Innehållsförteckning för SUMMER SPECIAL 2019 från Chat Specials

Adapting to change is a challenge for all of us, and sometimes we have no choice but to be strong and face the future head on. Emily-Rose (pg4) was planning a fun night out with her mates. Instead, her world was torn apart by a cruel stranger. But instead of letting it beat her, she refuses to be seen as a victim and has spoken out to help others. We admire the bravery of mum Rachel (pg24). After a devastating diagnosis, her son Frank’s health quickly deteriorated, and she knows she will have to let him go one day. But she and her family have committed to making his last days memorable. After more than 50 years living with a facial disfigurement, Shelley (pg10) had learnt to accept the way…

1 With more of us choosing to holiday in the UK, Van Life is the perfect guide on how to travel on the road. Showing you how to make the most out of your campervan, this book helps with all the practical little things you might not have thought of before you set off on your holiday. It will also help to inspire your next adventure, sharing some of the best routes to travel across the UK. Van Life by Nigel Donnelly, £12.99, Amazon 2 Obsessed superfan Libby is desperate to get the attention of Hollywood movie star Thomas Cassidy. She devises a foolproof plan and thinks if she writes a novel, he will read it, fall in love with her and ask her to help him turn it into…

Becci Thompson, 31, Staines, Surrey Carefully, I scanned the mugshots of men and women on my computer screen. Some young, some old, some smiling, others not. One thing they all had in common, though, was that they were inmates in prisons in America. It was November 2014 and I’d just joined an online group that allowed people all over the world to write to prisoners. I loved the idea of writing and receiving letters from people so different to me. And I wanted to help them. Often lonely, desperate for friendship, it meant they got regular contact from people on the outside. ‘Why do you even bother?’ my friend would say, rolling her eyes as I stuck stamps on a batch of letters. He said he regretted getting ‘hatred’ tattooed…

Leigh Wilson, 42, Coulsdon, Surrey Lying on the couch in the GP’s surgery, the doctor examined my stomach. It was November 2013 – and days before, I’d noticed a lump protruding from my belly. ‘I think it might be a hernia,’ the doctor said. She explained this is when an internal part of the body pushes through the muscles in the stomach, and I’d need an operation. ‘It’s a routine procedure,’ I was told. But I went back to the home I shared with my dad Les, 62, and sons Callum, 14, and Theo, eight, feeling worried. I was Dad’s carer, and had my boys to look after, too. I didn’t have time to be ill! ‘We’ll cope, love, don’t worry,’ Dad reassured me. I was referred to the hospital…

Mick O’Beirne, 39, Harrow Walls of flames surrounded me, arching high over my head. Heavy smoke drowned my lungs. The stifling heat was impossible. But despite all that, I wasn’t even breaking a sweat… ‘I’ve got this,’ I laughed. A quick flick of my hose and I was showering the blazing inferno with water. A sizzle, a splutter. Then the raging fire was out. Shift over! Growing up in South London, I loved nothing better than playing the hero. Other lads may have wanted to be sports or telly stars – I just wanted to be a fireman. The kit, the danger, the pole – what could be cooler? But before I knew it, life happened. By 2018, I was living in North London with my wife Ella, 40, and…

Oliver Edwards, 30, Poulton Our three sons had been playing happily on their PlayStation all morning. They’d been to the GAME store in Preston the night before to spend the £20 voucher they’d got from their uncle for Christmas. Oscar, 12, Steven, 10, and Mark, four, were all gaming mad, so they couldn’t wait to go the day after Boxing Day. They were made up when they saw there was a three-for-two offer on all second-hand games. Suddenly, Mark said he was bored of his game. ‘Can we swap it for another one, Daddy?’ he asked. He’d bought the NBA 2K17 basketball game. I grabbed the box to check everything was in a suitable condition to return, when suddenly, I felt something wedged between the pages of the instruction booklet.…

What a life After a long day at work, I came home to find Oscar and Missy right where I left them in the morning – asleep on my bed. Jan, Leeds She’s so cute! How adorable is my new puppy Bella?! I adore her already. Fiona, Plymouth Give us a smile? He may look sad, but Maxwell really is such a happy pup! Val, Edinburgh Big bad world To my rabbit Coco, the world must seem like a pretty scary place. Don’t worry, Coco, I’ll look after you! Debbie, Bournemouth…

With any financial gamble, there’s a chance to win big, but it also comes with a high risk that you could lose it all. In 1999, Mark O. Barton, 44, was trying his luck with the latest money making craze of the moment – day trading. Despite being a trained chemist, Mark joined people of all professions trying their hand at quickly buying and selling stocks in a single day. Internet connections were still poor at homes in Atlanta, Georgia, so those keen to try it went to local firms set up with all the tools needed to trade, along with computers to help them do it at break-neck speed. You could go home with a boost to your bank balance, or a debt you’d return the next day to…

Sharon Kane, 48, Belfast Letting myself in after a hectic day at work, all I wanted to do was chill. Except… my flat was in total chaos! Cushions ripped to shreds, flowers scattered on the floor, even a few plates smashed in the sink. ‘Ozzy!’ I shouted. Prince Ozzy was my cheeky black moggy, named after the Prince of Darkness – heavy-metal singer Ozzy Osbourne. And my puss was just as eccentric as Ozzy. Why on earth was Ozzy swatting my face? Although I’d not actually seen him munch a bat, I wouldn’t put it past him! I got Ozzy six years ago when my old cat, Mr Smudge, died aged 18 years, eight months. Ozzy filled a hole in my heart when Mr Smudge was gone. But having a…

Emily-Rose Hinnells, 19, Leeds Stroking my 10-month-old daughter’s soft brown hair, I carefully pulled the duvet up under her chin. ‘Night night,’ I smiled, as her eyes began to close. I was a young single mum, only 19 years old. It wasn’t easy, but I was lucky. Living with Mum and Dad meant I could still study Beauty Therapy at college and have the odd night out, too. Like tonight. And I couldn’t wait to see my friends. I was lost and he offered to help ‘Taxi’s here for you, love!’ I heard Dad call from downstairs. It was past 8pm on a cold and blustery night in January 2018, and I was already late for a night out in Leeds. A friend was celebrating her birthday with a plush…

Wendy Moss, 60, Cotswolds Emerging from the bathroom, I settled on the sofa with a deep sigh. ‘You were in there a while,’ my husband Paul, 61, said. ‘Everything OK?’ ‘It’s just my stomach acting up again,’ I grumbled. ‘It never ends.’ With that, I was up and off to the loo again, frustrated and in pain. I’ve had IBS ever since I was a young child. Whenever we went anywhere, my stomach would always be a problem. So many of our family holidays had to be cut short because of my unpredictable stomach upsets. But at the time, I didn’t really notice it, thinking it was normal. But it became a real problem for me in my early 20s, when I started going on trips abroad. I could guarantee…

Goldenhar Syndrome is an umbrella term for a wide range of bone abnormalities affecting the face. During the 8th to the 12th week of pregnancy, a baby’s face develops when several types of tissue grow together to form facial features. With Goldenhar Syndrome, something goes wrong during this process, but doctors don’t yet know how or why. Children with the syndrome usually have small, misshapen ears and underdeveloped facial bones and muscles. Goldenhar UK is run by families and volunteers affected by the condition, who work to provide information and support. Visit www.goldenhar.org.uk.…

LISA FAULKNER’S STICKY HONEY AND LEMON CHICKEN Bacofoil (www.bacofoil.co.uk) has teamed up with this Masterchef favourite to create a delicious traybake recipe, making it the perfect mid-week meal. YOU’LL NEED... ● Bacofoil® The Non-Stick Kitchen Foil ● 2 banana shallots ● 400g cooked Charlotte potatoes ● 1 tbsp olive oil ● 8 chicken thighs, skin on ● Juice of 2 lemons ● 2 cloves garlic finely chopped ● 3 tbsp honey ● 1 tbsp grain mustard ● 1 tsp sea salt ● 1 tsp ground black pepper ● A few sprigs of fresh thyme ● 2 tbsp roughly chopped flat leaf parsley HOW TO DO IT… 1. Heat your oven to 200°C/Gas 6/fan180°C. Line a roasting tin with Bacofoil® The Non-Stick Kitchen Foil. 2. Slice the shallots and cut the…

This usually takes the form of a lump in the tummy or groin, caused when an internal part of the body pushes through a weakness in the muscle or surrounding tissue wall. In most cases, there are no symptoms, other than a lump that appears when coughing or straining, and it can often be pushed back in. But if you have sudden, severe pain, vomiting, constipation or are unable to push the hernia, you may need to go to A&E. Treatment may be through either open or keyhole surgery, and patients usually make a full recovery within a few weeks.…

She cooked her husband a meal and spiked it with a drug that she knew would kill him It was all part of the daily work banter when Helen Milner joked with her colleagues at a construction company about bumping off her husband Philip Nisbet. Diabetic Helen would flippantly say that Philip was adding fatal doses of sugar to her food, so she had to get there first. Then she asked about what types of poisons were best to kill the man she’d been married to for four and a half years. People were wary of her muffins After all, she would laugh, she would be entitled to life insurance policies totalling over $250,000. Helen’s colleagues were baffled at why she talked this way about her second husband. Truck driver…

THAI FRIED RICE WITH PINEAPPLE AND PRAWNS SERVES 4 YOU’LL NEED... ● 175g Thai or Jasmine rice ● 1 tsp Thai fish sauce ● 1 tsp reduced salt soy sauce ● 1 red chilli, deseeded and finely sliced ● 15g fresh ginger, peeled and finely chopped ● 1 tsp brown sugar ● Juice of 1 lime ● 2 tbsp rapeseed oil ● 200g cooked peeled prawns ● 2 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed ● 100g frozen peas, defrosted ● 1 bunch spring onions, chopped ● 435g can Del Monte Gold Pineapple chunks in juice, drained ● 2 medium eggs, lightly beaten ● Lime wedges, to serve ● Fresh coriander, to serve HOW TO DO IT… 1. Cook the rice according to the packet instructions. Once cooked, drain well, cover and…

Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that affects how a person communicates with and relates to other people and how they experience the world around them. It is estimated that 1 in 100 people have autism in the UK, with more men and boys being diagnosed. However, it is now thought that women and girls manage the condition differently and often go underdiagnosed. Characteristics of autism include having difficulties with social communication and repetitive behaviour, routines and activities. For more information go to www.autism.org.uk…

Double trouble My eight-year-old son suffers from hay fever, and when it gets bad, he also has awful eczema on his legs. Are the two things connected? Tess, London Yes, there is a very strong connection between them as they are part of the ‘atopic’ triangle, which also includes asthma. Often, when someone is suffering from hay fever, their immune system is overactive, so you are more likely to see a flare up of the eczema. Apart from trying to avoid contact with pollens, it is highly recommended to apply medical moisturisers on a regular basis and visit your GP if you need stronger creams. Your pharmacist can also advise on the best course of action. Tight call I have asthma and when I get hay fever, it feels out…

The human brain reaches full maturity when you’re around 25 h ma ma FOOD AND NUTRITION Your brain is 73% water, so dehydration quickly affects your attention skills. Research shows that a Mediterranean-style diet rich in fish, whole grains and leafy veg helps maintain brain health and may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. • LIMIT RED MEAT. High in saturated fat, red meat has been associated with the development of degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. • DON’T FORGET FISH. Fish is a great source of omega-3, the type of fatty acid your body can’t produce. And it’s good for your brain. At least twice a week, eat five ounces of salmon, cod or tuna. • FRUIT AND VEG. Spinach, kale and broccoli are rich in many brain-loving nutrients, while…

THAT’S A WRAP Wrapping paper is notoriously hard to recycle and the majority ends up in landfills, remaining there for years alongside plastic water bottles and straws. Thankfully, gifting experts Personalised Gifts Shop (personalisedgiftsshop.co.uk) has found an alternative – Furoshiki. This ancient Japanese method of folding cloth to hold valuables is all the rage right now, as it’s great for the environment and a useful skill to learn. Taking just one piece of fabric, like a blanket or a scarf, it can be used to wrap up gifts for loved ones and re-used later. It can be applied to just about any gift, large or small, and uses simple knots and folds, all of which are fairly easy to master. As we all try to move towards a more sustainable…

Shona Storr, 34, Glasgow Staring with apprehension at the dry ski slope, my stomach twisted with nerves. What have I let myself in for? I thought, gulping. It was February 2014, and my boyfriend of six years, John, 22, was an avid snowboarder. He had been since his teens, and loved to hit the slopes with his mates in his spare time. But winter sports weren’t really my thing. As a teacher, I much preferred curling up on the sofa with a good book. And I felt far from comfortable watching from the sidelines as he zoomed down the slopes. But, a week earlier, John had come back from a session buzzing. ‘You should give it a go, Shona,’ he’d said, for the umpteenth time. ‘You never know unless you…

Suddenly, I realised that I wasn’t actually transgender. I’d never felt like a man, never wanted to be a man. Back in 2002, when I’d decided to transition, I’d just not wanted to be Debbie anymore. I wanted to erase the past – the bullies, the abuse, the life of misery. Erase me. I’d thought I could do that by changing gender. But now, as a man, I still hated myself and had even less confidence than when I was a woman. It was as clear as day, but then I realised the horrible truth. There was nothing I could do to change back. It was too late to stop the surgery ‘What have I done?’ I cried to Alan, hysterical. He’d always been my rock, and I could see…

Jayne Butler, 20, California Starting university, life was so exciting. New on campus, I was studying Dance, and I couldn’t wait to perform in the upcoming uni shows. Life was pretty full-on, with lessons and dance practice, plus seeing friends and my family, who lived an hour away. It was tiring! I’d gone through a tough patch a couple of years earlier, when I’d felt constantly exhausted. I’d fall asleep everywhere, unable to stay awake, but I just put it down to student life – studying and partying. My parents, Holly and Rick, both 50, had noticed it, too. None of us were worried, especially when I returned to my energetic self a few weeks later. But two months after starting uni, in November 2017, I hit an all-time low.…

Mary Elizabeth Wilson, also known as the Merry Widow of Windy Nook, was a serial killer and the last woman to be sentenced to death in Durham, in 1958. Wilson was married four times, with each marriage ending in her husband’s death. She was eventually brought to the attention of police and convicted of murdering two of her four husbands with beetle poison. The remains of her first two husbands also pointed to the same cause of death, but another trial was deemed unnecessary.…

Franklin & Sons tonic range, £3.50, Co-op Play with new flavours this summer with the ‘Flavour Collection’ range of tonics which include rosemary with black olive, pink grapefruit with bergamot, rhubarb with hibiscus, and elderflower with cucumber. They all work in harmony with your favourite tipple! HECK vegan burger range, £2.50 for two, Tesco This range might be meat-free, but it's packed with flavours. Choose from a Thai-inspired Sweet Fusion Burger, an Indian style Bollywood Burger, a fresh Supergreens burger and a juicy The Beet Goes On. Fire up the BBQ! Asian Street Style Pot Noodles, £1.75, major retailers Firm favourite Pot Noodle are launching a new range in June which includes Thai Red Curry, Vietnamese Beef Pho, Malaysian Laksa and Japanese Miso Noodle Soup. They are low in fat,…

Caught out in a lie Q Our son, 16, is adopted and wants to track down his biological mum. I’ve always told him she loved him so much she gave him up for a better life. The reality is, she was a deeply troubled addict. Shall I try and stop him? Diane, Leeds A Officially, a person needs to be 18 or over to register on the government’s Adoption Contact Register, so you could try suggesting that your son pauses his search. However, if he is determined to look for his biological mum now, it may be better to support his wishes rather than risk him searching on social media in secret – particularly if you know that there are likely to be some big disappointments along the way. Why…

Smelling fresh Everyone has two to five million sweat glands across their body, and women have more than men, so it’s no wonder that during the summer months, we tend to get a bit clammy. Try Sure Invisible Antibacterial Antiperspirant (£2.65, Boots), which provides all-day freshness, 48-hour protection against sweat, and prevents yellow stains while fighting the source of odour. Remember your ABCs Want an easy way to remember how to get all your essential nutrients? Just spell it out! ● A Vitamins: sweet potatoes, carrots and squash. ● B Vitamins: grains, and pulses ● Calcium: milk and eggs ● D Vitamins: oily fish and egg yolks ● Iodine: fish, dairy and seaweed ● K Vitamins: leafy greens such as kale and spinach ● Magnesium: figs, avocado, nuts and seeds…

SLEEK MAKEUP LOOSE PIGMENTS These high impact colours come in six beautiful shades. The buildable product glides on smoothly with a buttery formula that can be used across your body and face to create bold eye looks and shimmering highlight perfect for the summer. £5.49, Boots NEUTROGENA HYDROGEL RECOVERY SHEET MASKS The hydro boost range from Neutrogena is powered by hyaluronic acid and helps to leave you hydrated and glowing. The mask is split into two parts, making sure it clings smoothly to all the contours of your face, hitting all the areas that require the most nourishment. £3.50, Boots ST. MORIZ BODY BRONZER AND HIGHLIGHTER Get ready for summer with St. Moriz’s latest product that helps you achieve a beautiful bronzed glow. The bronzer can be used on both…

We had plans to get pregnant together after Erin got married, but she was having trouble. I struggled for about two years to conceive my second child, Cillian, and it was heartbreaking to tell Erin when I fell pregnant again. I had been through all of Erin’s infertility treatments and I cried with her when she lost each one of her babies. I just wished there was something I could do. The day Scottie arrived I was so excited about seeing my best friend become a mum and holding the baby she had always wanted.…

Believe it or not ARE YOU SURE ABOUT THAT? Have you and your friends ever thought you remembered something, but then found out it was wrong? That’s called the ‘Mandela Effect’. It’s a phenomenon where a group of people collectively misremember a fact or event. The term was coined by paranormal enthusiast Fiona Broome – she, along with many other people, remembered Nelson Mandela dying in prison in the 1980s. They even remember watching his funeral on TV. In fact, the former South African president died aged 95 on 5 December 2013 at his home in Johannesburg. Wait, what?! AND THE OSCAR GOES TO… It was a long-awaited and historical moment when Leonardo DiCaprio finally won his first Oscar in February 2016. However, some people clearly recall the ceremony where…