Innholdsfortegnelse for 18-Aug-2016 i Pick Me Up!

What A Cutie! I want this badge (and that unicorn!). Simple but brilliant, it's from Sugar & Sloth at www.etsy.com 7 Forget three. Seven’s the new magic number, according to 30,000 people out of a poll of 44,000! Brides…deadly sins…dwarves… There must be something in it! What A Follow-Up! Baby Dory from Finding Dory , Disney Pixar’s upcoming sequel to Finding Nemo , should be uber annoying, but she’s sooo adorable… Search 'Baby Dory' on YouTube. What A Pup! Vivian the Dog is my fave Instagram star. Thanks to her owner Mitch Boyer (and the power of Photoshop), the tiny dachshund looks bigger than a Great Dane! What A Place! My mate Kat is a pilot with Virgin…

‘After another negative pregnancy test, I’d had enough’ Sitting on the edge of the bath, I waited for the result to show up on the pregnancy test. I was desperate to become a mum. ‘I really feel like this could be it,’ I said to my husband Matthew. But, when the three minutes was up and I looked down at the test, my heart sank. ‘It’s negative,’ I cried. ‘Again!’ Matthew wiped away my tears. ‘It will happen, we just have to be patient,’ he said. But we’d already been trying for three years. It seemed like everywhere I looked there were happy mums pushing their babies around in fancy prams. Everyone else is having babies, why can’t I? I thought. So, after yet another negative pregnancy test, I’d had…

1 Do your homework! Find out about the car, the dealer and what price you should be paying. Check reviews on sites like Trusted Dealers. 2 Buy from a franchised dealer All members adhere to a strict set of standards. 3 Pay wisely Take a hire purchase or a personal contract purchase (PCP). A PCP normally gets you a better car for the same monthly payment and has a guaranteed minimum future value. 4 Out with the old Dealers always look for good-quality old cars. There are many sites to get your old car valued. 5 Stick to a budget And get haggling!…

Post-menopausal depression Q The menopause makes me feel awful. I can’t concentrate, I’m either sad or irritable, hot flushes stop me sleeping and I’ve no interest in sex. Does menopause cause depression? Amanda, Bury A Any life change can affect mood. And, let’s face it, the menopause is a big change for some women. If menopausal symptoms are the cause of your low mood, consider HRT - but if the mood is more prominent, consider treatment for depression. Thick toenails Q My toenails are really thick and difficult to cut. I’ve been using fungal treatment for years, but it doesn’t seem to help. Stephanie, St Helens A Sometimes, chronic fungal infection causes the nail bed to thicken even when the infection has gone. You may need chiropody to help with…

Eton Mess Cake Serves: 14 Prep Time: 30 min Cook Time: 2½ hr Cake: Meringue: Filling and Decoration: Glaze: 1 Preheat oven to 180C/Gas 4, and grease and baseline 3x20cm round cake tins. Beat together Stork with all other cake ingredients, divide into tins and bake for 25-30 min. Cool for 10 min in tin, then remove to a wire rack. Reduce oven to 90C/Gas ¼. 2 For meringue, whisk egg whites until stiff, add sugar and whisk to stiff peaks. Pipe into peaks on parchment on a tray. Cook for 1½-2hr. 3 For filling, whip cream with 1tsp vanilla paste until stiff. Spread half on top of first layer of cake, leaving outside 2cm…

‘I was beyond terrified but I had to be brave for my boy’ The pain wasn’t subsiding. It was May 2014 and I’d been suffering from trapped wind and back pain for a few weeks. ‘Go and see a doctor,’ my mum Tanya, 49, urged. I did, but they said it was a swollen or pulled muscle and I was prescribed some painkillers. ‘Poorly Mummy,’ my son Regan, then 2, said, stroking my back. I didn’t want to worry him, so I put on a brave face. ‘Kiss Mummy better,’ I’d say, pulling him in for a cuddle. Eventually though, I saw a different GP, who felt under my ribs. ‘I can feel a mass,’ she said, concerned. Alarm bells started ringing... It’s cancer, I thought, terrified. I was referred…

Food Swaps Swap ½ POT OF HOUMOUS AND 1 PITTA BREAD 466 cal For ½ POT OF TZATZIKI AND 100g CARROT STICKS 164 cal Save 302 cal Flattering Fashion WAIST CONTROL Show off a sexy shoulder in this cold-shoulder top from the Curves range at New Look. In sizes 18-32, it costs £12.99. Get Moving! Couch to 5K www.nhs.uk/livewell A free NHS running programme that gradually increases over nine weeks until you’re running for 30 mins non-stop – approximately 5k! Work your way through the podcasts with music and motivation, and if you want more, you can move on to Couch to 5K+. Try this…. Polo Sugar Free Extra Strong Mints, 50p With just 11 cal per mint, these are kind to your teeth – and…

At 10, my toy Yorkshire terrier Cooper was still a bundle of energy. His favourite game was to pinch my loose hair bobbles, toss them in the air and chase them as they bounced. I was forever picking them up before chucking them, saliva soaked, in the bin. But Cooper was too gorgeous to tell off! Then, one night in autumn 2015, he suddenly dropped to the floor in a fit. I took him to the vet, but nothing was obviously wrong. He was fine until, that December, when he vomited. Next day, he vomited three times, so I sped him to PDSA Pet Hospital, in Edinburgh. An X-ray revealed a large mass in his stomach. ‘We’re not sure, it could be a tumour,’ the vet said gravely. They decided…

‘These figures don’t surprise me. Early intervention can, at times, stop child neglect. Parents may need help, too, though. They may be under constant pressure and money is one of the biggest pressures of all. I’d offer help if I noticed that a family or parent was in need.’ Michelle McGrath, Grantham ‘If I saw a child being smacked or if I noticed any neglect, I’d want to intervene. But I’d feel that I was interfering and would worry I was making things worse. I think a lot of people feel the same way. I think the best way to approach a situation would be to talk to the parent or guardian first.’ Gemma Summers, Blackpool ‘I can’t believe how many children are being neglected, it’s devastating. It just goes…

LEO 24 July–23 Aug The planets line up to make it easy for you to get the wrong impression of what close ones are trying to say. Stop and take a breath before you reply to what’s being said. It can save you having to make an apology later. Call: 09058 170 714* VIRGO 24 Aug–23 Sept A flirtation you’ve been trying hard to resist gets taken to the next level and you’re left with questions you can’t answer. A problem in the workplace is not the fault of the person you think it is. Make sure you Investigate further. Call: 09058 170 715* LIBRA 24 Sept–23 Oct Business and pleasure mix very well. Just be careful who you tell as you may be better to play your cards close…

‘Running to the landing, I saw clouds of smoke rising...’ ‘Flames licked at the roof as fire crews battled the blaze’ After reading my son Frankie, 2, a bedtime story, I kissed him goodnight. Then I hovered by the door, to be sure he’d settled. Tiptoeing downstairs, I joined my man Tom Elder, 23, who was watching telly. We’d recently met on Tinder, and on 15 May this year had enjoyed a quiet Sunday at my house. ‘Fancy a kebab?’ Tom suggested around 11pm. ‘Yeah!’ I agreed, tummy rumbling. The evening had run away with us. We both headed to my front door. While Tom went off to get the grub, I wrapped a blanket around me and lit a cigarette. Sat on the steps of the two-bed terraced house…

1 Ringworm is caused by a parasite infestation. 2 The infection affects the skin. 3 Ringworm is incurable. 4 It only affects the skin on the arms and legs. 1 FALSE Ringworm is a fungal infection caused by tiny spores spread through human-to-human contact. The condition has nothing to do with worms or parasites. 2 TRUE The skin becomes itchy, swollen and inflamed, and a red, ring-like rash will develop on it, gradually spreading before blistering in more severe cases. 3 FALSE The infection can be treated with over-the-counter antifungal creams, gels or sprays, applied daily for two weeks. If the symptoms don’t clear, the GP may prescribe antifungal tablets. 4 FALSE While ringworm often affects the skin on the arms and legs, it can appear anywhere, especially as the…

TREAD CAREFULLY If you’ve got massive clodhoppers, you’ll understand these issues… • ‘One size fits all’ trainer socks? Not likely. Your heels constantly rub as they slip. • Dainty Cinderella-style stilettos will never be yours. High heels make you look like a drag queen! • ‘Sorry, we only stock up to size-7.’ Sound familiar? • The overeager assistant… ‘We haven’t got any 8s, but here’s a 7 for you to try on, just in case.’ • Praise be for Internet shopping, where the drop-down box never judges. How Cute Are They?! HOW MUCH DO YOU REMEMBER ABOUT HOME ALONE ? 1 How much does the pizza cost? 2 What city do the McCallister’s live in? 3 How old is Kevin? 4 Where do the family go on holiday? 5 What’s…

John Meikle, 53, Johnstone, Renfrewshire Q: Why did you join Pick Me Up! Bingo? A: My wife May, 56, joined a few years ago after reading a piece about another winner. Soon after that, I gave the site a try, too. We’ve both been playing ever since. Q: Why do you enjoy playing Pick Me Up! Bingo? A: I’ve not played loads, as I tend to watch May while she’s playing. But when I have a go, it’s really entertaining. You can have the telly on in the background and then play the games on your laptop. Q: What are your favourite games? A: Both May and I enjoy playing Bingo Lounge, a 75-ball bingo game. But Sapphire bingo, a 90-ball bingo game, is another favourite of ours. Q: How…

Whole Super Black Chicken, £15, www.musclefood.com No, it’s not been dyed – this chicken really is black! The super-rare ‘Silkie’ breed has unique black skin and, according to Muscle Food, contains less fat and more protein than a normal chicken. Looks a bit gross to us, if we’re honest! Never-Ending Congratulations Card, £10.99, www.firebox.com Let someone know that you’re really, really proud of them with a card that plays irritating music until the battery dies – three hours later! It also unleashes a huge spray of glitter when first opened. Rewined Signature Wine Bottle Candle in Pinot Grigio, £25, www.rewinedcandles.co.uk This candle is cased inside the bottom of a wine bottle, and smells just like a glass of Pinot. So now you can drink…

Kelsey Grammer The celebrated Frasier star has double tragedy in his past. In 1975, his sister Karen, 18, was raped and murdered by spree-killer Freddie Lee Glenn. Seven years earlier, his estranged father Frank had been shot to death. Grammer has said he feels great guilt over Karen’s death because, as the older sibling, he should have protected her. He’s successfully opposed all parole hearings that would see Glenn freed from jail. At the last hearing, Grammer told his sister’s killer, ‘I cannot give your release my endorsement. To give that a blessing would be a betrayal of my sister’s life.’ Charlize Theron At the age of 15, Oscar-winning actress Charlize Theron witnessed her mother Gerda fatally shoot her abusive, alcoholic father Charles after he threatened to murder them both.…

‘Where better to have my baby than in a yoga studio?’ I met my fella Dean Daulby, 39, when he was a regular at the bar I worked back in 1999. Friends at first, in early 2015, we got together. I’d left bar work behind, and had become a licensed conveyancer. I also taught yoga part time. And practise pranayama, breathing techniques to destress. Last June, during a yoga class, I noticed my boobs were tender and my belly wouldn’t lie flat. A test revealed I was pregnant! Sooner than Dean and I would’ve planned, but we were both thrilled. At 20 weeks pregnant , I found it was a boy, and chose the name Phoenix. One day, I was teaching aerial yoga, using a hammock suspended in mid-air. ‘This…

‘He told me it happened to all little girls…’ At 6, I used to follow around my older sister, then 22. ‘You’re my mini shadow!’ she’d chuckle. I’d enjoyed staying weekends at her Edinburgh flat. So, when my mum fell ill that year, I went to stay with her and her boyfriend Billy King Jnr, then 26, for several months. Billy was grumpy, always shouting at me. ‘Sit still!’ he’d bark. Terrified, I obeyed him. One night, I was in bed when I heard the floorboard creaking under his bulky 6ft frame. I pretended to be asleep, scared he’d punish me for being awake. Leaning over my bed, his smoky breath was pungent. He slipped his hand under the covers. I froze as he fondled my privates. Frightened, I rolled…

Time For A Cuppa! Tetley’s Super Tea in Alert, Boost or Immune is now £1 for a box of 20 (normally £1.59) in Morrisons until 28 August. As if we needed any excuse for a good brew… Get Lippy Get a FREE Silicea Cold Sore Lip Gel tube (usually £7.69) with code PMU7 at www. healthy2u.co.uk until 18 August. Pay postage and packaging only. Pet Lovers Pets at Home is running a series of workshops over the summer months to help teach kids how to look after different kinds of pets. Visit petsathome.com/workshops to find your nearest one. Nice And Sweet A great natural alternative to sugar, Total Sweet Xylitol is now £2.16 (normally £2.70) at Tesco until 30 August. Last-minute Break Jurys Inn’s Summer Family Offer provides huge savings…

‘Max looked up, locked eyes and gave me a grin!’ Call it mother’s intuition, but I knew something wasn’t right. When I’d had my baby Max in January last year, he’d been given a clean bill of health. Me and my partner Robert, 40, adored him. But I was worried, too. Max’s eyes moved around lots, but he never looked at me. As a first-time mum, I didn’t know what was normal. By 6 weeks, Max had never looked at me or Robert. I was nervous we weren’t bonding... ‘I’m taking Max to the GP,’ I said to Robert. The doctor referred me to the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) to see an eye specialist. Waiting for the appointment, I did my own research online. I looked up his symptoms:wobbly eyes,…

‘I had to put my health ahead of my looks’ In April 2011, I was a normal teenager, studying for my A levels and looking forward to uni. Then I began suffering agonising stomach cramps, sickness and diarrhoea. A barrage of tests later, I got the diagnosis that changed my life. ‘You have Crohn’s disease,’ my doctor told me. A lifelong condition, it causes inflammation of the digestive system. It was so daunting... I had an op to cut away 20cm of diseased bowel. Somehow, I passed my A levels, and went to the University of Suffolk to study Midwifery. I hoped my condition was in remission as I tried to keep up with studies and make friends. But my symptoms flared, and after a year, I had to defer.…

‘Seeing those wedding snaps made me snap!’ Do as I say, not as I do. That’s the way it was in our house. As a mum of four - Keeley, 13, Courtney, 12, Joshua, 11, and Abigail, 9 - I made sure they ate a healthy diet. As a result, all the kids were a healthy size and so was my partner Danny, 39 - but the same couldn’t be said for me. At 5ft 1in tall, I was 20st, a size-24. As strict as I was with the kids, I ate bags and bags of crisps and jelly sweets, fried chicken and chips...and huge portions. My size affected my health - I had bone and ligament problems because of the stress on my joints. I’d get out of breath…

‘Deciding what to spend my winnings on was easy’ I watched as my daughter, 6, played happily with her dolls in the living room. ‘Mummy, come and play,’ she said grinning. I couldn’t resist her adorable smile. Me and her dad Mike, 26, doted on her, she was our world. Recently, we’d decided we wanted to extend our brood, so we’d been trying for a baby. ‘Would you like a little brother or sister?’ we’d asked our little girl, just days before. ‘A sister please!’ she’d replied with a big smile. Later that night, I put her to bed then settled down in front of the TV with Mike. Our favourite programme was on, but, during the break, I thought it would be fun to have a few games on…

TRIED & TESTED Hair-mask sachets 1 Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Reconstructor Deep Conditioner sachet, £1.09, Superdrug If you want to heal your locks in a hurry, this is the mask for you! It left my hair feeling super-soft with a summery scent in just three minutes. 2 Andrew Barton S.O.S. Hair Repair Treatment Mask sachet, £1, Asda Just a little of this mask was enough to transform my tresses. I’d recommend leaving it on for up to 15 minutes for the best possible results. 3 Palmer’s Coconut Oil Formula Deep Conditioning Protein Pack, £1.99, Superdrug This pack contains enough for two uses – which is great if you’re off on a two-week break! It left my dry, frizzy hair looking healthy and glossy. ASK JESS Q I’m on the hunt…

‘My new bionic feet really are the business!’ When my left big toe joint first swelled, I dismissed it as a bunion, but it grew more misshapen and it hurt. Then my right foot followed suit, and my wrists swelled. In 2008, tests revealed that I had rheumatoid arthritis. Just climbing stairs in my Cambridge home was painful. Doctors at Bury St Edmunds Hospital scheduled operations where they’d insert metal pins. In February 2012, they fixed my left foot first, then, two weeks later, my right foot. My bionic feet were so impressive! Laid up, I talked to a friend online who was planning to climb Everest! ‘Impossible for me!’ I told him. ‘Anything’s possible!’ he said to me. He was right. Not Everest - but I would climb mountains...…

‘The thought of eating made me feel sick’ ‘I couldn’t resist my apple cake any longer!’ Pulling on my leotard, I glanced at the other girls taking part in the gymnastics competition. They’re all skinnier than me, I thought. I was 17 and had done gymnastics for years. I was a size-8, weighed around 8st. Seeing the girls in their leotards at my first international contest knocked my confidence and after a few months I stopped competing. I’d just changed schools for my A-levels, so I wanted to concentrate on them. But I was struggling to make new friends. And then I noticed my six-pack was disappearing now I wasn’t as active. ‘I’m getting fat!’ I panicked. I loved Cadbury Mini Rolls, but started to cut them out. But as…