Innholdsfortegnelse for 28-Mar-2019 i Pick Me Up!

Being a grandparent is great fun. You get to enjoy looking after little ones again, but the bonus is you can give them back. But my brother Billy, 62, and his wife Sue, 63, go above and beyond in their roles as grandpa and grandma. They lost their son - my dear nephew Darren, 36, in November 2015. It was a total shock to all of us, and so heartbreaking for the whole family, least of all the four boys he left behind. Even though Billy and Sue were grieving, they never let it show in front of the grandkids. Instead, they rallied and made every day count. Now they’re always taking the boys, and their two other granddaughters, to parties, swimming or even on holidays. And rather than tears…

Unzipping her jacket, my daughter Georgina, then 9, flashed me a cheeky smile. ‘Don’t tell Dad,’ she whispered, pulling out a tiny kitten. ‘Not another stray,’ I groaned. My cheeky, free-spirited girl was such a charmer, it was hard to say no. So we kept the kitten, and named him Barney. He was one of many! And it wasn’t just animals she’d take in... Outgoing Georgina easily made friends with strangers, striking up a conversation on the train or bus. ‘Don’t be so trusting,’ I’d say. But you could never tell her what to do. After finishing school at 16, she went to catering college. Like her older sister Sara, 20, and younger twins Arij and Sonya, 12, she loved to cook. But a year on, Georgina quit to take…

Meal deal Your Friday night in is sorted! This Co-op meal for two includes two Indian ready meals and 1 x pack of Coors Light. It’s now £7 (usually £9.25). Until 26 March. Price freeze What’s your favourite? At this price you can afford to stock the freezer ready for summer! Jude’s Ice Cream Classic Range 500ml (Vanilla Clotted Cream, Salted Caramel, Sticky Toffee Pudding) are £2.50 each (usually £4) at Sainsbury’s until 3 April. Hair-raising bargain! Save 40% on Revlon Addictive Curls & Waves Curling Tong at onbuy.com . £14.99 while stocks last. Save dough Made with protein-rich soya and linseeds, which are a great source of omega-3, this Burgen Soya & Linseed loaf is now just £1 (usually £1.50) at Asda until 24 April. Gin-tastic…

Fast weight loss QI’m far heavier than I’d like to be. What’s the best diet to lose weight quickly? Penny, Dorset A Losing weight quickly isn’t always the best way forward. Some studies suggest that if you ‘yo-yo’ too often, you end up worse off than when you started. Take a long-term approach, with portion control, healthy foods and getting out for a walk once a week, and you should get there. If you lose 1lb a week, you’ve nailed it! Contraceptive help needed I can’t find the right Q contraception for me. Do you have any recommendations? Sandra, Northampton A Contraception is free for all ages on the NHS, and widely available on the high street, with different forms best for different people. Book an appointment with your GP…

What’s normal, what’s not? Swollen glands These are a sign that the body is fighting an infection. They should get better within a couple of weeks, as long as you rest, drink plenty of fluids and take painkillers. However, you should visit your GP if your glands are getting bigger or haven’t gone down in three weeks, they feel hard or don’t move when pressed, or you have a very high temperature or no other signs of illness. 40% That’s how many Brits don’t know it’s the chemicals in cigarettes, rather than nicotine, that causes disease from smoking, according to King’s College London. Have you tried... The Tisserand Sweet Dreams Aromatherapy Roller Ball? A great help if you’re struggling to switch off from the day and get a restful night’s…

It was themaid on her morning cleaning round who first made the horrific discovery... Opening the door of Room 66 at the Continental Hotel, she found a blood-soaked bed and a large backpack. The shocked woman asked her manager to look in the backpack. Inside was human flesh and body parts, and a pair of severed arms, bound by duct tape. Under the bed, wrapped in a blanket, was a man’s torso, covered in scratches and punctures, and almost completely drained of blood. Also in the cheap Los Angeles hotel room was a syringe, bags with meth residue and a box of sweets, along with two pairs of men’s boxers and a pair of women’s knickers. All soaked in blood. Horrendous - and a complete mystery. Who was this man…

Snuggling into bed, I tried to get comfy. But as I wriggled to settle, right on cue, the agony kicked in all over my body. Quick and blindingly painful. ‘Everything alright?’ my partner, Andy, then 24, asked sleepily. ‘The usual spasms,’ I sighed. I lay awake for hours, desperate for relief but trying not to disturb Andy. It was November 1987 and I’d grown used to being kept awake at night from pain. I’d grown used to being kept awake at night from pain On top of the spasms, I started finding random bruises, had numbness in my limbs. I was referred to a neurologist and sent for a lumbar puncture. Thankfully I was told the results came back clear. A good job, too, because I’d just discovered I was…

Looking through the holiday brochures showing off sun-kissed beaches, I couldn’t wait to book a trip. It would be our first family holiday abroad. My partner Carl, 43, and I own a window-cleaning business, so we’d been working hard, and we were looking forward to going away. I dreamily wondered where. Spain? Greece? France? It was a bit different from the rainy weekends we’d spent camping in England. Back in February last year, it was cold and gloomy. Around then, I was catching up with a pal when she reminded me how much we’d liked playing Pick Me Up! Bingo. ‘It’s still so much fun and there are even more games to choose from!’ she exclaimed. I thought I’d enjoy playing a few games again. It had such a great…

A mum-to-be, I tried to take in what I was hearing. ‘We think your baby may have Down’s syndrome,’ the doctor told me and my partner Keith, 30. I was 20 weeks pregnant with our first child together, having a scan at Salford Royal Hospital. Keith already had Annalise, 4, and Eloise, 2, from a previous relationship, and I had Leona, 3, and Leyton, 2. We’d been so excited to add to our brood... But, now, I was frightened. The doctor was telling us our baby had a protruding top lip. A sign of Down’s syndrome. ‘We also don’t know if the baby is going to develop hands or fingers,’ he continued. ‘Something doesn’t look right.’ The awful truth was, we wouldn’t know for sure what was wrong with our…

Days blurred into each other as we waited for any scrap of news that would reassure us Georgina was OK. Without Georgina, there’s a massive hole in our lives ‘I just want her home,’ I wept to my girls. Every few weeks, officers showed me new CCTV footage of young women they believed were Georgina. But, within an instant, I’d know by the way they walked or held themselves... Not my girl. ‘You’re sure?’ they’d ask. ‘I know my own child,’ I choked, devastated it wasn’t her. The weeks, then months, went by without news. I couldn’t sleep or eat, felt anxious all the time. I uploaded video appeals on Facebook - one had over 10,000 views. There were reported sightings of Georgina as far off as Leeds. None came…

1 New habits ‘Part of your salt addiction is triggered by familiar routines, such as walking past a particular takeaway shop, and where the salt pot is stored in your kitchen,’ says Ailsa. ‘Take a different route home, walk a different way round the supermarket, move it off the dining table and store salt in a different kitchen cupboard. ‘Also, try drinking water at those times of the day you would otherwise associate with eating salty foods.’ 2 Different recipes ‘Each week, change one meal to a low-salt option,’ says Ailsa. ‘If you gradually introduce new recipes one by one, you’re more likely to make long-term changes, whereas abstaining from salt overnight can cause feelings of missing out.’ 3 Use your imagination ‘Try to visualise yourself preparing fresh foods, rather…

1 Also known asWillis-Ekbom disease, it’s a common condition that causes an irresistible urge to move the legs. 2 The condition is usually worse in the mornings. 3 Mostsufferers will experience symptomsevery few weeks. 4 Lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking, exercising regularly and improving sleep can help treat mild cases. 1 TRUE It can also cause an unpleasant crawling sensation in the feet, calves and thighs. 2 FALSE It is often worse in the evenings or at night, and can occasionally spread to the arms, too. 3 FALSE Some experience symptoms daily and, in severe cases, it can disrupt a person’s everyday life. 4 TRUE If your symptoms are more severe, you may need medication to regulate your levels of dopamine and iron.…

Calm Your T**s. Boob Mask, £26.37, anese.co Sometimes in this column, we come across a product almost too silly to be real. Designed to firm, prevent sun damage and even reduce breakouts, we can’t see this face mask for your boobs flying off the shelves somehow. Verdict: BONKERS! What will they think of next? Virtual Pets, £9.99, firebox.com Still missing your 1990s Tamagotchi after all these years? This fun-filled game lets you pick from not just one but 32 different pets to raise. Finally – a pet our landlord will approve of. Verdict: BONKERS! But surprisingly addictive. Woood Kids Teepee Cabin Bed, £399, cuckooland.com Transform your littl’un’s room into their very own wonderland with this teepee-inspired bed. It’s the perfect place for adventurers to…

Some bunnies chow down on carrots but not my fuzzy friend Simba! He’s much more partial to a banana. Ffion Honeysett, Horsham ‘This bed simply won’t do,’ says my cat Poppy. She really is a pampurred princess. Mike Joseph, Lawford Happy birthday to my shelled friend Ness. Can you guess how old he was? Kirstine Forman, Peterhead I think my guineas Clara and River were trying that spaghetti trick from Lady and the Tramp but with lettuce... not sure it worked that well. Naomi Houlton, Ashford My giant African land snail Chester is always trying to run away when I hold him – good thing he’s a little bit slow! Poppy Hollis, Bideford I was trying to get the washing done but it looks like someone…

Lifeology Hand Cream Trio, £9.50, M&S Housed in a cute box, these hand creams make the perfect gift. They are scented and luxurious, smoothing weather-worn skin back to its best. Keep one in your bag, one on your dressing table and one by the sink. Bath Crystals with Rose Petals, £2, Poundland Give the gift of me-time with a bath in a bottle. The crystals are interspersed with real rose petals (totally Instagramworthy!) that scent your soak with a beautiful floral fragrance. The bottle is pretty enough to leave out on show, too. Essence Ultra Last Instant Colour Lipstick, £2.30, Wilko Nothing perks you up like a slick of beautiful lipstick. Available in 10 flattering shades, this lipstick delivers intense colour in a single swipe, with a buttery texture that…

LONDON Michelle Brathwaite, 48 Heartless Michelle Brathwaite conned an elderly man with Alzheimer’s out of almost £120,000 of his money. Brathwaite, from Kensington, West London, claimed she had a degree from Cambridge University to gain the trust of the man and his family. Posing as his carer from August 2016 to April 2017, she transferred approximately £117,000 from his bank accounts to her own, to fund holidays and to buy designer clothes. The police investigated when they were notified by the victim’s bank of irregular use of his card. After pleading guilty to three counts of fraud and one count of theft, Brathwaite was sentenced at Southwark Crown Court to five years and eight months imprisonment. WEST MIDLANDS Neil Smith, 33 Evil Neil Smith murdered his own baby daughter the…

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Touching up my lipstick in the pub toilet mirror, I gazed at my reflection and smiled contentedly. Not bad, I thought, checking out my slim figure, all dolled up in a stylish dress. My blue eyes were glittering and I felt so happy. It was October 2012, and I was on my first date in 18 months. Dave, 35, was a friend of a friend. We’d been introduced a few days before. And, so far, our date was sizzling, with the pair of us flirting non-stop. I wonder if he’d have been  quite so keen a couple of years ago, I thought. Because back then, I’d looked very different... Growing up, I’d always been a curvy girl. At age 15, I was a size-16, but I was fit, even played…

As my friends ran around the school playground, I found myself lagging. It was 1978, and at just 10 years old, I was completely exhausted. My fingers and ankles were swollen, my neck so stiff. ‘It hurts!’ I said to my parents Seamus and Mary-Kate. I hope sharing my story helps others with a long-term illness An energetic child who loved being outdoors, it was frustrating not to be able to play. But it wasn’t the first time I’d had trouble like this. When I was 5, I was hospitalised with suspected rheumatic fever after my parents noticed my hands swelling up. I’d been treated with antibiotics, and couldn’t wait to get back to school. Back to normal. But now I was in pain again. This time, I was referred…

Giddy with excitement, I pressed Rewind on the remote control. I was about to replay my favourite scene from the Elvis Presley film Blue Hawaii. ‘You know what you need?’ Elvis sneered at his blonde co-star. ‘A good, old-fashioned spanking!’ ‘You wouldn’t dare!’ she retorted. ‘Oh, yes he would!’ I squealed as Elvis put the woman over his knee and gave her negligee-clad bottom a vigorous spanking. Pretty sexist, huh? But back in 1992, aged just 16, I’d thought it was the most exciting thing I’d ever seen. I’d love someone to do that to me, I thought. Then a nagging shame crept in. No-one in their right mind would actually want to be smacked. Would they..? I was just a teenager, hadn’t had a boyfriend yet. Confused, I forced…

The wind was howling outside. ‘It’s making me cold just listening to it,’ I shivered to my hubby Barry, 66. ‘Cup of tea?’ he chuckled. While Barry pottered in the kitchen, I logged on to Pick Me Up! Bingo. It was a chilly October night last year. I couldn’t get to the bingo hall, so thought I’d play from the comfort of my home. Since signing up for Pick Me Up! Bingo in September 2007, I’d won over £16,300. Not all in one go - I’d scooped five jackpots! And in 2015, I even won a holiday to Tenerife in a promotion on the site. Barry and I are both retired, so we’d spent much of our winnings on trips to Italy, Spain and Switzerland. We’d redecorated the house, too,…

‘My parents fostered and it was shocking how much we take for granted. ‘When foster  children turn up with a carrier bag of belongings and that’s all they own… It’s hugely rewarding knowing you can make a difference.’ Emily Smith, Mansfield ‘We fostered once and not only were the children we cared for let down, but as foster carers we were let down, too. ‘It’s a shame – there are so many children who need homes, and we give them first experiences and change their lives but it’s not recognised or appreciated.’ Katie Dixon-Hancock, Towcester ‘I’d like to foster, once my children are older and have left home. It’s such an amazing thing to do. ‘Perhaps more awareness is needed about the benefits of fostering, for both the child and…

Raspberry and white chocolate bundt Serves: 12 Prep: 15 min Cook: 55 min ◻ Butter and flour, for greasing ◻ 340g plain flour ◻ 1½tsp baking powder ◻ ½tsp salt ◻ 340g caster sugar ◻ 200ml milk ◻ 160g butter ◻ 110g white chocolate, broken into pieces ◻ 4 eggs ◻ 1tsp vanilla essence ◻ 1tsp almond extract For the raspberry glaze: ◻ 100g raspberries, plus extra, to serve ◻ 125ml double cream ◻ 110g white chocolate 1 Preheat oven to 170C/ Gas 4. Grease and flour a bundt pan. In a bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, salt and caster sugar. 2 Gently heat the milk, stir in the butter and white chocolate. Remove from the heat and stir until melted. Cool and mix this through the flour…

ARIES 21 March–20 April The victory you seek is just around the corner. Don’t look back and don’t allow well-meaning but naive friends to force you out of the decisions you have already mentally made. Phone calls bring a ‘yes’, which you thought was going to be a ‘no’. Call: 09058 170 710* TAURUS 21 April–21 May Past and present begin to mix better this week than ever before. You start to realise that you ‘can’ have faces from all different walks of life together and that it just makes for a more interesting and very eclectic mix. You begin to shape life your way and changes await. Call: 09058 170 711* GEMINI 22 May–21 June Love and hate might be hard for many of your sign to tell apart.…