Innehållsförteckning för Best Of 2 2018 från Chat Specials

Talk about being in the right place at the right time. Natalie’s husband (pg18) has saved four lives by being exactly where he needed to be when strangers faced times of crisis. But Kanta, (pg33) was definitely not in the right place when she felt her baby coming. Not many babies say they were born on the motorway. Prepare to be inspired by the beautiful Kay (pg10). When she started losing her hair as a child, she suffered terrible bullying and thought she’d always hide from the world. Now she’s giving Lady Gaga a run for her money. Lucinda (pg47) has a daughter with the same incredible strength. Lara was born without a hand, but she’s proof that, with the right attitude, nothing can hold you back. This month we…

I had a few missed calls Running late, I pinched a piece of toast off my husband Simon’s plate, gave him a peck on the cheek and headed towards the front door. ‘Be good for Dad,’ I said to our boys, Ben, 12, and Harry, eight, ruffling their hair as they ran circles around the kitchen. It was the start of the Christmas holidays and I had to shoot off to work, but luckily Simon was able to take care of the kids. ‘I’m going to take them to the seafront to burn off some of their energy,’ he sighed, exhausted. I was pleased the little terrors would be out of the house. I’d been putting up Christmas decorations and wrapping presents and I was worried about the state it…

Q We’ve reached the ‘question stage’, where our little girl is fascinated by knowing about everything! Admittedly, some of the questions have caught us off guard, but we love that she wants to know so much. Is there anywhere we can go that will feed her newfound curiosity? Harriet, Swindon A We The Curious in Bristol is the ideal place to help find some answers! You may know it as At-Bristol , but after a rebrand, it’s now become a centre for curiosity, with hundreds of interactive exhibits to bring science to life. There are regular exhibitions, events and planetarium shows, all designed to get kids asking how, why and what. Perfect for kids who are fascinated by the world, this is a great day out for your little one.…

When doctors told me that my son was suffering from dementia, I didn’t know how to react. Especially as he was only a year old. It felt like only yesterday I had been carrying Kade in my tummy, watching him grow from a little bean to the size of a grapefruit on the sonogram. When he was born, he developed so quickly, hitting all his milestones. One afternoon, I watched him lift his legs up to his head and bend over four or five times in a row. I was so proud of him. For a while I thought we had an acrobat in the making, but as time went on, I started to realise that something wasn’t right. He would cry out in pain every time he had an…

Clothes hung off my fragile frame As I rummaged in my son’s schoolbag, the last thing I expected to fi nd was a letter telling me my little boy, Jack, had been branded ‘overweight’. My jaw dropped. Looking at Jack, four, chasing his sisters around the kitchen, it was hard to imagine anyone could think he was fat. But as I skimmed the words ‘in the overweight range’, it brought back painful memories. There must be some mistake , I convinced myself. I’d suffered from anorexia when I was a teenager, and my eating disorder was triggered by an incident of a very similar nature. As a 13-year-old girl, I stood on the scales as the nurse at my boarding school scribbled down my weight and height measurements. She didn’t…

As my daughter Lara, then 10, watched TV, her face lit up excitedly. ‘Look, Mum!’ she cried. A little girl with one hand was showing off a pink prosthetic limb. It was controlled by wrist movements – a bit like a puppet. As the girl moved her wrist, she controlled the way her fingers bent. ‘That’s very clever,’ I said. Lara was born with one hand. Doctors didn’t know why, but it hadn’t held Lara back. She’d learnt to write with her right hand, found her own way of picking things up… And she still got up to mischief with her brother Tom, now 15, and sister, Sophie, eight. My husband Andy, 46, and I had asked her about prosthetics before over the years. ‘I’m fine as I am,’ she’d…

Backpacking through South America should have been the adventure of a lifetime. Jetting off in 2016, I was on the trip of my dreams. But, five months on, in February 2017, I found myself in Columbia suffering from severe pain in my stomach. By this point, I had made a few friends along the way, and we’d all suffered from funny tummies throughout the trip. But when the pain became more intense, I went to have blood tests at the local hospital. ‘It’s just a case of gastroenteritis,’ the doctor said, discharging me. Days later, I experienced more intense cramping, so I went back to the hospital. This time, doctors said I must’ve picked up a parasite, so they gave me medication for it, and the pain subsided. I continued…

What a perfect pup! Our new puppy Kina is absolutely stunning. We adore her already and she’s certainly made a home with our family. Helen, Bath Unwanted disturbance Millie wasn’t very impressed when I woke her up from her nap! It seems her napping partner (my husband James), doesn’t seem to notice, though! Lorraine, Ipswich Ready for her close-up My cat Mila relishes in a close up. Such a pretty girl… Violet, Luton Bunnies know best My rabbits Hop and Scotch know exactly when it’s dinner time and are not afraid to show it. Jackie, Cardiff THAT’S SO BRITISH NOT BEING ABLE TO EAT A JAFFA CAKE WITHOUT BRINGING UPTHATDEBATE. SECRETLY FEELING EXCITED WHEN YOU GET TO WEAR A JUMPER. HOPING THE PERSON YOU’RE RINGING DOESN’T ANSWER…

Finally Mum gave in and he was mine Chesney wouldn't leave her alone With my big pleading eyes as wide as possible, I started Operation ‘Get Another Dog’ on my mum, Mary. ‘Oh pleeeeease,’ I begged. ‘Can we have one?’ She firmly shook her head. ‘We are not getting another dog, Angie,’ she said, putting her foot down. ‘We’ve already got Snoops and he’s getting on a bit now. How do you think he would cope with a puppy in the house?’ I was sure that Snoops would love the company. ‘He’d be fiiiiine,’ I insisted. Mum wasn’t budging. ‘It’s not happening,’ she insisted. ‘Don’t get your hopes up.’ But I already had. One of her friends had a dog which had just had a litter of puppies and they…

FILM AND TV 1 Which actor voices Lightening McQueen in the Cars franchise? a Vince Vaughnb Owen Wilsonc Luke Wilson 2 ‘There’s no place like home’ is the last line to which classic fi lm? a Casablancab Gone with the Windc The Wizard of Oz 3 Who directed the films A Beautiful Mind, The Da Vinci Code, and Apollo 13? a Ron Howardb Steven Spielbergc Martin Scorsese 4 In EastEnders, who did Dave the cat initially belong to? a Ted and Joyceb Pam and Lesc Phil and Sharon 5 What is the title of the latest Jurassic World film, due to be released in June? a Lost Kingdomb Fallen Kingdomc Hidden Kingdom 6 In which film did Jennifer Lawrence play the character Rosalyn Rosenfeld? a American Hustleb Joyc Silver Linings…

She proposed over lunch After a string of failed dates, I’d almost given up on finding my dream woman. But then an old school mate, Harriet, had got in touch. Apparently, she’d spotted me on Facebook and had asked a mutual friend, Jamie, to set us up. ‘Why on earth would a girl like Harriet want to go out with me?’ I said to Jamie over a few beers. ‘She’s into you,’ Jamie insisted. ‘Ask her out!’ So I got her number off him. We sent a few messages then I called her. ‘Fancy meeting up? Chinese, a movie and a bottle of wine sound good?’ I asked. ‘Sounds perfect!’ Harriet replied. Before long, we were on our third date at our local pub, exchanging stories about old classmates. Harriet…

You’re born with 300 bones, but as an adult, you have 206 because they fuse. September 26 is the most popular day to be born in the UK. Nine months after Christmas. A baby has three times as many taste buds as an adult – 10,000 in fact! Babies can only see clearly for a maximum of 12 inches when they’re born. The average weight of a newborn boy is 7lbs 10oz, but just 7lb 2oz for a girl. 80% of babies are born with a birthmark but most disappear as they grow. A newborn’s head accounts for around 25% of their entire weight!…

ROAST CHICKEN SERVES 4 YOU’LL NEED 1 large free-range chicken 2 tbsp olive oil Salt and pepper 2 lemons, 1 sliced, 1 quartered 6 garlic cloves, crushed 1 handful rosemary 15-20 unpeeled potatoes Steamed mixed vegetables to serve For the gravy 1 ½ pints of chicken stock 2 tbsp of cornflour 3 tbsp of cold water 1 vegetable stock cube Juices from the roasting tray HOW TO DO IT… 1. Preheat the oven to 200C. Rub the chicken with oil, salt and black pepper. Place the chicken in a large roasting tray, lift the skin from the breast and slide in the lemon slices. Push the garlic cloves, quartered lemon and rosemary into the chicken. Use cocktail sticks to hold the skin closed. Place the chicken in the oven a…

Ask our doc Mr Narendra Pisal, consultant gynaecologist at London Gynaecology ( www.london-gynaecology.com )answers your questions. Too scared I’ve had a letter to say my smear test was ‘abnormal.’ I’m petrified. Does this mean I have cancer? Jill, London An abnormal smear is common and does not mean cancer. It means that your smear test has picked up an abnormality before it becomes anything serious. I cannot stress the importance of attending that return appointment. Cervical cancer is the most common cancer in women aged 35 and under, yet many women are unaware that it is a preventable disease. Having your smear test regularly offers the best protection against cervical cancer. A smear picks up abnormal cells before they become cancerous. These precancerous cells can be diagnosed using…

LEG PAIN WITH SWELLING If one of your calves feels like it’s on fire, you may have deep-vein thrombosis (DVT), also known as a blood clot. This happens especially after travelling on a long flight when you’ve been sitting down for hours. Blood pools in your lower body and forms a clot. When it gets big enough to act as a stopper in a vein or artery, the area around it will start to hurt and swell. Smokers and women who take the Pill have a higher risk of developing clots. + WHAT TO DO: Resist the urge to massage the area or to walk it off. If the clot breaks free, it can travel through your veins up to your lungs and cut off your oxygen supply. Instead, see…

Aberdeen’s my home and I can’t think of anywhere else I’d rather be. Now retired, I love exploring the city and spending time with my daughter Nicola, now 43, and my three grandkids. One is 20, and another is 17, so they’re growing up fast. My son Alan has a 15-month-old. When I’m not out and about, I enjoy bingo. In 2016, I joined Chat Mag Bingo. It’s such fun! There are so many games. With some, you can play from just 1p. My favourite is Tiki Bingo, a 90-ball bingo game and one of the site’s value rooms. There are friendly people playing, and the hosts in the chatrooms are so entertaining. Last year, on 9 September, I spent £3.70 on 37 tickets at 10p each, to play in…

We knew we wanted children Glancing across the club, a stunning girl caught my eye on the dance floor. Catherine, 27, had a warm smile and infectious laugh. A friend of a friend, we’d all gone out to our local gay bar in Hanley, Staffordshire, in March 2013. I’d known I was a lesbian since I was a teen and I knew there was something special about Catherine. After a few drinks I plucked up the courage to ask her out on a date. So the next sunny weekend, we went on an adventure and visited seven different beaches in one day. ‘I’ve had the best day ever,’ she said, smiling. I was hooked. Within weeks, we were already inseparable, and after just a few months, we moved in together.…

At school I was badly bullied As my sister Annette brushed my long, blonde, poker-straight hair, I closed my eyes and relaxed. At nine, I loved it when my cooler older sister, then 16, paid attention to me. She weaved her fingers through my hair, braiding my locks. Then, suddenly, she stopped. ‘What’s this?’ she asked. ‘You have a bald patch.’ But being young and naïve, neither of us thought much of it. ‘You must be getting old,’ she teased, finishing up my plaits and tying them in a neat bow. I didn’t think anything of it until a few months later, when my grandmother Violet passed away. She had been like a mum to me, and I took it very hard. Soon, I noticed that clumps of hair were…

Walking to the train station, I felt my heart hammering. And then I saw his face, and my jitters instantly melted away. ‘Are you as nervous as I am?’ he grinned. I was meeting Matt Vergo, 27, for the first time. A stranger from a dating site who would become the love of my life. From that first date, we were inseparable. Nobody could get a word in when Matt and I were chatting. Living a few miles apart, sometimes the hour-long phone calls at night didn’t cut it. ‘Why don’t I move in with you?’ he said one day. ‘I’d love you to,’ I beamed. So, in March 2016, we set up home together. Staying up all night talking, walking our two dogs, English bulldog Coco and staffy Ralph,…

Mostly A: Traditional wedding Chances are, you planned out your wedding before you even met your partner! You’re all about the big white dress. This is the most important day of your life, so everything needs to be perfect. Just don’t lose sight of your handsome groom! Mostly B: Modern wedding Your wedding is a chance to make a fashion statement, so you go all out on anything Avant Garde. You’re not afraid to push the boundaries. It’s a real grown-up affair, but don’t forget to let your hair down and have fun – it’s your big day, after all! Mostly C: A wedding away Getting married is a big deal, so what better way to celebrate than with a holiday? You’re a beach babe, and most likely your husband-to-be…

On 11 March 2015, my husband Amit, 39, and I found out we were expecting a second baby together. A sibling for our girl Radhika, two, and a half-sibling for Amit’s daughter from a previous relationship. My pregnancy was going well, and we were busy getting everything for our little one’s arrival. On the evening of 12 December, Amit and I had gone to a family party and got home at around midnight. I flopped into bed, exhausted, and fell asleep straight away. But a couple of hours later, I woke up with stomach cramps. The week before, I’d had Braxton Hicks contractions, and these felt similar. They were coming and going, so I thought I’d be fine. But at around 6am, they got worse. ‘I think it’s starting,’ I…

Poison ran through my body Slipping into my bikini, I was ready to settle in for an afternoon of tanning. My mum had bought me some new sun loungers to enjoy over the summer, and I was planning on using every spare moment to relax and enjoy the glorious weather. As a mum of three, time on my own is rare. But the kids, Ellie, 14, Jessica, six, and Billie, five, were out, so I was looking forward to some well-deserved me time. We’re a really close family and I adore my children. I know how lucky I am to have them and my boyfriend, Ryan. I’m a bit of a sun worshipper, but I’m always careful to be safe and not burn. So when I suddenly found myself in…

His eyes were black with anger My friend David Sharples, then 28, topped up my glass as I chattered on. ‘I’m probably just boring you,’ I laughed. It was 2015, and David and I had been good friends for a few months. He used to work as a personal trainer at my gym, and we kept bumping into each other walking our dogs. Turned out he lived nearby – and, as we became mates, he’d invite me over to his flat for a glass of wine. We’d stay up all night chatting. David was such a good listener. And recently, I’d started confiding in him about my troubles. I’m a transgender woman. ‘I was born male, but in the wrong body,’ I told David. He already knew I was transgender…

Watch your drink In order to keep our teeth healthy, it’s important to consider what we drink. ‘Adding ice to your drinks reduces the risk of damage to your teeth, as not only does it dilute your drink, but it reduces the amount of acid because it’s colder,’ explains Dr Mihir Shah, head dentist at Battersea Park Dental (battersearparkdental.co.uk). Dr Shah recommends using DenTek, a range of floss picks and interdental brushes to get to the hard-to-reach areas that a toothbrush can’t, helping to avoid expensive dental work in the future. Get DenTek On The Go for £3 from Boots. Time for a wax? It’s that time of year when we start thinking about getting a summer wax. Strip, a chain of UK salons (stripwaxbar.com), gives us tips on making…

Katharine Hill, the UK Director of the national charity Care For The Family ( www.careforthefamily.org.uk ) answers your questions Not planned Q My 17-year-old daughter is pregnant. She has such a bright future ahead of her, but now she’s insisting on giving it all up for the baby. I’m desperate for her to achieve all her dreams. Should I raise the baby for her so she gets the chance? Emma, Bournemouth A This must have come as a huge shock, but, although difficult, it’s not the end of the world. Your daughter still has a future – it’s just different from the one you imagined. Whatever your feelings may be, your daughter needs to know that you still love her. She may be feeling shocked, overwhelmed and frightened.…