. The average Quidco member earns up to…

In safe hands Nine-month-old Jaxon needn't look so worried - his big brother Riley, 2, always has his back! Kim Laing, Bicester Twinkletoes ‘May I have this dance?’ My son Alfie, 5, has the best-ever Strictly partner – his furry little friend Mae! Vicki Forster, Durham Nice slice Well, I think we can safely say that my 14-month-old granddaughter Erin’s first pizza experience was a positive one! Sheron Cenizo, Benfleet Udder-ly brilliant! Could it be that my 5-year-old daughter Pixie was a milkmaid in another life? She seems perfectly at home under this cow! Francesca Mowles, Felixstowe Groovy shoes Just 10 months old, and my son Lorenz had started walking - and he soon showed off some cool moves! Sara Slawycz, Manchester MY CUTE BABY PIC Amazing! What a wonderful…

If my throat swelled, blocking my airways, it could be life-threatening Tucking into dessert with my parents in a local restaurant, I munched my way through my brownie. I’d barely finished when my skin became itchy and I started coughing, feeling like my airways were closing. I went to A&E, knowing the symptoms were similar to an allergic reaction and that’s what I was treated for. It wasn’t until a few years later, in 2005, that my GP said he thought I may be allergic to nuts. He couldn’t say what had triggered it, though. Afterwards, I meticulously checked labels in the supermarket and asked in restaurants before ordering food. ‘Thankfully, it’s under control,’ I told colleagues at my nursery nurse job. Or so I thought. Soon, the reactions got…

Capricorn 22 Dec - 20 Jan You were wrong about someone. And, when you look back at what happened, you’ll see that what this person did was not only for their own benefit, but also for yours. Well, do you owe them an apology now? That’s up to you - but saying thanks would probably go down well, and help make you friends again. • Call 0905 817 0699* for more Aquarius 21 Jan - 19 Feb Once you’ve found the path you want to follow, you should take that leap forward onto it without a backward glance. In real life, though, you’re finding it extremely hard to make that final break with the past. But it has to be done, and sooner rather than later. This weekend is a…

I watched, totally mesmerised, as a couple performed an energetic swing dance. It was September 2014, and myself and fiance Paul, 57, were enjoying the Sheringham 1940s Weekend – we were both history geeks! ‘I’d love to try that!’ I said. Two months on, we had our first swing-dance lesson in the village of Risby and loved it! Together since May 1997, we’d taken romance slowly. Paul was widowed with two kids, James, then 12, and Abby, 11, while I was divorced and a mum to three – Claire, then 12, James, 9, and Steven, 6. Engaged in December 2013, we hadn’t made wedding plans until... ‘How about a 1940s theme?’ Paul suggested. ‘OK, if you organise it!’ I teased. So he did! Paul booked the church, followed by a…

Niva testified that he had no recollection of murdering his family THE CRIME As police officers entered the Nerusu family home, nobody could've prepared for the scene that was uncovered. In the hall lay the bloodied bodies of 14-year-old Tejasvi and her 12-year-old brother Siva. Their mother Jayalakshmi was also dead. The smell suggested their bodies had been there a while. And, by now, their killer was already thousands of miles away… THE STORY Lakshminivasa Nerusu was a successful computer scientist. He made $100 (around £70) an hour, which had afforded him and his family a beautiful home in Michigan, USA. He and his wife Jayalakshmi, 37, had two children – Tejasvi, 14, and Siva, 12. He had the picture-perfect life…or so it seemed to the outside world. Behind closed…

Serves: 6 Prep: 20 min Cook: 40 min 150g plain flour125g caster sugar150g butter 2 eggs yolksJuice of 1 lemon4-6 apples, peeled,cored and slicedIce cream, to serve 1 Preheat oven to 200C/ Gas 6. 2 Put flour and 100g sugar in a bowl and rub in 100g butter until it resembles breadcrumbs. Mix in egg yolks to form a dough, and then wrap in clingfilm and chill for 30 min in fridge. 3 Meanwhile, heat remaining butter in an ovenproof frying pan. Add remaining sugar and lemon juice. Once sugar is melted, add apples. Coat apples in pan juices and then arrange in pan, cut side up. 4 Roll out pastry to cover apples, trim, prick with a knife and bake for 20 min. Reduce heat to 170C/Gas 3-4, and…

Skin protection Q I wear sunscreen to protect my skin. But does it still work if I then cover it with make-up? Lin, 67 A Why are we discussing sunscreen in January? Because it helps prevent skin damage all year round! Liquid make-up could dilute your sunscreen, but shouldn't matter, provided you wait a few minutes between applying sunscreen and make-up. Persistent cough Q I've had a cough for years. My doctor says it's due to postnasal drip and is incurable. Surely something can help? Magda, 51 A Postnasal drip means that phlegm drips down from clogged sinuses and the back of your nose, causing throat irritation and a cough. To control it, try a steroid nose spray, antihistamine tablets, air humidifiers or a nose washout kit from your chemist.…

Morrisons Instant Custard, 70p A strong almond flavour that'll you'll either love or hate, but we enjoyed this thick custard. If you want it thinner, just add extra water. Asda Instant Custard Mix, 28p Rich, creamy, and quite sweet. Just tip the powder into a jug and whisk in just-boiled water. So easy - and so quick! Sainsbury's No Added Sugar Instant Custard, 40p We loved the ‘real' custard flavour of this instant mix. With lots of vanilla creaminess and just a hint of almond, it's delicious hot - or leave to cool and use it to top a trifle. Co-op Truly Irresistible Chocolate and Pear Tart, £4.49 Crisp pastry, filled with chocolate frangipane, topped with juicy pears. It's perfect served with a jug of hot custard!…

Grazie, Chat! My name's Isabella and I live in Italy - and I've been a keen Chat reader since my teens. I stock up on it every time I visit London. I've found it so helpful for learning useful, informal English and my friends also borrow my Chat mags to improve their language skills. Blimey, I love to treat myself to your fab, real-life stories while having a cuppa! See, it's working! Isabella Zuppa, Italy Gender-ation gap Surely pandering to the desires of a child as young as Danni (‘When Will I be a Girl, Mummy? 5 Nov issue) is wrong? When I was little, I was convinced I wanted to be a boy. Pink dresses and girly things seemed so wrong to me. Now, as an adult, I…

Essence Get Big! Lashes Volume Boost Waterproof Mascara, £2.50, Wilko Gives you the lashes you've always dreamed of - and stays put all day long! Milani Runway Lashes Instant Volume Mascara, £6, www. beautycrowd. com Adds volume even to naturally thin, straight lashes. Max Factor Clump Defy Volumising Mascara, £10.99, Boots Mascaras can leave your lashes looking clumpy, but this special brush defines and separates. Miss Sporty Lash Bodifier Pump Up Booster, £3.99, Superdrug This creamy formula clings to every last lash, making them look instantly thicker. Avon Big & False Lash Volume Mascara, £8.50, avonshop.co.uk Infused with fibres that cling to your natural lashes for a falsie effect.…

EastEnders Stacey unravels An unwell Stacey climbs onto the roof of The Vic and tells Martin Arthur isn’t his son - he’s God’s! Plus Alfie tries to tell Kat about his health, but Belinda interrupts, and accuses Kat of killing their dad. And Phil reaches a new low. Emmerdale Kiss & tell? Pete can’t hide his feelings for Moira and kisses her. But will she confess to Cain? Plus, Aaron’s left reeling when Paddy confesses he’s been having an affair with Tess, and Belle tries to bring her parents back together. Hollyoaks Hot stuff! Holly and Robbie sneak off to a hotel but when they smoke weed and set off the smoke alarm, the cops turn up! Plus Cindy meets a good-looking man called James, who introduces himself as her…

My last memory was nodding off in bed after I’d tucked in my kids A stark white room, beeping machines, the smell of disinfectant. I’d gone to bed in the holiday home we’d rented in the Lake District. Waking up now, there was no doubt about it. I was in a hospital. But why? Next, I saw my mum Val’s worried face come into focus. ‘What happened?’ I croaked. ‘You fell from the balcony,’ she said. ‘The doctors think you may have been sleepwalking.’ I searched my memory. The place we’d rented had a balcony overlooking a patio, at least 14ft up. My last memory was nodding off in bed after I’d tucked in my kids Cameron, 12, and Sadie, 9. I’d never been a sleepwalker before. But what else…

Knitting up a storm For our regular Yarrow Ettrick and Selkirk Arts Festival, someone suggested ‘yarn storming'. It involves secretly decorating outdoor spaces in bright knits. In November 2014, I hosted a coffee morning and recruited 30 volunteers, aged up to 104! First, we covertly measured lots of sites, including bridges, benches and phone boxes. Then, our needles set to work! After dark on 9 September last year, our teams, AKA the ‘Souter Stormers' and ‘Bridgend Bombers' erected the woolly wonders. Visitors were thrilled, photos were shared around the globe. One of my favourites was Lester the sheep! A month on, it seemed a shame to remove the art, so Lochcarron Mill agreed to display some of it permanently. It just shows, where there's a wool, there's a way! Kay…

1 Brush an ovenproof dish with 1tbsp olive oil. 2 Heat 2tbsp olive oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Stir in ½ small, chopped red onion and cook until softened, about 5 min. 3 Add 300g quartered chestnut mushrooms and a small, finely sliced leek, and cook until softened, about 3 min. Stir in 100g spinach, cook until wilted, then remove from heat and set aside to cool. 4 Arrange 4 slices crusty bread in a single layer in the baking dish. Layer mushroom mixture over, then make five indentations and crack an egg into each. Season with salt and pepper, pour 130ml milk evenly over, sprinkle with 50g finely grated Parmesan, and bake until eggs are set, about 25-30 min. Serves: 5 Cost per head: 82p…

It looked like it had a nose, mouth and little arms! I’ll never forget the day that I met Batata. I was out shopping with my housemates Luiza and Elisa, both 18, at the supermarket. As we made our way along the fruit and veg aisle, I stopped by a crate of potatoes. Lying among the other spuds, a friendly face peered up at me. ‘What a cute potato,’ I said. It looked like it had a nose, mouth and little arms. ‘It looks just like a little baby,’ I smiled, feeling a rush of love. It was so adorable and funny, I couldn’t bear to leave it. What if someone makes mash out of it? I fretted. ‘You’re coming home with me,’ I laughed. Luiza and Elisa gave me…

An online specialist urged me to take Tyler to see a doctor I immediately noticed that something was wrong. It was May 2009, and I’d just given birth to my son Tyler. But as he was placed in my arms, I spotted a small ridge at the front of his head. ‘Nothing to worry about,’ said a nurse. ‘His head will even out.’ Though, over the next few days, the ridge didn’t improve. In fact, it seemed to be getting more prominent. ‘I’m taking him to the GP,’ I told my partner Mike, 28. But after examining Tyler and measuring his head, the doctor said there was nothing wrong. Maybe I was overreacting? But as Tyler grew, the ridge got worse. His forehead looked triangular and his eyes looked too…

My best earning so far was £100 for Broadband When somebody told me about Quidco a few years ago, I thought that it sounded like a totally brilliant idea. Discovering that I could get cashback for doing my everyday shopping? Well, I say, ‘Yes, please!’ So, way back in 2007, I signed up. It did take me a little while to get used to it but, once I was familiar with the Quidco site, I found that it really changed the way I shop. Quidco’s been absolutely great, because you get to shop in all your favourite shops, while looking at the other stores with which Quidco works. These days, I use Quidco for pretty much everything – clothing from ASOS, hotel rooms, travel insurance… And I just can’t praise…

Staring in the mirror, I hardly recognised myself. The size-14 curves, nipped-in waist and shapely legs I’d flaunted in my teens were a distant memory. Now I was 36, divorced and a size-26 lump. ‘What happened?’ I sighed, staring in dismay at the rolls of fat, barely disguised by the tent-sized T shirt. I looked hideous. ‘I’ll never find another bloke,’ I moaned to my eldest daughter, Jade, then 18. I’d married and had Jade by the time I was 17. I loved being a mum, had five more kids over the next 14 years. But I never really managed to shift the baby weight between my pregnancies. My hubby was always out and I was left stuck in the house, comfort eating to distract myself from my misery. Pasties,…

However longI’ve got, I’m going to make sure my baby has a lifetime of love Say it straight up, that’s always been my way. So… ‘You’re going to be a dad,’ I told my boyfriend Lewis Neeve, 23, who’s now a trainee electrician. ‘And you’re going to be a mum!’ he hugged me excitedly. ‘Am I, though?’ I asked him… It was April last year. I hadn’t had a normal period in years. But, just lately, I’d been feeling bloated and off-colour. So we’d walked to the 24-hour Tesco for a pregnancy test. I was frightened, happy, excited…because, as well as being pregnant, I was dying. And I had been since 2010. Back then, I’d had this feeling for weeks in my side, like a stitch. Then, one day, it’d…

I took to it like a duck to water ‘I’m too old to be a dance instructor!’ I scoffed in November 2014. ‘You’re not!’ my best friend Arlene, 40, said. I couldn’t believe I was having the conversation. I’d started Zumba classes to lose weight in March 2014. Then a size-22, I’d broken down to Arlene. ‘I can’t look in the mirror,’ I’d confessed. Arlene knew someone who’d lost weight on Herbalife, and I set up a meeting with consultant Celia Flannigan next day. Bracing myself, I stepped on the scales – 15st 9lb. I’d always been around 13st until my mum Marion died of a heart attack in December 2010. To cope, I ate, snacking on family-size bags of crisps or chocolate bars each night. At 5ft 2in, I…