Innholdsfortegnelse for February - March 2016 i Chat Specials

With Valentine’s Day around the corner, romance is in the air, but some people have a funny idea of love… Take Denise and her hubby James (p8). After 14 years of marriage, one day he went to Asda and never came back! Meanwhile, control freak Orville’s twisted idea of romance meant beating his poor girlfriend Sharon black and blue (p48). And, instead of returning Raggy’s love, she-devil Natasha thought it was Ôfunny’ when she stabbed him in the heart (p4). There are also cash prize puzzles, tips, fab fashion, mouthwatering recipes and lots more! And don’t miss Chat Spring, on sale 3 March!…

Posh nosh Traditionally we scoff pancakes come Shrove Tuesday to fatten us up before Lent's 40-day period of abstinence. But for Manchester chef Matthew Downes, it's a whole other, and much pricier, story. He created an £800 pancake – the most expensive ever – in 2014 by layering the starch-based treat with lobster, caviar, truffles and a Dom Perignon Rosé hollandaise sauce. Fancy recreating the dish at home? All you'll need is Scottish Native Paradise Lobster, Russian Beluga caviar, Hulle Verge truffl es, Scottish mussels and langoustine prawns. Easy..! Eggs-travagant Standing around waiting for your share of the pancakes can be tedious, so why not cut out the middle man and fry up a huge one that will feed the entire family – or your whole neighbourhood – in one…

Valentine crackers! Raspberry Liqueur Gin by Raisthorpe Manor 35cl £16.45 or 70cl £24.95 Tastes great added to Champagne or sparkling white wine. Pink Rosebud Heart from bomb  cosmetics.co.uk £2.29 each This subtly rose-scented bath bomb will put you in a romantic mood. Raspberry-Infused Heart Chocolate Bar from chocon choc.co.uk  £3.99 Belgian chocolate infused with raspberry and studded with white chocolate hearts. Will You Marry Me? Confetti Bubble Balloon from bubblegum  balloons.co.uk from £30.60 Bubblegum Balloons romantic range are delivered boxed in red tissue and fully inflated. The perfect proposal.…

1 Your friend decides to give her cheating fella a fifth chance, you… a Ask why she thinks it will be different this time b Prepare to be the shoulder for her to cry on during his sixth chance c Hear about it from another friend d Tell her straight that she’s making a mistake and wasting her time 2 You order takeaway for the whole family but they forget to deliver one dish, you… a Explain to the family everyone makes errors and then call up to get them to send it on over b Call them up and say you’re sorry they’re so busy but could they re-send it c Just make do with what you’ve got – you can’t be bothered to deal…

I was still relying on a white cane Woof! Woof! I nearly jumped out of my skin. Blind since birth, dogs scared the living daylights out of me. You see, when I was five, a massive dog – the same size as me – had started sniffing around my face. Particularly as I couldn’t see what was going on, I’d been terrified. Dogs’ sudden movements really frightened me. And, because of this, having a guide dog had never been an option. But that was all about to change…. It was 2001 and I was doing my A levels at the Royal National College for the Blind in Hereford. I became friendly with a guy called Will Thoms in my year. We weren’t on the same courses, but he was part…

Get fired up How brave and adventurous do you reckon your family is? Sign up to Family Survival School at Sheringham Park in Norfolk on 19 February and put yourselves to the test! Get your Bear Grylls on lighting fires (no matches allowed), building a shelter and foraging for food. All you’ve got to worry about is not getting lost – use your compass! • £10. Visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ sheringham-park Read all about it If story time is a big deal in your house, you’ll love the Imagine Children’s Festival on London’s South Bank. The event (10-21 February) is run by kids, for kids, and is celebrating what would have been Roald Dahl’s 100th birthday! Find out all about the madcap Matilda writer, plus, meet authors, watch shows and get crafty!…

Sugar free Q My 13-year-old daughter's stopped eating all ‘junk food' and sugar, because she's read about it being unhealthy. She's so distant and anxious - I'm worried. Tanya, Gwynedd A This could be perfectly normal behaviour. We’re seeing a rise in the number of conversations advising people to avoid sugar, which can be confusing. What’s important is to have a varied, balanced diet. However, if you’re concerned she’s developing an eating disorder, some signs to look out for are: distorted perception of body shape or weight, mood swings, secrecy, low self-esteem and obsessive behaviour attached to eating. It might feel daunting, but speaking to your daughter is essential. Choose a time and place where you both feel safe and won’t be disturbed. If you’re worried, please speak to your…

When he was drunk, he had a temper I was divorced, a single mum of three children, with a string of unsuccessful relationships behind me. I decided to try something new – so in May 2013, I joined a telephone dating agency. After chatting to a few men on the phone, things didn’t look that promising. They were either too young, too old or I couldn’t feel any spark between us... Then I spoke to Orville Darren Lee, 40. I felt like I could really open up to him. He told me that he lived in Birmingham and we had dogs in common. We understood each other and he was a great listener. We chatted for hours. ‘It really feels like I’ve known you all my life,’ I told him.…

He even had sex with his corpse bride He was 54, a radiologist from Dresden, Germany. She was 22, from Cuba and had trained as a dancer and singer. Different people from different walks of life. But when Dr Carl Tanzler met the dazzlingly beautiful Maria Elena Milagro de Hoyas (known as Elena), he believed that they were meant to be... See, Tanzler had been waiting a lifetime to meet this woman. As a child, he claimed he’d been visited by the spirit of his dead ancestor one night. That person was Countess Anna Constantia von Cosel. A hundred years before, she’d been the mistress of the King of Poland. When the king had tired of her, he’d exiled her from the royal court and Anna had spent the rest…

OK, I know the Caribbean may have palm trees and bright blue skies, but what’s the point if you can’t get a delicious cream tea?! As far as I’m concerned, there’s no better place to holiday than Cornwall or Devon. So, even though we’re still in the throes of winter, my partner and I decided we’d head for a short break to south Devon and embrace the best of the British countryside! Stay where? When we were looking to book accommodation, there was one place that really stood out, The Ilsington hotel, which sits in Dartmoor. It manages to combine great facilities with an affordable price and so we jumped at the chance to book. The pictures on the hotel’s website give you a good idea of what to expect,…

Aries 21 Mar - 20 April Your life role and ambitions are going to be strongly to the fore this month. With your ruler Mars engaging with the planet of growth, you can make confident moves. Money and personal interests don't mix well, so it may be best to keep them apart. The second half of the month gives you an opportunity to engage closely with the people who count, but quality is more important than quantity. • Call 09058 171760 for your year ahead forecast. Taurus 21 April - 21 May Your ruler Venus is clashing in the first 10 days of this month with Uranus, the planet of the unexpected. You may find that some home truths are exchanged between you and someone you're closely involved with. The…

I hated seeing him treated so cruelly Looking at the dark bruise on my big brother’s face, anger stirred inside me. ‘You have to leave her,’ I told Robert, or Raggy, as I called him. ‘She’s going to be the death of you!’ But he shook his head, turning away from me. ‘I love her,’ he said. ‘Natasha doesn’t mean it – she just changes when she drinks.’ How could someone do this to Raggy? I thought. I hated seeing him being treated so cruelly. He’d earned his nickname when we were kids, thanks to his baggy hand-me-down clothes. The name stuck, and he was ‘Raggy’ to everyone on the estate where he lived with our mum. He’d been dating Natasha Elderfield, 41, on and off for almost two years,…

Now his beard reaches his belly button Beards are like Marmite. You either love 'em or you hate 'em. Personally, I prefer my man Michael, 29, clean shaven. But I don't mind a bit of stubble. That's what he had for the first four years of our relationship. But midway through 2010, he had some news. ‘I've had a bet with my mates who can grow the longest beard,' he said. I didn't think he'd stick at it - I was wrong! He kept growing his face fuzz, even when his friends gave up. ‘Maybe it's time to get rid of it?' I said after eight months, when it was just a few inches long. But Michael wasn't having any of it, and I got bored of asking. At first,…

We were a close-knit family Jess was a boisterous, loving girl. But she’d had a pretty tough start… Growing up, she barely slept at night and struggled with concentration. My husband Cyril, now 67, and I were back and forth to the doctor’s with her. And Jess’ mum – our daughter Sharon – found it difficult to cope. So, in 2002, Jess, then 9, and her sister Chloe, 2, came to live with us. We loved having them and they saw their mum regularly. Finally, in 2003, Jess was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and mild autism. The medication that doctors prescribed really helped. Soon, Jess became a typical teenager – squabbling with Chloe, permanently attached to her phone, listening to music. We wouldn’t have changed her for the…

As they got older, they got wilder It was like a scene from Coronation Street! As I lifted my pint to take another gulp, a voice purred in ear ‘Not so fast duck.’ I swung round on my bar stool to see a busty brunette lady with big blue eyes staring back at me. Without another word, she gulped down the rest of her own pint and slammed her glass down on the counter. ‘Nice to meet you. I’m Christine,’ she twinkled, sitting down next to me. A few rounds later, we were chatting away, bouncing off each other – and arranging to go on a date! Soon we were a couple. But I knew early on that this girl Christine was The One. We met in 1968 and married…

He can’t have been older than 15 – a child I breathed deeply, filling my lungs with fresh, country air. ‘Bliss,’ I sighed to myself happily. For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved the outdoors. My life as an associate producer for a film company was busy, to say the least. My mind was forever whirring away, always focused on the next task in hand. So, whenever I found myself with a bit of free time, I was always quick to reach for my hiking boots. There was just something soothing about taking a long, solitary stroll. But that was before…. These days, I’m a lot more wary about hiking on my own. You see, back in April 2008, I’d been in Belfast for an important conference. I…

He asked a stranger to take our photo… I’ve always loved a bit of romance. A wedding planner until 2003, a cheeky chappy called Lee would print my leaflets and cards. ‘When are you going to book our wedding,’ he’d say, laughing. We always enjoyed a bit of flirty banter. Then I stopped wedding planning and started working for a travel agent. But one day in 2004, I was typing away at work, when in walked Lee Esslemont! He was going on holiday with his mates. ‘What a strange coincidence!’ I remarked. We started chatting and he was such a nice chap. Romantic, too… Lee started sending sweet treats to my office in Corby. Once I got 100 lollipops in the post! Totally won over, in 2005 we started dating.…

It wasn’t about my ex-wife any more It’s funny what can spur you on to get creative! In July 2009, after 12 years, my wife had a bombshell to drop. Our marriage was over… She cleared out all of her belongings, and we agreed on joint custody of our two kids, then 9 and 7. I’ll admit, it stung. And when I headed to the bedroom, I couldn’t help but notice she’d left one significant item in the cupboard… It was her wedding dress. ‘Aren’t you taking it?’ I asked. She shook her head. ‘What am I going to do with it?’ I asked. ‘Do whatever the f*** you want,’ she replied. With that, she was gone. And I was utterly crushed. I slumped on the bed, baffled as to…

‘His heart is skipping beats,’ a doctor said My hubby’s brother introduced us, knowing we’d be the perfect match. An office assistant, I worked with Paul, who was determined I should meet his bro Allan, 38, pairing us up on a night out in town. That was in March 1999 and we didn’t look back – tying the knot with a church wedding in 2003, in York, where we lived. And we were both keen to have kids. But in July 2005 I had a miscarriage at four months, and was advised by doctors to wait for six months before trying again. I was over the moon when I found out I was pregnant with Cameron, now 9. My pregnancy went well. And, at around midnight on 18 November 2006,…

To bullies, it was a red rag to a bull Trudging up the all-too-familiar path, my stomach knotted tighter with every step. Everything in me was willing me not to go. School days were meant to be the best days of your life. Yet here I was, having to force myself not to turn around and run home. And it was all because of the way I looked. You see, covering the left-hand side of my face was a birthmark that made me a target for cruel taunts. To bullies, my purple blemish was a red rag to a bull. The stares, the sneers – they were never ending. ‘Why won’t they leave me alone,’ I’d weep to my mum. ‘Just try and ignore them, love,’ she soothed. When I…

Before Elena's body was buried for once and for all, it was displayed at a local undertaker's. It was estimated that 6,500 people came to see it. One little boy who saw the body later said: ‘I've never been able to forget that sight. It didn't even look like a human any more. So much reconstruction and decay… Her face was an odd whitish colour that looked more like a wax dummy than a woman's face and she had horrible, black, staring, glassy eyes. I still dream about it.'.…

If you love all things miniature then Bekonscot Model Village in Buckinghamshire will be right up your street. And, what’s more, all their profits go to charity! Re-opening for the 2016 season on 13 February, it’s the world’s oldest model village and has stunning miniature gardens to admire. If the kids have you all tired out, just sit yourselves on the working railway and let the train do the moving for you. • Visit www.bekonscot.co.uk…

To do... Pancake Day is on Tuesday, 9 February, and there are going to be plenty of pancake races to get involved with, but the best known is in Olney, Buckinghamshire. • For more info, visit olneypancakerace.org - ready, steady, run! To buy... The days of the ghetto blaster might be long gone, but you can still enjoy music on the go with this little pink number. • Alba Bluetooth Speaker, £9.99, www.argos.co.uk To watch... Sometimes all you need to cheer yourself up is a clip of a cute animal, but why stop at one when you can watch a whole compilation? • www.youtube.com/ watch?v=hhoQq N9oUpos…

James was the man of my dreams Sitting down at the dining table, my best friend put the kettle on. Only, as Ann* filled me in the on the latest gossip, I couldn’t help being distracted. Her 17-year-old son, James, was outside riding his bike. Suddenly though, he’d stopped and stared at me through the window. ‘Is he alright?’ I asked Ann. ‘He’s fine,’ she smiled. ‘Truth be told, I think he’s got a bit of a crush on you.’ As a happily single, 31-year-old mum-of-two, I couldn’t help being flattered. But I wasn’t looking for romance, and certainly not with someone young enough to be my son! A month later, I moved into a new house with my kids Robert, 9, and John, 4. ‘Now all I need is…

What a gem By asking friends and family to donate jewellery and pinning them on silk roses, I created this vintage-style bouquet for my wedding. Donna Peachey, South Cornelly Happy returns Get creative and make a birthday present by filling a pot with Lotto tickets, gift cards, cash and sweets. Friends and family will love it! W Marsden, Huddersfield How potty! Why not cover the soil in your plant pots with pine cones - they stop weeds and cover up the plain dirt! Andrea Illingworth, Runcorn A smart choice Make tiny slits in your cloth napkins so they can be buttoned onto shirts. B O’Keeffe, Walsall Water colours Save the tops of laundry detergent bottles - they're the perfect size to use as paint pots. Colin O’Shea, Birmingham Can you…

I held her hand every step of the way Out on a Friday night with pals, I felt a tap on my shoulder. ‘I recognise you,’ the pretty brunette smiled. ‘Ricky, right?’ I recognised her, too. Emma Sharlott. We’d been friends at secondary school before losing touch. That night we chatted loads, reminiscing about the old days. But it wasn’t until three years later, in 2009, that I plucked up the courage to message her on Facebook and ask her out. At The Olton Tavern, drinks and chat flowed all night. Straight away, I knew I’d met my soulmate in Emma. ‘Can I see you again?’ I asked, after walking Emma home and kissing her on her doorstep. ‘Yes,’ she smiled, eyes sparkling. Things moved quickly after that… A few…

Meet the Expert… Moneli Golara is a consultant gynaecologist at Spire Bushey Hospital. For information, visit www.moneligolara.co.uk Genital warts As the name suggests, these are warts in the genital area, caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV). Not everybody with the virus gets visible symptoms, though. Treatments (including creams and lotions) can help and condoms help prevent the virus spreading. There’s also a HPV vaccine programme – now offered in schools to girls aged 12-13 – which protects against some strains. It’s a particular concern because, as Golara notes: ‘It is one of the STIs that can have really serious consequences, as the human papilloma virus that causes genital warts also causes cancer of the cervix’. Gonorrhoea Although not as common as it has been, cases of gonorrhoea…

I was scared that Matt would leave me Snip, snip! Altering garments as a pattern cutter for top British designer Paul Smith was very demanding. And during London Fashion Week my job was extra hectic… But extra exciting, too. It was September 2013 and, working 16-hour shifts, I was exhausted. Still, wouldn’t anyone be? After the fashion show, though, I noticed a numbness and tingling sensation in my hands and torso. Two weeks later, I even had to leave work, because my hands were in so much pain when I typed or held the computer mouse. And I was shattered, despite getting loads of sleep. I was living with my fiancé Matt Acton, 28, at my parents’ house. Then, two days after leaving work in pain, I woke at 2am…

The two-night Relax and Recharge package costs just £285 per person, based on two sharing a twin or double superior room, and comprises half-board accommodation, use of robes, towels and slippers, a bottle of Prosecco on arrival, a two-course lunch on the spa day, plus a choice of back, neck, shoulder or Indian head massage. The hotel also offers a number of spa day packages including the ‘Sunday Spa' package for £41.50 per person, which comprises the use of all facilities within the spa between 9am and 1.30pm on Sundays only, a complimentary robe, towel and slippers and a three-course traditional Sunday Lunch, served in the hotel's restaurant. For more information, visit www . ilsington.co.uk  or call (01364) 661452.…