Innehållsförteckning för Holiday Special 2017 från Chat Specials

Life doesn’t always turn out the way you planned. Lisa (pg18) couldn’t wait to give her daughter the fun hen night she deserved, but an unprovoked attack left her unconscious and bleeding. Sometimes an unexpected outcome can actually be a surprising bonus! Louise (pg16) had no idea that losing weight would boost her bank balance. First impressions can be deceiving and that’s certainly the case with twins Anaya and Myla (pg36), born seconds apart and yet gorgeously different. And what about Lorraine’s brilliant creations? (pg40) Amazingly lifelike but delicious too. Sandra (pg38) thought that Paul was just a big fan of McDonald’s porridge when he came in every day but it turns out she was the main attraction! We’re so inspired by Nicola (pg34) who has transformed her unhealthy relationship…

I woke up at the bottom of the stairs It was like I had been run over by a bus Grabbing the leads from the back of the door, I called; ‘Walkies!’ sending my dogs bounding down the hallway towards me. I clipped them on to their collars and headed out the front door with my husband, Kevin, 48, behind me. It was Father’s Day 2015 and the weather was glorious. After a stroll, Kevin asked: ‘Shall we stop at the pub on the way back?’ ‘Great idea,’ I nodded, and we headed towards our local. I sat in the beer garden with the dogs while Kevin popped to the bar. He soon reappeared with our drinks in hand and Mini Cheddars for our pampered pooches - Jack Russell, Maisie,…

I felt a smack on the back of my head Icouldn’t believe my daughter, Rachel, 26, was jetting off to Spain for her hen do. It seems like only yesterday she was dressing up with her younger sister, Natasha, pretending to walk down the aisle. Now in just two weeks she’d be doing the real thing. ‘Here I go again,’ I said, dabbing my teary eyes as I watched Rachel head towards the front door. ‘My little princess is all grown up.’ Giving her a big hug, I said: ‘Have a great time.’ ‘Oh Mum, I wish you were coming with us,’ she replied. ‘Now don’t start that again. You’ll have more fun without me – and anyway we’ll have a ball on your second hen do,’ I told her.…

I realised I’d become so boring Pretty soon I was addicted My ex-girlfriend waved to me from a table in the corner. ‘Over here!’ she called, gesturing me over. I weaved over with two coffees in hand, and sat down beside her. ‘It’s so good to see you, Max,’ she said. ‘So, tell me, what’s new in life?’ ‘Ummmm...’ I stammered, stumped for an answer. After an awkward pause, I shrugged: ‘Nothing really.’ Her question made me realise that I hadn’t done anything new and exciting for years. We had broken up a few months earlier after she complained I wasn’t spontaneous enough. I had to move back in with my parents who - in their 60s - led more adventurous lives than I did. Every evening, I’d get…

Mostly A: Dog You’re loyal and loving, and your friends always turn to you when they need comforting. You could easily find friendship with a dog, and a dog would love your steady way of life. You’d be the ideal dog owner, as you love the outdoors, you’re hard-working, and thrive in a team. Mostly B: Cat Cats are independent, which is exactly what you need in a pet. You’re intelligent, your house is immaculate, you love looking your best and you bask in the finer things in life. After a hard day’s work, you’d love nothing better than to snuggle up with your feline friend for some wine and a film. Mostly C: Something exotic You’re quite the daredevil and you need a pet that challenges your adventurous side…

Blackberry Flapjack Makes 12 The blackberries and apples in this flapjack will help you reach your 5 a day, plus it is a great and easy snack to wrap up and take out with you! The addition of the fruit makes it seem far less scary too, although it will only keep for 3–4 days, so I suggest freezing half for another time! Ingredients: • 120g butter • 80g Demerara sugar • 2 tbsp golden syrup • 250g rolled oats • 1 large cooking apple, peeled and grated • 250g blackberries, washed Method 1. Preheat the oven to 180⁰C/ fan 160⁰C/gas 4. 2. Grease a 20cm square cake tin and line with baking parchment. 3. Melt the butter, sugar and golden syrup in a saucepan over a medium heat. 4.…

I found myself excited about seeing Porridge Paul One bride and groom to takeaway Slipping on my new blazer, I gave myself a quick once-over in my bedroom mirror before heading out the front door ready for my big day ahead. It was October 2010 when I went for a job interview at the local McDonald’s store in my home town of Milton Keynes. I was so nervous, but a few hours after meeting with manager Tom Russell I got the call to say that I’d got the job. ‘Brilliant, thank you so much. I won’t let you down!’ I cried down the phone, with a big grin on my face. I had no idea just how much getting that job would change my life forever. Sweeping the lobby…

What a pooch! This summer is going to be so much fun now we’ve welcomed Elliot into our home! Everyone adores him and that face makes me melt every day S. Rodi. Windsor Kitten cosy Meet Betsy, our gorgeous kitten! Her favourite place is on my husband’s warm chest. Rachael Bessant,Portishead The bear necessities We went on a bear hunt in the woods – look who was waiting for us when we got to the café at the end! Kath, Berkhamstead A dog’s dinner Our dog Apollo is always first at the dinner table! Lucy, Swindon…

Travel set, £5, Boots This travel set gives you all the containers you need to store your essential toiletries. Includes 100ml and 60ml bottles, 60ml spray bottle, and toothbrush cap. Incognito Second Skin insect repellent sun cream, £21.99, Holland & Barrett This unique, triple action sunscreen, moisturiser, and insect repellent is super effective and easy to apply. Orla Kiely flower strip cosmetic brush case, £26, John Lewis Ideal for keeping all your makeup brushes neat and tidy when you’re on-the-go. Kids’ trolley cases, £9.99, Home Bargains Treat your little monsters to their own case! Let the kids choose from four designs, so they can join in on the travelling fun.…

Dad told me I’d given him signals My life spiralled out of control Holding my sister’s hand, we chatted happily on our walk home from school. ‘Carrie, Tara – come in,’ a voice boomed from our plastic walkie-talkies in our pockets. Giggling, I spoke into the microphone: ‘We’re on our way Dad. Won’t be long!’ We weren’t allowed a phone, but we’d been allowed walkie-talkies. Our dad Christopher was very protective and was always looking out for us. At home, he was there a lot more than Mum was, as she worked three jobs to support the family. Dad volunteered at school and around the community. He was a well-known figure and people respected him. ‘Straight to your bedrooms for homework,’ Dad said, as we walked into the house. After…

It was all happening so fast We knew it was time to let her go As we sat relaxing on the sofa with glasses of wine in hand, my sister, Becky, had me crying with laughter. Even though there was 11 years between us, she was my best friend. We had drifted apart when she was a teenager - she was far more popular and glamorous than me. But now we were older, we were like two peas in a pod. 'Ow!’ Becky suddenly groaned. 'I'm getting some strange pains in my back, Jakki. I must have pulled a muscle.' ‘Sounds about right,’ I thought. As a beautician and model, she was always travelling or running after her two kids, Remaya and Aaliyah. One day, Becky called me while she…

Crispy and crunchy SPICYCORNFLAKE COATED CHICKEN MAKES 12 YOU’LL NEED… 12 chicken drumsticks 4 tbsp of plain flour 4 beaten eggs 100g of cornflakes 1 tsp of garlic powder 1 tsp of turmeric 1/2 tsp of cayenne pepper 1 tsp of paprika Salt & pepper 2 tsp of mixed dried herbs Coleslaw Green salad HOW TO DO IT… 1. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees. Wash and dry the chicken with kitchen towel. Place the cornflakes in a food processor with the dry spices and season. Pulse the food processor, until the flakes break down into crumbs. 2. Line a baking sheet with greaseproof paper. Place three bowls on the worktop - place the flour in the first, eggs in the second and finally the cornflakes into the third. 3.…

Bite the bullet Not so long ago, there was no such thing as anaesthetic during emergency surgery in battle. The surgeon would make patients bite down on a bullet in an attempt to distract them from the pain. Butter someone up An ancient Indian custom involved throwing balls of clarified butter at statues of the gods to seek good favour and fortune. Cat got your tongue? In the ancient Middle East, if you were caught lying, your tongue would be cut from your mouth and fed to cats. Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater In medieval times, the whole family would use one tub of water to have a bath. The man of the house always went first, then the mother, and finally the children. By the time…

I was cooking delicious food while starving myself When Nicola Davis was diagnosed with anorexia, tucking into a delicious meal seemed like an impossible feat. But the 21-year-old loved cooking so much that she continued to rustle up dishes for the rest of her family to enjoy. While they all sat down to devour her delicious recipes, Nicola was unable to muster the courage to take a bite. She consumed a minimal amount of calories per day and spent around an hour-and-a-half at the gym every day doing intense exercise routines. She continued cooking in spite of her illness, creating tasty treats for her friends and family - which she wouldn’t touch. But she became dangerously thin, as her weight plummeted to just six stone, and her size four clothing…

The sponge delights come to life Ping! The timer buzzes on the oven signalling that the newest edition to Lorraine Muir’s repertoire is ready! As the baker pulls the oven door gently open there is a sweet, homely smell to greet her. ‘Phew, another success!’ she thinks to herself. Lorraine’s days are now taken over by mounds of dough and icing, fiddling around with fondant and crafting beautiful and yummy treats for all kinds of occasions. The mum-of-two from Clackmannanshire, Scotland, has been enjoying the sweet success of running a small baking business, and has even changed careers to do so! Lorraine is relatively new to professional baking but has such a flair for it that her orders are flying in faster than she can mix cake batter. As well…

Travel Swells Q Whenever I travel anywhere on a plane, my feet swell up. Sometimes it’s so bad that my shoes don’t fit anymore! What can I do? Megan, Blackpool A The swelling is due to a combination of inactivity, dehydration and air pressure. Make sure you drink enough fluids, wear flight socks, and get some exercise during the flight. Flight socks are a great solution as these have graduated pressure to help fluid return from your feet, reducing the discomfort of swelling. If you have swollen ankles at other times when you are not on a plane, then it is important to get it checked out by a pharmacist, who will refer you to a GP if necessary. Keep Drinking QI keep getting cystitis every few weeks. What should…

Skin cancer screening nurse at the MOLE Clinic (www.themoleclinic.co.uk), Anna Gucova, gives her advice on how to protect ourselves from the sun… WHAT ELSE CAN I DO TO PROTECT MYSELF? We want to protect ourselves as much as possible, so in addition to wearing sunscreen, there are other measures we can take. ‘Wear hats (preferably wide brimmed) and sunglasses, and limit sun exposure, especially between 11am and 3pm, by staying in shaded areas while outside, such as under a tree or beach umbrella,’ says Anna. She recommends wearing long-sleeved shirts and trousers – the darker the better – and UV protective clothing, especially for children. WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR IN A SUNSCREEN? There is a huge range of sunscreens out there, so how do we know which is best?…

Suddenly the number 16 was called. My last one! Tears of joy filled my eyes as I watched my son Bryan get down on one knee. ‘What are you doing, Bryan?’ his girlfriend Heather, 50, giggled. But I knew. I’d helped him pick out the ring! ‘Will you marry me?’ he asked. ‘Yes!’ she beamed. It was just before last Christmas, and Bryan’s proposal topped off a wonderful couple of years. It’d all started back on 24 April 2015 – my 71st birthday. I’d had visitors popping in all day – including my kids Tony, 53, Alan, 52, Bryan, 47, and Sonya, 43, along with my lovely eight grandkids. But once everyone had gone home, I settled down for a few games on Chat Mag Bingo. I was enjoying a…

I hated that he loved Carrie more When Carrie left home, I was only 10 years old. We weren’t close back then, as she was going through a rebellious phase. All I wanted was some attention from my dad. I used to be jealous of Carrie as Dad always told her he loved her, and it was clear that she was his favourite. That all changed when Carrie left. It was like he finally had time for me and I was so happy to have him to myself. I remember having a Piglet nightie on the first time he touched me as I was sleeping on the sofa. I woke up to his hands crawling slowly up my legs. ‘What’s going on?’ I said sleepily, scared of his rough touch.…

She was trapped on the beach As the waves crashed behind her, Seren dug her hooves into the sand. I held out the bucket of food and she plunged her head in. She was doing so well, considering she was a cow trapped on a beach! Five days earlier, Seren had wandered off from our field and stumbled off a steep cliff. It was unbearable to watch her falling. When she finally landed on the beach below, her head was twisted into her stomach and her legs were up in the air. But incredibly, she was still breathing. Apart from a few cuts and bruises, she was fine. I rushed down with a bucket of silage, and a couple hours later, she was standing up and eating. I called emergency…

I didn’t want to hear about diets The bags were full to the brim Desperately tugging at my jeans, I sucked my stomach in as I fumbled to get the button done up. ‘It’s no good,’ I sighed to myself, breathing out - my belly bulging over the top. ‘They won’t fit.’ Admitting defeat, I flung the jeans into the bottom of my wardrobe and reached for my stretchy jogging bottoms instead. Feeling more comfortable, I made my way down to the living room and happily flopped on to the sofa next to my partner, Paul, 44. Putting my feet up, I reached for a packet of Hobnobs on the coffee table, tore it open and began munching. A few minutes later I looked down to see an empty packet…

Magic Make-up Remover, £5.50, Boots Used simply with water, the Magic Make-up Remover is super kind to your skin and will leave your face free of even the toughest of make-up, grease and grime, without stripping it of its natural oils. It’s machine washable, lasting for more than 1000 washes. 7th Heaven White Chocolate Face Mask, £1, Boots This deep cleansing and hyper moisturising mask smells absolutely delicious. Use once a week and allow the cocoa butter, rich white chocolate and jojoba to leave your skin as smooth as silk. Just resist the temptation for the taste! Simple Dual-Effect Eye Make-Up Remover, £4.39, Superdrug This effective two part formula is made of oil and vitamin-enriched water. Once shaken, it can remove even waterproof mascara and long-lasting liner. No rubbing is…

I thought he was full of himself at first Why was he making me go to bingo? Man alive – number five,’ the bingo caller shouted. ‘Yay, I’ve got it!’ I squealed, excitedly ticking off the number on my card – I was just one away from getting a full house. ‘Dancing queen – number 17,’ he announced a few numbers later. ‘Bingo!’ I called out, waving my hand in the air. ‘Congratulations! We have a winner,’ he announced. Making his way over to our table, the bingo caller said: ‘What’s your name, sweetheart?’ ‘Tina,’ I smiled. ‘I’m Mike,’ he grinned, giving me a wink. ‘I spotted you in the audience.’ Giggling, I thought Mike, 55, was quite full of himself. He glanced over my card and said ‘Well…

At first he thought I was joking The duo attract a lot of attention Mum was stood by the bar waiting for my order. ‘What do you want to drink?’ she asked. ‘I’ll just have a lemonade, please,’ I replied, taking my seat at the table. ‘Don’t be daft,’ she said. ‘Have an Amaretto and coke or a Smirnoff Ice.’ ‘I’m ok,’ I insisted, glancing nervously at my boyfriend, Kyle, 24. My parents had taken us out to an Indian restaurant for a meal and Mum wasn’t giving up easily. ‘Go on,’ she urged. ‘I can’t,’ I stuttered, feeling put on the spot. ‘Why not?’ she exclaimed, confused. ‘I’m pregnant,’ I blurted out. Mum’s jaw dropped open in shock and, for once, she was left utterly speechless. While my…

Genius Ginger According to a study by Exeter and Bath Universities and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, tall buildings vibrate and can even cause motion sickness. So if you’re planning on going to the top of a skyscraper, you may need some help. Try Gin-Gins (£1.65, www.healthy2u.co.uk). These ginger sweets boost digestive fluids and neutralise acids, making a perfect alternative to anti-nausea medication. Flush It Away Using the loo helps to flush bacteria from the bladder, so try to drink two to three litres of water daily. If you’re prone to urinary tract infections, try Bio-Kult Pro-Cyan capsules (£8.99, www.bio-kult.com). The cranberry extract and vitamin A help maintain a healthy urinary tract. Jog Your Memory If you’re worried about memory loss, you might want to take up yoga.…

Aries 21 Mar - 20 April The 15th to the 17th could get emotional this month, however the 20th to the 22nd will certainly more than make up for it. Passions are set to run high in August – the stars favour romance and creative thinking, Aries! Let your playful enthusiasm rule and run with this new busy spell. You will easily bring order to projects, though watch for silly mistakes after the 13th of the month. Taurus 21 April - 21 May It’s now time for you to circle back to your nest in August, Taurus! There are fresh starts for home, with a few close connections by your side. You are very visible on the 7th, so let your achievements shine! Even though the 15th–17th present tension, this…

How had the pig escaped? As I trudged across the muddy farmyard in my wellies, the pigs snorted in their sty. ‘Come on then,’ I waved to the team of volunteers behind me. ‘Let’s get stuck in.’ We strolled into the pen, with wheelbarrows and spades, and started to clean up the filthy straw. ‘Pheww! It stinks!’ one of the new starters groaned. ‘You’ll get used to the smell soon enough,’ I laughed. I’d worked on Windmill Hill City Farm in Bristol for 16 years, and had even brought my two sons, Theo, 20, and Solomon, 17, along when they were kids. My role involved getting people with mental health problems or those with learning difficulties, former addicts and the elderly involved in helping out. With cows, goats, sheep, pigs,…

PLEASE DON’T TRY THIS AT HOME! A week after Easter Sunday in Spain is a risky day for babies. Each year, selected newborns are placed on mattresses in the street. Men dressed as the devil – known as the Colacho – then jump over the babies in what has been rated as one of the most dangerous festivals of the year. The Baby Jumping Festival started in 1621 and is said to cleanse the babies of original sin, ensure them a safe passage through life, and guard them against illness and evil spirits. TAKE THE BULL BY THE HORNS Has your wife or girlfriend ever cheated on you? If so, this festival may be of some interest. Every September, Rocca Canterano, a city outside Rome, celebrates the Festa del Cornuto…

Total pants! When I arrived at my friend’s housewarming party, I was desperate for the loo so I headed there fi rst. After checking out my lovely new fl oaty dress in the mirror, I went out into the party. Straight away, I was attracting plenty of looks and I was thrilled that my outfit was clearly a success. When my friend dashed over, I opened my arms for a big hug but she yanked me into the kitchen. Turns out my lovely dress was tucked into my not so lovely granny knickers! Maria, Liverpool Date disaster I hadn’t been seeing my boyfriend very long when he invited me to a family dinner at a local restaurant. I was so nervous, I had a couple of G&T’s to steady my…