Innholdsfortegnelse for 15-Sep-2016 i Pick Me Up!

What A Laugh! Oh, daaarling! I thought the new Ab Fab film was, well, fab! Try our quiz on this and much more at www.lifedeathprizes.com 8 That’s how many crystals my friends and I got when we did the Crystal Maze last month. They’ve remade the set just like the TV show. So much fun! What A Cutie! Have you ever seen a more chilled-out chap than my mum’s miniature Schnauzer Toffee? Barkin’! A Mess! Summer’s almost over now, and we did get some scorchio days. Sadly, they weren’t when I was at Glastonbury… What A When my boyfriend and I got an allotment earlier this year, we were pretty clueless. Turns out one courgette plant produces A LOT of courgettes...and we planted eight…

‘Seeing his empty seat on the plane, I broke down’ Squinting against the sunshine, I flopped on the lounger and topped up my sun cream. It was the last day of our fortnight’s all-inclusive holiday to Benidorm. My partner Neil Ellerington, 43, was lying beside me, while our two sons Nathan, 10, and Jaden, 4, splashed in the pool. ‘How lucky are we?’ I sighed. Ten years had passed since we’d first visited the Spanish resort in the first flushes of love. Back then, we’d come to party until the small hours of the morning. Of course, a decade and two children later, things were a little different. Conscious of our early transfer to the airport, we only drank a few lagers in the hotel bar before heading back to…

1 Shop Around  Get quotes from local independent companies as well as big chains. Also, see the comparison website Funeral Choice . 2 How Much?  The most basic funeral, a so-called 'express funeral’ or 'disposal service' costs around £1,000. The average cremation funeral costs around £3,500. Burials cost more and you also have to buy a burial plot. 3 Plan Ahead  A prepaid plan lets you pay for a tailor-made send-off at today’s prices. An insurance targeted at the over-50s is another option. 4 Can’t Afford It?  People on low incomes may be able to claim a Government Funeral Payment allowance. To see if you quality, visit www.gov.uk/funeral-payments/ eligibility…

‘I was ready to fight – two years on, I’m still fighting’ Cancer. It’s a hard word to get your head around. Yet here I was, hearing it at the age of 23... Diagnosed with bone-marrow failure at 17, I’d been a pincushion ever since. I’d had constant tests and injections of GCSF - a stem-cell treatment - to boost my immune system. Then, in November 2014, I was back in King’s College Hospital for more tests, and that’s when I was diagnosed. Myelodysplastic syndrome and T-cell leukaemia. My bone marrow couldn’t produce enough healthy blood cells, so abnormal cells were spilling into my bloodstream. The effect of MDS on my white blood cells caused the T-cell leukaemia to develop. ‘You’ll need to start chemo,’ explained the doctor. That’s when…

Risky diet? Q I’m thinking of trying a very low-calorie diet to lose weight. Are they bad for you and will it work? Natasha, Coventry A If it’s nutritionally appropriate and you have no risk factors, it might help you to lose weight, but there’s no evidence to show the weight will stay off. It’ll also need close monitoring by a dietician. Meds clash Q I’m on medication for rheumatoid arthritis and have been told I mustn’t take antibiotics with them. Does that mean I can’t have treatment if I get a sore throat? Catherine, Reading A If you get a sore throat while you’re on medication affecting your immunity, you need a blood test to check your immunity’s still working well. If you need antibiotics, you should stop your…

Almond Pear Tarts Serves: 6 Prep Time: 20 min Cook Time: 20 min Sauce: 1 Preheat oven to 220C/Gas 7 and line a baking sheet with baking paper. 2 Roll out pastry on a lightly floured surface to a rectangle measuring approx. 30x24cm. Use a 10cm cutter to stamp out 6 circles and place on baking sheet. 3 Reserve about 1tbsp of beaten egg, then mix remainder with butter, caster sugar, ground almonds and vanilla extract. Spread evenly over pastry, leaving a narrow border around edges. 4 Toss pear slices in lemon juice, arrange neatly on pastry circles. Brush border with reserved beaten egg, and bake tarts for 15-20 min, until pastry is golden-brown. 5 Meanwhile, make sauce:…

In A Long-Distance Romance? These’ll be familiar! There’s a lot less leg-shaving! You’re still at it like rabbits, even when you’ve been dating for years. You text, e-mail, Skype, Facebook, WhatsApp and Snapchat till the cows come home! You get that Sunday-night feeling the evening before they’re due to go home. The 24 hours before your partner visits always drags – but the time you’re together flies. Sister Act Mini-Quiz 1. Name Deloris’ singing group. 2. Which convent is she sent to? 3. The nuns are excited about a visit by which Pope? 4. Who plays the Reverend Mother? 5. What is Deloris’ nun name? WE WISH THESE WERE REAL! Teleportation House elves Unicorns Flying cars 5 THINGS ALL BIG-BOOBED WOMEN KNOW 1 Peekaboo! All shirts gape. 2 Halternecks? Try…

‘When I told Phil, he thought I was pulling his leg’ My pearled, halter-neck dress was zipped inside its carry case, my bouquet of pink carnations fastened with a white ribbon. ‘I can’t believe we’re getting married tomorrow,’ I beamed to my fiance Phil James, 47. We’d met 11 years earlier when we were introduced by the landlady of our local pub, and the spark was instant. Phil - a postman - was so sweet and caring, and we were both huge Swansea City fans. He immediately hit it off with my two grown-up children. Only, a year into our relationship, my son Steven, 25, was killed in a motorcycle accident. Heartbroken, I thought I’d never smile again. But Phil was my rock. The right time The grief cemented our…

Try these... New York Bakery Co Bagel Sandwich Thins, £1.60 for pack of six, Asda, Sainsbury’s Like a classic bagel, but half the size – and less than 130 calories each – add lots of salad for the ultimate light lunch. Lucozade Zero, 500ml, £1 Enjoy the taste of Orange Lucozade for 3.6 cal per 100ml (compared with 62 cal in the regular one), or the new Pink Lemonade flavour with just 2 cal per 100ml (compared with 40 cal in the regular). Pick Me Up! FOR LESS Save 80p when you buy a porridge and hot drink together at Greggs Take Three Portion vegetable lasagne… 334 cal Portion tuna pasta bake… 632 cal Portion spaghetti carbonara… 704 cal Get Moving! Run for Movember Sign up for one of 17…

In August 2013, I was working at a beach cafe in Norfolk, when a lovely lad gave me his phone number. Charming, Josh Riccio, then 20, was clearly nervous, and very cute! At 6ft tall, and a size XXXXL, he was a very large guy. He was big-hearted, too, with a smile to match. Soon an item, we were long-distance between his place in Essex and Norfolk until, a year on, I moved in with him. Half Italian, Josh adored food...and lots of it! I loved him for who he was, and his size didn’t bother me. But Josh often felt breathless walking, and complained of shooting pains up his legs. I was worried that his health was suffering, and gently encouraged him to cut back. But temptation got the…

ARIES 21 March–20 April You see with clarity which friends are worth keeping and who you need to distance yourself from. News from far away makes you excited for the months ahead and a trip that could change everything. Call: 09058 170 710* TAURUS 21 April–21 May You’ve been missing out on making really lucky new business contacts, as you’ve been so wrapped up in a third-hand personal issue, which is actually not of any benefit to you. Geminis lead you to financial luck. Call: 09058 170 711* GEMINI 22 May–21 June Think about the way you dress, as you’ll be meeting with people you’re going to want to impress. A familiar face is going to be trying to pull the wool over your eyes, exactly as they did this…

‘NF meant I spent my life in and out of hospital’ ‘Our son would be spared the suffering I’d had to endure’ Delving into the treasure trunk in my bedroom, I fumbled for the familiar fabric. Clutching the Miffy sleepsuit, I felt my nerves calm. This was mine and my husband Jonathan’s ‘hope box’. Whenever the IVF drugs sent my emotions spiralling, it reminded me why we were doing this. Having a family was all I’d ever dreamed of. I was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis (NF) at 16 months old. The first sign was the pale, coffee-coloured patches on my skin. The genetic condition caused benign tumours to grow on my nerve endings. NF meant I spent my life in and out of hospital, and often needed a wheelchair because of…

‘I was told I’d pulled a muscle in my stomach’ ‘In a matter of hours, we’d lost both our children’ I’d been friends with David Bielicki, 36, for years. But, in February last year, we realised there was a spark between us. He was brilliant with my kids from a previous relationship - Tiegan, now 15, Owen, 12, and Trenton-Lee, 8. And, after just two weeks together, I realised my period was late. So I did a test... ‘It’s positive,’ I announced. David was buzzing! But the pregnancy felt different from my others, so I had an eight-week scan. ‘You’re having twins,’ the sonographer said. I couldn’t believe it! There were twins in both our families, but I’d still never expected it to happen. David gawped at me when I…

‘Weak, I had to use a wheelchair to get out and about’ Each day was the same. I’d get home from my job at a primary school so exhausted that I’d just crawl into my bed and sleep for the rest of the evening. It was last year, and I was also suffering from nausea and endless chest infections. I was so tired and weak, I’d struggle to muster the energy for the simplest things. My job suffered, as I needed so much time off due to illness. I saw countless doctors and had months of tests, but nobody could offer me any answers. Things got even worse this year... Just walking from my bedroom to the loo was like climbing a mountain. I’d need to stop to catch my…

‘The 7-year-old had taken a loaded gun to school’ ‘Was he faking it, or was his mental illness genuine?’ During a 10-day period in August 2013, four people were brutally murdered by one gunman. Two men, Jorge Cajiga-Ruiz and Juan Uribe-Pena, were lured to Spring Lake Park in Omaha, Nebraska, where they were both shot in the head. Terrified Cajiga-Ruiz had been covering his face with his hands when he was shot - the bullet pierced his hand and exited through his brain. The men’s bodies were later found in a car. Eight days later, on 19 August 2013, Curtis Bradford, an ex convict, was murdered in a shooting. Then, on 21 August, mother-of-three Andrea Kruger was driving home from her job to tend to a sick child.…

1 Sainsbury’s Chicken & Sweetcorn Soup A lovely, thick soup with a strong flavour of sweetcorn. But there are plenty of chicken pieces as well as the sweetcorn kernels, so it still tastes really good! 2 Asda Chicken & Sweetcorn Soup A thinner soup than the others, but it has a good chicken flavour and, with lots of chicken and sweetcorn, it certainly makes a filling lunch. 3 Co-Op Loved by Us Chicken & Sweetcorn Soup We loved this thick soup for the good balance between the flavours of the two main ingredients. Well-seasoned, this tasty soup was easily our favourite. Make it yourself... Serves: 4 Prep Time: 15 min Cook Time: 25 min 1 Melt margarine in a large saucepan…

‘A familar message was flashing on screen – Winner!’ Margaret enjoyed a luxury holiday with her winnings Margaret Hall, 53, Dukinfield In December last year, I’d just got home from my job at a meat factory. My husband David, 57, was home, too. While he pottered, watched a bit of telly, I decided to have a few games of Pick Me Up! Bingo online. I’d only been playing for a few minutes when... Jackpot winner! flashed on screen. ‘£100!’ I cried. I put my specs on to double-check - and saw I’d won £1,000, not £100! David checked and was as surprised as I was. My daughters Gemma, 31, Leanne, 33, and Nicole, 25, were overjoyed for me. I’d treat David and myself to a holiday to Lanzarote! After scooping…

Bean Body Coffee Bean Scrub, £14.95, Holland & Barrett Give yourself a gentle scrub with this coffee-bean exfoliator. The caffeine content will help reduce stretchmarks and cellulite. And it smells fab, too! Chambong Toasting Flute, £37.99 for two, www.thefowndry.com Who says fizz should be drunk gracefully? With this nifty glass, the flat base of the champagne flute has been swapped for a glass straw so you can sip the bubbles through it! Write Size Writing Pencils For Children, £4.99, www.writesize.co.uk Invented by a dad after watching his kids struggling to write with adult-sized pencils, these mini pencils are designed for little hands and come in three different sizes. Suitable for little ones aged 2 up to 10+.…

MUMS DRIVE US MAD ON FACEBOOK! • When she friend-requests all your mates. • When she calls it 'The Facebook’. • When she hits LIKE on every photo you’ve ever uploaded. • When she uploads a selection of your embarrassing childhood pictures. • When she tells you off for swearing on a status. FFS! KNICKERS… A Brief History • The word knickers comes from knickerbockers – the name of men’s loose sports trousers. • Women didn’t usually wear underwear until the 19th century. • Queen Victoria started the trend. • By the 1920s, they were shorter – but still knee-length. • During the Second World War, women often wore home-knitted knickers. Spooky Locations Haunted By Ladies The Tower Of London Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII’s second wife, was executed in the…

Growing up, I loved visiting my gran Sue Shannon-Jones, 66. She was the life and soul, always fit and active. I was just a tot in 2000, when at 50, Gran quit smoking and took up running. The next year, she ran the London Marathon and has now run seven - inspirational! Last summer, Gran phoned with a more incredible plan. ‘I’m throwing myself out of a plane!’ she announced. ‘But I’ll sign my will just before I jump!’ she told me. She explained that she was becoming an ‘extreme will writer’ to coincide with Remember a Charity in Your Will Week, which is run in September each year. It’s to highlight the importance of leaving a percentage of your will to a charity of your choice. Gran’s supported The…

‘I’ve hovered around a size-16 since age 12’ ‘Now my breasts have started to ‘fluff’ up again!’ As I looked in the mirror, for the first time ever I didn’t hate what I saw. I’d just forked out £4,000 for a boob job, and the transformation was amazing. ‘Time to go shopping!’ I said to my sister Madi, 24. We browsed the underwear department and picked out new bras. My old ones were all 36B, but now I needed a double F cup. I loved my new big boobs. But the boost to my confidence was only temporary. I’d always struggled with my weight, and had hovered around a size-16 since the age of about 12. As the years went by, I piled on more weight. When I fell pregnant…

Revamp Your Wardrobe Treat yourself to some new clothes with an exclusive 20% off just for PMU readers at www.pindydoll.com Simply enter the code PICKMEUP20 at the checkout before 15 September to get the deal. Family Day Out Zip World in Fforest North Wales is giving away free child passes! Just share a short video of your little one doing the famous Tarzan call on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and mentionTreetop Nets at Zip World Fforest with the hashtag #TreetopTarzan. Switch Over Get a new SIM-only tariff from Three’s new Essential plans and pay just £6 a month on a 12-month contract. Includes 500MB of data, 200 minutes and unlimited texts! Free Haircut! Buy two 400ml bottles of Herbal Essences in one transaction before 31 October and upload your receipt…

‘It’s absolutely heartbreaking. I'm glad they've gone on to have another child and the hospital has shown concern. It may bring the couple comfort and stop this from happening again.' Charlie Whitehall, 29, Powys 'Mother's instinct is so important. It must be so hard not knowing if scans could've saved the twins. It's wonderful that she's keeping their memories alive.' Julie Collins, 46, Sunderland 'If they'd scanned her, it might've been a different outcome. It's just awful. Twin pregnancies are high risk anyway. I can't imagine how hard it was.' Jade Loughrey, 32, Birmingham…

Haemochromatosis 1 This condition is caused by insect bites. 2 It affects the reproductive organs. 3 It can only be treated with medication. 4 It can cause liver disease. 1 FALSE Haemochromatosis is caused by a fault in the HFE gene you inherit from your parents. The fault allows the body to absorb excessive amounts of iron. 2 TRUE In men, the condition can cause problems with getting or maintaining erections, while in women it may lead to absent periods. 3 FALSE The most common treatment is a procedure called a phlebotomy, where iron-heavy blood is removed from the body to bring your iron levels back to normal. 4 TRUE If not diagnosed early, haemochromatosis can lead to more serious complications like liver disease. Other complications include arthritis and heart…

‘He was a huge bear of a man – I didn’t stand a chance’ ‘I couldn’t describe what he’d done so the case was dropped’ Sitting in a circle with my friends, tears sprang to my eyes as the music stopped. We were playing pass the parcel, and I seethed as my cousin tore off the shiny wrapping paper with glee. ‘But it’s my party,’ I wailed. It was my 8th birthday and I was prone to the odd tantrum, especially since my parents had divorced a year earlier. Today, my dad had thrown me a party with games, an iced cake and toys galore. But when my mum Lynn showed up, she was clutching more than just my birthday present... ‘This is my new boyfriend Tommy,’ she said. My…

‘We’re all looking forward to our fun-packed holiday’ My friends loved going to the bingo hall together. ‘It’s a laugh - you should come,’ a mate said to me one evening. I wasn’t much of a bingo player, but I decided that I’d give it a try. And they were right, I had so much fun. But, being a single mum to three kids, I rarely found the time to go. Then one of my mates suggested online bingo. ‘You can play at home whenever you like,’ she said. After scouring a few sites online, I soon came across Pick Me Up! Bingo. There were so many games to choose from, I was spoilt for choice. So I decided that I’d try a few out, to see what I liked.…

‘Online trolls had posted the vilest comments about me’ ‘It’ll take a very special man to win my trust again’ My stomach fluttered with excitement as I attached the naked photo to a Facebook message and pressed send. Within seconds, my boyfriend Jake’s excited reply flashed up. Wow, you look HOT, he wrote. Despite my blushes, I couldn’t stop beaming. I’d never done anything like this before! Risky, but thrilling. At 24, he was four years older than me, and the spark was instant. Jakemade me feel so confident - I trusted him. It’d been different with my childhood sweetheart Dale Shipley... Photos Dale came to my house almost every night for tea, and my family adored him. But, after two-and-a-half years, we were more like best friends than lovers.…

When it comes to competitions, I’m lady luck – mywinning streak spans nearly a decade. My first win, at 11, was a family two-night stay at Alton Towers for writing a short story. Six months on, I won the under-14s category for another short story, which was published in The Times, and I got £250. I began Film Studies at University of Glasgow, and last August, noticed that Currys and PC World were running a student video competition. The prize was £10,000 to cover uni fees, plus a tech bundle and a toaster, headphones and an iron. I recreated a scene from Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone using glove puppets, and, a week later, found out I’d won! Since, I scour magazines, online, radio and…