Innehållsförteckning för Autumn 2018 från Chat Specials

As the saying goes, good things come to those who wait, and we have proof this month. Tia (pg32) was on the operating table thinking that she would never have a baby, but doctors found something that made the heartache worthwhile. Paula (pg40) thought taking her dog on holiday was a great idea until Bizkit went missing. Six years later, she couldn’t believe it when she got an email with news. We are in awe of the bravery shown by Michelle (pg14) when she woke up in hospital with no memory of having her twin babies. There was a long road ahead, but she battled to get home and is making plenty of new memories. Emma (pg24) has never forgotten the kindness shown to her when she had her son…

Stroking my baby bump, I climbed into the back of the ambulance. ‘Not you again!’ the driver teased. ‘I probably know the route better than you,’ I laughed. In the past three weeks, I’d been driven to three different hospitals across Scotland. My waters had broken 16 weeks into my pregnancy, so I was at high risk of going into early labour. My son Tyler had been born at 28 weeks in January 2016. He weighed just 2lb 11oz, but luckily, he was healthy. But now, ever since doctors feared I was in labour at 24 weeks, I’d need to stay in hospital. Shortages of neonatal cots meant that I had to be transferred to different hospitals around Scotland. From Elgin to Dundee, and then off to Aberdeen, I’d clocked…

Jemma Smedley, 38, Ilkeston, Derbyshire My son William was nine months old when strange things started to happen. When I picked him up, his whole body would stiffen. His eyes flickered, and he couldn’t sit up or smile. ‘Something’s not right,’ I said to my hubby Richard, 42. Our GP referred us to an epilepsy specialist at Derby Children’s Hospital. We were admitted, and the next day he was hooked up to an EEG machine. Within half an hour, he had 17 seizures. Tests revealed William had epilepsy. ‘It will slow down his development,’ we were warned. William didn’t start toddling until he was two, and mumbling at four, not forming proper words, but we came to understand him. At five, he was diagnosed with learning difficulties and autism. Still…

Get the look Halloween doesn’t have to be all about the kids. Follow these tips to get that glam Halloween look yourself… Face Make yourself look dead tired by using extra pale foundation and adding intense eye bags with black eyeshadow. Hollow your face by contouring your cheekbones with darker eyeshadow. Nails Spooky false nails are the way to go, but if you’re not keen, a coat of black polish will do the trick. For an extra spooky touch, coat the tips of your fingers in black eyeshadow. Accessories Buy vampire fangs or silly teeth and look bewitching in a traditional witch’s hat. Hair Turn your barnet into a spider’s den, clipping mini toy spiders into it. Or if you fancy more of a horror show, opt for a cheap…

Debbie McConnell, 48, Edinburgh My legs trembled as I made my way up the gangplank to the yacht. But it wasn’t the gentle bobbing of the ocean waves that was making me wobbly. It was pure awestruck shock. ‘Wow!’ I hissed to my husband Jim, 57, as we entered the boat’s plush dining room, complete with a glittering chandelier. ‘This is like something from out of a movie!’ Only, this was very real. It was April this year, and me, Jim, and our boys, Jamie, 14, Shane, 12, and Kyle, nine, were visiting my brother Peter, 51, in Miami. He’d been living there for 20 years, worked as a sea captain out of one of the ports, but this was our first time visiting from rainy Edinburgh. Talk about a…

Charlene Pope, 30, Bristol Buzzing violently on the kitchen worktop, my phone rang and rang as I waddled gradually nearer to it. ‘Hi Mum, yeah he’s just gone off to sell the bike, thank goodness!’ I sighed to her. We laughed. Mum knew how much I hated my boyfriend James’ motorbike. And with our baby on the way, I’d insisted he sold it before the birth. We’d met years before after striking up a conversation on Facebook. It was worse than I thought James, 26, was such a laugh and had a heart of gold, even if he had been a bit of a scallywag in his younger days. I’d always said that I loved a challenge! After I’d fallen pregnant, we moved in together, James had got a new…

Feeling tired? Do you ever wake up in the morning feeling like you didn’t sleep at all? Perhaps there’s a reason you feel tired all time… • Are you psychologically tired? Stress and anxiety can stop us from getting quality sleep. Try to resolve any issues before bedtime and put them out of your mind until morning. • What are you eating? Drinking alcohol and eating sugary foods before bed cause us to sleep badly. In fact, you shouldn’t be eating anything after 7pm. • Are you iron deficient? A lack of iron causes tiredness and can be easily diagnosed by your GP. Try eating more meat, beans and kale. The trouble with carbs We’ve all heard of a carb-free diet, but this popular weight loss technique may actually be…

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Dangerous secret Q My 19-year-old son has always enjoyed a drink with his friends, but lately I’ve found bottles hidden in his room and I smell alcohol on his breath when he heads out to work. I confronted him but he got really angry. What can I do? Kate, Essex A As teenagers push the boundaries they may experiment with alcohol to feel more grown up. Keeping these things from their parents may be part of them exercising their independence and establishing their identity. Rather than ‘confronting’ him, choose a good moment to calmly sit him down and have an honest talk to determine why he is drinking. Is it curiosity, peer pressure, or a means of escape? Explain the risks associated with drinking and how he may lose his…

Sylvia Baillie, 61, Renfrewshire For almost 16 years, I’d lived in my one-bed flat, and I’d always enjoyed a good old natter over the garden fence with my neighbours. When my elderly neighbour Derek died in July 2016, I wanted to pay my respects. ‘Such a sweet soul,’ I told my daughter, Leanne, then 36. But with a heart condition, osteoporosis, and no car, I didn’t think I’d make his funeral. ‘We’ll give you a lift,’ another neighbour, Patrick, offered one evening, as we sat in my garden having a drink. ‘Thanks,’ I smiled back. ‘That’s very kind.’ Patrick had moved in with his girlfriend Leeanne a few years before with their huge Japanese Akita dog, Kioshi. As we sat chatting, I stroked Kioshi’s head. We’d had Labradors growing up.…

Happy Hallowiener! Frightening good food is all part and parcel of the perfect Halloween bash and this year the team behind HECK has had its fires burning and cauldrons bubbling to conjure up some spooktacular sausages for feeding a hungry crowd at the party. Packed with flavour you can swear by (and scare by), the HECK Hallowiener is a wickedly sticky and slightly spicy combination of lean British pork shoulder, pumpkin, black treacle and a touch of chilli. Perfect for Halloween munchies like toad in the ‘howl’ or with ‘monster mash’ and gravy, the limited edition, gluten-free and dairy-free recipe is available exclusively from Sainsbury’s for £2 a pack or from HECK at www.heckfood.co.uk. Magical cooking There’s something special about cooking a meal for the whole family. Add some Disney…

Donna Comrie, 47, Fife Slamming the door behind me, I tried my best to stop tears from falling down my face. ‘Ginger, ginger!’ the kids outside were yelling. I had just started high school, and almost every day, I was bullied for my red hair. ‘What’s wrong?’ my mum Sheila, then 37, asked. ‘Nothing,’ I mumbled, not wanting to get into it. Wiping my tears, I went straight to the kitchen. ‘Is there anything to eat, Mum?’ I called out. ‘There’s some biscuits in the cupboard!’ she called. Grabbing the packet of chocolate biscuits, I plonked myself down at the kitchen table. As each biscuit melted in my mouth, all the cruel comments from the day started to disappear. Before I knew it, I’d finished the whole packet. But this…

Mostly A: Cheesecake You’re all about the drama. You’re popular and you love it. You have a unique gift of making everything about you, but your mates love you for it. You’re smooth, sexy and a bit emotional at times, but you’ll always have a large group of friends to share a bottle of wine with. Mostly B: Black forest gateau You’re old school, traditional, and love the finer things in life. You’re wise beyond your years, and tend to have complex ideas about things, which can make you a bit difficult to relate to at times, but you know that your nearest and dearest will always have your back. Mostly C: Novelty cake Life is one big party for you, and you’ll find every opportunity to celebrate – even…

Paula Bennett, 49, Oswestry Arriving at my sister’s place, my husband Keith and I couldn’t believe our luck. ‘This is gorgeous!’ Keith, then 47, said. It was May 2012 and we were in France for a week to stay at my sister Annette’s house in Deyme, 11 miles from Toulouse. Our daughter Rebecca, then 23, had stayed behind to look after her brother Tom, 16, so he didn’t miss school. But we’d taken our Parson Russell terrier Bizkit along to enjoy the holiday with us. There was no sign of him There was a lovely big garden for Bizkit to play in, and a pool for us to lounge around. Even better, Annette, then 42, had her own dog, a mongrel called Sally, so Bizkit had a pal to keep…

Judi Hampton, 48, Essex With pressure building on my temples, it felt as if my head was in a vice. Then everything started to go blurry. Closing my eyes tight, I grimaced through the pain as best I could, but the constant throbbing just wouldn’t let up. I’d suffered from terrible migraines over the years, but each one seemed worse than before. They’d often leave me feeling faint and nauseous, forcing me to take time off work. And sometimes, they’d go on for four whole days. Placing a warm flannel over my forehead, my husband Kevin, 49, did his best to help out. ‘It will be OK,’ he soothed. Bless him, with everything I’d been through in the last few years, he’d been a saint. As well as my migraines,…

Danielle Hatcher, 28, Sheffield Watching my four-year-old daughter Myla play in early December last year, I noticed something a bit strange. ‘Her legs look really bruised,’ I told my husband Jon, 28. We checked her over and found an unnerving number of marks on her little legs, as well as some behind her ears. We all know kids often have bumps and bruises, but these were excessive. ‘Let’s get her to the doctor,’ Jon said. The GP sent us off to Sheffield Children’s Hospital for blood tests. And a biopsy showed that her blood count was very low and that her bone marrow was actually ‘empty’. ‘What does this mean?’ I asked the doctor, worried. They explained to us that Myla had a rare, life-threatening condition called severe aplastic anaemia…

Well, hello there… My cat Margie loves to make an appearance. A creepy one at that… Abby, Staines Treasure hunting My dog Jake looks so excited to have found Gromit after searching around Bristol for him. What a champ! Ellie, Bristol Erm, excuse me?! Millie is wondering why I’m sat here taking photos of her when I should be getting up to serve her dinner. How dare I! Jade, Milton Keynes How adorable! I love my new puppy, Goose, to bits. Just look at that adorable face. How could I resist?! Lucy, Dundee…

Amber (left) and her mum were targetted Wanda Holloway had a dream. After being denied the chance to be a cheerleader growing up, she set her sights on making her daughter, Shanna, a star on her high school squad. But the American public were stunned to discover just how far Wanda was willing to go to make it happen. Her obsession started when Wanda was a child. She had been born into a poor neighbourhood of Channelview, Texas, and spent most of her early life trying to make a better future for herself. She saw the popular, athletic girls on the side line of the football fields and wanted to be part of a team. But her conservative parents refused to let her try out. They were religious and thought…

FILM AND TV 1 Which actor plays Captain Steve Trevor in the 2017 Wonder Woman fi lm? a Ryan Reynolds b Tom Holland c Chris Pine 2 In what 2018 film does Winnie-the-Pooh feature? a Christopher Robin b Sherlock Gnomes c Peter Rabbit 3 What children’s tv show is Zebedee the jack-in-the-box from? a The Tweenies b The Clangers c The Magic Roundabout 4 What year did Strictly Come Dancing begin? a 1998 b 2001 c 2004 5 In The Incredibles film series, what is Elastigirl’s real name? a Violet Parr b Helen Parr c Amy Parr 6 What is the name of the bloodthirsty clown in the film It? a Pennywise b Billy c Stitches SHOWBIZ 7 Which Kardashian sister celebrated her 21st birthday over the 2018 summer? a…

Still with us LONG LIVE THE DEAD In Mexico, people go all out to celebrate the dead. Dia de Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a national holiday where family and friends gather to pray and remember those who have died and to help support their spiritual journey into the afterlife. Dating back to the Aztec Empire, the tradition sees people visiting cemeteries and building private altars for their loved ones, complete with photos and personal items. After the private rituals, communities gather for a Day of the Dead parade, donned in their scariest (yet rather impressive) costumes. The parade has become so famous, that people all around the world have embraced these costumes over Halloween. Fish for compliments ELABORATE SEND-OFFS In Ghana, people are often buried in highly…

Michelle Varley, 34, Shrewsbury As I lay back on the hospital bed, the sonographer pressed the ultrasound stick against my stomach. Seeing our baby on the scan should have been an exciting time, but I was incredibly nervous. I’d been sick for a few weeks, so I was going for an early check up. My husband Brent and I had been struggling to conceive, so we decided to try IVF. ‘Exciting news, you’re expecting twins,’ the sonographer smiled excitedly at us. Brent and I looked at each other in shock. We knew there was a higher chance it could happen with IVF, but nothing could have prepared us for the news that we’d be having two babies. Over the next few months, my sickness subsided, and the pregnancy went swimmingly.…

Sharon Pollock, 44, Greenock Watching TV with my hubby Steven, 52, I struggled to focus on the screen. ‘I can barely see a thing!’ I said. It was October 2016 and my vision had become so blurry, that I could hardly see what was in front of me anymore. Detecting significant damage to my retina and the back of both my eyes, my optician referred me to Inverclyde Royal Hospital, where I was diagnosed with maculopathy. The blood vessels to my eyes were surrounded by fluid, making them weak and spongy, damaging my central vision. Doctors recommended injections in my eyes every fortnight to soak up the excess fluids. But my vision got worse. I was exhausted, too. Blood tests showed I had chronic kidney disease. ‘It’s also a likely…

Ask our doc Dr Vanessa Mackay is a gynaecologist at the Royal College of Gynaecologists and is currently working with Vagisil to help women be more confident talking about their intimate health ( uk.vagisil.com ) Painful subject As I’m getting older, I’m finding sex with my husband has become so painful we have to stop. What’s changed? Helen, Portsmouth It’s quite possible that the pain is related to vaginal dryness, which has many causes. Age related causes may be down to a drop in the hormone oestrogen. Oestrogen affects the amount of natural lubrication in the vagina, leaving it feeling dry and irritated. It may also be that you’re not suffi ciently aroused before sex, which means your vagina may not produce natural lubricant. Make sure you spend…

Where’s Wally? I went to a friend’s fancy-dress party once dressed up as Wally – complete with bright blue jeans, a red and white striped top and a matching hat. I ended up getting spectacularly wasted and hooking up with a guy. The next morning, I had no choice but to do the walk of shame back to my place still in full costume. As I walked down the street in the early hours, a stranger shouted out, ‘Hey! I found Wally!’ That’s the last time I hook up with anyone in fancy dress. Jessica, Leeds Bum deal My daughter’s primary school had a fancy-dress parade for Halloween one year. As a six-year-old, she insisted on going as an ice princess, complete with a pristine white dress and tiara. On…