Innholdsfortegnelse for April 2018 i Chat Specials

One good turn deserves another and that’s exactly what happened when Polly was terrorised while she heading to work. (pg18) A Good Samaritan stepped in – but soon they were the ones needing help and Polly didn’t hesitate. Sadie (pg34) was just as defiant when her daughter Kaci-Rose was born. Doctors said her baby had a one percent chance of survival but there was no way Sadie was giving up – and neither was Kaci-Rose. Birth is just the beginning and that couldn’t be truer for Alison (pg38). The day she was born, her future husband was just a few feet away! They were literally destined to be together. Fate also played a hand with twin sisters (pg44) when they both found out they were pregnant at the same time.…

I fled the doctors in hysterics Heading into the girls changing rooms, my heart sank. I hated it so much. I was 14, growing up in Greece, and every girl around me had started to sprout breasts and wispy patches of armpit hair. ‘Joanna!’ One girl screeched at me. ‘Do you have a tampon?’ I could feel my face redden as the girls around me laughed. There was no sign of my period starting and my mum, Lillian, 37, was already worried. I hoped she was being over protective, as I was an only child. A scan revealed I had a small uterus but doctors said it was because of my slight frame. At 17, I was referred to a hospital in Athens for more tests. I found the…

Nearly a third of Brits will attend at least four weddings this year, spending an average of £1,728 – that’s more than the average bride spends on her dress. If you’ve been invited to a wedding this year, follow these tips from American Express to save you from breaking the bank: Stay over If you need to book a hotel to attend a wedding, check with the bride and groom to see if they’ve negotiated discount rates at nearby hotels. Split the gift Consider splitting the price of a gift with a fellow guest – you can still get something memorable and impressive without breaking the bank. Gift your services Instead of buying a gift, offer your services to them. Offer to make their wedding cake, or if you have…

I was taking a chance on love After putting my kids to bed, I tiptoed downstairs and flRSSHG RQ WKH VRID. ‘Peace and quiet at last,’ I VLJKHG WR PyVHOI, VWUHWFKLQJ RXW. A single mum to four kids, it was Py RQOy ELW RI ‘PH’ WLPH. BXW I KDG WR DGPLW, I ZDV ORQHOy. I’d been on my own IRU D ZKLOH DIWHU Py 13-yHDU UHODWLRQVKLS FDPH WR DQ HQG. I WKRXJKW LW ZDV WLPH I JRW EDFN RXW WKHUH, so I signed up to a GDWLQJ DSS. I received a message from a PDQ FDOOHG SLPED KXXyD. SFUROOLQJ WKURXJK KLV SURfiOH, KH ZDV IXQQy, FKHHNy DQG KDQGVRPH –MXVW Py WySH. My KHDUW flXWWHUHG. I wrote back, and before I could put my mobile down, it pinged ZLWK KLV UHSOy.…

Staring down at the two blue OLQHV – I ZDV fiQDOOy JRLQJ WR be a mum! My SDUWQHU, MDUF, 27, DQG I KDG EHHQ WUyLQJ IRU D IHZ PRQWKV, DIWHU I’G PLVFDUULHG D IHZ PRQWKV EHIRUH. TKLV WLPH, WKLQJV ORRNHG PRUH SRVLWLYH. TKDQNIXOOy, DW Py PLGZLIH DSSRLQWPHQWV, LW ORRNHG DV LI DOO ZDV JRLQJ ZHOO, DQG I HxFLWHGOy WROG Py IULHQGV DQG IDPLOy. AQG, DW Py 20-ZHHN VFDQ, ZH IRXQG RXW ZH ZHUH KDYLQJ D OLWWOH JLUO. TKUHH ZHHNV ODWHU, I ZHQW WR Py MRE DV D FRRN LQ D FDUH KRPH. IW ZDV MXVW OLNH DQy RWKHU UHJXODU GDy. BXW, KHDGLQJ WR WKH ORR, I QRWLFHG D EORRGy GLVFKDUJH. SKDNLQJ, I WRRN Py ERVV DVLGH DQG WROG KHU ZKDW I’G IRXQG. ‘I’OO FDOO yRX DQ DPEXODQFH,’ VKH VDLG, KHDULQJ…

My husband’s battle was a stark wake up call Posing happily in a slinky blue polka dot bikini, I ORRN FRQfiGHQW. Smiling, I admire the recent photo of myself, and realise that this was one of the SURXGHVW PRPHQWV RI Py OLIH. AW DJH 50, WKLV ZDV WKH fiUVW time I’d ever worn a bikini! Before that, I had spent GHFDGHV FRYHULQJ XS. Even as a teenager, I was always WKH FKXEEy RQH DW VFKRRO. And, by the time I was 16, I ZDV D VLzH 14. OQ WKH RXWVLGH, I ZDV D FRQfiGHQW and bubbly girl, but on the inside, I ZDV GHVSHUDWHOy LQVHFXUH. Looking back, I know that I wasn’t massive, and when I started dating Bruce, who I’d met at sixth form, he didn’t PLQG Py FXUYHV.…

Katharine Hill, the UK Director of the national charity Care For The Family ( www.careforthefamily.org.uk ) answers your questions Wedding woes Q I’m getting married at the end of this year and I’m dreading it. My parents are divorced and really can’t stand each other and a family row a few years back means half of them don’t speak to each other. How can I enjoy my day if I know they’re all bickering? Maybe we should elope. Tara, Brighton A As well as being a joyous event, weddings can be stressful, particularly when feuding families are involved. Sit down with them before the wedding and raise your concerns. Ask them to suggest how you can make the day easier for them – for example, where they would…

Doctors had few options One day in 2007, I went to my GP for a routine check-up. ‘Your blood pressure is very high,’ he said, concerned. ‘We’ll do a blood test.’ A few weeks later, I saw a consultant and was stunned. ‘You’ve got higher than normal levels of paraprotein in your blood,’ he explained. ‘It means you have monoclonal gammopathy of XQGHfiQHG VLJQLfiFDQFH. TKHUH’V a chance it could turn into cancer.’ And sadly, after a year, I did develop multiple myeloma – a rare type of cancer DffHFWLQJ EORRG FHOOV LQ WKH ERQH marrow. I ZDV RffHUHG RQ FKHPRWKHUDSy, but I opted out and began alternative therapies until two of my vertebrae had collapsed. ‘Bone pain and fractures are symptoms of myeloma,’ the doctor said. ‘You’ll need an operation.’…

Rest in peace We recently had to say a sad goodbye to our dog Jamie. After 15 years of fun, our boy became quite ill and it was best to let him rest in peace. We will miss you. Angie, Doncaster Welcome addition My puppy Huxley is a new addition to the family, and we are already so in love with him. Here’s to many years of puppy bliss! Chelsea, Derbyshire Deep thinker My cat Dora having a little think while looking out the window on a rainy day. Hattie, Sussex Forever young It doesn’t matter how old my dog Billy gets, he will always be a puppy in my eyes! Lindsay, Wirral THAT’S SO BRITISH BEING DEVASTATED WHEN HALF OF YOUR BISCUIT FALLS INTO YOUR TEA. INSISTING ON HAVING…

When I saw it I burst into tears Flicking through the brochure of wedding venues, I smiled DW Py fiDQFé AQGy, 55. ‘I can’t wait to marry you,’ I WROG KLP. Except I had waited… It’d been 22 years since he’d proposed! Life had always got in WKH ZDy RI D ZHGGLQJ. Now, with our kids DDQLHOOH, 28, DQG AOHx, 21, grown up, we were fiQDOOy SXWWLQJ RXU EXVy OLYHV RQ KROG WR WLH WKH NQRW. When it came to choosing the church, we both knew exactly what ZH ZDQWHG. TKH 800-yHDU-ROG AOO SDLQWV Church in Banstead was SLFWXUH-SHUIHFW. It had a huge, green area where we could have photos, a beautiful VWHHSOH DQG FORFN. ‘IW’V WKH RQH,’ I VDLG WR AQGy. We put our names down with the vicar…

He was drinking and always out Sitting on the sofa, my husband Steven and I were lost for words. ‘She’s beautiful,’ I said. ‘Perfect,’ Steven replied. I’d just given birth to our daughter, Isla, and we were both completely besotted. Her arrival had transformed me. TR VDy WKDW I KDG D GLffiFXOW VWDUW LQ life would be an understatement. When I was 12, I was sexually abused after my drink was spiked. The attack was caught on video and passed around my village. From then on, I spiralled out of control. I took an overdose of painkillers and ended up in hospital. Afterwards, my mum wouldn’t let me back into the house, so my school arranged for social services to step in. I was placed with a foster carer. Through…

My belly was swollen and rock hard LLWWOH EOXH RXWfiWV, MRVHV EDVNHW, SUDP... TKH QXUVHUy ZDV fiW WR EXUVW ZLWK HYHUyWKLQJ ZH KDG! ‘EYHUyRQH’V VR JHQHURXV,’ I EHDPHG HxFLWHGOy. IW ZDV JDQXDUy 2015 DQG Py SDUWQHU JRQDWKDQ BOHQNLQVRS, 31, DQG I ZHUH HxSHFWLQJ D OLWWOH ERy. WH’G QDPHG KLP SHE. IW’G EHHQ D VXUSULVH. I KDG WZR NLGV, SDGLH, 12, DQG KRUL, QLQH, IURP D SUHYLRXV UHODWLRQVKLS DQG ZH’G QRW HYHQ EHHQ WUyLQJ. BXW ZH FRXOGQ’W ZDLW! OQOy, RQH GDy DW 29 ZHHNV SUHJQDQW, I ZDV RXW ZLWK Py PDWH RHDJDQ, 25, ZKHQ I VWDUWHG JHWWLQJ SDLQV LQ Py VWRPDFK. ‘I’P WDNLQJ yRX WR WKH KRVSLWDO,’ VKH VDLG. AW WKH UQLYHUVLWy HRVSLWDO RI NRUWK THHV, I WKRXJKW I’G EH VHQW RQ Py ZDy, EXW I ZDV UDFHG WR WKH GHOLYHUy…

My bouquet cost a fiver When we got engaged, money was tight, so we had no choice but to have a wedding on a budget. For us, the wedding was more about coming together as a couple than it was about having a huge celebration. WH KDG WR EH TXLWH VHOfiVK and consider what type of day would make us happy, rather than worrying about trying to impress everybody. We needed the essentials – WKH UHJLVWUy RffiFH IHH, WKH dress, the venue, and the food. Everything else we could do on a shoestring. I loved Monsoon at the time, and found they had a wedding range from just £100 – that’s how much my dress cost. My fiDQFé KLUHG D VXLW DQG wore shoes he already owned – as did…

Pet Towel Holder, £2, Tiger Stores This is sure to raise a smile every time the dishes need to be dried, which is a first! Designed to fit in the kitchen or the bathroom, this towel holder is sure to get a reaction whenever you put your towel in its rightful place. Cat Teapot and Mug, £15, Debenhams Whether you’re a crazy cat lady who loves throwing a party, or just enjoy a refreshing cuppa in the afternoons, you can add some feline class to any tea time. Purr-fect for tea parties! Test Your Pet’s IQ Book, £7.95, House of Bath Ever marvelled at how intelligent your dog or cat appears to be? Full of fun quizzes designed to measure your pet’s communication skills, social behaviour, motor skills and memory,…

Q Our daughter recently did a sealife-themed project at school and has been obsessed with sharks ever since! Where can we take her to see some? Jess, Runcorn A Blue Planet Aquarium is an absolute must-visit! Home to one of Europe’s largest collection of sharks, she’ll be able to spot sand sharks, tiger sharks, lemon sharks, zebra sharks nurse sharks, black tips and white tips all in one place! Take a walk through the underwater tunnel to see them swimming overhead, and see if she can identify which is which. The aquarium also has a junior shark diving experience, where they can pop on some scuba gear and have an exciting up-close encounter – enjoy! Q We made the trip to Thomas Land at Drayton Manor last summer, and ever…

Coming home from his evening run last May, my husband Roger, 38, was KXffiQJ DQG SXffiQJ, DQG ORRNHG VR SDOH. ‘AUH yRX OK?’ I DVNHG. But before he could answer, he was running to the bathroom, clutching his tummy LQ SDLQ. Coming out a few minutes later, with sweat on his forehead, he HxSODLQHG KH’G EDUHOy EHHQ DEOH WR KROG KLV ERZHOV ZKLOH RQ KLV UXQ. Embarrassed, he didn’t want to WDON DERXW LW, VR I GLGQ’W SXVK KLP. But over the next few weeks, RRJHU EHFDPH VR WLUHG. He struggled to go to work, DQG WR KHOS ORRN DIWHU RXU NLGV, Keeley, 17, Cameron, 14, Kai, 13, DQG RyOHH, HLJKW. IW JRW WR WKH SRLQW ZKHUH KH KDG WR go to the toilet before we went out anywhere, and…

UPSIDE DOWN PINEAPPLE CAKE SERVES 8 YOU’LL NEED For the base 1 fresh pineapple, peeled and sliced 3 pieces stem ginger 8 glacé cherries 1 tbsp golden syrup For the cake mix 350g self-raising flour 6 free-range eggs 350g margarine 350g caster sugar 1/2 tsp baking powder 1 tbsp of milk Few drops of vanilla essence Zest of a lemon Icing sugar to dust HOW TO DO IT… 1. Grease and line a seven-inch cake tin. Arrange the pineapple around edge and base, and fill the centres with a glacé cherry. 2 . Slice the ginger stem and arrange around the outside of the tin. Drizzle over the golden syrup. 3 . In a food processor, combine the sugar and margarine, and gradually add the eggs. Add a few drops…

Ask our doc NHS Standards and Services Pharmacist at Well Pharmacy ( www.well.co.uk ), Jane Devenish, answers your questions. Reluctant for help Q My husband struggles to keep an erection and won’t see his GP. Clare, Basingstoke A It’s important that your husband sees someone. Erectile problems can be a warning sign for other conditions. From April this year, sildenafi l (sold as the name Viagra among others), will be available from your local Well pharmacy without a prescription. It is effective in 75% of cases. No sweat Q I dread the warmer weather because I sweat so much. It makes my life a misery to. What can I do about it? Jessica, Cornwall A Hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) is common. Our pharmacy teams can help you find a…

Claire Barnes, nutritional therapist from Bio-Kult (www.bio-kult.com), is on hand to outline dietary plans for the five different gut types. CANDIDA GUT What it means: Candida is a type of yeast in the upper intestine. At a normal level, it contributes to healthy gut functioning. However, due to unhealthy diets, candida can grow and multiply, causing rapid weight gain and loose stools. The solution: ‘Warming the gut is therapeutic, so consume more stews and soups,’ says Claire. ‘Add in spices like turmeric, ginger and cayenne pepper to help digestion.’ Adding garlic and grapefruit to your diet also restricts the growth of candida. ‘Swap coffee for herbal teas, such as green tea with added ginger or lemon,’ Claire suggests. IMMUNE GUT What it means: This type of gut causes food intolerances…

Every year, we travel to Devon for a two-week holiday, staying in a lovely chalet right by the beach – it’s become a bit of a tradition. My husband Nick, 61, and my son Charlie, 16, love it, too. We usually spend our time chilling out, doing a bit of shopping, playing on the beach. Last July, we began the four-hour journey from our home, for the well-earned rest. I’m a delivery driver and work long hours, and Charlie had been studying for GCSEs. After sorting out the chalet once we’d got there, both Charlie and Nick couldn’t wait to get down to the beach. ‘I’ll stay here for now,’ I said. They ran to the beach, just metres away with a football and towels under their arms. I logged…

She had a taste for blood Smirking on the armchair, Joanna Dennehy sticks her tongue out for the camera. The mum of two has a SDLU RI KDQGFXffV KDQJLQJ IURP her waist and a large serrated knife in her hand. Joanna, 31, looks relaxed as she poses, but it’s a snapshot of a murderer on the run. Three men lay dead in a ditch and two more victims would be attacked in the coming days. Joanna Dennehy was securing her place as one of Britain’s most evil killers. As a child, Joanna grew up in a happy home. She was sporty and did well at school, but as a teenager, VKH ZHQW Rff WKH UDLOV. After running away from home, Joanna went from an angelic school girl to a woman…

That’s awesome! WHAT AN AWFUL START! English is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, and with the British Council estimating that 2 billion people will be speaking it by 2020, that certainly looks set to continue. Originating from Old English, the language we speak today was officially formed in the 5th Century – but of course, a lot has changed since then. The word ‘awful’, for example, used to mean ‘inspiring wonder’, a short version of ‘full of awe.’ The word ‘nice’ used to mean ‘silly’, and back then, there was no punctuation! How many?! TOTALLY CRAY On average, a new word is added to the dictionary every two hours. Each month, Oxford Dictionaries collects examples of around 150 million words in use from sources around…

Whenever my son Robert, 52, came to visit me, he’d complain about how warm my house was. ‘It’s like a furnace in here,’ he’d say. Lately, he’d been into horticulture… ‘I’m trying to grow a pineapple,’ he said one day. ‘But nowhere is hot enough to do it.’ Then he had an idea… ‘Maybe I could bring it round to yours?’ he grinned. ‘It’s so hot in here, there’s a good chance it will grow!’ I’ll admit that it was a bit toasty in my house, even in the summer. My late husband, Derek, would always grumble if the heating was turned up. But since he passed away, I was forking out £75 a month on heating. But surely it wasn’t hot enough in here to turn my cottage into…

Things you should never travel without While sunscreen and a bikini are a given when it comes to packing for a holiday, there are other must-haves that are often overlooked, but just as invaluable. Luggage accessories Popping a padlock and a tag onto your case will ensure your belongings are safe. Attach a colourful strap or stickers to it as well to make finding your bag on the carousel easier. A good book Delve into a paperback poolside without worrying about splash damage. Leave it on your chair as you hit the water without worrying about it being stolen. Would you be so relaxed with an iPad? Plug adapters These can be bought abroad, but are usually more expensive – and more stressful. Save money by picking one up from…

Mostly A: Romantic comedy You’re always up for a laugh. You’re very sociable, but your openness can sometimes lead you to trouble – not that you can’t usually charm your way out of it! But you’re a true romantic at heart, and you genuinely believe in happy endings. Mostly B: Action/Adventure You love things that get your blood pumping. Once you decide to achieve something, nothing gets in your way. You’re determined, but sometimes you can lose sight of the finer things in life, meaning you sometimes miss out on the fun. Mostly C: Fantasy You’re super creative and imaginative, and you love nothing better than pushing the boundaries when it comes to what people expect of you. You love being different. You’re open-minded, but you usually have your head…

The midwife said the woman looked like me Lifting the spoon to my mouth, I suddenly felt queasy. I usually loved eating cereal with my two girls, Bonnie, four, and Pearl, two, but now my stomach was turning at the smell of milk. And I had my suspicions why... ‘I think I might be pregnant,’ I said to my husband Sam. Nipping to the local shop, I returned with a home test and went straight to the loo. ‘It’s positive!’ I cried, emerging from the bathroom. Sam grinned and threw his arms around me. We worked out I was probably DURXQG fiYH RU VLx ZHHNV JRQH, VR ZH decided to keep it a secret for now. A few days later, I met up with my identical twin Louise and her…

Sleep like a baby The main concern on any new parent’s mind is sleep. But thanks to Love Boo’s all-natural Sleep and Snuggle Spray (£12.99, loveboo.com), parents can use this spritz to send their little one into a peaceful slumber. It can be sprayed in baby’s room or even directly on their pillow. Ensuring your baby a sound nights sleep. Refresh your kitchen cupboards Give your meals a healthy refresh. Nutritionist and fitness instructor Cassandra Barns says: • Throw out vegetable oils. These oils are actually worse for your health than animal fats. Opt for butter or ghee instead. • Replace tuna with mackerel. It contains far more omega-3 fatty acids, which are great for the brain, heart and joints. • Make porridge a staple. It’s a natural source of…

I took a chance on love and won Dishing up, I popped the food under the hot plate in the kitchen of the pub I worked in as a chef. ‘SHUYLFH!’ I FDOOHG WR WKH ZDLWUHVV. Glancing at the clock, I realised it was nearly the end of my shift. I was exhausted. I KDGQ’W KDG WKH FKDQFH WR VWRS DQG HDW DOO GDy – I’G MXVW SLFNHG DW bits from the fridge. Now I was starving, but cooking was the last thing I felt like doing after rustling up endless meals for customers all evening. Instead, when I got back, I ordered a takeaway. I had started working part-time in the kitchen of the Carew Arms in Crowcombe, Somerset, at the age of 14 and quickly fell into bad…

I loved having our pup involved Climbing into bed with my boyfriend Michael Lambert, someone soon snuggled down between us. ‘Rudi!’ I chided, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Michael and I had met through friends back in 2004 when I was 17. He was relaxed, hardworking, and we had great banter. Finally, in 2012, I’d made the decision to move from Aberdeen to Edinburgh to be with him. Both dog-crazy, we’d got our gorgeous pug Rudi that year, too, and were utterly devoted to him. It seemed the feeling was mutt-ual, because despite having dog beds around the house, Rudi always got into bed with us! Rudi was loving and friendly to all the dogs I walked with my business, Angels on Leads. And he followed me…