Innholdsfortegnelse for Chat Inside Crime 2 01.05.2017 i Pick Me Up! Special

Aaah…aren't these bunnies just about the cutest things you've ever seen? The six babies were found sheltering under a bush with their mum, dumped by an irresponsible owner ( p25 ). For a story sure to warm your heart, read how a bride overcame her stammer to say her vows and make a speech at her wedding ( p10 ). There are also some tales of true courage. Take Daniel, who, after a horrific motorbike accident, smelt his right leg rotting and had to have it amputated ( p38 ). Only 21, he now aims to become a personal trainer. And on p30 , read about gorgeous Imogen. Born a boy, she bravely revealed she was transgender at a family barbecue. If it's shocking crime you're after, read about the…

‘His kind face made him instantly likeable’ ‘Touching my head, I felt something sticking out’ Filling my lungs with the fresh, country air, it felt good to be alive. I was staying at the cottage I’d inherited from my great grandma, Shura, 21 years earlier. It was such a special place. I’d spent many happy breaks there as a child. And it was now a holiday retreat for me, my businessman hubby, Alexander, then 46, and our kids, Dasha, 13, and Egor, 2-and-a-half. It was late July 2012 and I’d driven the 650 miles from our home in Moscow, to the bungalow over the border in Ukraine, with Egor for company. Alexander had taken sports-mad Dasha to a tennis tournament in Bulgaria and would be joining us in a week.…

‘The entire left side of his face was swollen’ Hunched over his revision notes, I noticed my son Adam McCalmont was rubbing his jaw. ‘What’s wrong, love?’ I said, concerned. ‘It really hurts, Mum,’ said Adam, then 15. Preparing for his GCSE exams, Adam had been complaining of aches in his jaw. At first I thought it might be stress or growing pains. But it started to interfere with his sleep, keeping him awake at night. And now, in December 2015, he seemed in real pain. Not taking any chances, my husband Alexander, 43, and I took him to see our GP. ‘I don’t think there’s anything sinister,’ she said. ‘Take him to see a dentist.’ So we did. Again, she couldn’t see an issue. Adam wore a brace, so…

1 www.travelzoo.co.uk Once you’ve registered, this site will tailor travel and entertainment deals and alert you to any bargains. It’s also worth signing up for their local deals section for discounts in your region. 2 www.lastminute.com One of the originals, and still one of the best, this is a great place to find West End show packages and holidays. 3 www.skyscanner.net If you have dates in mind but no idea where to go, skyscanner.net will seek out the cheapest breaks for you within that date range. Just remember to delete your browsing history on all the sites – repeated searches for flights and hotels 4 www.cheapflights.co.uk Head here for deals on flights. Generally speaking, Tuesdays are the least expensive day to fly and flights between 6pm and midnight…

ALL’S SWELL? If you’re coasting along but need some excitement in your life, there’s no better time to seize the moment. ‘Ask yourself, “Is this good enough – or will I live with regret one day?” If you think you might, start thinking, “What would I really love to be doing?”’ Carole Ann says. Work out what makes you tick – whether it’s a fun hobby, that dream job you’ve been hankering after, or just hanging out with new people – and start to research how to do it. ‘If you’re in a comfort zone, your life will become smaller and smaller. We’re here to try new things – there are infinite possibilities out there, so start living,’ she adds. ROCKING THE BOAT Sometimes, it’s the little niggles that can…

‘They'd ended up in a pretty dangerous situation’ Shuffling along on my belly, I pushed aside the branches of the conifer bush, crawling deeper inside. ‘Here, bunnies,’ I cooed. Spotting a caramel-coloured blur among the leaves, I reached out. Gotcha! An animal collection officer for the RSPCA, I was pretty used to being given the runaround by creatures on the loose. But this one was pretty unusual - a rabbit and her six kits, sheltering in the hedge around a field off Park Lane, Harlow, Essex. A dog walker had discovered them when her pooch had sniffed them out. Obviously dumped by someone who couldn’t take care of so many pets, they’d ended up in a pretty dangerous situation. The field was always filled with dogs roaming off their leads.…

1 Tesco Finest 4 Pork Sausage Rolls, £2, Tesco At £2 for four, this pack is all about quality over quantity, but boy do they taste good! The pastry is lovely and flaky and there's no scrimping on the sausage filling either. 2 20 Bitesize Pork Sausage Rolls, £1.85, ASDA The size of these mini sausage rolls mean they're fantastic for picnics and family gettogethers, and there's a decent amount of pastry and meat in each roll. 3 Taste The Difference Share Cheddar Cheese & Shallot Rolls, £2.30, Sainsbury's These cheesy bites are a nice change from the usual sausage filling and are a decent size for snacking on too.…

My son Sam, then 11, returned from school covered in sun cream one day in May 2011. Many schools operate a ‘No touch’ policy, so kids aren’t helped with applying lotion. Inevitably, my lad had squeezed on too much! Telling my pal Laura Griffin, 33, she agreed it was a problem. Back then, Laura and I were stay-at-home mums with our youngest kids, my Harri, then 2, and her son Ioan, then 1. It seemed no child-friendly bottles of lotion were available. ‘Let’s design one!’ Laura said. We spent months researching, settling on a rollerball dispenser surrounded by a sponge to help the even distribution of cream. To officially patent our idea, we’d need detailed sketches and a prototype. In September 2012, we contacted Chief Tutor of Product Design at…

‘My left foot was hanging off, the bone exposed’ ‘I noticed a smell. Rancid, like something had died’ Shoulders hunched forward, biceps flexed, pecs popping out and - snap! Another perfect post-workout selfie. In between working as a plumber and taking a part-time course at college, I spent most of my time pumping iron in the gym. Dreamed of one day becoming a personal trainer and professional bodybuilder. In February 2016, after another intensive session in the gym, I pulled on my helmet and climbed on my Suzuki motorbike for the two-mile ride back to my home in Venice, Florida. Palm trees and houses were whizzing by as I flew down the familiar streets. Suddenly, my hands struggled to control the handlebars, sand and grit whirred under my tyres. And…

‘It was three days before I could hold him’ ‘He was so light and delicate, like a baby bird’ Waddling through Asda car park, I pulled out my phone. My waters have broken, I typed to my fella, Nathan. I think the baby's coming. The bag was already packed and by the bedroom door at home, ready for the rush to the hospital. But neither of us expected me to go into labour at 32 weeks. Seeing Nathan’s reply, I panicked. I've told your mum, he said. Where are you? What did you do that for? I replied. I’d only been joking. Getting back at Nathan for him not coming to the supermarket with me. It sounds like a mean trick, but it was always like that with me and…

‘Kai had layers of skin removed every two days’ Always smiling, that was our boy, Kai. Whether racing his toy truck around the garden, or getting cuddles from me and his dad Cameron, 46, he was rarely without a cheeky grin on his face. Before his birth in November 2008, we found out he had Down’s syndrome. It was a shock, and we worried how we would cope. But with some research, and my background working as a respiratory therapist at Texas Children’s Hospital, we were as ready as we could be. And now, we wouldn’t change him for the world. Such a happy little soul. Except soon... Aged 3, Kai had been back in hospital with fluid in his ears. Diagnosed with superbug MRSA, he was prescribed an everyday…

My eldest son is bullying his younger brother. At first we thought it was just a bit of sibling rivalry, but my youngest, who is 7, keeps ending up in tears and his brother, who is 13, won’t apologise or change his behaviour. We don’t know how to make them be kind to each other, but I feel the situation has gone beyond normal sibling scrapping. They used to get on quite well, but recently my eldest has started acting up and he won’t say why or what his brother has done to upset him. I had a heart-to-heart with my youngest, but he just got really upset and doesn’t know what he’s done wrong. My teen switches between giving my youngest the silent treatment, excluding him from conversations, to…

‘He didn't do anything but break the law’ ‘He'd barged into the flat with a kitchen knife’ Valentine’s Day was approaching. It was a time for hearts, flowers and declarations of love. Not for Leanne Meecham, though. After growing up to a soundtrack of chaos, she was now cradling her baby - and a badly bruised heart. Leanne had broken a dark taboo, by taking her stepfather as her lover and having his child. Simon Meecham’s marriage to Leanne’s mother, just six weeks after they’d met, when Leanne was 9 and her sister, Carly Bush, was 11, had vented mayhem on their childhood. A seasoned criminal, with over 100 convictions for drugs, vehicle theft and antisocial behaviour, Simon revelled in his ‘hard man’ reputation. And when, aged 20, Leanne was…

‘Now I do games and tricks with my mermaid friends’ Fastening my bikini top and pulling on my bottoms, I slid into the water with a splash. Many women feel self-conscious when they’re by the pool or at the beach, but I never feel more beautiful than when I’m in my bathers. Because my swimwear of choice isn’t an itsy-bitsy two-piece. Instead, I wear a silicone fishtail that weighs a hefty 4st. I’ve been working as a mermaid since January 2016, and it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me. Shimmering through the water, my hair streaming behind me and my tail flapping about, I feel so glamorous, so free. I don’t worry about whether my bum looks big or if my arms are a bit flabby. Though it…

‘I burst into tears, thought about cutting myself’ When the speech was over, I wanted to do it all again Taking a deep breath, I looked into my fiancé’s eyes and opened my mouth to speak. Vows are uttered by brides and grooms every day, all around the world. But for me, saying them on that day in March 2015 was a big deal, beyond usual wedding day nerves. Since the age of 5, I’ve battled a crippling stammer. It started when my parents’ marriage broke up. At first, I wasn’t aware I spoke differently to everyone else. Then, aged 12, everything changed. ‘I want everyone to read something from Of Mice and Men this lesson,’ the English teacher said. ‘The... the... the,’ I said, but my sentence just wasn’t…

1 Number crunching Track how much you spend as you go - either on a calculator, on your phone or a handheld scanner if your supermarket has them. 2 Send them packing Avoid pre-packaged food. You can even save money by buying cold cuts and joints of meats from supermarket delis, rather than opting for the packets of ham. 3 Bulk buy Try a cash and carry for store cupboard and household items like toilet roll and food bags. 4 Scour your shelves Clear out your fridge and cupboards regularly so you don't buy more than you need or double up on ingredients. 5 Deal or no deal? Before picking up any two for one deals, check the price of the budget version. Although the premium brand might be on…

‘He told us he'd been a PA and was happy to help’ From the moment he was born in February 2010, my little lad, Dylan, was always in and out of hospital. He suffered from numerous problems, including a curved spine, difficulty putting on weight, constant vomiting and developmental delay. Despite his problems, though, Dylan was a happy, charming boy. His dad, Michael, 48, and I were struggling to get a diagnosis for him, but the consultant could only say that he had a genetic condition. On 14 June 2012, Dylan, 2, was struggling to sleep. Though I’d tried reading to him and rocking him, it was gone 3am when he finally settled with me in our bed. But, checking on him next morning, my heart lurched. Dylan wasn’t breathing.…

Our 7-month-old bulldog crossbreed, Jaden, bounded into our home, in October 2003. Energetic and friendly, he soon became part of the family. My wife, Madelon, 35, and I enjoyed taking him on long walks. When we had our daughter, Lynn, in September 2010, Jaden became fiercely protective of her. He'd lie beside her cot, trot beside her pram in the park. When Lynn started toddling, he'd let her gently tug his tail, give him huge hugs. 'Such a softie,' Madelon smiled. One day, Lynn dressed him up in a tiara, declared him a princess. When our second daughter, Jenna, arrived, Jaden became a faithful companion to her, too. Sadly, Jaden passed away in September last year. Lynn spent the last moments with him. It's sad, but Jaden won't be with…

‘Age 3, I became obsessed with the name ‘Julie'’ ’It hasn't been easy. I feel every emotion every day’ Slipping into a slinky black frock and stuffing my feet into skyscraper heels, I giggled. Parading across the carpet, I did a little spin. I was trying on some gorgeous new clothes at my friend’s house, experimenting with different looks. Nothing unusual, you’d think. Something teenage girls do all the time. Thing is, I was actually a teenage boy. My name was Luke Hudswell - a name I’d always hated. Because every part of me wanted to be female, like my friend. Her house was the only place I could dress up and be myself. In front of other friends and my family, I kept up the pretence. But I knew…

I was eight weeks pregnant. My partner Chris, 29, and I couldn't wait to be parents. But I'd had one miscarriage, and now, in April last year, I had spotting again. 'I need to go to hospital,' I told Chris, trying not to panic. At Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, I had a scan. 'It's ectopic,' the doctor said, explaining that the egg had implanted in a fallopian tube, and that it was life-threatening. The tube – my left – needed removing straightaway. Once again, I wasn't going to be a mum. Not this time. I was in surgery for four hours and was discharged the next day, feeling rotten. Low and anxious, I was grieving our baby, too. And I was off from my job as a mental health…

‘Even by Dubai's standards, it's a beautiful sight’ ‘Happily, the little drivers put their parents to shame’ Like most children, my 5-year-old son Arthur loves Lego, playing outside in the sunshine and a water park. So when the chance comes to escape the British winter immerse ourselves in all three at once in Dubai, there was no turning it down. The world’s newest Legoland has recently opened in the middle of the UAE desert. It’s a huge development that’s roughly a 45-minute drive from the airport, with even bigger plans to become a mecca for theme park lovers. Legoland is the first to open there, and in true Dubai fashion, it has cherry-picked all the best rides and attractions from the other Legolands around the world. This means your visit…

School run Q My son’s embarrassed about using inhalers at school. How can I help? Suzanne, Colchester A It can be tough, but it might help to explain that taking his inhalers properly means he’s more likely to be able to do everything he wants, like playing football, without worrying about asthma attacks. You could also make sure a couple of his friends and the school have a copy of his asthma action plan, so everyone knows what to do if he starts feeling worse. Summer daze Why is my asthma always Q worse in summer? Pippa, Colwyn Bay Everyone’s triggers are A different, but many people with asthma also have hay fever, which can make asthma worse. If you suffer with hay fever, then simple allergy medications like antihistamines…

Katharine Hill, UK Director of Care for the Family ( careforthefamily.org.uk ), says: 'While sibling squabbles can help children hone their negotiation skills, if it gets out of hand, it can be as upsetting as any playground bullying. 'Talk to your teen and explain that you have clear rules on how to treat each other and define what is and isn't allowed. You should also try to establish whether there are underlying issues behind his behaviour. 'When you do break up a squabble, try to have each child explain his side of the story and then ask, “How can we solve this?” 'Finally, the best way to boost sibling harmony is to catch them getting on well and praise them – they're more likely to repeat the behaviour…

‘Being a jackpot winner feels really amazing’ Putting my two children, then aged 5 and 3, to bed, I tiptoed downstairs. ‘They’re out for the count,’ I told my partner Paul, 30. I snuggled up to him on the sofa but, feeling chilly, I pulled a blanket over me. ‘Is the heating on?’ I asked. ‘Should be,’ Paul said. So he went to check. ‘Boiler’s on the blink, it’ll need fixing’ he told me. So I put some extra blankets over the kids’ beds and put electric heaters on. Next day, I had a day off. The kids were watching TV and playing with their toys, so while everything was quiet, I decided to have a few games of Pick Me Up! Bingo. I’d joined after seeing an advert in…

Meet the expert: Peggy van Rooyen is the innovation manager for Primula Cheese - the original squeezy cheese with a tasty kick. To find out more about the range, visit www.primula.co.uk A TASTE OF HOME Carrie, 32, Kent Home-made sweet potato and red pepper soup Peggy says: This is a person who loves home comforts. They tend to be the first ones to offer a hug if someone is having a problem. They have a strong work ethic and are very loyal to friends and family - they enjoy spending time with the people they love. Carrie says: I like nothing more than being surrounded by friends and family. I definitely have a strong work ethic, and as for loyalty, I' m a constant support - ready with hugs and…

Doughnut Mug Cake Serves 1 Prep & Cook Time 5 mins 1 Pour the cream into the mug then warm in the microwave for 20-30 seconds (800W) until hot. 2 Add the chocolate to the mug and stir until fully melted. 3 In a small bowl, whisk together the egg and sugar until fully mixed. Pour the egg mixture into the mug and stir thoroughly. 4 Break the doughnuts into small pieces and place the pieces in the mug, carefully pushing them to make sure they are fully covered. 5 Move the doughnuts around so they are not flattened. 6 Microwave for 1 minute 50 seconds. The cake will rise, then sink and should still be quite wet to touch. Leave to cool for…

‘Soon, I was clocking up seven miles a day’ Huffing and puffing, I pushed on, ignoring the pain stabbing in my sides. ‘Let’s do this,’ I said to my workout buddy, Jason. ‘Gurgle, gurgle!’ came the response from inside the buggy. Jason was my newborn baby. Since his birth, in February 2016, I’d been determined to get fit. Every day, I just kept walking. Pushing Jason in his buggy in the park, down local streets, even up steep hills. It was tough at first. Weighing 20st and a size 24, hefting my huge bulk even a few steps left me breathless. But I wasn’t going to give up. Not this time. Soon, I was clocking up seven miles a day - sometimes more. Most women gain weight after having a…

‘The first post got 5,000 hits in the first hour alone’ It was love at first sight when I met Alfie. A miniature Shetland pony with dwarfism, he was just a year old when I found him for sale in December 2013. At 28 inches tall, he’s only the height of a greyhound. We have our own stables, and he once managed to walk right out of his field under the fence! In January 2014, I got a camera for my birthday, and Alfie became my model! I posted the snaps on a Tumblr blog, and started writing Little Alf stories, from Alfie’s point of view. The first post got 5,000 hits in the first hour alone. Soon, Little Alf had more than 1,000 followers! In September 2014,my first children’s…

‘She was lying in a crumbled heap. Covered in blood’ I’ll do the washing up, love,’ I said to my wife, Rachel, 43. ‘You go up to bed.’ It was April last year, and we’d just had a romantic meal at home. It had been such a lovely evening, but I could see Rachel was exhausted. Usually very active, whether out walking our two dogs, working as a manager in our local Greggs, or spending time with our three children - Chloe, 24, Jake, 18 and Joe, 17 - my bubbly wife had been unwell recently. She’d suffered back problems for years, but recently the pain had left her bedridden, and out of action for a full week. If anyone deserved a little looking after, it was my Rachel. ‘You’re…

‘Some are married, but it doesn't bother me’ Sipping my drink, as the woman on stage gracefully spun her nipple tassels, I smiled at my date. He was so mature and interesting, full of stories. A real twinkle in his eye. In fact, he reminded me of my granddad. At the age of 86, my date had taken me to a burlesque show. And he’d paid me £800 for the privilege. You see, men regularly give me cash to take me out. They take me shopping in designer stores, for dinner at fancy restaurants. In the past two years, I’ve made around £30,000 dating guys in London, Berlin, Milan, Washington DC and New York, where I’m originally from. I only date men who are 40 or older - and I…

‘They reached the top in just 2 hours, 40 minutes’ My son, Isaac, then 3, came bounding home from nursery.. ‘Fin’s my new best friend!’ he declared. Isaac and Fin Gough, both now 6, have been inseparable ever since. Fin has two autoimmune conditions - diabetes Type 1 and coeliac disease. It means he controls his insulin with a special pump, monitors his blood sugars every hour, and can’t eat gluten. Isaac looks out for Fin, and, in May 2015, he’d an idea. ‘What’s the tallest mountain in Wales?’ ‘Snowdon,’ I replied. ‘I want to climb it for Fin,’ he said, planning a hike with his dad, Darren, 34. Fin’s family had been fundraising for the JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation). Pledging to raise £250, the hike was set for…

Bekonscot Model Village Head over to Buckinghamshire to the pretty model village of Bekonscot, where you can see a little zoo complete with chimps, elephants and tigers, mini high streets and of course, a teeny train. • Visit www.bekonscot.co.uk Bondville Model Village Duck into Bridlington, East Yorkshire, to see the dinky Bondville Model Village. There, you can wander around and admire the mini ruined abbey, a harbour and a train chug through the petite but pretty town. • Visit www.bondvillemodel villagebridlington.co.uk for more info Merrivale Model Village Merri by name, merry by nature! Despite its size, this mini village near Great Yarmouth packs a real punch. A mini floodlit cricket ground, airship, theatre, stadium and house fire are among its amazing attractions. • Visit www.merrivalemodelvillage.co. uk…

Ingrown hairs Ingrown hairs occur when a hair curls around and grows back into the skin, sometimes resulting in what looks like a red pimple. They're more common with hair that's naturally coarse and curly and on areas you shave, and while they can be itchy and a little unsightly, they'll usually clear up by themselves. However, ingrown hairs can sometimes become infected, causing the follicle to swell due to inflammation and possibly fill with pus. Mild infections can clear up by themselves – a dab of tea tree oil can help – but if they don't improve, see your GP.…

Get a massage Massages aren’t just about relaxing – they also help to break up those pesky knots in your muscles which limit your movement. Do you need a better excuse for a bit of pampering? Warm up Going for a jog, hitting the gym or Zumba? Make sure you warm up your muscles first. You don’t have to hold stretches: an active warm-up, like star jumps, squats and lunges is more fun and works better, say experts. Take your vitamins Your body can’t produce collagen and elastin, connective tissues found in your muscles making you strong, without vitamin C. So look out for a multivitamin with copper, vitamin A, zinc and iron to boost elastin and collagen. Stay hydrated Water is really a bit of a cure-all isn’t it?…