Innehållsförteckning för April Special 2017 från Chat Specials

April heralds the start of the spring wedding season. But poor Leissa’s nightmare nuptials still haunt her (p24) after her sozzled niece beat her up, leaving her lace bridal gown and her wedding day in tatters. Tracy has far less trouble keeping her family of animals in check (p61) – regularly enjoying walks in her local park with four of her pet dogs and her goat in a coat! Meanwhile, poor Linda (p28) is having something of an identity crisis, after a seizure brought on rare Foreign Accent Syndrome, making her sound anything from Scottish to Scandinavian! Voices were also a problem for Blaire (p20), who used to hear them telling her, ‘Go to McDonald’s, fatty.’ She’s gone from 22st to 10st 3lb and now looks fit and fabulous. There…

I missed out on precious moments Tucking into a mountain of pasta, I glanced at my hubby Andy’s plate. Exactly the same. Only Andy, 32, went to the gym five times a week and played football. And I did nothing. I wanted to lose weight, but I just didn’t enjoy exercise. When I became pregnant, I figured it was the perfect excuse. I mean, no-one expects you to diet when you’re eating for two, do they? But after having our beautiful girl Darcie in April 2014, I had to face facts. Standing on the scales, I gulped. 14st 9lb. At 5ft 4, I had some serious weight to lose. So I hid under baggy, dark, size-18 clothes. Refused to have my photo taken with Darcie. ‘Give yourself a break –…

DRY RUNÉ Brollies aren’t just great in the rain, it turns out they can really help you out in a pickle too. A teenager tied up by a knife-wielding robber took matters into his own hands – by fighting off his attacker with an umbrella. The brave 19-year-old was tied up at home in London by the intruder, but managed to break free before chasing him down the street with an umbrella. We’ll be keeping our umbrella close by at all times from now on! RAINY GOOD IDEA Jonas Hanway is credited with popularising the umbrella in England in the 18th century after returning from a trip to Persia, where he was inspired by local people using parasols to keep the sun at bay. The merchant, who was born in…

Antibacterial Wipes 40 Pack, 50p, Wilko These apple and apricot wipes wipe off dust and dirt with a simple swoop. There’s 40 in each pack, so hopefully that will be enough to get you started. Marigold Extra Life Kitchen Gloves, RRP £2.50, Tesco Deep cleans can take their toll on hands, so keep your digits dirt-free and pretty by investing in some Marigolds. This pair – in classic yellow – are long-life, so you can tackle the grimiest crannies of your oven without getting covered in muck. Dust broom, £2, Flying Tiger Stores If your arms don’t stretch to far corners, catch pesky cobwebs with this colourful duster. How satisfying! 24 pack dolly pegs, £1, Poundland If spring has sprung in your neck of the woods and you have a…

1 Five minutes before you're due to start your shift, you… a Are nattering with your work pals, arranging a babysitter for the weekend and simultaneously munching your lunch b Are drafting job applications and dreaming of starting afresh c Have signed up to do overtime this weekend to help a mate out, even though you could really do with the time off d Are frantically sending a group text to tell your mates you can’t meet up later, even though you’ve known about your shift for weeks 2 Your mum wants to treat you and the kids to a day out in a fortnight's time. You… a Say yes, even though you know the kids have parties that Saturday – you’re sure you can work around it b Scroll…

No-one can say if my own voice will ever come back Oooooh… I just love your accent! Whereabouts are you from?’ The waitress’s pencil was poised over her pad as she leaned closer to hear my thick Scottish brogue. ‘California,’ I replied, trying to suppress a giggle. I was used to people mistaking me for a Scot. In the past, I’ve sounded Scandinavian and British. But I’m not an impressionist, or even a joker who loves putting on accents. You see, in October 2015, I was diagnosed with Foreign Accent Syndrome – one of just 150 people with the condition worldwide. The speech disorder causes a sudden change to your voice. It means my usual West Coast twang, having grown up in San Jose, California, had disappeared. Replaced with a…

Fingers crossed for fortune! The dress you've been looking at for weeks goes on sale - and it's in your size! It starts raining just as you get in from dashing round town You get sent an unexpected tax rebate, just in time for the kids' birthdays! The only Danish pastry left on the shelf is the one you’d been fantasising about scoffing all morning Your birthday falls on a bank holiday this year - amazing! Running late on the school run, all the traffic lights miraculously turn green for you You’re sure you’re going to miss your train, then it’s delayed too! Winner! Your friend grabs you just before you step in a big muddy puddle Just as you hit the road for a long journey, the traffic clears…

After beating cancer twice, he’d been taken away by a virus Sitting at the kitchen table, I gripped my hands around my mug of tea. Tears streamed down my face, my shoulders shaking with the pain. Then, I felt an arm around my shoulder. ‘Mum, why are you crying?’ asked my son, Jordan, then 20. ‘I’ll be OK, you know.’ That was my lad. Always thinking of others. Really, I should have been comforting him. Jordan had been diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia. My son, who lived life to the full, always laughing and joking. In late 2014, Jordan had visited a doctor with pains in his ribs. He was sent to the Northern General Hospital in Sheffield for a scan. At first, medics thought he may just have strained…

BOOTS PHARMACEUTICALS COOLING EYE MASKS SIX PACK, £5.45, BOOTS These disposable eye masks are really great for soothing eyes after a long, tiring day. Pop a mask in the fridge beforehand, then lay it on your eyelids for 10 minutes. Hit or MYTH? Drinking makes incontinence worse Although it might be tempting to stop drinking fluids if you’ve lost control of your bladder, it’s better to have six to eight glasses of fluid a day, unless your doctor tells you otherwise. Going without drinks can make incontinence worse as it reduces your bladder’s capacity. WINNING WEBSITE Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a disease of the central nervous system affecting around 108,000 people in the UK – and around three times as many women as men. There’s no cure, but there’s plenty…

I was screaming in agony. My face felt like it was on fire Kneeling by the flower bed, I dug my fingers into the soil, tugging at the weeds. Phew! I’d planned to spend the whole day gardening but, in the blazing heat, it was proving to be hard work. Stopping for a break, I swept the hair out of my eyes. And then... Blinking into the sunlight, I tried to pull myself up. How did I end up here, sprawled on the grass? My face felt stiff, painful. I could barely open my eyes. It had happened again. My blackouts had started six months earlier, on 21 December, 2015. The day my son Elijah was born. At Bacchus Marsh Hospital, Melbourne, I was put into an induced coma. I…

Logging back in, there it was! I’d won the jackpot of £2,000! Surfing the Internet, I spotted an ad for Chat Mag Bingo. That looks like fun! I thought, and the winners’ stories looked so amazing, I signed myself up. I’d never played online bingo before, and I loved trying out all the bingo rooms, and the excitement of watching the numbers come up. That was a couple of years ago now, and I had some little wins after signing up. Now, during the day, I help out my hubby Robert, 53, in his garage. But, after a long day, I love to put up my feet and play a few games of bingo. Sometimes I enjoy a few spins on the slots. But the excitement of the bingo rooms…

Take a trip to Welcome Family for the perfect Easter staycation! Located in picturesque Dawlish, this award-winning holiday park has four swimming pools, free crazy golf and nightly entertainment, plus fishing locations, cycling routes and watersports facilities nearby for more outdoorsy holidaymakers. With Exeter just 25 minutes away on the train, and Dawlish beach a stone's throw away, the whole family is sure to have a blast! • Visit www.welcome family.co.uk…

To do… Early April apparently marks Be Kind To Spiders week, so why not face your fears head on at ZSL London Zoo and experience In With Spiders, a walk-through spider exhibit? Dare you! Visit www.zsl.org/ zsllondon-zoo To buy… April showers might be pouring down, but that doesn’t mean you can’t perk yourself up with the sight of sunny, blue skies above your head. Blue Sky Umbrella, £14.99, Amazon To watch… Working at a drive thru means you’re going to see all sorts. You’re not going to expect someone without a head, however… www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NzRMPsnC3s…

His victims had all been kidnapped, raped and tortured Tanya’s arms, legs and head were severed Who would have thought that my little sister’s birthday treat would be ruined by a serial killer? It sounded too far-fetched to be true! I’d bought Tanya a ticket to see Ivanushki International, her favourite band, for her 20th birthday, but… ‘You can’t go,’ her husband, Igor Martynova, 24, protested. ‘Oh, Igor,’ I pleaded. ‘Tanya never goes out. She’s always at home for you and baby Diana. It’ll be a real treat for her.’ ‘Have you forgotten there’s a maniac out there?’ thundered Igor. Of course, he was right. A crazed serial killer had murdered 27 young women where we lived in Angarsk, in just two years. Still at large, cops called him…

With Mother's Day fast approaching, most will be out buying cards, flowers and chocolates. A day for family, many will be enjoying time spent together over a tasty roast. But it's not just us who show our affection with hugs and kisses. Here's a Diana monkey, born at Twycross Zoo in Leicestershire, snuggling up to its mother. Just 3 months old, she has a lot to learn - but mum De'Arly will be right there by her side. And just like we shower ours with gifts to say thanks, this littl'un will surely find a way to do the same.…

My dad Michael was just seven years younger than him! Peeking shyly at the man sitting next to me, my heart thumped in my throat. Come on, Jen. Just do it. At 22, I’d never kissed anyone. Now here I was, gearing myself up to make the first move. It was August 2012, and we’d just had the most romantic walk on the beach. Now, slumped in front of the telly, we were like an old couple. But nothing had happened – yet. We’d met a few weeks earlier. Willie had caught my eye at Auchincruive Estate in Ayr, where I was doing work experience. Willie worked there as a gardener. I fancied him instantly. Fantasised about him sweeping me up in his big strong arms. There was something about…

Struggling to breathe, I panicked. Then... darkness ‘You’ve been in a coma for seven weeks’ Out in a pop. That’s what people often say about your second baby. After spending 21 hours in labour with our first child Lexi, now 6, I didn’t really believe it could be that easy second time around. But it was. In August 2013, our little prince Alfie announced his arrival in the world with a cry. And the birth took just two hours. Gazing into his trusting eyes, framed by a thatch of dark hair, I fell completely in love. Right on time, and just perfect. The pregnancy had been relatively easy, too. Aside from a slight cough, I’d sailed through it. Still, I was exhausted. I felt drained. My legs were heavy,…

Savagely, she smashed my head into a wooden door frame Slipping into my white, lace dress, I felt so happy. Once widowed, and then divorced, I’d had my share of heartache, almost given up on finding love again. Instead, I’d concentrated on my kids – Darren, 29, Michael, 27, Ceri, 26, Tony, 24, Abbi, 16, Amy, 15, and Emily, 10. Then, in November 2013, I was recommended the dating site Badoo. With nothing to lose, I decided to sign up. Soon, I got chatting to a handsome chap, Brian Williams, 48. Funny and kind, it wasn’t long before I agreed to meet him. We clicked! Brian had two kids from a previous relationship, and had never married. Just three months on, he proposed, and I was bowled over. ‘It’ll be…

He looked so tiny in his hospital crib, wires taped to his body It was frighteningly familiar. The yellow hue of his skin. His floppy arms and legs. Tired eyes. Just 15 hours after coming into the world on 25 March 2015 with his twin sister, Lucy, my little boy, Joseph, was whisked away – admitted to neonatal care with severe jaundice. I knew the signs. The same had happened to me as a baby, and to my brother, Gareth Powell, 40. Before that, my mum, Dorothy Powell, 69, had it, too. It was hereditary spherocytosis – a disease where the red blood cells are sphere-shaped rather than disc-shaped. My husband, Joe, 36, and I had known there was a 50/50 chance of the condition being passed to one of…

I had a 50/50 chance of conceiving naturally Stroking my belly, I frowned. Something's not right, I thought. Two months pregnant, I’d been overjoyed about starting a family with my partner, Allan Blake, 28. But the joy soon turned to fear. I’d experienced some light bleeding, which can be normal in pregnancy. Something just felt wrong, though. At The Royal Cornwall Hospital, medics ran an emergency scan. ‘What is it?’ I asked, seeing their frowns as they peered at the monitor. ‘Is there something wrong?’ They could only see my embryonic sac. Nothing else. No baby. ‘It could just be too early,’ one medic said. But I was terrified. Where was my baby? Another long week stretched out before I had another scan. This time, doctors discovered a dark patch…

Aries 21 Mar - 20 Apr A relationship can need care this month, Aries. This is a time to work hard at relating to a partner’s needs, and because the planets are going to emphasise your need for freedom, this in itself can create an issue. If you want to show people how individualistic you are, great progress can be made. • Call 0905 817 1760* for more. Taurus 21 Apr - 21 May Until the 20th, both Mercury and Mars occupy your zodiac sign, great for initiating new projects or energising ones you are already on. However, with Mercury tracking backwards from the 9th, stay flexible in order to achieve the best results. In love, a fairer share of joint finances can create a better vibe. • Call 0905…

Other mutts would sniff him, looking confused The moment I saw him, I had to have him. I’d seen a post on Facebook from Hillcrest Animal Hospital after they’d found a stray goat wandering the streets. He was in a sorry state – underweight, with snapped horns and matted hair… and he needed a home. Me and my partner, Dan, 42, love animals, and, along with our five dogs, 12 chickens and a parrot, we already had two goats – Maurice and Dazzler. So I contacted the hospital. ‘I’ll take him,’ I said, explaining I have a licence to own goats. Days on, in August 2015, we went to pick up Hobo the goat and the vet told us he’d need lots of TLC. Back home I gave Hobo a…

Name shame I used to have such a good memory, but in the last few years it's gone to pot. I forget names, my keys, where I've parked… but the worst one was more recently. I called my friend's boyfriend Ron instead of Rob! I sent a card addressed to Anna and Ron, and Anna rang me in stitches! Carly, Chelmsford A memorable meal I’d made myself a shepherd’s pie for tea, and decided to take the leftovers to work for lunch the next day. At 12.30pm, I smugly went to the kitchen to warm it up, but instead of my leftovers, I found my son’s dinosaur lunchbox! I had to call the school and ask them to heat up my dinner for him, while I ate his sarnies and…

They’d finally caught him after DNAtesting 3,500 cops I never told Mum the gruesome details of Tanya’s murder. ‘When Tanya died, I died, too,’ she told me. And in 2007, aged 66, Mum passed away. Doctors said it was a heart attack. I believe she died from a broken heart. As the years passed, I became convinced Tanya’s killer was a cop. Especially when, after she and Yulia were killed, cops drafted in other forces to help investigate… and The Maniac’s murders seemed to stop. This added weight to my theory, as a cop would have had inside knowledge. They would have known the stakes were higher. Finally, in 2012, The Maniac was caught. ‘We’ve arrested a man for Tanya’s murder…’ came the call. ‘He’s a former police officer.’ It…

It was like a drug addiction. I always wanted more Peeling the paper from the sticky orange cheese, I crammed the burger into my mouth. Followed by another. And another... In between, I gobbled fistfuls of fries and took gulps of my fizzy drink. Four burgers and a large portion of fries. And that was just an afternoon snack! I’d already scoffed a fried breakfast, two pizzas for lunch, a pack of biscuits and a family-sized bag of crisps. And later, I tucked into a home-cooked pasta dish with my mum. I was 19 years old and weighed almost 22st. I hated heaving my size-26 frame around. But somehow I just couldn’t stop binge eating. Voices were telling me not to. I ate so much that it was exhausting keeping…

Mile a minute When Fran Capo embarked on a record-breaking challenge to take the title of fastest-talking female in the world, she proved she could not only walk the walk, but talk the talk too. Still undefeated, Capo's legacy began in 1986 when she spoke 585 words in a minute. She beat her own record in 1990 after she spewed 603.32 words in 54.2 seconds - that's 11 words a second! The New Yorker even went on to post a YouTube recital of The Three Little Pigs in 15 breezy seconds. Now that's dedication to the cause. Figure of speech Ever heard the saying, ‘you can talk the hind legs off a donkey’? Well, it turns out Ashwin Sudani, a motivational speaker from India, can. In…

EAT’S MINE! What are you doing Lionel? That is NACHO cheese! WHEELYANNOYING! You know the traffic is bad when the sat nav is asking, ‘Are we there yet?’ BROLLYGOOD! What lovely British Bank Holiday weather! RIDE THE WAVE As the saying goes, life’s a beach. Is it though? Really? ICE,ICE BABY I scream, you scream, we all screamed when she dropped it on the floor! TANTASTIC Lily was lucky that her boyfriend had her back.…

Run down QI have MS and I'm struggling to keep up with my two young kids. How can I improve my balance when walking? Lisa, 37, Batley A Exercise is key to helping manage balance, and a physiotherapist can recommend exercises for your symptoms. Yoga and pilates are great forms of exercise as they concentrate on core strength. If you struggle to find time to exercise, adapt exercise to your daily routines, such as chair exercises when at work. Dreaming on I'm tired all the Q time, even on nine hours sleep. Should I see my doctor? Hayley, 41, Hinckley A Fatigue is the most common symptom of MS – up to 85% of people with MS will experience it at some point. Various factors can impact on fatigue –…

Vass, a bodybuilder, was living a sinister double life The Cloughs launched a campaign – Justice for Jane On 15 January 2010, Jane Clough wrote these haunting words in her diary… I'm worried Jonny's going to do something stupid, like try to find me… I don't believe he will just sit back and let a jury find him guilty. He's not going to let them send him to prison, and I can't help thinking he will get his revenge on me. Three years earlier, she’d met Jonathan Vass, an ambulance technician, at Blackpool Victoria Hospital. Jane was a young A&E nurse, Vass a 17st, 6ft 2in, steroid-taking body builder who was living a sinister double life. He’d told Jane he was getting a divorce, yet, whenever he said he was…

I loved being a walking work of art, lapped up looks from strangers Cameras were aimed at my face, phones pointed in my direction as people rushed to take photos. I’m not a celebrity. But I am used to getting attention wherever I go. And I can understand why. My arms are decorated with full-sleeve tattoos, a heart on my chest and piercings through my cheeks. But most of the time people are eyeballing my peepers. In September 2015, I had them tattooed. Now the whites of my eyes are a vivid violet colour, inky pools of intrigue. Working as a nail and beauty technician, I’d never been interested in tattoos. My body decoration was limited to a slick of lippy and a coat of scarlet polish on my fingernails.…

A couple of years ago we had a fantastic Eurocamp family holiday in the Dordogne. Much to my three kids’ delight, we met quite a few families who brought their dogs on holiday with them. Fast forward two years and we are now a proud dog-owning family. Dog passport and vaccinations up to date, we all headed off to Brittany. How to get there I thought it may be a bit difficult taking a dog on holiday, but it couldn’t be easier. We checked in with Brittany Ferries at Portsmouth and scanned our pup, Pal’s, microchip at the same time as our passports, then we were good to board the overnight ferry to Saint-Malo. Whilst Pal was safely tucked up in his kennel, we enjoyed the delicious buffet in the…

FILM AND TV 1 Which actress is playing the Pink Ranger in the new film Power Rangers? a Naomi Scott b Naomi Watts c Naomie Harris d Noémie Lenoir 2 Which of the following was a 2017 TV drama starring Tom Hardy? a Voodoo b Taboo c Cuckoo d Boohoo 3 Which Downton Abbey actor is playing the Beast to Emma Watson’s Belle in the new film Beauty and the Beast? a Robert James-Collier b Ed Speleers c Matthew Goode d Dan Stevens 4 Who was Graham Norton’s co-host for the new 2017 TV talent series Let It Shine? a Sue Perkins b Mel Giedroyc c Zoe Ball d Tess Daly 5 A 1973 film starring Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford shares its name with which of her hit songs?…