Innehållsförteckning för February 2018 från Chat Specials

Romance is in the air this Valentine’s month and we have proof that you never know when Cupid is going to strike. Sarah (pg30) was just looking to rent out her spare room, but a chance meeting filled her heart with love instead. While Marjorite (pg36) didn’t realise she’d already met the love of her life – could fate reunite them? Sometimes the unlikeliest pairing can make the perfect combination. Ellen (pg38) couldn’t be happier with the life changing bond that her son Ronnie has with his pet rats. There’s nothing more rewarding than giving something back and you never know, you might be repaid one day in the most unexpected way. David (pg34) gave his time to teach people life-saving skills and they came in handy when he had…

I was tired, aching all over, with a really croaky voice. ‘You sound like Rod Stewart!’ my husband Matt, 44, said. Rolling my eyes, I ignored him, assuming I was run-down. After all, I’d a full-time job in recruitment for a care company. Plus, I looked after our kids, Joe, 17, and Eloise, 13, and held down a part-time job in a football club, too. Life was busy! But I was relatively young, fit and healthy, so I didn’t think much of it. Only, as the weeks passed, my voice became even more gravelly. I was finding it hard to swallow at times, too, and the tiredness and aching were becoming unmanageable. So I visited my GP, who did blood tests, felt my neck, and referred me for an ultrasound.…

Back in 1998, I had three cats - Jess, George and Jackie. You certainly could call me a cat lady! Especially when Jackie had three kittens. I gave two away to friends, and kept one for myself. An adorable tabby with blue eyes, named Toby. He loved snuggling with his mum. As Toby got older, he’d prowl around our local area. Every day before I went to work, I’d let him out. As I had no cat flap, he’d be waiting by the door for me to let him in when I got home. But one day, I got in from work to find Toby wasn’t there. A few hours later, I started to worry about him. I’d had pet cats get run over in the past, so I rang…

Mostly A: Traditional date As a true romantic at heart, you’d love to be wined and dined. You want a man to arrive with a bunch of flowers, open the door for you, pull out your chair, and treat you to a delicious dinner and a bottle of wine. You’re old school, so naturally you expect him to pick up the bill. Mostly B: Quiet night in You can be quite a shy person and hate being in crowded places. You’re also super polite and like to please people, and you live for your home comforts. Your ideal date would be snuggling up in your pyjamas together on the sofa with a pizza or fish and chips and a good film. Mostly C: Adventure date You’re super active and you…

There’s nothing better than knowing you’ve helped someone. And maybe even saved a life. I should know… I trained as a psychiatric and general nurse in my student days, back in the 1960s. My wife Nova, 75, was also a nurse, and worked in the profession for 40 years. Then, in 2002, I started to volunteer for St John Ambulance, teaching people emergency first aid, what to do in a crisis. ‘The first step is not to panic,’ I’d say at the start of every class. People still giggle when the pink doll has to come out! In February last year, I was giving a talk to my local church group. I’d taught them before. They knew the basics of CPR, the recovery position. We’d be going through it again.…

Playing in the park, something wasn’t right. I felt different from other kids. They held hands with adults or were pushed on the swing. I didn’t have that. Then aged five, my ‘home’ from birth was the huge Oaklands Children’s Home in Droitwich. Then, when I was seven, I was taken into a big, scary room. ‘Do you want a new home?’ a man asked me. Petrified, I nodded. Soon my name changed, and I was whisked away by two strangers. Irene and George Weston, then in their 30s, were now my foster parents. I’d never been hugged or kissed before. Now I was showered with affection. I felt so alien that I froze whenever Irene hugged me, but she was an amazing parent. Only, I kept wondering who my…

Shall I give up? Q I really want to give up smoking but I have no will power. What can I do? Clara, Reading A Try reducing the number of cigarettes you have whilst using nicotine replacement therapy such as nicotine gum. Tell your friends and family you’re trying to give up - their support can make all the difference. Learning to cope with everyday stress by listening to relaxing music helps. Barking mad Q All through winter I seem to have a cough. It never goes until the better weather. Is it something I should worry about? Mary, London A A cough, believe it or not, is supposed to protect you as it gets out stuff that doesn’t belong in your lungs. Cases of ‘cold weather cough’ go through…

SLEEP EASY Sleep deprivation can harm your heart. People who don’t get enough sleep have a higher risk of obesity, high blood pressure and heart attacks. A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that for each hour of sleep, the risk of calcium build-up in the coronary arteries decreases by 33 percent. Set a sleep schedule and stick to it by going to bed and waking up at the same time each day. GET A MOVE ON Being overweight – especially if you carry excess weight around your middle – increases your risk of heart disease, by raising your blood pressure, cholesterol, and risk of developing diabetes. But even just a small amount of weight loss can be beneficial – reducing your weight by just three…

I can’t wait to hit the beach! Remember me? I was in Chat back in 2014. I’d won £1,000 in the Chat Mag Bingo Sapphire room, and jetted to my favourite holiday destination – Benidorm! Me and my partner Ray, 64, had enjoyed sunning ourselves. I continued to play once I was back home. On Friday nights, we’d sit in front of the soaps and I’d sometimes play a bit of bingo. I loved the buzz of the site and chatting to other players. On 30 June last year, it was just another Friday night. Watching telly with Ray, I decided to switch on my tablet for a game of bingo. I clicked on the 75-ball Bingo Lounge room, my new favourite place to play. The tickets were 10p each…

I slipped back into bad habits meats, Growing up, Paul Watling had an unhealthy relationship with food. As a child, he was addicted to crisps, sweets and ice cream, and although his mum tried to restrict his diet, when Paul moved out aged 17, there was no one to regulate his eating habits. ‘Once I was in control of my meals, there was no stopping me,’ Paul admits. ‘I’d gorge around 5,500 calories a day, knocking back bottles of wine, and filling up on pizza, loaves of buttery toast and chocolate.’ And, by 22, Paul weighed a whopping 30st. At 6ft 1in, he had a 58in waist. But when Paul started to have trouble breathing, he was referred for a scan. The results were a huge shock. ‘Doctors told me…

I’d always been body conscious. Counting calories and trying all sorts of fad diets… By 14, I had anorexia. Thankfully, by the time I was 20, I’d got it under control. And, at Leeds Uni studying Mental Health Nursing, I felt good. By April 2011, I’d almost completed my first year and was finishing up a placement at Malham House Day Centre. On 18 April, I’d handed in some coursework, then caught a bus to Leeds Central Bus Station to hop on another home. But first, I nipped into Greggs for a cheeky bacon-and-cheese sarnie. Back at the bus stop, while I ate it, I texted my cousin. I’m off to Spain next week, I wrote to her. Then, out of nowhere, I felt pressure on my back, like I’d…

We’d only had her for a few months, but our dog, Skye, fitted perfectly into our family. Still living at home, I was getting ready for work one morning, chatting to my partner, Darren, 27, when Skye bounded up the stairs. Then she ran around, crying. ‘Maybe she needs a wee,’ I said, following her downstairs. Then… ‘Oh, my God!’ I cried in panic. Mum, 49, was on the floor, her lips blue and her eyes open. She tried to make words, but her speech was slurred. Darren rushed down, and we put Mum on the sofa. Skye knew something was wrong Skye followed, and refused to leave her side. I phoned an ambulance and my stepdad, Richard, 49, came home and went to the hospital with Mum. Later, I…

Sitting in bed next to my boyfriend Sam one morning, I pointed at the laptop screen. ‘How about this one?’ I asked. We weren’t choosing our next Netflix series or a holiday destination, but a sperm donor. We’d been trying for a baby for five years, and now I was trying to persuade Sam that this route was worth exploring. Tests had shown that Sam wasn’t able to have children. Only, he didn’t want to use a donor – he wanted the baby to be ours genetically. And I didn’t want to consider adoption – I wanted so badly to carry my own child. I prayed every day that we would one day find a compromise. We were in love, after all. But it was no good. My yearning for…

Make meal planning easier Our lives can be super busy, so serving our families homecooked meals every day can sometimes seem impossible. Follow these easy meal planning tips to save you time and effort. Assess your weekly routine Ask yourself which nights call for a fast dinner, which require a meal that can be served at different times, and when the family can eat together. Schedule a day Schedule one day a week to do your meal planning and write your grocery list. If you leave it to chance, it probably won’t happen. Create a shopping list Write a weekly shopping list and stick to it. This is where you save money. Impulse buys should become a thing of the past. Make time to plan Get into the habit of…

Q I’ve got two kids who are so full of energy, that nothing seems to tire them out! We want to find something we can do as a family. Any ideas? Melissa, Sale A Trampoline parks are a great place to start, and you’ve got Oxygen Freejumping not too far away in Manchester - which has 150 interconnected trampolines, dodgeball courts, and the brand-new Bear Grylls Obstacle Course. You’ll also find Wacky World in Preston, an inflatable park, for some family fun! Q We live in Brighton, and we struggle for ideas during the winter months. We’re happy to venture a bit further afield, so please give us some ideas to try! Ruth, Brighton A There’s plenty in Brighton that can be enjoyed all year round! Less than 30 miles…

Switching on my laptop, I had a sense of relief as I read a response to my ad. I’m interested in renting out the room. Can I come by tomorrow to have a look at it? a man called Jeremy wrote. It was June 2014, and I had just split up with my long-term partner, leaving me in a bit of a pickle. I had bought a house, and I relied on him to help pay the mortgage. I decided to put up an ad on SpareRoom.co.uk, hoping to find a reliable lodger to move in and help with the expenses. So I was glad to have a response. Of course, I typed back to Jeremy. Come over at about 6pm. But the next evening, I had forgotten that he…

The bingo caller was in full swing. ‘Cup of tea, number three,’ he announced over the microphone. I marked it down and smiled at my partner, Graham Morecroft, 52. It was a Saturday night last April, and Graham and I were at our usual – Mecca Bingo in Beeston. The hall was full of people, as always, but Graham kept turning to look behind him. ‘Who are you looking for?’ I asked, confused. ‘No one,’ he said, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. He’d been acting strangely all evening, but I just brushed it off as nothing. Graham and I go way back. As children, we lived next door to each other in Nottingham, and our parents were good friends. We spent a lot of time playing together, and, as we…

GLUTEN & DAIRY-FREE PINEAPPLE PANCAKES SERVES 4 YOU’LL NEED… 3 tbsp of coconut oil 120g gluten-free plain flour, sifted Pinch of salt 2 free-range eggs 5fl oz of dairy-free milk mixed with 3fl oz water 8 pineapple rings TO SERVE... Caramel sauce Icing sugar to dust Glacé cherries HOW TO DO IT… 1. Preheat the oven to 100C. Sift the flour and salt into a large mixing bowl. 2. Make a well in the flour and break the eggs into it. Then begin whisking the eggs and flour. 3 . Next, gradually add small amounts of the milk and water mixture, and keep whisking until the mix is the consistency of thin cream. Melt the oil in a small frying pan over a medium heat, and then add 3 tbsp…

No more snoring Almost 30% of UK adults snore when they sleep. According to the NHS, you are more likely to snore if you are overweight, drink too much alcohol, or sleep on your back. The Good Night Anti-Snoring Ring (£29.99, Boots) is a ring that focuses on two acupressure points on your finger and works to free up your nasal breathing passages, stopping you from snoring. Back breaking Over 40% of Brits are prevented from exercising due to back pain. To help people pain-proof their workout routines, British Chiropractic Assossiation (BCA) chiropractor, Catherine Quinn, advises moderate exercise. She says, ‘it is essential to build strength and flexibility, improve posture and protect you from further pain.’ If you experience back pain for more than a few days, the BCA recommends…

This money will change all our lives The letterbox clapped as a pile of envelopes fell to the floor. ‘I wonder what that could be?’ I said to my husband, Brian, 59, spotting a gold envelope amongst the pile. ‘It must just be an advertisement,’ I said, spotting the People’s Postcode Lottery logo. I’d been playing the Postcode Lottery since 2014, and, a few months before, I’d won £1,000, prompting my daughters, Helen, 28, and Susan, 27, to sign up. Helen and Susan, as well as my son Stewart, 30, and his wife Katie all live in the same village – and have the same postcode! Well, there’s no way I’ve won again, I thought. But, opening the envelope, my hands started shaking. ‘It says our postcode has won us…

Bridesmaid regret Q When I got engaged, I asked my friend to be bridesmaid, but now I’m regretting it. She’s taking over all the arrangements, rubbing people up the wrong way and making me dread the big day. Shall I withdraw my offer? Amanda, Kent A It can be upsetting when the people we’ve carefully selected to play key roles at our wedding simply aren’t up to the task. If you’re having second thoughts about your choice, approaching your friend about the situation will be awkward, but it is necessary. This is you and your husband’s big day, after all. Arrange a time to carefully broach the subject and be diplomatic. If she is a good friend then she will adjust her behaviour accordingly. If not, you might want to…

Concrete and copper lamps, from £6, Primark If you’re looking for affordable lighting for your home, then Primark are currently illuminating our world. Their industrial looking pieces are right on trend and a perfect update for your home. Scratch Off Movie Bucket List, £14.99, The Present Finder This is essential for lovers of the big screen. Every time you watch one of the iconic titles, you scratch it off. Secure yourself as a true film buff when you’ve seen all 100. Featuring classic movies such as Casablanca and When Harry Met Sally, it’s as addictive as popcorn. Tropical shaped mugs, from £3.50 each, George at ASDA Whatever the weather, you’ll feel the sunshine when you make a cuppa in these tropical-tastic mugs. Choose from a colourful parrot or a sunny…

The moment I held our first born, William, in my arms, I knew that being a mum would complete me. ‘I can’t believe he’s ours,’ I smiled at my husband, Jamie. ‘He’s perfect,’ he whispered. No amount of sleepless nights or nappy changes took the shine off family life. ‘Let’s give William a sibling to play with,’ I said soon afterwards. We fell pregnant again quickly and even the terrible morning sickness couldn’t wipe the smile from my face. When William found out that I was carrying his baby brother, he’d talk to my growing bump and give him kisses all the time. ‘We’re going to call him Harry,’ I told him. At 36 weeks, I was making William sandwiches in the kitchen when I felt a sudden gush. ‘Oh…

Peering over the side of the cot, eyes wide, a big grin spread across my face. I was eight-years-old and I was meeting my little sister for the first time! Hannah was beautiful. And so special. But not just to me. ‘You’ll have to take extra care of your sister,’ my mum Staci explained to me gently. She and my dad, Paul, explained that Hannah had been born with something called Down’s syndrome and would be different to other children as she grew up. But that didn’t mean much to me back then. ‘We’ll be the best of friends and I’ll look after he forever,’ I promised my parents. And I kept my promise. I looked after Hannah when she was a baby, and we became inseparable as we grew…

Handmade Chocolates, from £9.99, Choc on Choc Give a fruity twist to your chocolate gifts this year with these handmade Belgian delights. ‘Bananas for You’ has a delicious dark chocolate centre while ‘We Make a Great Pair’ has a marshmallow surprise. Yum. Grand Slabs, £16 each, Hotel Chocolat There’s no messing around with these thick slabs of choc. Weighing in at 500g of chocolate, there’s The Cheesecake Challenge which combines zesty lemon, strawberry and white chocolate. Or the Caramarvellous slab that is every caramel lover’s dream. Personalised chocolate gifts, from £5.99, www.gettingpersonal.co.uk Create your own romantic gift with these personalised chocolate goodies. You can pick a loving photo to go on a tin of luxury hot chocolate, or satisfy someone’s sweet addiction by adorning their name on a…

Gently sticking a plaster onto my daughter Kate’s grazed knee, I smiled. ‘All better now,’ I said. Kate, one, hadn’t long started toddling around – she wasn’t very good at it, bless her! She always seemed to be falling down and hurting herself. She’d always been lively, but loved hugs and kisses. ‘Better watch this one,’ I said to my husband Kenny, now 38. Every day, she left nursery with a new bruise. But that was normal, right? Kate was our first child, but we knew all kids are a bit unsteady. Still, when Kate was 18 months, her stumbling became worse. She’d trip on thin air! I noticed her little legs were far apart when she walked, too. And it took her several attempts to sit up or stand.…

I know what you’re thinking – rats are vermin. They live in sewers and spread diseases… Not exactly house pets. Well, I’ve had 10! I bought my first rat, Sophie, six years ago, when I was pregnant with my second child Ronnie, now five. Rats are so gentle and tame, and make great pets. So, I got more – before long, I had Doris, Emily, and Rosie. Sadly, they died after two years. So I went on to get Betty and Milly in March 2015. My first son Haiden, now 11, was never really interested. And Ronnie hardly looked up from his books. By 18 months, he could count to 20 and was already learning shapes and colours. ‘We’ve got a little Einstein here!’ I laughed to my hubby Michael,…

Life is an adventure Housemates. They can be a right pain sometimes! Eating your cereal, not flushing the loo… But not mine! Because I tend to share my homes with dogs! In fact, to date, I’ve shared around 15 different houses with dogs as roomies since I began my unusual way of living in 2010. It all began when I set up a travel website after graduating from Lincoln University with a degree in English and Media. Wanting to become a writer, I decided to combine writing with my love of travel. It was when I worked in Canada and Thailand – both times in digital marketing – that I realised that people who were also away from home wanted someone to look after their pad. Soon, I was registered…

He arrived kicking and screaming Seb’s heart was failing We had balloons, cakes, and a packed room full of friends and family all waiting for us. ‘How are we going to tell them?’ I said to my then partner George, feeling numb. Pregnant with my first baby, we’d just been to my 20-week scan. And we’d planned a party to unveil the sex. But doctors found a problem with our baby’s heart and I’d need more tests. Still, we carried on and cut a blue cake to announce we were having a boy. At Southampton General Hospital the very next day, tests showed that our little boy had hypoplastic left heart syndrome. The left lower pumping chamber of his heart hadn’t developed properly and was much smaller than usual. ‘His…

FILM AND TV 1 Who starred as James Bond in the film You Only Live Twice?a. Sean Conneryb. Roger Moorec. Daniel Craig 2 What was the name of Richard Gere’s character in the 1990 fi lm Pretty Woman?a. Henryb. Matthewc. Edward 3 Which TV show was set in the Sun Hill Police Station?a. The Billb. A Touch of Frostc. Happy Valley 4 Which act won last year’s season of the X-Factor?a. Grace Daviesb. Rak-Suc. Kevin Davy White 5 Who is Popeye’s love interest and long-term girlfriend? a. Rosemaryb. Olivec. Poppy 6 Which Beatrix Potter character is voiced by James Corden in the upcoming film with the same name?a. Squirrel Nutkinb. Benjamin Bunnyc. Peter Rabbit SHOWBIZ 7 Who is the royal godfather of Tara Palmer-Tomkinson? a. Prince Charlesb. The Duke of Edinburghc. Prince…