Innehållsförteckning för 18-Aug-2016 från Chat

I was told that Lee might only have hours left to live As I pulled the shepherd’s pie out of the oven, I heard my partner Lee at the front door. He usually bounded in with a big smile on his face, Today, he looked like the world was about to end. ‘I’ve got this awful pain in my leg,’ he grumbled. Lee never got ill or complained about anything. So for him to admit he was in pain made me instantly worried. ‘Maybe you’ve pulled a muscle?’ I suggested. I ran him a hot bath and we took it easy for the rest of the night. But the next day, the pain was worse than ever. And when I looked at his right leg, I gasped in horror. It…

Mum was so overwhelmed – she didn't know whose baby to look at first! Icouldn’t have been happier. My sister Kelly, 24, and her fiance Simon, 26, were expecting their first baby. ‘Congratulations,’ I said, completely thrilled. My husband Gregory, 28, and I already had our littl’uns – Luke, 8, Skye, 5, and Ethan, 3. Then a week later, last July, I was in my car driving around a roundabout, when my stomach suddenly lurched. The feeling felt familiar… Back at home, I took a pregnancy test. And… ‘I’m pregnant,’ I told Gregory. He was stunned, but overjoyed. Kelly couldn’t believe it either. ‘We’ll have matching bumps,’ she laughed. Our due dates were just two weeks apart. I was delighted that we could share something so special. And our mum,…

Lidl Batts Garlic Mayonnaise, 280ml, 79p This tastes a bit like salad cream - but we really liked it! With a strong, but not overpowering garlic flavour, it's perfect for dipping your chips! Sainsbury's Taste The Difference Garlic Mayonnaise, 235ml, £1.50 With an oily, very smooth texture and a strong, garlic flavour, this is the most like homemade. Tesco Mayo With Garlic, 280ml, 89p Great flavour, lovely creamy texture, with that all-essential mayonnaise wobble, and an easy, squeezy pack to stash in the fridge for up to a month. NEW McVitie's To Go, 50p Try these new two-biscuit packs! Choose from Milk Chocolate Hobnobs, Chocolate Digestives and regular Hobnobs. Also available in a multipack (6 x 2), from £1.39.…

I tried lots of creams for my vitiligo but nothing worked My mum Susan took my hand in hers. ‘What’s this?’ she asked, pointing to a white spot on my skin. Naturally dark-skinned, the light patch was really noticeable. I was only 2, though, didn’t know what the fuss was about. But Mum was concerned and took me to see our GP. He said it was nothing to worry about. But over the years, the patch on my hand got bigger. And I began developing more light patches on my arms, legs – even my face. Mum took me to see different doctors. Then, when I was 4… ‘It’s vitiligo,’ a doctor said. It’s a long-term condition causing pale, white patches to develop on the skin. It’s due to a…

I banned bacon from the house – I didn't want to upset my babies! Ever since I’d watched the film Babe , I’d fallen in love with pigs. ‘Let’s get one!’ I begged my husband Dave, 47. He wasn’t keen at first. Then we read online about micro pigs. ‘They’re pint-sized piggies,’ I told Dave. I read they only grow to the size of a small dog. Eventually, I managed to convince Dave. Soon, we found a seller and, in 2009, we collected our pet piggy Meeka. A tiny bundle of fluff, she was adorable. Meeka loved cuddles, so I’d pop her in bed next to me at night. Much to Dave’s annoyance… ‘No pigs allowed in bed!’ he raged. ‘You’re just jealous that I’m giving her more attention than…

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She saw her daughters as a way to make money fast THE STORY Teresa Vanover, 52, didn’t have it easy. Her husband Kenneth 60, was ill with a heart condition and was forced to use an oxygen tank after he’d suffered three heart attacks. On top of that, her two daughters, then aged 15 and 13, were mentally disabled. Life was very tough for the family in Eden, North Carolina, and they struggled to get by. Teresa didn’t work and Kenneth’s medical bills were piling up, and she had to find a way to pay them. And Teresa had an expensive habit of her own – she was addicted to crack cocaine and her drug problem needed feeding. Teresa knew that she had to make money and fast. And she…

I desperately wanted to stop him, to speak out… ‘Fine, I’ll move out!’ I shrieked. It was December 2012, I was 15, and having yet another screaming row with my mum. If I’m honest, I was completely off the rails. Worried about how it was affecting my two younger sisters, Mum had given me an ultimatum. ‘Behave, or live somewhere else,’ she said. It was only a threat in the heat of the moment, but in a fit of teenage rebellion, I packed my bags. Only, I had nowhere to go. My dad Christopher had nowhere to live, either. He and Mum had always had a rocky, on-off relationship, and he’d drifted in and out of my life. It’d recently ended for good. So, Social Services put me and Dad…

Serves: 12 Prep: 15 min Cook: 40 min 300g Stork with Butter 300g caster sugar 5 eggs 300g self-raising flour 85g plain flour 150g melted white chocolate For the buttercream: 200g Stork with Butter 600g icing sugar 3tbsp seedless raspberry jam To decorate: Fresh raspberries 75g melted white chocolate 1 Preheat oven to 160C/Gas 3 and grease and baseline three sandwich tins. 2 Cream together Stork and sugar, beat in eggs, mix in flours and chocolate, then divide between tins. 3 Bake for 35-40 min or until a skewer comes out clean. Turn cakes out onto a wire rack, remove paper and leave to cool. 4 Make buttercream by beating all ingredients together, then use to sandwich sponges together. Spread a thin layer on side of cake and use remaining…

Vitamin overload My husband nags me Q about the supplements I take - can you tell him it's not possible to overdose on vitamins? Janice, 35 A Actually, it is! You risk diarrhoea with excess vitamin C, flushing with vitamin B3 and bowel damage from too much iron. Long term, overdoing vitamin B6 or selenium might cause nerve damage, and vitamin A risks skin problems. Stick to recommended doses. Ankle sprain I sprained my ankle Q weeks ago, but it's still weak and painful. My doctor didn't give me any treatment. Should I have worn a bandage? Paula, 43 AA bandage might ease pain but doesn't usually speed up recovery. It might take weeks to recover fully from a bad sprain. If your ankle keeps letting you down, you may…

His guilty expression said it all and I couldn't bear to look at him… ‘You’re going to be a dad!’ I blurted out to my boyfriend Golan, then 35, unable to contain my excitement any longer. We’d only been together a few months – as things had moved quickly between us. In 2010, I was living in Tel Aviv, Israel, and we’d met through our jobs at property agencies. Golan was handsome and had a great sense of humour. We had such a laugh, I knew he was for me. ‘I can’t wait!’ Golan said happily. But, a few months later, Golan and I started arguing. He seemed distant and lost his temper over silly little things. Still, when our daughter Ella was born in April 2011, she seemed to…

Speaking out I get cross when I see famous people on telly asking viewers to give money to a good cause. These people make loads of dosh and yet they're paid even more to do these charity adverts. Most of us are struggling to make ends meet and we don't need some overpaid celeb making us feel guilty about not donating. I give money to a number of charities - but I don't need a celebrity to tell me to do so. Sali Thomas, Denbigh Seeing double oanne Aitch’s letter about J identical outfits ( We Hear You , 23 June issue) struck a chord with me. Whenever I see someone wearing the same dress as me, I don’t get upset. I just think, there goes another lady with good…

There had been a terrible side-effect – saggy skin Growing up, I was a secret eater. Mum Julie, 55, made me healthy lunches and dinners. But I was forever sneaking sarnies into my room. By the time I reached my teens, I’d go to the shop on my way home from school and munch crisps and guzzle fizzy pop. After tea, I’d have instant noodles and more crisps. Often, I’d nip to the chippy or KFC on my school lunches, too. It was a bad habit I didn’t grow out of. Age 22, I met my partner Jonny through friends. He didn’t seem to mind my size-24 bod. The following year, I fell pregnant and we had our son Jack. Content, my weight was pushed to the back of my…

1 Saddle up This cowboy country's best seen on horseback! On a two-hour trail ride with Fort McDowell Adventures, you might spot mustangs and bald eagles. 2 Go wine-tasting Chill out over a glass or two of local vino. The owners of LDV Wine Gallery in Scottsdale grow their own grapes in the state's Chiricahua Mountains. 3 Take the train Hop aboard the Verde Canyon railroad from the old mining town of Clarkdale to Perkinsville and back to watch the scenery and spot wildlife. 4 Explore Phoenix Visit the Musical Instrument Museum to see Elvis' guitar and John Lennon's piano, and pop into the landmark Arizona Biltmore hotel. Every past American president has stayed there and it's said the tequila sunrise was invented there, so what better excuse to sample…

I realised I wasn't to blame – he was the monster Luckily, I escaped with just cuts and bruises. After, I moved in with Mum. But, within a week, I was so desperate for a hit, I jumped out of her living-room window to find Dad for some drugs. Police found me, and I was admitted to a mental-health hospital for several days. Mum was torn, but couldn’t risk having an addict in her house. So I was found a bed in a hostel, and Mum asked an old family friend to watch out for me I felt dirty, ashamed, but he’d talk to me, help me cope. And as the drugs fog lifted, I started thinking straight. Realised I wasn’t to blame – Dad was the monster. ‘What happened…

(STILL) GUILTY! The Wand brothers were denied a retrial after handwriting tests found the letters allegedly from Sharon had been written by someone in the Wand family. There was doubt over the Facebook posts, too. Sharon’s family claimed she was victimised by the Wands. ‘It doesn’t get any worse than this,’ Judge Thomas Vale told Jeremy Wand, sentencing him to three concurrent life sentences, with the possibility of parole after 35 years. By early 2015, both brothers had appealed, but the judge denied Armin’s motion to change his plea to not guilty and have a new trial, and Jeremy’s appeal was also dismissed. Sharon – who divorced Armin – has a new partner. They’re raising Sharon’s surviving child, now 5, and their new daughter. Sharon talks of nightmares in which…

Steve had given me the happiest times of my life The first time me and Steve got married, money was tight. So we just had a no-frills do down at the local. Not that it mattered. Because Steve Cottom was the love of my life. When we met in 2001, we’d both been wed before. I had three kids. Matthew, now 31, Martin, 28, and Victoria, 22. I’d only popped out for a few drinks with a friend, but I’d ended up chatting to Steve. ‘I’d really like to see you again,’ he told me. My heart did a little skip. He was special. I knew it then. Even when we got divorced seven years later, in September 2008, I was utterly heartbroken. He’d given me the happiest times of…

Scientists believe that tomatoes could boost male fertility. An American study found that the red pigment in tomatoes – lycopene – raised sperm count by up to 70 per cent. Hit or MYTH? Acne is caused by having dirty skin and poor hygiene Most of the biological reactions which trigger acne take place below the skin’s surface, so cleanliness actually has little effect. Overcleaning of the skin could in fact aggravate it further and cause breakouts. HIT MYTH Winning website One in four people in the UK will experience a mental-health problem each year. Women are more likely to suffer depression than men. Worries about things like money, jobs and benefits can make it hard to cope. For help, go to www.clinical-depression.co.uk…

He punched me in the face and flung me into the bed Come over for a drink!’ ‘ my friend insisted. It was February 2005, and I’d recently separated from my husband. Leaving my son Joseph, then 3, with my mum Stella, then 58, and dad Russell, 57, I jumped in a cab. ‘This is Lawrence,’ my friend said, pointing to her sofa. With his warm grin and muscly bod, I fancied Lawrence Feek, then 29, instantly. Friends at first, Lawrence was great with Joseph. Eight months on, getting together, he moved in with me. At first, I’d proudly showed off my burly bloke. ‘He’s a big softie,’ I told Mum. She and Dad liked him, were glad I was happy. He’d a job at the dump, but as I…

1 Heat 1tsp oil in a nonstick frying pan. Beat 4 large eggs with salt and pepper. Add to pan and cook, pushing cooked egg into centre of pan and allowing liquid egg to fill the space until all egg is set. Cook for 1 min. 2 Remove omelette from pan and roughly chop. Set aside. 3 Return pan to heat, add 1 sliced red pepper and stir-fry for 2 min. Add 4 chopped spring onions, 1 chopped and deseeded red chilli, 1 chopped clove of garlic, 2 chopped tomatoes and a 160g drained tin of sweetcorn. Stir-fry for 2 min. 4 Add 100g shredded kale, zest and juice of 1 lime and 2tbsp soy sauce, and stir-fry until kale wilts. 5 Add reserved omelette and a handful of chopped…

I never believed my disability would be an obstacle I felt as beautiful as my Disney heroine,Cinderella I’ve always loved Cinderella. Her grace, her incredibly romantic story… Most of all, her sparkly gown that floated at her feet as she danced. I’ll wear a dress like that when I get married, I promised myself. I’m sure a million girls have thought that. But a million girls weren’t born with spinal muscular atrophy. It causes muscle weakness and mobility problems. Diagnosed at 18 months, I learned to wheel myself around rather than walk. But growing up, my parents, Liz, now 45, and Davy, 47, never treated me any differently to my sisters Anna, now 23, and Beth, 22. I never believed my disability was an obstacle on the road to happiness.…

I knew it was an accident, but it was hard not to feel guilty While I peeled potatoes, my daughter Jasmine, 9, was creaming butter and sugar to make a sponge pudding. ‘Looking good!’ I told her. It was April this year and we were cooking Sunday dinner. Recently, Jasmine wanted to help me with everything, especially in the kitchen. My hubby Stephen, 47, was doing a shift as an airport worker, so we’d set the table for me and Jasmine, my daughter Katie, 5, son Christopher, 17, and his girlfriend Emma, 17. Jasmine was rubbing her back. She’d been playing earlier and hurt herself on the trampoline. ‘Would a hot-water bottle help?’ she asked. ‘I’ll do you one after dinner,’ I said. ‘We’ll snuggle on the sofa.’ I flicked…

Leo 24 July - 23 Aug When you meet up with an ex and hear how wonderful their life is, you wish you’d stayed together. But the grass always seems greener on the other side, as the old saying goes - and actually, you’re better off where you are. Call 0905 817 0694* for more Virgo 24 Aug - 23 Sep You have helpful planets each side of you for the next few weeks, which is a bit like having stabiliser wheels on your bike. It means you can’t fall over and hurt yourself - and that should give you the confidence to try something new. Call 0905 817 0695* for more Libra 24 Sep - 23 Oct How do you know you don’t like it if you’ve never tried…

The pain that had ripped through me was actually contractions! I settled my daughter Caitlynn, 3, on the sofa when a jolt of pain shot through my back. ‘Ouch!’ I cried, as another hit me like an electric shock. I’d just moved into my new second-floor flat, and had been lugging heavy boxes up stairs. I assumed I’d hurt myself. By the time I put Caitlynn to bed, the pain was unbearable. The following morning, I was struggling to walk. I phoned my mum Joan, 57. ‘My back is really playing up,’ I said. ‘Can you take Caitlynn?’ She came to collect her and that day, I shuffled around my flat, wincing in agony. So after Mum dropped off Caitlynn that evening, we curled up in bed together. That night,…