Innehållsförteckning för SUMMER 2 SPECIAL 2019 från Chat Specials

We enjoy a surprise, and we know you’ll love the unexpected arrival that made her grand debut at a wedding as the youngest bridesmaid we’ve ever seen! (pg32). You’ll also be shocked to find out how old Tristan is (pg47), and as keen as we were to discover his secrets. This month we are honoured to share the love story of Dave and Sharon (pg10), who tragically ran out of time together. Their devotion to each other made their relationship extra special. Joan (pg44) knows all about the power of love. She never forgot the boy who stole her heart when she was teenager, and fate would bring them back together. It was worth the wait! There’s a very special hotel at the heart of June’s story (pg18). When you’re…

Jennifer Hankins, 38, Louisville, Mississippi Walking into the kitchen one morning in July 2008, my jaw dropped. On the table, where I’d left a newly-bought chocolate cake the night before, only crumbs and an empty box remained. ‘Anna!’ I called out. ‘That cake was for later!’ ‘Sorry, Mum. I was hungry,’ my little girl Anna, five, muttered. She’d scoffed the lot. Anna was always hungry, whether it was first thing in the morning or last thing at night. Keeping calm, I reminded myself not to be cross with her, it wasn’t Anna’s fault. When she was born in November 2002, she was underweight, weighing 5lb 12oz. Her limbs flopped around with no control, and she had wrinkles all over her skinny body. On a ventilator, unable to breathe on her…

Dose of dairy Spent too much time in the sun this summer? Natural yoghurt works wonders for sun burn. Just rub it on your skin for soothing relief. Gwen Mathis, Gateshead Every penny counts Keep all your lost change in a jar leading up to your holiday to give you guilt-free spending money while you’re away. You’ll be surprised how quickly it adds up. Kristi Bradly, Bristol Brow saviour Tame those bushy eyebrows using hairspray and an old, clean, mascara wand. Simply spray the wand, then use it to brush your brows. Sylvia Taylor, London Making contact If your mascara is beginning to dry out, add a few drops of contact solution to the bottle and leave it for an hour. It will be as good as new. Shauna Stevens,…

Katharine Hill, the UK Director of the national charity Care For The Family (www.cff.org. uk) answers your questions. Feeling unlovable Q I don’t have a boyfriend and I feel like there’s something wrong with me. Every one around me seems to have a partner and yet I’ve reached 35, and I’ve hardly dated. Should I just give up? Katy, Swindon A Be kind to yourself. Particularly when we long for something, it can sometimes feel as though everyone else has got life sorted – when the reality is that we are often looking at the showreel people want us to see. Behind the scenes, most people have challenges. Perhaps the answer lies in shifting your focus. Instead of looking inside yourself for the answers, how about turning your attention to…

It was my legs and hands - or my life Taking in a deep breath, at the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, I was overcome with an incredible sense of pride. It’s not an easy climb for anyone but with prosthetic legs and hands, it was a mission, I never imagined would be possible. ‘You’re so great, Mummy,’ my then nine-year-old son, Rory said. It hadn’t been an easy journey but for the past five years, I’d fought to be the best mum I could be for my son. It all started back in May 2013. I was making the most of spending every day with Rory, then four, before he started primary school. Being my only child, I dreaded the thought of being without him for seven hours a day.…

Family run egg farmers, Fairburn’s, have teamed up with Lincolnshire based chef Rachel Green to create delicious new recipes. PIZZA PANCAKE WITH TOMATO, PARMA HAM AND MOZZARELLA SERVES 4 FOR THE PANCAKE BATTER: ● 130g plain flour ● ½ tsp sea salt ● 1 x Fairburn’s free range mixed weight egg ● 300ml full fat milk ● 1 tbsp butter, melted ● Vegetable oil for frying FOR THE TOPPING: ● 300g ripe vine tomatoes, chopped ● 100g cheddar cheese, grated ● 8 slices Parma ham, torn into pieces ● 1 ball of Mozzarella, torn into pieces ● 12 sundried tomato halves, torn into pieces ● 30g pine nuts, toasted ● 1 small handful basil leaves, torn HOW TO DO IT… 1. Preheat the grill to high and start by making…

Walking into my school reunion, feeling sexier than ever, I noticed my peers desperately trying to hide their wrinkles and aging features under baggy clothes and excessive makeup. ‘God, Tristan, you haven’t changed one bit!’ my old school friends sniggered. ‘You actually look younger, you’re the real-life Benjamin Button!’ I’m a real life Benjamin Button They spent the rest of the evening asking me about my diet, exercise and skincare. As I explained my daily routine, they stared in disbelief – there is a lot to it! ‘By the time I’ve got home from work, fed the kids and put them to bed, I couldn’t even face the gym,’ one lady said. ‘The only thing I want to lift is chocolate into my mouth!’ she laughed, blushing. ‘Since hitting 40,…

With one-day old Gray wrapped in a white Babygrow, hat and cardigan, we walked out of the hospital as a now family of four. After a 15-hour labour – which needed forceps – I couldn’t wait to get 8lb 15oz, Gray home. Me and my husband, Kris, already had a daughter, Elsie, so now we had a millionaire family - the only riches we needed were two healthy children. When we got home, I tried to breastfeed Gray, but we were having complications It had been filling his lungs Back in the hospital, he kept bringing up the milk.‘He’s frothing in the mouth,’ I told the midwife, but she reassured me it was normal. But now back at home, Gray couldn’t keep anything down and I was worried that he…

● Check for for a cruelty-free logo on the brand’s website and packaging - there are several to look out for. ● Find out who owns the brand. They may claim to be cruelty-free, but they may be part of a large corporation who aren’t. You can find this out on their website. ● Vegan does not mean cruelty-free! Ingredients may have been tested on animals in the early stages of production - look for both certified stickers. ● Keep an eye out for phrases such as, “only tests on animals when required by law.” This means they test on animals. ● Crueltyfreeinternational.org, provides a full list of up-to-date cruelty-free brands.…

Sinead Hogan, 41, Cardiff Tucking into a packet of crisps, I only had five minutes before my class. As a teaching assistant for children with additional needs, I was attending a manual-handling day, where we were learning how to safely roll a pupil who was on a bed. Scoffing the lot, I wiped my hands clean, and was good to go! ‘Is everyone ready?’ the instructor asked. After a demo, we started to practice. One person would lie down on the bed, and two people would roll them over. But when it was my turn to lie down on the bed, things took an embarrassing turn. ‘Let’s have someone else over here as well,’ the instructor said. She’d drafted in an extra pair of hands because I was too big…

Sloshing a mop over the sticky floor, I grimaced as I came across yet another mound of grub across the tiles. ‘It’s hard work, this,’ a friendly voice from behind me said. Turning around, I came face-to-face with a bloke carrying a matching mop in his hand. ‘I’m Christian,’ the handsome stranger beamed. It was May 2011 and I knew a new cleaner had started at work recently at Plymouth University nightclub. This must be him. Bonding over the grimiest of tasks and the weirdest things we’d found in lost property, Christian and I clicked. I couldn’t believe that he was up for it! I definitely fancied him, even in his overalls! Five years older than me, he had more dating experience than I ever had - not difficult, since…

Thorntons sharing bags, £2, all major supermarkets. New for summer, Thornton’s latest sharing bags, are the perfect picnic treat or summer blockbuster companion. The blissfully bite sized chocolates come in three varieties including gooey caramel, crispy truffles and creamy fudge. Sekforde botanical mixers, £1.95, Waitrose. These low-calorie mixers are designed with specific sprits in mind – perfectly blending your drink of choice without compromising on the taste. The all-natural ingredients are low in sugar and have four new flavours to pick from, including prickly pear and fig and sicilian orange and rosemary. Ginsters bitesize range, £3, Morrisons. Your favourite Ginster’s snack just got better, with the launch of the new bitesize range. With three exciting flavours, including the classic sausage roll and Cornish pasty, the launch also includes a new…

Ask our doc Dr Ross Perry Medical Director at CosmedicsUK, www.cosmedics.co.ukis an expert in skin cancer. Escape the past My mum and aunt both had skin cancer in their fifties. How can I reduce my risk of getting it too? Julie, Southampton Skin cancer can be in two forms. Melanoma skin cancer, which is the more aggressive and worrisome skin cancer, and non-melanoma skin cancer. If both family members had melanoma skin cancer, then there may be a genetic risk that runs in the family and worth noting which type of skin cancer they had and if it was this one then it would be worth getting regular mole checks every year yourself. If it was the non-melanoma skin cancer, then this could be due to fair skin and over…

Studies say grapefruit can aid weight loss! udies say rapefr it an aid eight oss! REDUCING THE RISK OF CANCER With new research continuing to suggest that your diet can affect your risk of cancer, it’s clear that we should be more careful about how we fuel our bodies. According to a new study, superfood kale, can help reduce the overall risk of or from cancer due to its high content of vitamin K. And it’s not the only food thought to have a similar effect. Nuts, berries and citrus fruits are all thought to be associated with a reduced risk of developing cancer too. So make sure you stock up on these superfoods! BOOSTING ENERGY Eating fruits with a skin is said to be one way to help improve…

They were a couple that drew a great deal of attention whether they were falling in or out of love. Professional mixed martial artist (MMA) Jon Koppenhaver, aka War Machine, and porn actress Christy Mack flaunted their affections on social media and even posed naked together in the pages of a magazine. And when their relationship turned violently sour, every sordid detail was played out in court and aired to the world. Californian born Jon Koppenhaver had a troubled upbringing but found fame as a successful MMA fighter. In 2008, he legally changed his name to War Machine and alongside his fights, he had clothing deals and also appeared in 12 pornography films. In 2013, he started to date adult actress Christy Mack. Christy, born Christine Mackinday, had started off…

KISSING CULTURE • Whether on the lips, cheeks, head or hand, a kiss carries a differing social significance depending on the culture and context. • Out of 168 cultures, only 46 per cent of them kiss in the romantic sense. • The Mehinaku tribe in Brazil reportedly say that kissing is ‘gross’. • In Western cultures, kissing helps people re-establish and confirm their relationship. • In Guatemala, couples scream while kissing. The louder the scream, the stronger the love. • In Indonesia, couples caught kissing in public could face up to five years in jail! HISTORY OF KISSING Vedic texts from ancient India, which date back to the 2nd century, seem to talk about kissing, and devote an entire chapter to modes of kissing. After that, kissing became more widespread…

ABritish sanctuary is home to this massive donkey, which is set to become the biggest in the world. The enormous young animal, called Derrick, is a staggering 16.3 Hands (5ft 7ins) tall – and is still growing. Whopping Derrick is an American Mammoth Jackstock – the largest breed in the world. The current record is held by Romulus in Texas, who measures 17 Hands (5ft 8ins). Derrick is now just an inch short, but his owners say he will easily become a world record holder for biggest donkey. The donkey lives at Radcliffe Donkey Sanctuary in Lincolnshire. Sanctuary owner Tracy Garton, 52, said: ‘He was big when he was born. ‘He hasn’t finished growing yet; they stop growing when they reach seven years old. ‘So he still has a lot…

A book of verse beneath the bough, a loaf of bread, a jug of wine, and thou beside me singing in the wilderness – ah, wilderness were paradise enow! Omar Khayyam WILD HISTORY Derived from the French term, ‘pique-nique,’ the picnic has been around since the mid-1600s to describe gourmands who brought their own wine to dinner. But, venturing outside, what is now known as the traditional picnic started in the middle ages. Throughout the years, picnics have been used for many things, from a simple family gathering, to being used as part of a peaceful protest. The largest picnic ever held spanned 600 miles, crossing France from coast to coast and celebrated the millennium’s first Bastille Day in 2000. National Picnic Month, celebrates this glorious history which brings families,…

Anyone looking for a break from their illness should visit The Grove. It was the perfect retreat for both me and my wife to relax and regain some independence. I can’t wait to go back for another visit, and I hope that more people in my situation become aware of the incredible retreat that is The Grove Hotel. The award-winning Grove Hotel in Bournemouth is run by local charity Macmillan Caring Locally, and is a retreat for those with cancer, their loved ones and carers. There are electric recliner beds equipped with emergency cords, showers fitted with handrails, and full wheelchair access. There are also discreet nurses on call 24 hours a day. The Grove’s first-class restaurant also serves a range of dishes, and their highly-trained chefs can meet any…

Sharon Birt, 54, Essex Flicking through wedding catalogues, there wasn’t a single dress that I liked. This was my second marriage and although I wanted the perfect dress, I didn’t want to wear a traditional white gown. ‘I want to wear red, but I can’t find anything I like,’ I confided in a friend. ‘How about I make you a dress?’ she offered. I brushed off his concerns I loved the idea of being able to personalise my own dress so we decided that she would make me a gorgeous red and white lace dress. But when I told my fiancé, Mark, he was worried. ‘You can’t wear red and white, it’s bad luck!’ he said, concerned about my choice of colour. ‘Oh, don’t be silly,’ I replied. I wasn’t…

Wrapping my arms around my partner Paul, he kissed me passionately. With that, I was putty in his arms as he whisked me to bed. Paul, 49, and I had been dating for a few months now, and we couldn’t keep our hands off each other. Within seconds, our clothes were on the floor and we were under the sheets... ‘Oh God!’ I cried. But sadly, it wasn’t a cry of passion... ‘Stop!’ I yelled. Catching his breath, Paul looked alarmed. I gritted my teeth and pushed it back in ‘What’s wrong?’ he asked, eyes wide. ‘It’s my hip!’ I cried. Looking down between the sheets, I saw that my entire right leg and foot had rotated into a particularly unnatural position. ‘Oh, my God!’ Paul cried. ‘Are you OK?’…

Glancing across the pub, I noticed a familiar face. ‘George Low,’ I smiled, heading over. ‘Haven’t seen you in ages.’ It was 1971, George and I had been at school together. I was 16 and we’d lost touch in the year since he’d left. George, nearly 18, was two years older than me. Neither of us should’ve been in the pub, really! I’d never noticed how twinkly his eyes were but, suddenly, I couldn’t stop gazing into them. As we caught up, George confided that he wanted to join the Army and was training for it. ‘You’d look handsome in uniform,’ I said, flirting. ‘Fancy going out sometime?’ he asked me. You bet! From then on, we were inseparable. He was perfect. ‘You’re beautiful,’ he’d say. But after six months…

Honey benefits With summer on the horizon, we all want to make sure we’re feeling our best and honey could be the natural remedy we need. It’s rich in natural antioxidants and has been said to help lower blood pressure and help improve cholesterol. Want to feel the healthy benefits for yourself? Try The Groovy Food Company’s organic honey (£3.49, Ocado). A cuppa a day Desperate to get summer holiday ready? Drinking different cups of tea could be the answer! According to nutritionist, Sarah Fowler drinking tea can improve our health and even help us to lose weight. Her top cuppas include green tea, to help prevent cancer and heart disease, turmeric tea for a natural anti-inflammatory, and peppermint tea to help with digestive issues, such as indigestion and bloating.…

THE PERFECT BASE 1. YES TO GRAPEFRUIT VITAMIN C GLOW-BOOSTING UNICORN PEEL-OFF MASK Achieve effortlessly radiant skin with this glow-boosting mask. Infused with refreshing grapefruit, this nourishing mask dries down and peels off to reveal naturally smooth, hydrated and glowing skin. £4, Beauty Bay 2. SUPERDRUG VITAMIN E SPF15 MOISTURISING CREAM Protect your skin this summer with this SPF 15 moisturiser. Enriched with minerals and antioxidants to help protect your skin against UVA and UVB rays. The nourishing formula will leave your skin plump and moisturised, without the grease! £3.49, Superdrug 3. BLOSSOM MINI FACIAL SILICONE CLEANSER Remove dirt and makeup from the day with this vibrating cleanser. This two in one device will get into hard to reach areas and deeply cleanse your skin, whilst providing a gentle massage,…

Pamela Hunt, 53, Spain Panting on the treadmill, my heart was racing – and it wasn’t just from all the exercise I was doing. ‘Morning, Pamela,’ the gym’s owner Ray, 54, smiled to me. If I hadn’t already been red in the face, you’d have seen me blush as he spoke to me. Ray wasn’t a man of many words. But with his rippling muscles and dedication to exercise, he was a pretty impressive specimen… Just a shame about those tattoos, I thought, eyeing the few on his forearms and legs. I’d never been a big fan of tattoos, and Ray’s weren’t the most impressive that I’d ever seen. His inkings included a boat, a geisha and a naked woman. As the months went by, I got to know Ray…

FILM AND TV 1 Who directed the 2019 version of Disney’s Dumbo?a Steven Spielbergb Tim Burtonc Chris Buck 2 What does Ted Hastings spell wrong in Season 5 of Line of Duty?a Certainlyb Unfortunatelyc Defi nitely 3 Who is Ant and Dec’s golden buzzer act in this year’s Britain’s Got Talent?a Kojo Animb Akshat Singhc MerseyGirls 4 Who does Brie Larson play in 2019’s Captain Marvel?a Carol Danversb Supreme Intelligencec Maria Rambeau 5 How many Oscars has Meryl Streep won?a 1b 3c 4 6 In season 8 of Game of Thrones, who tells Jon Snow about his true identity? a Bran Starkb Daenarys Targaryenc Samwell Tarly SHOWBIZ 7 What did Gemma Collins and James Argent say their weight affected?a Their sex livesb Their careersc Their social lives 8 What did…