Innholdsfortegnelse for Festive Special 2016 i Chat Specials

With twinkling fairy lights and mistletoe at every turn, Christmas is a marvellous time for romance. Not that Gary and Almeda Hardwick need any excuse (p4). The couple enjoy daily nookie… despite their 54-year age gap! Sadly, the onset of Crimbo did little to soften David Douglas’ heart (p40). Just days before the festivities started, he pushed his partner, Dora, from the window of his 14th-floor flat to her death. Still, it doesn’t take much to make Tracy’s celebrations go with a bang – just a jar of Marmite! (p61). She’s so crazy about the spread, she even puts it on her turkey and roasties! Also, read about how Mr Frosty became 35-stone Jen’s inspiration to slim… after a snap showed her looking twice the snowman’s size! (p48). There are…

Every 25 December, boys and girls around the country can be found tearing sheets of wrapping paper off their gifts. Many will open up brand-new boxes of shiny Lego and spend Christmas Day making miniature models. But just imagine if you could get your hands on hundreds - even thousands - of the tiny plastic blocks? What would you build with them? Well, designer Hannah Reed, from Legoland Windsor, dedicated 50 hours to planning and creating a gigantic 25ft Christmas tree, made of a whopping 300,000 bricks. Dwarfing the theme park, it was covered in twinkly lights and topped with its very own angel. Her efforts look absolutely tree -mendous, don't you think?…

Gold Star Decoration, £1, Poundland At £1, you can’t go wrong with this glittery gold star which adds some festive sparkle to brightly-decorated trees. You can also buy it in silver if that suits your scheme better. Silver Star Tree Topper, £7.99, TK Maxx Sparkle away with this elegant star from TK Maxx. The glitzy silver really offsets white decorations and trees. It also looks great when it catches in the fairy lights! Glitter Starburst Tree Topper, £7, George Home We love the fancy beaded silver pearls on this star for an added burst of fabulousness. Gold Starburst Tree Topper £2.99, Dobbies The unusual design of this tree topper, plus the gem in the middle means it can really hold its own on a well-decked tree!…

A token gesture Making ends meet, especially at Christmas, can be tough, so kudos to one US landlord who, seeing that his tenants were struggling, left a touching note of goodwill. It read: 'I know you guys have been having trouble being between jobs and I just wanted to thank you for always being current on the rent, so my gift for you is that I'm waiving your December rent so you can give your family a good and decent Christmas this year. We'll just pick it back up in January. Merry Christmas.' What a guy! Spreading the joy At this time of year, most children are penning letters to Santa, asking for all the prezzies they’d like to find in their stockings come 25 December. But one little boy…

You know you've celebrated Christmas too much when… You're craving a salad - you never want to see a Christmas pud again! A buffet sounds like torture. Crisps and sausage rolls are your friends no more! You've shoved your festive jumper under the bed so you don't have to look at it Right now, all you want for Christmas is a nice cup of tea and a lie down The kids' selection packs are waiting in the cupboard, but you're having nothing to do with them You feel like you’re made of 50% crisps and 50% chocolate If you hear the popping of another bottle of prosecco, you might cry Can’t Stop The Feeling comes on the radio and you wish Justin would stop the feeling... You keep finding bits…

I didn’t want to believe it. What has he done to her? It was Christmas 2009, and my mum Dora Matthews needed a much-deserved treat. ‘I’m taking you on a surprise holiday,’ I told her. ‘Where?’ Mum said, her face lighting up. ‘It wouldn’t be a surprise if I told you!’ I laughed. We both loved Christmas, so I’d planned a break in Switzerland. It’d be tough to get her on the plane, as she hated heights. But she’d love Christmas in a winter wonderland. Another reason to get a away was Mum’s boyfriend. I hated him so much. Mum had been with Dad for over 20 years before she met David Douglas – a school mate. Mum and Dad had split, and then she’d started dating David Ever since,…

Meet the Expert: Dr Helen Webberley is a dedicated GP at www.oxfordonline pharmacy.co.uk O Holy Night!! Sleepless night s are all too common during December, with parties, family dos and an endless list of festive tasks to be ticked off. As w ell as feeling tired an d not getting quality sleep, if you have insomnia, you may also feel irritable, unable to concentrate, spaced out and you might find yourself making mistakes you never would ordinarily. 'The key with insomnia is to try to identify what is causing it,” says Dr Helen Webberley. “Often by identifying the triggers, you can take positive steps to address them. 'When you suffer from anxiety or stress due to problems at work or at home, this will often manifest itself when you are alone…

Aries 21 Mar - 20 April A buzzy start to the festivities takes hold from the week before Christmas. It can be more hectic than usual, but the truth is, Aries, you will thrive on every second of it. With Mercury slamming on the brakes there can also be extra work responsibilities to deal with. One friend could, though, become so much moreÉ • Call 0905 817 1760* for more. Taurus 21 Apr - 21 May A change of scene can be hugely welcome. This could be visiting relatives who live at a distance, spending Yule locally but in a different way, or going overseas. It’ll be important to factor in the potential for delays though, especially if you’re travelling. New Year’s Eve can see you enjoy someone else’s hospitality.…

It’s a rollover I got all dressed up in my best new party shoes for our work do, but I hadn't had a chance to practise wearing them at home first. I was making my way over to the buffet table when I began to wobble. I thought I was going to make it (and I almost did) but in the end, I grabbed onto a bowl of crisps for balance, and they - and I - went flying! Alex, Sheffield Snappy chat I hadn’t been at my company for long and wasn’t enjoying the job too much when the Christmas do rolled around. I didn’t want to go, but my hubby twisted my arm and told me it’d be good to make some friends. Well, after a few drinks…

Gary’s more satisfying than turkey with all the trimmings As the curtains closed around the coffin, tears spilt down my cheeks. ‘Goodbye, son,’ I whispered to my 45-year-old boy, Robert. It was June 2015. Poor Robert had died weeks earlier, following a seizure. For a mother to lose a son went against the natural order of things. A widow for three years, since my hubby Don died of diabetes, another bereavement was too much to bear. Then, glancing across the church, an entirely different emotion cut through my intense grief – I couldn’t stop looking at a young, smartly dressed man, who’d caught my eye during the service. What was I thinking?! This was my son’s cremation – and I was old enough to be the lad’s grandmother. But as…

My festive menu cost just 75p a head! Dropping the carrier bags onto the floor, I let out a sigh. This Christmas shopping lark was backbreaking work! Like most mums, I loved to be organised. But while many waited until December to tackle their gift lists, I wasted no time. As soon as the January sales hit, I was at the front of the cash register. Most people thought I was daft. Even my fiancé Sam Chamberlain, 29 - dad to my daughter Regan, 5 - couldn't get his head round it. ‘Christmas has just finished, how can you think of next year already?' he'd moan. In time, though, he'd got used to my wacky ways. You see, I absolutely love a bargain - and will go to extreme lengths…

What was once our dining room was now utter carnage A string of fairy lights in one hand, a hammer in the other, my other half was at it again. ‘What do you think?’ Carl, 45, called from half-way up a ladder. ‘Looks great,’ I beamed. Carl was like a big kid when it came to Christmas. Every year, the whole neighbourhood would come out to admire his handiwork. ‘Like Santa’s grotto,’ they’d gasp, eyeing the festive lights and snowman figurines decorating our property. Middle age had done nothing to dampen Carl’s enthusiasm for life. He was still as much fun as he’d been when we’d first met as teenagers. Four years older than me, the age gap had made a difference back then, despite me really fancying him. But…

I’d dreamed about our first Christmas as husband and wife Piling presents into the car, I prepared to head off to the hospital. It wasn’t exactly how I’d planned to spend my first Christmas as Mrs Vinter. But at one point, I’d worried we wouldn’t tie the knot at all. Looking back at the house now, the tree visible through the window, I sighed, thinking how weird it was without Stu, 43. Me and my son Euan Skinner, 17, had decorated the house, but it just hadn’t felt the same… I shuddered as I had a sudden flashback to that fateful day in June 2015, when our lives had changed in a split second. ‘Hi, babe,’ Stu had called, arriving home from his job as a fabricator welder. The weather…

Mostly As: All planned out Five-year plan? Forget that, you’re on a 20-year plan, prepared for every possible pitfall along the way. While being so organised is great, cut yourself some slack when things don’t go the way you hoped. Mostly Bs: Unfinished masterpiece Spontaneity is the name of the game with you. You don’t know where life is taking you, but you’re too busy having fun to care. Though it’s a struggle for mates to pin you down, they’re never bored when you’re around! Mostly Cs: Happy ever after You’d hate to hurt anyone and are always striving to make everyone around you happy, often at the cost of your own happiness. While your loved ones might not expect you to go off script and say, ‘No’, those who…

Someone else had to die, so Ruby could live Cradling my daughter for the first time, I was fit to burst with pride. ‘Hello, beautiful,’ I whispered to tiny Ruby. Beside me, Ruby’s dad John Callaghan, 40, wiped away a tear of joy. Although I’d had a healthy pregnancy, our girl had given us a bit of a fright when she was born in July 2015. Far from your typical crying newborn, she’d entered the world silent, her skin blue. My umbilical cord had wrapped around her throat, cutting off her airway. Thankfully, docs at Craigavon Area Hospital had acted quickly. Before long, little Ruby was safely in my arms. As I cuddled her, I couldn’t wait for her to meet her big sister, Lily-May, now 2. ‘Imagine what Christmas…

Burning issue Q I've had bouts of heartburn for years. Should I ask for tests? Sharon, 57, Didcot A Heartburn’s a common problem caused by excess acid in your stomach, which travels up the food pipe. Sometimes it’s due to a build-up of bacteria in the stomach, which can easily be tested for and treated with antibiotics. Your GP can also prescribe medication to suppress stomach acid. Family ties Q My father-in-law's got Barrett's oesophagus. I've heard it can run in families - should we keep an eye out? Lynne, 33, Aberystwyth ABarrett’s oesophagus is an area of abnormal cells in the food pipe in somebody that’s had heartburn a long time. It doesn’t cause problems in itself, but the cells have the potential to develop into cancer if left…

Brrr! Shivering, I pulled my dressing gown tighter around my huge frame. It was a bitter winter’s day. But, wiping sleep from my eyes, I trudged over to the freezer for some brekkie. Forget warming porridge, I liked to start the day with six scoops of ice-cream, dripping in chocolate syrup. For as long as I could recall, I’d struggled with my weight. Back at school, I used to dread PE, embarrassed by how quickly I’d get out of breath compared to my classmates. ‘Today, we’re going to weigh ourselves,’ my teacher said one day, when I was 13. My heart sank. I already wore specially made XXXXL school skirts. Stepping onto the scales, my eyes widened as the dial span. ‘Nineteen stone,’ my teacher blustered, embarrassed for me. Things…

Our crampy claims are always met with the same reply – ‘that’s impossible’ Snuggling down on the sofa, I decided to switch on the telly. Idly scrolling through the channels, I flicked past quiz shows and soap operas. And then… ‘We’re walking in the air,’ the familiar music rang out. The Snowman ! A festive favourite, I’d loved it ever since I was a little boy. ‘The perfect distraction,’ I thought, clutching a hot water bottle to my aching belly. Bloated and swollen, I felt plumper than a plum pudding. It may have been 25 December but, rather than goodwill and cheer, I was full of misery. I felt so rotten, I was worried I wouldn’t be able to enjoy my dinner. You see, I was suffering with terrible period…

Taking the kids to see the real Father Christmas is a bit of a dream for most families, but it’s so worth saving up for. The winter wonderland scenes, the snowball fights and sledging with new friends make for the best fun ever, but seeing your little one’s face as they meet Santa is a totally priceless moment. How to get there Canterbury Travel offers a range of Santa Holidays (www.santa-holidays.com), flying out to Luosto in Finnish Lapland with British Airways. The flight is full of kids – unsurprisingly – but the fun starts from the tinsel-clad check-in desk, with Christmas songs sung all the way on a flight which lasts around three-and-a-half hours. Where to stay? You’re based in a log cabin, of course – one that’s completely covered…

He lurched towards me, striking me in the side of the head Feeling the parcel my fella had placed in my hands, excitement bubbled. ‘No peeking,’ he chuckled, his hands covering my eyes. ‘What is it?’ I asked, giving it a squeeze. ‘Open it and find out,’ he laughed back. Tearing off the brightly coloured wrapping paper, I gasped. It was a top I’d pointed out when we were strolling around the shops a few weeks back. I didn’t think he’d have remembered. ‘Oh babe! I love it,’ I gushed, giving him a quick peck. Tony Robinson, 46, and I went way back. We’d known each other since we were teenagers. He lived on the same street as me and used to go boxing with my brother Andrew, now 47.…

What a sweet gesture If you have guests sleeping over during the holidays, put Christmas stickers on lavender bags and place under their pillows. Carol Loader, Taunton Toasty toes Hate cold shoes? Put them on a hot-water bottle and wrap a towel around them overnight - your feet will be really warm in the morning! Sean Draycott, South Ockendon Tinsel town Twist tinsel pipe cleaners into the shape of your guests' initials - keep one end long enough to fold around the back of the napkin. Sue Aldwin, Wigan A brr-illiant solution! A car boot can become a handy spillover ‘cool cabinet' for surplus fare during a cold Christmas. Carole Gasan, Stroud It’s all wrapped up... Don't throw away old comics or annuals. I've found that they make fun wrapping…

I just want my pets to have the best life possible Who has a wardrobe bursting full of designer clothes, loves dining out at the fanciest steak restaurants and is treated to regular pedicures and massages? You’d be forgiven for thinking I’m talking about a friend who’s a lady of leisure… But, no – it’s my four Maltese mutts! You might think I’m barking, but I blow around £1,000 a month on them, and estimate that, in total, I’ve spent over £50,000 on my posh pooches. And I’ve got no plans to stop either! I’ve always been a dog lover, but used to own gun dogs, like cocker spaniels, as opposed to fluffy, toy-size dogs. But after my only remaining spaniel Pepe sadly died six years ag, Iwas on the…

Ask most kids what they want for Christmas, and they’ll probably start chattering away about the latest toy or video game. Not my little lad. ‘Sprouts!’ laughed Cole, 6, when I asked him what he’d like to find under the tree. Hardly your usual stocking filler, but I wasn’t surprised. For most of us, the green veggies are the worst part of a Christmas dinner. But Cole can’t get enough. And he doesn’t just tuck into them on 25 December. I’ll serve them up four times a week, all year round. That means my boy eats around 1,000 sprouts a year. Almost two stone’s worth! Talk about getting your five a day… He first developed a taste for them when I mashed them into his food as a little ’un.…

Holly asked me not to call BA direct. It was a perk of the job Everything my so-called best pal had told me was a lie Sat on the sofa gossiping with my best friend Holly Barber, I erupted into giggles. She was telling me another funny story about a customer who missed his flight. Holly, now 27, worked on a security desk at Heathrow Airport for British Airways. We’d met a year before, back in January 2014, through a mutual friend, Sarah. After splitting with my husband, I moved to Bordon with my two children, Oliver, 11, and Leah, 6. Sarah lived two doors down. Also a single parent, we had lots in common and soon became firm friends. A beautician, I gave Sarah treatments at home. Then Sarah…

Nobody was sure why this had happened... it was like a horror film I was 11 when I was diagnosed with the chronic bowel condition Crohn’s disease. I’d been suffering from constipation, diarrhoea and horrible stomach cramps for a few months before my mum Karen took me to the doctors. After a few tests, I was told I had the illness, which is caused by inflammation in the digestive system. It was horrible to know I had a lifelong condition so young, but I had no option other than to get on with things. ‘I promise I won’t let it affect your life,’ Mum vowed. For years, my symptoms were well controlled – first by steroids and a carefully managed diet. From the age of 12, I had to go…

I longed to be at home with family, getting into the festive spirit Getting out of the shower, I quickly wrapped myself in a warm towel. As I was drying off, I felt something hard in my right breast. It was small, the size of a pea. I regularly checked my breasts, but I’d never felt this lump before. Phoning my mum, Juliet, 53, I asked her what she thought. ‘It’s probably nothing, try not to worry,’ she said. To put my mind at ease, I booked an appointment with my GP. Feeling my breasts, she found the lump. ‘It could be a cyst,’ she told me. She explained it was unlikely to be breast cancer, as I was only 25. ‘It’s more common in women over 50,’ she said.…

My fella – dressed in white robe – was down on one knee Gareth hoisted me onto the donkey’s back – just like Mary! Adjusting my blue headscarf, I cradled my 10-week-old son Sidney. ‘Holy moly, it’s almost time!’ I laughed to my fella Gareth Yardley, then 31. It was 22 December 2012, and we were perched on hay bales in a makeshift wooden hut outside the Holy Trinity Church in Hull. Three months earlier, we’d responded to Reverend Matt Woodcock’s plea for a volunteer baby Jesus in Holy Trinity’s first ever live nativity. Born on 4 October, Sidney was perfect for the star role! And, as his parents, who better to play Mary and Joseph? At 1pm, we’d taken our places, hidden behind a curtain. Meanwhile, our older boy…

I put on my glad rags, and we had a double celebration Balloons, lots of buffet food, music, presents – all the arrangements were in place! It was Friday 24 April last year – my 71st birthday! And, to celebrate, that weekend, my sons Tony, 52, Alan, 51, Brian, 46, and my daughter Sonya, 42, were throwing me a big party! With the help of my eight grandchildren, of course. And some of my mates from Chat Mag Bingo were coming, too! I’d joined the website in 2013, after treating myself to a laptop. Sonya had shown me how to use it, and had helped me sign up. And I’d taken to it instantly! It was fun and welcoming – I’d soon discovered the fabulous chat rooms, got to know…

I even piped Marmite onto my home-made choccie cake Mmmmm... turkey, roasties, carrots, stuffing and, of course, the most important ingredient of all... No Christmas dinner was complete without Marmite! Yummy. The very thought of the yeasty spread made my tummy rumble. Marmite mad, no festive feast was complete without it. Mixed with butter, it was great drizzled on roasties. Spooned into gravy, it gave it an extra oomph. And mixed with honey, a Marmite marinade made turkey taste delicious. I even piped it onto my home-made choccie cake, as part of the frosting. My hubby Rob, 47 and kids Tyson Thomas, 26, and Samuel Norman, 22, were used to my barmy addiction. But I didn’t tell the rest of the family about my secret Christmas dinner ingredient. Still, they…

COLLISION COURSE If you’ve not seen the clip of a meteor exploding over Chelyabinsk, Russia, in 2013, it’s definitely worth a gander. It looks like something straight out of a disaster movie. No wonder the poor people who witnessed the event first-hand were left more than a little shaken. The light is reported to have been brighter than the sun; then there were the huge plumes of smoke as it travelled faster than the speed of sound, and finally, the earth-shattering noise it made on impact that left over 1,000 people injured from flying debris. Turns out, the rock might have hit another asteroid, forcing it on a path towards Earth. This didn’t happen the week before, we’re talking 290 million years ago. The thought alone is enough to give…

To do… All aboard the Polar Express this Christmas at Seaton Tramway in Devon, where you can enjoy all things festive as the magical single-deck tramcar makes its way to the North Pole. Make sure you keep an eye out for Santa! Dates throughout December. Adults £19.95; children £15.95; under-threes free. For details visit www.tram.co.uk To buy… Pucker up beneath the mistletoe this Christmas with this cheeky Cocktail Kisses Fizz & Bubbles Scented Lip Balm, £3.50, www.marks andspencer.com To watch… Putting bins out isn't the most exciting task, but add a load of slippery ice and it's torture. Unless you're the one watching, and then it's just funny. Take this poor bloke captured on camera by his family: www.youtube.com/  watch?v=kAfQOzCl6ug…