Innehållsförteckning för October Special 2016 från Chat Specials

Terrified of spiders? Beware! As you read your bumper Chat October Special, remember it’s the time of year when the eight-legged scaries like to creep indoors. And they’re not all harmless… Just look at the damage a venomous false widow spider bite did to Aideen’s leg (p20)! But for the perfect antidote, read Jude’s moving story about how, when her house burnt down, her local community raised £5,000 to help (p50). While on p14, seeing Kayden cuddling his little sisters, both born after his mum had a melon-sized tumour removed from her right ovary, is guaranteed to make you smile. In contrast, when Kelly lost her son to a cot death, instead of comforting her, her evil fella raped her in her sleep (p4). Whether it’s shocking crime stories, cash…

LOVE ON TRACK A marriage proposal is always an unforgettable moment for any unsuspecting bride- or groom-to-be; but one man invited a load of unsuspecting commuters, when he recruited a flashmob to help him pop the question to his girlfriend on the London Overground. Going viral, the romantic gesture left passengers speechless as a choir (disguised as fellow commuters going about their business) burst into a chorus of Bill Withers' Lovely Day . Perfectly timed, the groom-to-be then dropped to one knee, ring in hand, to ask his girlfriend to marry him. She said yes! Champagne all round! FEELING BALLSY Commuting in January is chilly at the best of times, but travelling without trousers? That's a whole different ball game - but thousands like to play come…

Hot water bottle, Sainsbury’s, £10 Hubby out for the evening? Cuddle up with this furry water bottle instead. It'll keep you toasty on the sofa while you catch up on your TV shows. Eye mask, Oliver Bonas, £12.50 How cute is this sleep mask? Perfect for a well-earned bit of shut eye, it’s even scented with lavender to help you drift off. Slippers, Marks & Spencer, £10 If only they made these in grown-up sizes! At least the kids will be excited about putting their feet up - so you'll get a rest too! Mug, New Look, £4.99 If you’re a crazy pug lady and proud, this is the mug for you! Warm up with a nice cup of hot chocolate, and don’t forget to add marshmallows – treat yourself!…

1 When your friend asks you to join her on a health kick, you… a Go with it! It was nice of her to think of you – and it’ll be heaps of fun as a duo b Agree to try it at least once. You wanted to make changes, so this could be the motivation you need c Hesitate. It depends what classes she wants to do and if you do join her, it’ll be in your own time d Flat-out refuse. You can’t think of anything worse, plus you have your own Ôroutine’ going on 2 Your doctor says you've got high cholesterol. You... a Listen to their advice and change your diet b Watch your diet. You may have scoffed a fry-up today, but from now on…

People tell you that you have a witches' cackle for a laugh. Just don't tell them where you parked the broomstick! You’re having a hair nightmare worse than Frankenstein’s bride You refuse to stay in a motel on holiday because you've watched too many horror films Your legs look like a werewolf’s after not shaving for a week You ignore a call from an unknown number because you're convinced they'll ask you what your favourite scary movie is... You have to hide from trick-or-treaters because you couldn’t help eating all the sweets! Your sore throat makes you sound like you've been possessed You woke up like a zombie and put your jumper on back to front, then only realised halfway through the day! Last night, you heard a sudden noise…

Lil was lying on the footpath. She was unconscious Page hadn’t been drug tested until nine hours later It was a beautiful summer evening on Saturday 26 June 2010. ‘Can me and Lillian play out the front?’ my youngest, Oliver, 10, asked after dinner. They’d spent all day helping me prepare for my birthday barbecue the following day. ‘OK,’ I replied. Grinning, Oli and Lil, 14, grabbed a football. Lil, a bubbly daddy’s girl, adored her little brother. My kids from a previous relationship – Rhiannon, then 20, and Nick, 17 – were upstairs. So me and my hubby Gary relaxed in the back garden. The World Cup was on and, at 7pm, I popped inside to check the score. Looking through the living-room window at Oli and Lil playing…

Rummaging through the kitchen drawers, I knew the cling film was somewhere. ‘A-ha,’ I cried, grabbing a roll of the clear, sticky plastic. Waddling across the kitchen, my legs felt as slimy as a slug! They always did when I’d slathered them in cream. Bending down, I started wrapping cling film around them – turning myself into a plastic-coated mummy! The things I do for clear skin, I sighed. It was hardly a hot look for a 23-year-old. But the plastic locked the moisture in. Barely a day passed when I wasn’t mottled in ugly red sores and scaly dry patches, as a result of a skin condition. So, my moisturising ritual gave me some much-needed relief from the pain. But it wasn’t a long-term solution as, sadly, I had…

Walking through the local cemetery, I wondered how many of the women I passed were also marking this special day. It was Mother’s Day 2010, but I wasn’t there to visit my mum’s grave. I was there to feel close to James, the baby I had lost on 14 May 2009 – two weeks after his severe brain abnormality was detected at my 20-week scan. After delivering him by an induced natural labour, my own heart was shattered. My partner, Mark Bowes, 50, and I held him, touched him; told him we loved him. We marvelled at the beautiful little boy our love had created, but we would never see smile, laugh, grow. Sitting on the hospital bed, we both cradled him in our arms, savouring this precious moment as…

We’d all like our kids to be more active and spend less time on the sofa. It’s easier said than done though… especially if you’re just as bad as they are! But a friend reckoned she knew just the answer – an activity holiday for the whole family. After a busy time with my husband and I both working long hours, we thought it could be just what we needed to get us active. How to get there? We booked with PGL, who run activity holidays for kids on their own (everyone jokes that it stands for: ‘Parents Get Lost’) as well as families. They’ve got seven centres across the country, and we chose Liddington in Wiltshire, a two-hour drive from our house and close to the M4. Where to…

Dee-Jay was lying on his back. He’d turned blue Powering down the street, at a million miles an hour, I suddenly stopped in my tracks. Blimey, if it wasn't Scrap Man Dave! ‘Dave, is that really you?’ I cried, seeing him leave a house up ahead. ‘I was just wondering whether it could be you too, Kelly,’ he replied, warmly. ‘I’d heard you were back in the area, how are you?’ I smiled. Once our local scrap man, his lanky frame hadn’t changed since we’d last seen each other, many moons earlier. Close once, despite him being six years older, I’d hung out in the same crowd as David Mahoney in my teens. Growing up in Stockton, Greater Manchester, I’d even had a baby with one of his pals. Now…

Doctors revealed that the tumour was cancerous I cried as I heard I was carrying identical twins I was constipated, bloated, yet in the space of about six months, I’d lost 2st. ‘Maybe you should see the doctor?’ my sister Tamara, then 25, suggested. Referred to Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth, scans showed I’d a fibroid in my womb. Sent for an operation to remove it, I felt relieved to have a diagnosis. But my stomach was getting increasingly uncomfortable, and I still wasn’t going to the toilet. Concerned, I got an earlier appointment and, on 1 September 2006, I was sent for another scan. This time, it was bad news… ‘We’ve found a mass and need to admit you,’ the doctor said. I didn’t know any more details as I…

His eyes looked evil. Like a stone cold killer’s My lip quivered, as I examined my reflection. Even trowelling on the make-up wouldn’t conceal this. Yet another purple shiner. There was no point in lecturing me, telling me to leave him. Just one look in the mirror said it all. People could judge all they liked. It was easy, when you weren’t the one having to live with constant terror. When we’d got together three years earlier, Richard Jones, 45 now, had been a real charmer. He’d wheedled his way into mine and my 15-year-old daughter’s lives. Won both our hearts. Then he’d turned. He’d threaten my girl. And, in order to protect her, I’d suffered his brutal blows. Countless black eyes, bruises and broken noses. I should have been…

Mostly As: Gone with the wind You’re happy-go-lucky; a free spirit that’s happy to go where the wind takes you. You’re able to adapt to most situations with minimal fuss. In fact, you embrace change. Mostly Bs: Rake it in When you’re used to your own routines and ways of doing things, it can be hard to loosen control. But if you’re open to changes, you’ll find being more flexible can work in your favour. Mostly Cs: Stuck in the mud Whether you dodge change or assume you know best, you’re certainly a tough one to move. Whilst it’s a slow process, with the right help you can be more adaptable than you realise! Mostly Ds: Putting down roots What you say goes and nothing and no-one is about to…

No matter how much I ate, nothing filled the emptiness I regularly missed mortgage payments to buy pizza My mouth watering, I took a family-sized bar of chocolate from my big stash under the bed. Just a little piece, I thought. Good intentions! Minutes later, I’d scoffed the whole lot. My hubby was sat downstairs, clueless about my bingeing. But our marriage was crumbling and, as usual, I’d turned to my old friend, food, for comfort. It was a pattern I’d repeated over the years. In the 80s, I’d piled on the pounds after having my son Jody, before dropping the baby weight with slimming group Weight Care. When I split from my first hubby in 1999, I’d ballooned to a size 20, before dieting off 5st. Now it was…

As we laughed, the years between us melted away We had nookie every day – sometimes more than once! Shivering and shaking, I ducked under the bus shelter and out of the pelting rain. Drat! Drenched, I rummaged around in my purse and couldn’t find enough change for the fare. Peering at the dark, rumbling sky, I was wondering what on earth to do when an old man came towards me. ‘You look hungry,’ he said, softly. ‘I am, but that’s not your problem,’ I replied. ‘Do you want something to eat?’ he asked, his brow wrinkling with concern. ‘Yeah, I do to be honest,’ I replied, cheeks flushing, as I rubbed my growling tummy. That was a decade ago. It was the first time I met Marcus, when I…

Memory matters Q My mum's increasingly forgetful. She snaps whenever I mention it. How can I get her to see the doctor without upsetting her? Dionne, 46 A Your mum would persuade you to see the doctor if she felt you needed it. It’s your turn now! Take her to your GP for a routine checkup – she will be due one at age 75 anyway, and this will include a memory test. Sore point Q My dad has some ulcers on his feet due to diabetes. How can we get him to take them more seriously? Carys, 50 A Foot care in diabetics is important. If ignored it could lead to serious consequences, including amputation. Encourage him to visit his diabetic nurse. Heart ache Q My husband has atrial…

Settling my 13-month-old son George into bed, I’d an early night planned. My hubby Jon, 37, was working a late shift as a sales consultant, but he’d be home around 10pm. I nodded off before he got in. But soon after, a rushing noise woke me up. Must be blowing a gale, I thought. Odd – it sounded like it was inside the house… It was 4am – and suddenly I realised Jon wasn’t beside me. Then I heard his voice. ‘Get George! The house is on fire!’ Jon yelled from downstairs. We had two smoke detectors but I didn’t hear them. Panicked, I leapt up, pulled on my nightie and darted to George’s room. He was already sitting up in his cot, frightened. I scooped him up and went…

Eyes shut, lips pursed and heart pounding, I was revving myself up to go in for a smooch. Just do it, I told myself, nervous as hell. But it wasn’t a hunky lad I was preparing to kiss… it was an alligator! It was 2010 and I’d finally summoned the courage to try a daring trick – the ‘Gator Kiss’. ‘You’re so brave,’ my friends told me when I explained I was gearing up to snog the snout of an alligator’s open mouth with my arms behind me. Crazy, they probably meant! But I’d grown up with the creatures, and I knew exactly what I was doing. Lots of alligators roamed in the Wetlands near where we lived in Pompano Beach, Florida, and they’d bewitched me since I was 5.…

To do… You don't need to book a flight in order to enjoy the fun on offer at Oktoberfest. Just grab your lederhosen and get yourself to Manchester between 19-23 October instead, where you can sample ales and listen to live music. Visit www. manchester-oktoberfest. co.uk  for more information. To buy… Did you know colouring in isn’t just for kids? There are plenty of books out there aimed at adults, and with this one you can combine crayons with your love of the cobbles! Coronation Street: The Official Colouring Book, £10, is published by Hamlyn. To watch… Proving you're never too old to shake your thang, a group of retired men and women have recreated Taylor Swift's Shake It Off…

Aged 14, it finally dawned on me that I wasn’t even gay. I was transgender Texting was usually second nature to me. But my hand was wobbling like jelly, as I punched the letters into my phone. … I have realised I am a transgender female. Send. That was that… Born a boy and named Tyler by my mum, Angela, 30, I’d simply never felt masculine. I was just 6 when I started wearing Mum’s high heels and trying out her make-up. For me, though, it wasn’t just dressing up. Trotting around in the spindly shoes, I felt completely at home. I loved styling my dolls’ hair and putting them in pretty dresses – all the while wishing I could look the same. As I got older, I even wrapped…

It was one of Britain’s most venomous spiders Snuggling under the duvet in July last year, I cosied up to my hubby Darrin. My eyes getting heavy, I soon began drifting off. But suddenly something tickly brushed my leg. Probably just a creepy-crawly, I thought, batting it away casually with my hand. Seconds later, a searing pain shot through my calf. ‘Owww,’ I yelped, throwing the sheets off me. ‘What’s wrong?’ Darrin yawned. Peering down at my leg, I spotted a red lump forming on my left calf. ‘I’ve been bitten,’ I winced. Darrin, 35, inspected the painful wound. ‘That looks like a spider bite,’ he said. He’d kept spiders as pets through the years, so he knew what he was talking about. Yet we weren’t too worried. We were…

Maybe blokes thought I’d be too hot to handle? Dealing with a raging inferno was an everyday challenge for me. If only I could ignite some fiery passion in my love life! A firefighter with the Oxfordshire Fire Service, I got plenty of attention when guys first clocked on to my profile on dating sites. Firefighting fit fitness instructor… it read. See, I was personal trainer, too – fitness being so important to my job – and I also ran classes. Of course, this fuelled a blaze of clichéd cheesy chat-up lines. Oooh… Can you come and rescue me? Fancy sliding down my pole? I'd love to see you in your uniform… You name it, I’d heard it! Once the jokes had fizzled, though, I always knew what was coming…

ZOO SCARY Get your witches outfit on for broomstick flying lessons at Marwell Zoo in Winchester! The centre’s special ‘Boo at the Zoo’ extravaganza is running 22-30 October, promising terrifying face painting, dressing up and a pumpkin carving competition. The winner will get to adopt one of the zoo’s tigers, although you sadly won’t get to take it home with you! • Adults, £19; children, £15. Visit www.marwell.org.uk/zoo BE A-MAZE-D! If you’re afraid of the dark, not only does York Maze host the International Giant Pumpkin Commonwealth competition (record breaking pumpkins can earn their proud growers £2k!), but from 24 October until 1 November it’s also hosting Halloween By Day! Get lost in a haunted maize maze, burn off some energy on the outdoor play area and carve up pumpkins…

Meet the expert: Dr Natalie Atere-Roberts is a GP and adviser to Dr Morton's medical helpline ( www.drmortons.co.uk ) DOING HOMEWORK These days, there's a lot of focus on preventative health - which basically means doing things to help prevent ourselves getting ill, rather than just focusing on treating problems when they develop. Most of the UK's most common major diseases - such as heart disease, stroke, Type 2 diabetes and certain cancers - can be avoided by maintaining a healthy weight, being active, eating a balanced diet with plenty of fruit and veg, as well as not smoking and keeping booze intake moderate. 'ÒYou are what you eatÓ is a well known saying for a reason,' agrees Dr Natalie. 'In terms of staying healthy into your older…

Aries 21 Mar - 20 April This month, Mars is emphasising your ability to assert yourself and have your voice heard. This could see you making significant progress around your career, but it’s also going to be important to stay sensitive to relationships. Do be sure to give other people, especially a close partner, the opportunity to have their say too. • Call 0905 817 1760* for more. Taurus 21 April - 21 May Many of us enjoy a certain amount of routine Ð it gives us a sense of structure. This month the planets are going to be pushing you to shake up quite a few elements of your existence Taurus, and if you go with the flow, October can be one of the most exciting, The one thing…