Indholdsfortegnelse for 20-Sep-2018 i Chat

Kira Connor, 33, Little Bourton, Oxfordshire Stomping around the farm with her dad, our little girl was in her element. Petting the sheep and looking up in awe at the horses, Grace, 3, was fearless, even though she was a little wobbly on her feet. She was a later walker, but me and my husband Stuart, 34, reckoned Grace was just a bit clumsier than most. Not that it ever stopped her. What Grace lacked in coordination, she made up for with constant chatter! So, when we told her she was going to be a big sister, Grace cuddled up to my bump. ‘I can’t wait to meet you,’ she shouted into my bellybutton. And when her little brother Elliot arrived, she raced into preschool next day and loudly announced…

Fresh kicks  Instead of throwing away your used face wipes, give your trainers a quick wipe over first to keep them looking new for longer. My sports-mad husband swears by it. Lindsay Preston, Radcliffe DIY cake stand By gluing the glass plate from my old microwave on to a wine glass that I bought for 10p from a car-boot sale, I now have a lovely glass cake stand. Hilda Robson, Chester-le-Street Keep on the boil… I never thought this would work, until I tried it. Pop a wooden spoon over your pan when boiling water. It'll stop it from bubbling over. Karen Hill, Caernarfon Gift-wrap tip  Cut empty toilet roll tubes and use as a cuff to stop wrapping paper unrolling. Sarah Smith, Ipswich Henry’s second life When I needed…

Can I pluck? Q As I approach my menopause, I'm growing thick black hairs around my nipples. Is plucking them dangerous? Gita, Cardiff A Hairs in your areola are common and may increase with hormone changes in pregnancy or menopause. Plucking or waxing is harmless, but can be painful. Laser or electrolysis offers the most permanent fix. Safe oral sex Q My friend won't let her man give her oral sex because she says it can be fatal. Now I'm worried! Sian, Tewkesbury A She's probably heard of air embolism. Bubbles of air enter your bloodstream and can cut the blood supply to heart or brain. Blowing into the vagina can cause it, but it's extremely rare. Oral sex should be safe, as long as he doesn't think he's inflating…

Debbie Holden, 34, Doncaster Sitting behind my sewing machine at home, I added the final touches to a beautiful pink, sequinned skirt. It was December 2014 and making children’s clothes to sell on eBay was my hobby. But my passions were not just saved for fashion. My family were my world. With my husband Gareth’s son Zeph, 13, and my boy Dylan, we were a tight unit. Knowing Zeph since the age of 3, I loved him like my own. Born with Shone’s Complex, a rare congenital heart disease, he’d had lots of ops. They’d left him with a large scar on his chest. Now, as a self-conscious teenager, Zeph hid it at all costs. ‘I hate the way I look,’ I heard Zeph mutter one day. ‘Don’t put yourself…

Barry M All Night Long Full Coverage Foundation, £7.99, Superdrug This does just what it says on the pot – giving good coverage until the early hours. Formulated with vitamin E and fruit extracts, it’ll keep your skin nourished too. EX1 Invisiwear Liquid Foundation in Shade 18, £10, lookfantastic.com This isn’t strictly a new foundation, but EX1 has recently extended its already brilliant shade range with three new darker hues. Using yellow undertones, it gives a really natural finish. Max Factor Radiant Lift Foundation, £14.99 Great for anyone who wants an anti-ageing boost, this contains skincare hero hyaluronic acid to plump and hydrate your skin for a fresher, younger-looking complexion.…

Nova, 27, Virginia As I ran the razor down my face, I felt a wave of self-hatred ‘Disgusting,’ I muttered to myself. It was September 2006 and, at just 15-years old, I hated the way I looked with a burning passion. You see, I had recently sprouted dark hair around my chin and upper lip. The thick stubble now growing on my face was just the latest in a long line of insults added to injury. At 12 my periods mysteriously stopped and I began to feel a stabbing pain near my ovaries. I’d got on with things, reckoning my cycles would eventually settle into a routine. They never did... Then, three years later, a boy in my class directed his attention to me, in the worst way possible. ‘What’s…

Aries 21 March - 20 April You’re walking a tightrope and feel that somebody set it up as a test to see you fail… Don’t say anything, just walk the rope to show that you can do it! After that, nobody will be able to criticise you. Call 0905 817 0690* for more Taurus 21 April - 21 May The cheap option doesn’t always save as much time or money as you think. Going through official channels may take longer and cost more, but you’ll get a better result, and be repaid in the end. Call 0905 817 0691* for more Gemini 22 May - 21 June Something you’d have given your right arm for a while ago has lost its appeal. Maybe you’re too busy - or you’ve outgrown…

Chasity Carey, 41, was in every way a normal, hardworking woman. Yes, she had a tough job as a bail bondswoman, but it kept a roof over her family’s head. The job involved offering loans to people under arrest who couldn’t afford to pay the bail so they could be released from jail. Calm and confident, Chasity took the challenges of the job in her stride. The criminals, too... But that all changed last summer. In late July 2017, Brandon James Williams, 38, was arrested in Stillwater, Minnesota and charged with three counts of second-degree burglary and possession of marijuana. Due to appear in court the next month, his bail was set at $35,000 (around £27,200). He wanted to get out, but he didn’t have the cash. So he turned…

Karen Lavery, 58, Tyne and Wear Dishing up our tea, I glanced up at the clock. It was 6.30 on a Friday night in March 2014, and my hubby Jim, 49, was due home any moment. As I covered his dinner, I heard the rattling of keys. Jim would normally all but skip through the front door on a Friday. But tonight he looked exhausted – skin grey, eyes droopy, shoulders hunched. ‘I’m knackered,’ he said, slumping into his seat. Chattering on through the meal, I told him about my day but, whenever I asked him about his, he could barely muster a grunt. He wasn’t himself. He wasn’t cracking jokes – he wasn’t even smiling. ‘It’s nothing, love. Don’t make a fuss,’ he said. ‘Just a typical case of…

Vicki Hull, 31, Southampton Growing up, my mates were a group of boisterous boys, and I was part of their gang. Running around the park, playing football, climbing trees, I was always on my feet. And it was that active lifestyle my parents assumed was the reason for my legs. They were thick and sturdy. Like the tree trunks we’d scale after school! Only, as I hit puberty in my early teens, my thighs expanded at an untold rate. By the time I was 18, I was a size-14 on top, but size-16 at the bottom. I couldn’t even see my knees when I looked down. So Mum took me to the doctor. ‘You need to lose weight,’ he told me. Deep down, I knew it was more than that.…

1 Hair mask I’ve got thick, coarse hair that’s prone to frizz, so I’m constantly blow-drying and straightening it. Nourishing hair masks help my frazzled locks – my current fave is Lee Stafford Cactus Crush Mucho Moisture Mask, £8.99. 2 Whitening toothpaste I’ve dabbled with lots of tooth whitening products over the years, but Oral-B 3D White Enamel Care Toothpaste, £4.99, is by far the best I’ve ever tried. 3 Micellar water Switching from make-up wipes to micellar water has made a huge difference to my skin, and now I rarely suffer from spots. Nivea Micellair Skin Breathe Micellar Water, £4.29, is really gentle, even around my eyes.…

Only one way to find out... Relaxing on the sofa watching TV one night, I just came out with it. ‘Ash I need to tell you something...’ I began. And then it all came tumbling out. My condition, the hair, the secret shaving. ‘If I didn’t shave, I’d have a full-grown beard,’ I explained. Tense with worry, I waited for her to speak. Then... ‘I’ll love you no matter what,’ she soothed, pulling me into her arms. Sagging with relief, it was as if a huge weight had been lifted from me. I’d never let anyone touch my face before but now, I stopped worrying. With Ash’s support and acceptance, my confidence began to grow. I no longer set an alarm to get up before Ash and shave, and if…

Time it right Typically, with a mobile-phone contract, the cost of your handset is spread over the term through your monthly payments. Once the contract ends, the payments won't reduce automatically, even though your phone is paid off, so you need to take action. Either upgrade and sign a new contract or opt for a SIM-only deal, which tends to be cheaper and includes pay-as-you-go options. Negotiate If you do want to upgrade, decide which handset you want and do your research. Take into account the length of the contract, plus the fee for the handset and haggle to get the best deal. It's also worth considering trading in your old phone to get cash off your upgrade deal, or selling it to a company such as Envirofone (…

Killing Eve BBC1 Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer go head-to-head in this eight-part thriller about an MI5 officer hunting for a charming assassin. Grey's Anatomy star Sandra plays MI5 officer Eve, who is sent on an espionage mission to track down fearsome assassin Villanelle. Her mission turns into a dangerous cat-and-mouse game with only one winner. Other stars in the show include Fiona Shaw, David Haig, Darren Boyd and Sean Delaney. Bad Move ITV Jack Dee and Kerry Godliman are back for a second series as reluctant countryside dwellers Steve and Nicky. This time the couple’s hopes of settling in to village life fall foul when their septic tank backs up. Plus Steve’s attempts to befriend the local bowls club members backfires. Queen of the World…

Julie Rose, 61, Bristol Gliding around on the ice rink – I could feel eyes looking at me. It was back in 1976, I was 19 and I liked to escape the world by skating. I wasn’t bad at it, either! And it seemed somebody else had noticed, that, too… ‘Would you think yourself lucky if I asked you out?’ one of the rink workers winked, skating over. I realised that we’d forgotten about each other… ‘Not really!’ I scoffed cheekily. Bob, 23, was full of himself. But he persevered. And, eventually, I discovered that his charm was beginning to melt my frostiness. I let him take me out – then fell for him, hard! ‘I’m going to marry Bob one day,’ I told my parents George, then 58, and…

From a young age, the world must have seemed like a dark place for John Bunting. When he was just 8, he was beaten and sexually assaulted – a pivotal event that sparked a lifetime of sickening behaviour. He took pleasure making creatures suffer, pouring acid on ants and watching them die. As an adult, he killed cats and dogs for fun, skinning them. Never far away from the dead, he first worked in a crematorium then took a job in an abattoir, boasting to his mates he enjoyed killing the animals that came in for slaughter. But his disturbing desires were masked by impeccable manners and charm. In 1989, aged 23, Bunting met and soon married a woman who’d fallen for his smooth manner. The marriage eventually broke down,…

It was 7am and, already running late dropping my son Logan, 4, at school, I picked up the pace. Gates in sight, my cheeks puffed and calves throbbed. ‘Almost there,’ I said squeezing his hand. But when we arrived, Logan whined, ‘I don’t want to go in.’ His first day back at school after the Easter break, I had to shoo him in step-by-step, shuffling along behind. But, as I did, I tripped on something and came crashing down hard on my right knee. I let out a yelp as I hobbled to my feet. Agony! Hugging Logan goodbye, I went straight to the hospital, where a doctor gave me six stitches for a deep cut. Days passed and my knee throbbed. Bruised and tender to touch, I couldn’t bend…

Amanda Stubbs, 50 Squealing with delight, I raced around the garden in the summer sun, my parents looking on. At first glance, we were the perfect family. But playing in the garden was a rare treat. Dad didn’t like me being outside much. ‘Children are better seen and not heard,’ he snarled, ushering me back inside. It was 1973, and behind closed doors my dad was an angry man. His booming voice alone was enough to leave me shaking. But I’d come to look back on those as the good times. Because Dad’s reign of terror was about to get even worse. Aged 4, I was woken by a thud on my bed. It was my dad, sitting down next to me. ‘Shh,’ he soothed stroking my hair, ‘You’re my…

On 8 March this year, it took the jury just three hours to acquit Chasity Carey of first-degree murder. Her defence lawyer later said that the jurors had never questioned that she’d acted in self defence, because they didn’t believe she intended to take Williams’ life. After the verdict, Brandon Williams’ ex-wife Ashley Melton, said to Chasity, ‘I hope your decision will forever haunt you. You’ve had one judgement day, but you’ll have another. You had no right taking someone’s life. No right.’…

Hurts to sit Q Last year, I fell on my bum and the bone at the base of my spine still hurts when I sit. Why? Maude, Dagenham A Pain in your tailbone can take months to recover. Avoid prolonged sitting and try painkillers, heat packs and a special cushion. Physiotherapy or, rarely, surgery might be necessary if it doesn't improve. Energy needed! Q When I was young, doctors used to give tonics to pep you up. Can you still buy them? Barbara, Forest Hill A I wouldn't waste your money. Most tonics are simply water flavoured to taste bitter, maybe with added vitamins or iron which won't help unless you're actually deficient. They might seem to work if you believe in them - it's a placebo effect! Strange mark…

Lipoedema, often called painful fat syndrome, is a condition that mainly affects women but in rare cases, men. It is genetic, chronic and influenced by hormone changes so may start during puberty or the menopause. You should see your GP if you have any of the symptoms of lipoedema, which are mainly the enlargement of thighs, buttocks, lower legs, and sometimes arms. This swelling is caused by an unusual build-up of fat cells. But there are other symptoms too - limbs feeling soft, cold and doughy, bruising easily, aching or having small broken veins.…

Celeb secrets Ever wondered how Stacey Solomon keeps her bottle blonde in tip-top condition? We’ve got the answer, and it’s under £7! Stacey says, ‘For a long time I’ve been unhappy with my hair and the condition it’s in. Then a friend with amazing lustrous locks told me that her secret was Noughty haircare. Naturally, I had to give this magic potion a try! I can’t believe how much it has changed my hair, and how quickly too.’ Consider us sold! Noughty Intensive Care Leave-In Conditioner, £6.99, Superdrug If you suffer from dry skin or eczema, Nadia Sawalha from Loose Women has let us in on a secret that might help. She says, ‘One of my top products is Cetraben Cream in the 50ml handbag size which I use to…

Ginger chicken noodles Serves: 4 Prep: 15 min Cook: 15 min Cost per serving: £1.30 • 250g dried noodles • 1tbsp olive oil • 2 cloves garlic, crushed • 400g chicken breast, diced • 250g packet of prepared stir-fry veg • 2 pieces stem ginger in syrup, drained and cut into small pieces • 3tbsp soy sauce • 100ml hot vegetable stock 1 In a large pan of boiling water, cook noodles for about 5 min, until cooked with a bit of bite (al dente), then drain and rinse with cold water. 2 Heat a large, nonstick wok on a medium setting. Add the olive oil, garlic and chicken and cook for 5 min, until the chicken browns. 3 Empty the stir-fry pack into the wok, add the ginger, soy…

Hollyoaks Mac’s after revenge! After months of being paralysed and diagnosed with locked-in syndrome following his plunge from The Dog, Mac continues his recovery and has flashbacks of the villagers who’ve wronged him in the past. Baying for their blood, he must get stronger to take revenge on his enemies! Elsewhere, Ant refuses to go to school without Dee Dee, so Ste plans to teach them both in hospital where Dee Dee’s being treated. Will his tactics work? Emmerdale Where’s Becca? Visiting Lachlan in prison, Robert is stunned when Lachlan reveals he didn’t kill Rebecca and begs Lachlan to tell him where she is. But when Robert breaks into the room where she was being held, he realises he’s too late and believes she’s dead. So where is she? Meanwhile,…

Q Do you often talk about your exes? Tammy, Middlesbrough AI'd rather not talk about my exes, as they're just that - exes! But it's good to remember Sue, because she was a lovely person. It's nice to keep her memory alive. Q What do you argue about? Shelly, Glasgow A We don't argue about anything, not even about who's taking out the bins! We used to when we were first married, but we've matured a lot since then. Q Are your kids over the moon? Hannah, London A Absolutely, yes. They're thrilled that, after 20 years, we've finally reunited. It's every child's dream. Q How is this wedding going to be different to your first? Becky, Torquay A I'm not wearing the white dress or a veil. I've got…

Dear Imogen, Even on the day you were born, in November 2006, you had such a quizzical look in your eye. Bright and curious, it wasn’t enough to know you were in the world. You wanted to know why, too. ‘What happens when you die, Mummy?’ you asked me one day when you were 8. ‘Everyone believes in something different,’ I explained – I had no idea at the time just how relevant that question would be. Then, in April 2015, I got really sick. When my doctor rang that night, just before your bedtime, and said there was something wrong with my blood, you burst into tears. ‘It’s going to be OK,’ I soothed, giving you a cuddle, while I waited for an ambulance to take me to hospital.…