Innehållsförteckning för January 2016 från Chat Specials

There’s nothing like a good story to brighten up a dull January day. So, you’re in luck, as this Very Best Of Chat is full of them! Charlene (p58) proved sexy comes in all sizes, by becoming a 14st burlesque dancer! Meanwhile, spare a thought for poor Kristin (p8), who lost both her feet in a car crash. Our 13-page crime mag is packed with chilling stories, too. Like Diana (p46) who fell for a killer con man, and Aaron (p49), who tracked down a burglar. We also have cash puzzles, tips and more. And next month we have a double treat, with Chat February and a new crime mag, Inside Crime, both on sale 4 February.…

What do you think when you see a couple smooching in the street? Maybe that it’s sweet or romantic? For me, it’s the opposite. Just the thought of kissing a bloke sends shivers running through me – and not the sexy kind! It started in my early twenties. There was no one experience that set me off. It just suddenly dawned on me just how unhygienic kissing was. Swapping saliva… Yuck! I researched how much bacteria gets exchanged in the average bout of tonsil tennis. Big mistake! Millions... Learning that, my feelings only got stronger. Still I kept it to myself, not telling family and friends, so I didn’t sound weird. And, single at the time, it was easy to avoid puckering up. But then I started dating. Not that…

As a busy mum-of-three, life was nonstop. If I wasn’t taking my eldest Ralphy, 7, to school, I was picking up Isabelle, 3, from nursery, or chasing Eliza, 1, around the living room. Even at nearly nine months pregnant, there was no time to rest my aching legs. ‘Dinner,’ I called to Isabelle. Ralphy was spending the night with my mum Elaine, 53. Then, just as I started doing the washing-up… ‘Ouch!’ I gasped. A pain gripped my belly – my baby was on the way! But experience told me these things don’t happen quickly. Later, I felt another pain. Putting the girls to bed, I called my partner Steve, 30, who’d nipped to the pub. ‘It’s happening!’ I told him. ‘I’ll come now,’ he said. Neither me nor Steve…

The use of garlic dates back to the early Egyptians, over 5,000 years ago… • Egyptian slaves downed tools when their daily ration of garlic was removed, starting the first-known labour strike. Six bulbs of garlic were also discovered in King Tutankhamun’s tomb. • Crushed garlic can be used as a dressing for external wounds. It was used extensively in World War II for its antibiotic and antiseptic qualities. • Garlic is also beneficial in fighting heart disease, cancer, diabetes, infections and other illnesses.…

Come on, you’ll enjoy it, it’s great fun!’ My cousin Joanne kept going on and on about Kick Start Fat Loss, an exercise class she’d found. I’d been a size-16/18 before I had my five kids, and, 19 years on, I ended up 15st 13lb and a size 26. In April 2013, before my first class, I felt convinced they’d judge me and I’d be ashamed. But they didn’t – and I wasn’t! The class consists of short bursts of high-intensity training. It was hard work, but I managed to keep up. I was given a shopping list to use too. If it wasn’t on the list, I didn’t eat it. I expected to fail, so I was delighted when I lost 7lb the first week, 16lb the first month…

Clambering into bed, I settled down to watch my favourite soaps. It was only 6.45pm, but I was already exhausted. Not surprising really, as I’d been diagnosed with a debilitating lung disease in 2006. It meant I was permanently breathless and always found myself coughing. So now, with my kids Ashley, now 23, Daniel, 15, and Phoebe, 7, fed and watered, I quickly logged onto Facebook before tuning into Emmerdale. I’d ‘liked’ a local buy-and-sell page where you could get household goods, clothes… anything you could think of really. And all at bargain prices! But this evening, in May 2014, there was a rather unusual post: Man for sale… A picture was posted with it. Rough and ready, with ginger hair, Richard Yardley, 37, wasn’t my usual type, but he…

Admit it, we all have our favourite singers, actors and celebs. Some of us would give our right arm to meet our idol. The only difference is, I did! And my left. And both legs! Because I’m a human autograph book – my limbs are covered in tattooed scrawlings of my heroes. It all started in spring 2002, when I joined my mum Lynda, then 56, at a Marty Wilde concert. She was a massive fan of the crooner. And, after the gig in Clacton, so was I. Before long, we were following Marty around the country. In October, I got Marty Wilde Forever tattooed on my arm. My first tattoo! My hubby Peter, 57, simply rolled his eyes. After each gig, we waited to see Marty. And I’d take…

THE HUMAN STATUE Human statue Ashley Kurpiel suffers from a rare condition that’s turning her muscles to bone. The illness, called fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva, affects about 800 people worldwide. The incurable disease has already cost Ashley her right arm. But, while the disease can leave sufferers immobilised, Ashley has vowed to live life to the full. ‘When I was about two and a half, doctors diagnosed me with cancer,’ says Ashley. ‘They went in to remove what they thought was a tumour – and told my parents that it had spread and that my arm needed to be amputated. ‘Five months later, doctors called and said cancer was a misdiagnosis and that I had a rare disease that affects one in two million. ‘I’m growing a second skeleton in a…

I was losing £18,000 an hour Pressing enter, I held my breath. One pineapple, two pineapples, this was it! Then a cherry. Oh no, I'd lost again! Every night was the same. I’d sit excitedly in front of my computer, playing digital slot machines, convinced I was about to win big. But, within minutes, I’d be down £100, then £500, then £1,000! Losing up to £18,000 an hour! I didn’t know it then, but I was a gambling addict. Like a hamster on a wheel, I couldn’t stop chasing that big win – convincing myself it was just around the corner. But the big bucks never came. In 30 years of gambling, cash was like confetti in my hands. Why couldn't I stop? I was like a Jekyll and Hyde.…

It looked like she’d been beaten It wasn’t easy for me growing up. Being the only lad in our small town who liked to dance. ‘You mustn’t let that stop you,’ my mum Jean Hanlon told me. I was 6. My big brothers Robert, then 13, and David, 15, were into footy. But Mum could see I loved the stage. So she wrote letters to the local dance school in Dumfries until they let me join. Then she’d spend evenings sewing my outfits from scratch. ‘We have to make sure you’ve got the best,’ she’d smile. My number-one fan, she was at every show, play, parade and gala. She and my dad had divorced when I was 4. So Mum worked long hours as a hospital receptionist to put food…

She wasn’t fazed at all I stood in the kitchen smiling as I watched my Caitlin playing with big sis Chloe, now 14. ‘Let’s play,’ Caitlin giggled, as they ran around. Caitlin was such a happy little girl. She loved drawing, was a bit of a tomboy. You wouldn’t know it to look at her, but Caitlin was different to her sisters Chloe and Ellie, now 6. Just days after being born, she was diagnosed with congenital glaucoma, an eye disease that meant her eyes hadn’t developed properly. We’d noticed her eyes were grey – and then it was all systems go. After having an op on each eye to ease the pressure, she had a few other treatments, such as laser eye surgery. After that, all they could do…

Howl pretty! In her bows and ruff-les, my Ruby was a bridesmaid at my son's wedding. Doesn't she look good? Rita Smith, Notts Cat’s not Grandma! Ba-puss-chka! Our cat Doonican doing his best Russian-gran imitation. Archie Kimpton, south London Puss me a spanner... Here's my pet, Puds, fixing the cat-alytic converter! It's handy having a moggy mechanic around the house! S Carroll, Poole It’s a wrap Ready for walkies! My collies Pip and Bruno always make sure that they're protected from the elements before they head outside! P Flack, St Columb Major So bunny! Half rabbit, half leprechaun – my rabbit Sparky definitely has Irish blood! Heather Sutcliffe, Hebden Bridge…

The urge was too strong to ignore Galloping through the park, the wind in my hair, feeling so free… Ahh, this is the life! I thought to myself. Except, I’m not riding a horse… I am a horse! Yep, when I’m not at work, you’ll find me prancing about, dressed as my equine alter ego Drafter. I’m not foaling you… All in all, I’ve spent about $5,000 (nearly £3,000) on getting the right look. Custom-made bridles, saddles, a horse mask. Even a cart to pull. My love for horses started back when I was a kid. I was obsessed with My Little Pony, especially the character Firefly. I used to pretend to be her in the school playground. And when I was 8, I started horse riding every weekend. Eight…

A perfect Sunday afternoon, having a roast with family and friends! I was visiting my brother Robert, now 51, in London. His flatmate Gerry Harris, then 40, had done the cooking and, as I tucked into my roasties, we got chatting. Gerry had been mates with my brother for years. I’d first met him when I was 17 and, since then, I’d bumped into him at family gatherings, or when I visited Robert. Divorced, Gerry was a plumber. About 5ft 5in tall, muscly, with dark hair going grey around the edges. There's more to this guy than I thought, I realised, as we talked about anything and everything. Next time I visited Robert from my home in Devon, Gerry met me at the train station. And we spent more time…

Finishing a pink brush stroke, I stepped back to admire my handiwork. Expecting twin girls in December 2012, me and my hubby Ian, 35, were decorating the nursery. ‘Ready-made best pals,’ I’d grinned, picturing them playing together. My pregnancy went smoothly until 3 November, my 33rd week, when I woke up early, my knickers wet with blood. ‘Something’s wrong,’ I panicked to Ian. He whisked us to Royal Gwent Hospital, where the midwife confirmed one placenta had ruptured. Rushed for an emergency Caesarean, I had Ian at my side when, at 9.35am, Grace arrived, weighing 4lb 11oz. Needing oxygen urgently, she was put on a ventilator. Alys followed two minutes later, at 3lb 11oz. I only glimpsed some pink skin before she was taken to the Neonatal Unit, too. While…

A buff bloke running through the street, wearing a Superman dressing gown… Not an everyday occurrence – except in our house. I’ve always known my fella’s a hero. Married 19 years to Wayne, 38, I nicknamed him ‘Superman’ from the off. When we got together at 14, he was a real sweetie. So protective, always looking out for me, holding doors open. As it was an in-joke between us, I once bought him a DVD box set of Superman films. I also couldn’t resist a rather fetching matching dressing gown. ‘For my very own man of steel!’ I laughed. But Wayne really is the sort of bloke you want around in a crisis. He’s got bulging biceps and a heart of gold. If someone’s in trouble, he’ll help. When roads…

Almost collapsing, I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I couldn’t breathe, was terrified. It was September 2012 and we were on a family trip to Warwick Castle, where I’d tried to climb the steps to the top. When I went to my GP, my blood pressure was dangerously high. I knew if I didn’t lose weight, I probably wouldn’t be around for long. So that November, I joined Weight Watchers and weighed in at 21st 6lb, a size 24. I told the lady registering me that it ‘wouldn’t work for me but I’d give it a try’! Afterwards, I asked my daughter to take my photo. When I saw it, I cried. I had no idea I looked so bad. But now… I’m 10st lighter! At…

Curling up on the sofa, I got comfy to watch cartoons. ‘Sylvia, come in here!’ a voice boomed. It was my dad James Furmedge. He was really strict, so I raced into his room, but then I stopped dead. Dad was on the bed, naked – playing with his private parts. ‘Come here,’ Dad demanded. Mum was out, so we were home alone. Nervously, I went over. Suddenly, Dad pulled me on to the bed, made me touch him. ‘Like I was doing,’ he ordered. Terrified, I did as I was told. Next, he started kissing me. I squirmed to get away, but Dad pinned me down. Then he took my clothes off, his fingers probing between my legs. Frozen in fear, I lay there while Dad rubbed himself against…

The moment the break-time bell trilled, I raced to the tuck shop. ‘Crisps and a can of pop please, Mum,’ I grinned. Smiling, my mum Renee handed me my treats. I was 13, and she and my dad, Bob, were the school caretakers. It meant crisps at break, a choccy bar at lunch, all washed down with fizzy pop. At home, Mum made big meals. Pie and chips served with bread, thick with butter. Dessert was pudding, slathered with custard. I’d always clean my plate. But I’d eat secretly, too – sneaking off to scoff biccies. Unsurprisingly, I was bigger than my friends. Had been since I was a toddler. It didn’t bother me – I was bubbly with loads of mates. Only, at 14, weighing 12st, I went shopping…

1 A fishy death In Ohio, a silly young man gobbled down a live 5in goldfish. As the fish fought back, the man gasped for breath. Paramedics were called and arrived to find a fish tail still protruding from the victim's mouth. It resulted in the death of the man, and also the fish. 2 Glass act A Canadian lawyer charged at the windowpane on the 24th storey of his office block to show off the strength of the glass. But he crashed through the window to his death. 3 What a mug! In South Africa, a mugger fled after pinching a mobile phone. Spotting a fence, he scaled it thinking he'd made his escape. Instead he'd climbed the fence to the tiger enclosure at the zoo - where he…

She’d lent him more than £60,000 Pretty and successful, with a toy boy to boot, for Diana Lee midlife was looking really rosy. At 54, she still boasted lustrous auburn locks, a winning smile and at just 4ft 11in and weighing under eight stone, she had a fairy-like charm that belied her age. But, despite her delicate appearance, Diana was a force to be reckoned with. Her business, Parklands Cattery – offering pampered pussies a five star service, with their own rooms, complete with TVs and stereos – was booming. As a result, the divorcee enjoyed all the trappings of wealth, with an impressive detached, gated house, worth at least £500,000, in the picturesque Cheshire village of Cranage and a lively social life, enjoying regular dinners in classy restaurants. Now,…

‘Give me all your f***ing money!’ Tapping away on the keyboard, I decided to take the plunge and join a dating website. I thought it might be fun, but I didn’t expect it to lead to anything. So it was a pleasant surprise when I met a lovely, chirpy builder called Richard now 52. We had lots in common. Both divorced, we both had two children and shared similar interests too. It wasn’t long before we fell in love. We married six years ago. Things were running smoothly, until my husband was involved in a terrible car accident in 2012. He seriously injured his left leg and never fully recovered. In constant pain, he couldn’t work as a builder any more. He did get compensation though – £100,000! With the…

My confidence had hit rock bottom Pink hotpants, fishnet stockings, cleavage-busting basques… Saucy lingerie for skinny girls, right? Well, that’s what I thought. At 24 and a single mum, my confidence had hit rock bottom. Don’t get me wrong, I adored my kids, Summer, then 2, and Callum, 1. But two pregnancies had taken their toll on my body. I’d always been a size 12 with lovely curves. Now, I was 14st and a size 16 – too bulky for my 5ft 6in frame. The thought of donning lacy, skimpy underwear made my stomach turn. ‘I feel fat and ugly,’ I moaned to my mum Eileen, now 62. Not to mention exhausted and worn out. Summer had been born with multiple disabilities. She couldn’t walk or talk. She was a…

We prayed for a miracle Lying on our bed, our daughter Ava’s breathing suddenly sounded odd. Short, sharp... ‘I want to go to bed,’ Ava, 4, wheezed. Worried, my hubby Clive and I decided to take her to hospital. Ava had been born with genetic condition cerebrocostomandibular syndrome. It meant she’d no ribs at the front of her body, a small jaw, a calcium deficiency and hearing problems. So while family looked after her brother Alfie, 10, we raced to Luton and Dunstable Hospital. When we arrived, there was a tiny rash on Ava’s tummy and she was rasping. ‘We’ll need to transfer her,’ the doctor said. Our little girl was put on life support for the journey to Great Ormond Street Hospital. But soon the rash had spread. Ava…

It may have been human flesh THE CRIME Three young women had gone missing. But little did the neighbours know that they may have been eating them… THE STORY Food for thought… A deep-fried, half-moon-shaped pastry stuffed with meat and seasoning. Isabel Pires and her husband Jorge Beltrao Negromonte were making a killing selling delicious empanadas to their friends and neighbours. Who could resist such a tasty snack, served warm with spicy dipping sauce? Homemade and usually stuffed with chicken, tuna or pork. But were the ones Isabel and Jorge sold a little different..? Despite what they told their neighbours, it’s possible that the couple weren’t using regular meat. It may have been human flesh. Real, female human flesh. The married couple were actually murderers. And they were cannibals. They…

As the engine started up, I looked over at Callie, earmuffs on, ready to go. She looked the part. Or should that be paw-t… It was June 2011, and my three-month-old chocolate Labrador, Callie, was about to take flight for the first time. ‘The sky’s the limit,’ I laughed, strapping in my hound. I’ve been a private pilot for 13 years, and spend most weekends flying to Scotland to see my family. So before I got Callie, I researched to see if dogs could be passengers. The answer was a resounding woof! All she needed was her special harness and high-visibility jacket. To get her used to the sounds and smells of the airfield, I’d taxied her around the runway a few times, but now, we were climbing to the…

Feeling dazed, I tried to get my bearings… What the heck had just happened? My car was upside down, pinned against trees, and I was lying pressed flat against the roof. Every window was smashed. Although I wasn’t in pain, as I felt blood trickle down my face and neck, I quickly realised I’d had an accident… but how? On 27 April 2014, I’d left my parents’ house at 5pm. ‘Just off to run a few errands!’ I’d chirped, hopping in my car. Then… blank. Now, I was lying in the crushed remains of my Chevy Malibu. No idea where I was… I was in shock and had no clue of what had happened. Then I spotted my handbag, but my phone wasn’t inside. It must’ve been flung out during…

Your home should always be your sanctuary, a place of safety where you can shut yourself away. But mine was anything but. I’d lived in my detached bungalow for a few years when strange things started to happen… The house was always so cold, no matter how high I turned up the heating. ‘It’s freezing in here,’ I’d shiver, huddling next to the radiator in the living room. I constantly sensed a strange, ominous presence in the house, as if I was being watched by malevolent eyes. And spooky dark shadows often flitted across the walls in the living room. I kept trying to convince myself that there was a logical explanation. Perhaps the sleeping tablets I’d been on ever since I’d broken up with an abusive ex didn’t agree…

Your bum looks big, dear!' Thanks, Mum! I knew I was a bit overweight, but her straight talking gave me the final push to do something about it. I'd been through a painful divorce and wanted to feel good about myself again. So rather than sit on the couch moping, I went to the gym. My personal trainer recommended a diet plan called Maxitone. He said it'd help build definition and curb my sugar cravings. So, along with five small meals a day with protein, I started drinking a Maxitone Sculptress Diet shake in the morning and after training. My favourite is the strawberry flavour! I also have a good stock of Sculptress Diet bars to help avoid unhealthy snacking. As my clothes got baggier, I became more confident. It…

Body lotion Faith in Nature Coconut Body Lotion, 150ml, £6.25, Holland & Barrett Specially formulated to help keep your skin soft and supple, this is gentle on sensitive skin. And it smells amazing! Lavera Organic Wild Rose Body Lotion, 200ml, £8.45, Holland & Barrett We loved this body lotion. Silky smooth and non-greasy, it’s an indulgent, exotic treat that leaves your skin feeling gorgeously soft. Ted Baker Mint Body Souffle,  300ml, £10, Boots This mousse is perfectly moist and will leave skin feeling silky smooth. Australian Bodycare Tea Tree Oil Body Lotion, 250ml, £13.60, Amazon Smooth and non-sticky, this lotion is absorbed easily and left our skin feeling soft. Great if you love the strong smell of tea tree.…

Lorraine Grierson, 40, says, ‘I was aged 7 when Stephen first molested me. ‘It was terrifying. At sleepovers with Sylvia, I was free from Stephen's abuse. But I'd no idea he was touching her, too, until he tried to rape her while we shared a bed. Scared, I pretended to be asleep. Then, at 13, I saw a documentary about child abuse and realised what a monster Stephen was. Sylvia coming back into my life is a blessing. I'm glad I could help her put Stephen back behind bars.'…

There was one song always guaranteed to send me back in time… When I'm Sixty-Four, by The Beatles. I’d only have to hear the first line and I’d be back on the shop floor of Lawson & Stockdale department store, Grimsby, where I worked in 1964. It was a happy time – not least because I was in love! Mike Sutton, 18, worked with me and was my very first boyfriend. He was handsome, with a mop of dark hair. We’d spend hours together, listening to Beatles records. When I'm Sixty-Four was our fave, hence the flashbacks. Me and Mike had lasted 18 happy months, before he left the store and we drifted apart. Time passed and I heard that he’d moved to Canada, married, started a family. Back home,…

On the evening of 25 October 1994, a woman hammered on a door in Union, South Carolina. Frantically, she said that a man had hijacked her car with her two young sons inside. The desperate woman described how she’d stopped at a red light when the armed man jumped into her Mazda and ordered her to drive. Then he’d told her to stop and get out, and sped off… The woman’s name was Susan Smith and her sons – Michael, 3, and Alex, 14 months – were now missing… Susan and her ex-husband David Smith – the boys’ father – were both given a lie-detector test. David passed, but when Susan’s was inconclusive, police were concerned. Susan had originally said she hadn’t seen any other cars when she’d stopped a…

We were sure he’d be back before morning Turning on the telly, my boy Allan Jnr, 24, had a massive grin on his face. I knew that look... Footy must be on! A fan of Celtic, he loved nothing better than sitting at home and watching them play. Allan Jnr was a real home body. Looking forward to starting his college course in Engineering, he’d never left home – preferring to be close to me, his dad Allan Snr, and his sisters Amy, 18, and Sophie, 9. Not that he didn’t have plenty of mates, too. They were always cluttering up his bedroom, drinking beer and playing Xbox! I didn’t mind, though. I knew that one day Allan would leave home and start a family of his own. Not that…

This burglar had met his match! Woof! Woof! What was our dog Betty barking at? Gosh, was that the time? It was 4.30am and I’d dropped off in front of the TV. My partner, Kirsty, had gone up to bed at about 10.30pm. And our girls, Kiera, 5, and Frankie, 2, had been fast asleep for hours. ‘Quiet,’ I shouted at Betty, wondering what had upset her. Walking into the hall, I saw a spot of snow on the carpet, noticed the front door was ajar. In the kitchen, I found all the cupboard doors wide open. My heart was thumping. Were my girls OK? Dashing upstairs, taking them two at a time, panic surged through me. Phew! My daughters were sound asleep. Waking Kirsty, I asked if she’d been…

The girl ran on all fours It was 1833 when John Dent met Mollie Pertul, a daughter from one of the neighbouring farms, in Carrizo Springs, Texas. Mollie and John, a professional animal trapper, fell in love. But love can change people – and it certainly did John. He told his work partner Will Marlo that he didn’t want to work with him any more. Wanted to go it alone. Marlo was unhappy. Tensions ran high… Days later, they had a big argument in public. John lost control, grabbed a knife, and stabbed Marlo. The wound was fatal. A fugitive, John fled west, taking Mollie with him. Poor Mollie’s parents were out of their minds with worry. Their beloved daughter had disappeared with a killer. Months passed and they received…

‘Lily was born missing a hand’ Heading to Wishaw General Hospital, I was nervous and excited. ‘I can’t wait to meet her,’ I smiled to my husband Colin, then 36. It was July 2012, and at 37 weeks pregnant, I was about to be induced. My pregnancy hadn’t exactly been plain sailing… I’d bled a lot and thought I was suffering a miscarriage more than once. But docs had kept an eye on me and, from 28 weeks, they’d scanned me twice a week. ‘It all looks fine,’ they’d always say. Now she was finally coming. Our other kids, Jordan, 12, and Kimberley, 8, were staying with Colin’s mum. They were excited to meet their sister, too. The following morning, Lily arrived – a healthy 6lb 6oz. ‘She’s gorgeous,’ I…

Aries 21 Mar - 20 April You'll make the most of the coming weeks, Aries, if you see them as a trial run for February when a more dynamic planetary picture can see you really forging ahead. In January the energies of talk and thought are in retrograde, so this isn't the best of times to be gung-ho. For now, experiment with different possibilities, as they'll help keep your intentions alive. By January 25th things will start to crystallise nicely. • Call 09058 171760 for your year ahead forecast. Taurus 21 April - 21 May You'll spring out of the 2016 starting gate and be ready for action, but pretty soon may need to back up and rethink your strategy. However, don't see this as being a negative, Taurus. The…