Innehållsförteckning för Spring 2018 från Chat Specials

Spring is in the air this month. It’s a time of new beginnings and that’s something Stephanie (pg16) knows all about! One minute she’s suffering from back pain and the next she has a brand new baby in her arms. Glenn (pg58) was hiding himself away because of an embarrassing bulge, but after revolutionary surgery, he’s ready for a fresh start. We feature some very special children and their inspiring mums. Gorgeous Myah (pg44) faces some challenges after being born with just one eye, but she has grown up knowing she’s perfect, thanks to mum Lauren. Lynne (pg18) devoted her life to caring for her son Jack and is determined to keep his memory alive so that others can benefit from his legacy. We’re proud to support Bowel Cancer Awareness…

TRUST THE EXPERT Richard Nicholls is a psychotherapist and author of 15 Minutes To Happiness, £8.99, (Blink Publishing). Richard shares some simple tasks you can include in your day to boost your happiness and wellbeing. it’s OK to say no Someone is far less likely to try and change your mind if you look them in the eye as you say, ‘No, sorry. I can’t help you today.’ If you struggle with eye contact, look at their forehead or between their eyes instead. There are times when just saying ‘No, thank you’ is enough. Don’t lie and say ‘I’ll think about it’ to going on holiday with someone if you know full well that you won’t, because it will make you feel worse every time you see them. STOP Negative…

I stumbled out of bed and went to get my little boy, Jackson, 11 months, out of his cot. It was still dark outside, but my little boy was already wide awake and smiling. ‘Morning poppet,’ I soothed, carrying him in to the kitchen to warm his milk. But as I waited next to the microwave, I felt a crippling pain in my tummy. It was a Sunday morning and my husband Chris, 30, had just left for band practice – his hobby was drumming. I took some painkillers and sat on the sofa as Jackson played. Half an hour later, I felt much better. When Chris got home for dinnertime, I barely ate. The pain in my stomach returned – worse than ever. I took more painkillers. ‘I think…

Renting a home It’s always exciting to rent a new home, but it’s important to get to know the basics before you move in… Don’t ignore the small print Check that the tenancy agreement includes all the relevant info, such as what the rent covers, whether you can leave before the end of the tenancy, and whether you can keep pets. Have an inventory Have an inventory everything in the property. If you’re not given one, write one up and get it signed by the landlord. Protect your deposit Landlords have to use a deposit protection scheme to safeguard your money. Your landlord should do this within 30 days of the start of your tenancy. Remember the bills Don’t forget to factor in costs on top of the rent, such…

1 How would your friends describe you? a. Strong-willed and courageous – you’ll always have their back. b. A dreamer. You always have your head in the clouds. c. Rebellious. You’re never afraid to get stuck in. d. Quiet and shy. You’re a good friend but you sometimes get overlooked. 2 How would you describe your sense of style? a. Practical above all else. b. Whimsical. c. A pretty top and pair of jeans does the trick. d. High fashion is a must. 3 Who would your ideal partner be? a. Yourself – you’re a bit of a lone wolf. b. Prince Charming – a true gentleman. c. A big softie – tough on the outside, a teddy bear inside. d. Someone supportive – he won’t mind when you have…

Some people recall Dorothea Puente as a kind hearted landlady who would cook delicious homemade meals for her vulnerable tenants, feed stray cats and lovingly tend to her rose garden. Grey-haired Dorothea welcomed addicts and mentally disturbed lodgers into her cosy boarding house, when everyone else had turned them away. So in 1998, when she was led out of her home by police, dressed in a smart red coat while her back yard was excavated, the community worried the little old lady had been taken advantage of by the rogues she’d taken in. They even let Dorothea go off and get herself a coffee. That’s when she fled and revealed to the world just what she was really capable of. Dorothea lost both her parents at a young age and…

A host of famous chefs have donated their favourite sweet recipes for Bowel Cancer UK’s Be a Star, Bake a Cake campaign. Get creative in the kitchen during Bowel Cancer Awareness Month this April and host a coffee morning or a cake sale to raise funds. To get involved, visit bowelcanceruk.org.uk or beatingbowelcancer.org. NADIA SAWALHA’S CHOCOLATE REFRIGERATOR CAKE INGREDIENTS • 450g butter • 450g dark chocolate, broken into pieces (or for a softer more dessert-like cake, half and half dark and milk chocolate) • 4 tbsps milk • 4 medium eggs • 4 tbsps caster sugar (or coconut sugar is nice) • 450g broken biscuits • ½ cup chopped mixed nuts • ½ cup chopped glacé cherries • 3 tbsps raisins or sultanas • Some extra whole cherries for decoration…

More than a week past my due date, I was quite ready to pop. ‘This baby’s taking his time,’ I laughed to my mum, Hilary, 62. It was 15 November and I was eager to meet my new arrival. A single parent, Mum was staying, in case of emergency... ‘What if it’s tomorrow?’ she said. ‘No chance,’ I said, convinced. You see, 16 November was already the birthday of my daughters Iris, eight, and Eada, two. When Eada had been born on Iris’ sixth birthday in 2013, it had been such a surprise! ‘It doesn’t happen very often,’ a doctor told me. The girls loved having joint birthday parties. Their sister Ailsa, four, liked to pretend that it was her birthday as well. It was extremely unlikely that this baby…

Katharine Hill, the UK Director of the national charity Care For The Family ( www.careforthefamily.org.uk ) answers your questions Tough love Q I found out that my husband had a one-night-stand. I’m heartbroken. My family are demanding I leave, but we have two young children and I love him. Will I ever be able to trust him again? Mel, Cardiff A Infidelity is a devastating blow, but it doesn’t have to lead to divorce. You’ve both invested a lot in this relationship and there may be many reasons why it could and should be saved. While you will undoubtedly be feeling hurt and angry, try to take a step back and talk to your husband about why it happened. This is crucial to gather insights so you can…

I’ve been dancing ever since I was three. Starting with ballet, I soon fell in love with tap, and eventually branched out into commercial and street dancing. I loved everything about it – the music, the freedom, the buzz of performing. Nothing could ever keep me away from it – not even my cystic fibrosis (CF). I was diagnosed with the genetic condition as a baby. Turned out my parents, Lorna, 49, and Clint, 55, both carried the faulty gene. The incurable condition means my lungs and digestive system can become clogged with thick mucus, causing difficulties with my breathing and digestion. Some days, I feel fine, but on others I’ll wake up aching and wheezing. Then there’s the fatigue and the persistent chest infections. I take 30 tablets a…

Having a catnap Jake loves nothing better than to nap on my bed on sunny mornings… Hannah, Bristol That’s so vogue Molly striking a pose for the magazine. Such a drama queen! Lily, Peterborough Happy puppy My boy Eddie is so happy to be famous. I love him to bits! Michelle, Doncaster Who’s on guard… This is our dog Paisley relaxing on his favourite garden chair. Some guard dog… Sandra, Dundee THAT’S SO BRITISH SAYING ‘MUM’ INSTEAD OF ‘MOM’ BUT NOT ‘DUD’ INSTEAD OF ‘DAD’. COMPLAINING ABOUT THE TEA FACILITIES AT ANY HOTEL. STRIPPING OFF AT THE FIRST SIGN OF SUN.…

Music and giggles filled the kitchen as my friend Kristina and I tucked into a pizza and sipped on our vodkas. It was Friday 11 December 2015 and I’d recently got a job as an operations assistant for a big firm in London. But now, it was the end of the week and I was ready to go out. Young, free and single, I couldn’t wait to let my hair down. By about 10.30pm, we left Kristina’s house and headed to a bar in Chelmsford. Dressed in my white blouse and leather skirt, we danced, chatted and drank. By 3.45am, the lights came on as I was chatting to an ex-boyfriend I’d bumped into. We went outside with Kristina and her friend. ‘We’re heading to McDonald’s,’ she said to me.…

Clicking open the photo, my heart melted. ‘What do you think?’ my partner, Shane Hampson, 30, asked. An adorable white-and-tabby cat, named Sheila, was living at the Blue Cross charity in Cambridge, and needed a new home. Our son, Riley, now seven, absolutely loves cats and really wanted one. Then Shane saw an advert for Sheila in an online newspaper. Gazing at her sweet little face, I just couldn’t resist. ‘Let’s go and see her!’ I agreed. When we met her, it turned out she was no ordinary moggy… Born with a rare congenital disorder called polydactyly, little Sheila had an extra toe on each of her front paws. Instantly, Riley spotted her special addition. ‘She looks like she’s wearing mittens!’ he giggled, gleefully pointing at her unusual paws. He…

I was there for every challenge Taking a deep breath, I fell silent as the doctor took a seat opposite me. ‘We’ ve received the test results,’ he said. As the doctor began to explain why my son Jack had been so ill, time seemed to stand still. Jack had cerebral palsy, a neurological condition that seriously affected his movement and co-ordination. Heartbroken, I struggled to find my words. My boy, cradled in my arms, was only a year old, and the doctor told me the condition would affect him for the rest of his life. After receiving the news, I jumped straight in the car and took Jack to visit my mum, Eve. When I told her the news, it suddenly felt real and we both sobbed as we…

The bang shook the whole house It was 18 September...just an ordinary day. My partner Danny, 25, had just gone to bed, while I was in the bathroom about to have a shower before joining him. But as I’d just got undressed, I heard our one-year-old, Elliot-Ray, crying from his room. ‘Do you want me to get him?’ I heard Danny call from our bedroom. ‘I’ll go,’ I called back. Wrapping a towel around me, I closed the bathroom door and padded along to Elliot’s bedroom. But just as I was walking towards him... KABOOM! I suddenly heard an ear-shattering bang that shook the whole house, then the teeth-jangling screech of metal scraping on metal. It was coming from the bathroom where I’d been standing just seconds earlier. I felt…

Mostly A: Katniss Everdeen Like the Hunger Games heroine, you’re a born hunter. You’re not afraid to go after what you want, you’re extremely brave, and while you prefer to be on your own most of the time, you love your family and friends, and you would do anything to protect them, no matter what the cost. Mostly B: Alice in Wonderland As a dreamer, you live in your own Wonderland. You’re incredibly imaginative, you love adventure and animals, and you are curious about the world. You see the good in everyone, but this means you can also be naïve at times, which means people tend to take advantage of you. Mostly C: Erin Brockovich You’re strong-willed, outspoken and rebellious and you can’t help but stand up for what’s right.…

Talk about a perfect spring day. It was 13 March 2014, the sun was out and our kids – Leo, five, Tommylee, two, and Aurora, one – were making the most of it in the park. ‘It’s hot!’ I smiled to my husband Jason, 28, as we pushed the children on the swings. At about.4.30pm, we headed home for tea. By the time we’d put the kids to bed, I was hot and flustered. ‘I’m having a real hot sweat,’ I said to Jason, stepping into the garden for some air. As I sat on the garden chair, an unbearable pain surged through my head. Then an awful feeling... My right arm went heavy, my face felt odd, I couldn’t move or speak. The next thing I knew... ‘Please say…

Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK and the second biggest cancer killer, affecting both men and women. Every 15 minutes in the UK, someone is diagnosed with bowel cancer. That’s over 41,000 people every year. Bowel cancer is treatable and curable, especially if diagnosed early. Symptoms of bowel cancer can include: • Bleeding from your bottom and/or blood in your poo • A change in bowel habit lasting three weeks or more • Extreme tiredness for no obvious reason • Unexplained weight loss • A pain or lump in your tummy For more information, visit www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk…

SPINACH AND WALNUT PARCELS SERVES 12 YOU’LL NEED… • 12 squares of puff pastry • 4 bunches of spinach • 8 tbsp of cream cheese • 1 red onion, diced • Fresh black pepper • 1 beaten egg • Chopped walnuts • 1 spring onion, chopped • Black sesame seeds HOW TO DO IT… 1. Preheat the oven to 200C. Cook the spinach then squeeze out as much water as you can. Then finely chop and leave it to drain further. 2. Meanwhile, line a baking tray with greaseproof paper. Arrange the pastry squares evenly on the tray. 3. Combine the spinach with the cream cheese and season with black pepper. Add the chopped red onion, then a spoonful of the mixture to the centre of each pastry square. 4.…

Ask our doc Dr Faiza Khalid, an experienced GP at MedicSpot digital clinics ( www.medicspot.co.uk ) answers your questions Breath away Q My young son snores so badly and I’m sure he stops breathing for a moment. Should I be worried? Tess, Bath A Snoring is often due to enlarged tonsils and adenoids. Cessation of breathing could suggest Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Syndrome, a disorder of breathing during sleep. I’d advise taking your son to see a GP. Wealth of problems Q My husband has just been diagnosed with gout. He’s only 35. I thought it was a problem for older men - and usually rich ones! Shirley, Reading A Gout is a type of arthritis causing painful inflammation in the joints. This is due to a build-up of…

Hannah Braye, nutritional therapist at Lepicol Lighter (www.lepicol.com)explains it all. WHY DO WE GET CRAVINGS? Cravings by definition are intense and specific, and are therefore difficult to resist. ‘A commonly held view is that food cravings are our body’s way of telling us which nutrients we are lacking, while others maintain that they are more about what the brain wants, rather than what the body actually needs,’ explains Hannah. ‘If you are prone to cravings, one trick to avoid succumbing is to drink a glass of water, as dehydration can often be misinterpreted as hunger. Another way is to change your routine, as cravings commonly occur when we’re bored.’ SOMETHING SALTY Sodium is a necessary part of our diet and helps to keep the body’s fluids in balance. Dehydration from…

I've always believed in life after death and it helped me through the grief of losing my dad John. He passed away 20 years ago after a blood-clot problem. I speak to him daily and his picture is my phone screensaver, so I’m always thinking of him. Most of my time is taken up in my holistic and mystic gift shop, selling flower remedies dreamcatchers, essential oils, crystals…among many items! Running a business can be exhausting so, when I get home, I like nothing more than playing a game of bingo. I joined Chat Mag Bingo after reading stories in the magazine about people’s wins. My favourite is the slot game Tiki Temple. It’s exciting watching all the jungle symbols spin on the reels and, of course, there’s four fabulous…

Once, I was as fit as a fiddle. A gardener for 20 years, I kept trim. Divorced in 2001, I hadn’t thought about romance in years... After retiring at 60, I kept busy. Then, in February 2012, I was having a routine blood test and told my GP that I’d had trouble passing a number two. I hoped it would be nothing serious, but the GP sent me for tests, just to be sure. ‘There’s an 8cm tumour in your large intestine,’ the doctor said. Cancer. I’d barely time for the news to sink in. Six weeks later, a surgeon at Leicester Royal Infirmary operated to remove a 1ft section of my bowel, along with the tumour. Next, I had chemotherapy tablets for weeks. I’ll get better, I thought. Wrong!…

Napolina’s Vegetable Pasta, £2, Sainsbury’s Whether you’re giving your signature dish a nutritious boost, or you’re intolerant to gluten and on the hunt for something new, this new range of gluten-free vegetable pasta puts an exciting twist on any recipe. Available in red lentil and green pea. Quorn Vegan Lines, £1.99, and Quorn Ready Meals, £2.79, Sainsbury’s If you’re trying to go veggie, Quorn’s new vegan line offers delicious chicken-free or ham-free slices, both of which are a tasty source of protein! Or if you’re looking for a fuss-free meal without the meat or the washing up, try their new Jambalaya or Oriental Stir Fry ready meals! Jordans Cereals Low Sugar Granola, £3.99, Asda Jordans are leading the charge in sugar reduction with the launch of two new granolas –…

I’ve always been an animal lover, so when my children, Blair and Victoria, were small, I wanted them to know how to respect and treat a dog. But after I brought up the idea, my husband Derek wasn’t sure. ‘It’s at least a 10- or 12-year commitment,’ he insisted. But something I’d read recently helped us reach a compromise. ‘What about Guide Dog training?’ I asked one day. Guide Dogs UK was looking for volunteers to raise puppies for a year or so before being assessed, ready to go in for the intensive training needed to become a working Guide Dog. ‘This way, we’d always get to enjoy the puppy stage!’ I grinned. ‘Let’s give it a go,’ agreed Derek. We had to meet a supervisor in Exeter, who explained…

I wasn't daunted at all What does it mean to be a good mum? For me it’s a one-word answer: Love. Raising three amazing kids – Gregory, now 28, Patrick, 26, and Marlys, 24, I’d adored every minute of being a mum. But as my kids grew up, I still had plenty of love to give. So in 2006, aged 47, I’d adopted my first child, Shay, now 11, followed by Audrey, now nine, then Ethan, five. They all had learning difficulties. ‘It’s harder to find adoptive families for them,’ the agency said. A paediatrics nurse, I knew all about the special needs babies can have. So I wasn’t daunted. I knew how even the most seriously challenged children can thrive. With love. So perhaps it wasn’t surprising that the…

As I stared at the positive pregnancy test, my heart was thumping. ‘It’ll be OK,’ my partner, Matt Perman, 28, said. Part of me was excited. A little brother or sister for our son, Mitchell, would be wonderful. But the rest of me was terrified. Mitchell was still only four months old, and it had been a traumatic birth. Over 24 hours of agony. The water birth I’d chosen had to be abandoned when Mitchell’s head got stuck. Luckily, when Mitchell finally arrived, he was perfectly healthy. ‘But I can’t do it again,’ I shuddered. Thankfully, doctors suggested I should have a Caesarean, and I was booked in to have it on 24 March 2015, at 38 weeks. My pregnancy went smoothly. Only, the night before the operation, I started…

Q We’ve just bought a family membership for the National Trust, and have been busy exploring some of our local properties. We’re spoilt for choice - can you help us choose our next one to visit? Hannah, Cheshire A You’ve got eight National Trust sites in Cheshire alone and that’s without looking in the surrounding areas, so you really are spoilt for choice! The best thing is that the different seasons all bring different reasons to visit and things to see, so you’ve got plenty to explore. We love Tatton Park, which not only has 50 acres of landscaped gardens, but a whopping 1,000-acre deer park, a rare breed farm and a medieval Old Hall – something for everyone to enjoy! Q We’re planning a birthday party for my son’s…

I was in a little happy bubble, full of excitement. Pregnant with twins, I could hardly contain myself. ‘I can’t wait for them to arrive,’ I told my then partner, Darren, 24. Thoughts of matching outfits, prams and cute little booties filled my mind. ‘We’ve got months to go yet,’ Darren chuckled. He was right. It was still early days and I’d a lot to sort out – like maternity leave from my job as a dental nurse. At 22 weeks and six days, I started filling out my form at home. But suddenly, I felt as if I had wet myself. Only I hadn’t – my waters had broken. ‘Darren!’ I yelled. I was full of panic as he rushed me straight to Darent Valley Hospital. ‘You’re in labour,’…

Stumbling to the toilet in the dark, I did my best to be as quiet as possible. ‘Everything OK?’ my husband Stuart, 30, asked, as I crawled back into bed. ‘It’s just my tummy again,’ I moaned. It was July 2016, and my tummy had been acting up for weeks. I wasn’t in any pain, but my bowel movements were looser and I was going to the toilet more often than usual. But, being prescribed antibiotics for a nail infection a few weeks before, I just shrugged it off as a side effect of the medication. By that September, though, the symptoms still hadn’t cleared up, so I went to my GP. He did some blood tests and took a stool sample, but nothing unusual flagged up. By the end…

Casting my eyes over the litter of puppies, I kept coming back to the same one. ‘You’re a friendly little fella,’ I cooed, as the ball of fur settled on my lap. I’d always been a dog lover. We had dogs when I was growing up – and, when I bought my first house in 2005, I knew a pup would complete the family. My partner Jodi and I were planning to have a baby, so we wanted a breed that was good with kids. Doing some research, we settled on a Golden Retriever. Taking our new addition home a few weeks later, we were thrilled. ‘What are we going to call him?’ Jodi, then 24, asked. ‘Mister Molson,’ I smiled. Molson was my favourite brand of golden beer, and…

As we walked down the street, people stopped and stared. I had to stop myself from shouting at all of them. I should have been used to it by now, but it annoyed me that they could gawp at my gorgeous baby girl with no thought to how it might make her feel. I never wanted her to feel like she was different or weird and I will always strive to tell her how stunning she is. Because she is utterly beautiful – even with one eye. My gorgeous Myah was born like that. It was something we had no idea was happening and were not prepared for. She suffers from a rare condition called microphthalmia which affects around one in every 7,000 children and happens while they are still…

Beat the Bloat Nutritional therapist Claire Barnes gives her top tips for beating the bloat: Keep a food diary – note down foods that make you bloat. Reduce processed foods and refined carbohydrates, such as white bread, pastries and pasta. Increase beneficial bacteria – consume more fermented foods, and take a multi-vitamin probiotic, such as Bio-Kult (£8.99, bio-kult.com). Ghee Easy Get ready to change the way you cook! Ghee Easy (£6, Sainsbury’s) is packed full of vitamins and is rich in Omegas 3 and 6. This South Asian staple is a pure form of clarified butter, and is a healthy and delicious alternative to cooking with oil. Unlike oil, which burns at 160C, ghee has a much higher smoke point, offering the same rich flavour, but without the burnt fat.…

Launching himself around the living room, my son Haiden, nine, was showing off some spectacular moves. He was practising his latest street dance routine. ‘Wow!’ I said, impressed. ‘That’s brilliant!’ He’d been dancing from the age of four and went to lessons each week with his older brothers Joel, now 13, and Dominic, now 11. He could contort his body into crazy shapes and breakdance unbelievably well. He’d had a few scrapes, but nothing serious. But then last summer, Haiden complained of pain. ‘My knees and ankles hurt,’ he cried after one dance lesson. His joints did pop out of their sockets sometimes and his dad Philip, 45, and I would have to put them back into place. We’d been to the hospital with him on some occasions. We’d always…