Innholdsfortegnelse for Best of - March 2016 i Pick Me Up! Special

A bumper crop of fab stories are guaranteed to keep you glued to your favourite mag all month, in this ace Best Of issue. To start with, we hope you'll love our readers' daft doggy pictures (p5), including an adorable pair of pooches in party hats (right)! The shocking story of how one brother fatally stabbed the other with a knife during a row (p6), acts as a cautionary tale to those with short tempers. While the injuries sustained by pregnant Laura, during a terrifying attack by her friend's Akita dog (p24) are deeply shocking. For romantics, there are fab proposals on p40 - including Lucy Hines, whose fella popped the question as they skydived! If that's not enough, there are love rats, super slimmers, dramas, shocking medical stories and…

Skipping out of class, I ran to my brother, Ben, then 19, waiting to pick us up. ‘They were big softies – best mates, too’ ‘Good day, girls?’ he grinned. Sometimes my other brother, Sam, then 16, collected us. Ben and Sam were Dad’s sons from a previous relationship. Me, then 5, and my sisters, Holly, 8, and Abigail, 4, adored them - our two protective big bros! ‘Let us know if you’re ever bullied,’ they’d tell us. But to us they were big softies - best mates, too. In 1995, Ben, then 20, moved 200 miles away to Plymouth. Sam became a chef, got married. But we’d get together at Christmas and on birthdays. It was always a madhouse with the five of us laughing - or squabbling! One…

‘It's a world away from my old life’ Changing careers is never easy. But, looking at my man, Charlie, 34, I knew I was ready for the leap... I was an accountant for a top London firm, but I was a country girl at heart. I’d been dating Charlie for months and we’d known each other since we were kids. But now, in April 2012, our lives were so different. Charlie worked on his family farm in Sussex and we saw each other every weekend. Our relationship was strong, we were ready for something more. So I made a big decision. Charlie needed a hand... ‘I’m going to move here, get involved on the farm,’ I told him. ‘That’s amazing!’ he grinned. I packed up, moved to Sussex, and now…

‘I feel like a prisoner in my own home’ Walking in from the garden, I knew something wasn’t right. My lips and mouth felt tingly, I was weak... ‘I don’t feel well,’ I told my husband, Pete, now 37. Within minutes, I couldn’t swallow, had heart palpitations, could barely breathe and was seeing black spots. ‘I’m calling for help,’ Pete said. All I could do was nod and, after speaking to NHS Direct, Pete administered my EpiPen in my leg. I’d had another allergic reaction It was something I was getting used to. My symptoms subsided, but I went to Southampton General. Growing up, I’d suffered with terrible eczema and asthma. Just helping Mum with the cooking or washing-up, left me with bumpy, blistered skin. Though I cut out dairy…

I felt a blow to my face. Lisa had head-butted me! There’d be cake, chocolate, sweets, fizzy drinks... ‘The kids’ll be higher than the International Space Station,’ I said to my partner, Martin, 30. But it wasn’t as if mine had sugary stuff every day. It was 14 September 2014. Me, Martin, and our two kids were off to a birthday party. Martin’s sister, Lisa, 28, had invited us. One of her little ’uns was turning 4 and she’d booked a play centre in Bradford - climbing frames, ball pools, slides, games... ‘Lisa’ll have her hands full today,’ I smiled to Martin. ‘She’s eight months pregnant, after all!’ And I knew what I was talking about! I’d had our second baby only two months earlier. I was tired after being…

Everyone thinks their new baby is special. But my daughter, Annabelle, really is... Incredibly, she’s the first girl to be born into my hubby’s family for 132 years! Back in 1882, Margaret Agnes Waring was born - my husband Lee’s dad’s greatgreat-grandad’s daughter. But that was the last the Waring family saw of ribbons and bows. Every generation after that was all boys. Lee, 33, is one of three boys, and his brother has three sons. So when I fell pregnant with my first baby in 2010, all eyes were on me. ‘I really want to break this trend!’ I said to Lee. To be honest, I spent more time thinking I was going to have twins. They’re in my family. But nobody’s predictions were right when Lewis arrived solo!…

He started kissing and touching me Arriving at my grandma’s farm, I couldn’t wait to get stuck in... Every school holiday, I’d go to the farm and loved to watch my Uncle John, then 26, with the animals. ‘Are you coming to help?’ he asked one day when I was 8. I cleaned hutches, pitched in at feeding time. It was the best day. A few months later, we were back at the farm. My family headed out to play rounders, but Uncle John kept me back. ‘You can clean the fish tank with me,’ he said. I felt so proud that he trusted me to help out. Uncle John was the funny one in our family, and everyone loved him. So I never expected what happened next... While everyone…

‘Can we juggle a newborn and a baby sloth?’ It looks like these gorgeous snaps are of my baby daughter, Alia, cuddling her favourite teddy bear. But she’s actually snuggling up to our pet sloth, Daisy! She’s 18-month-old Alia’s best mate! It all started two years ago... As usual, it was all go in our house in the country. Our rabble of exotic animals was running amok. Larry the cat was mucking about with Boomaroo, our kangaroo. Our anteater, Noche, needed feeding, so did our little sugar glider (a type of possum), Dexter. Meanwhile, I was six months pregnant with Alia. We were so excited - she’d be me and my hubby Jason’s first baby. But just as we were planning to decorate the fur- fun! nursery, the phone rang.…

‘Put on life support, the world faded away...’ About to turn 25, I’d been buzzing with excitement! I’d planned a cosy celebration with my partner, Steve Hall, and our gorgeous girls, Lacey, then 6, Nicole, 5, and Scarlett-Rose, 1. The only problem was, I was feeling rubbish. ‘I just hope I shift this flu first,’ I moaned to Steve, then 26. I’d been feeling ropey for days. Fever, sore throat, headache, cough - the works. Plus, I had my period, so felt generally grotty. By 21 August 2012, four days before birthday I started vomiting and could barely move off the sofa. Steve was at his job at a pawnbroker’s, so my mum, Sandra, 46, popped over to help with the kids. ‘It sounds like flu,’ my GP said, when…

It was 10 August 2013, and I was enjoying the musical Hairspray with my man, James Brown 27, at the Bristol Hippodrome. It was his seven-year anniversary present to me – and what a wonderful gift it was! As the curtain fell, I got ready to head home, but a member of staff came up and asked: 'Are you ready?' 'Didn't you get the e-mail about the backstage tour? I entered the comp and won!' James beamed. Backstage, I saw the amazing set and met the cast, in costume. 'Let's have a picture,' a photographer said. But, mid-pose, I heard familiar voices. Turning, I saw the curtain had gone up to reveal around 40 friends and family! James led me to the front of the stage…

Step Up Walk to work instead of driving. This not only improves health but aids concentration and reduces stress. Sounds fishy? Have a canned salmon sarnie for lunch. It has omega-3, which will keep your heart healthy, and the salmon is full of calcium. Beats illness Listen to hip-hop! Scientists have found connecting with rap lyrics can help people suffering mental health conditions. Hug it out Researchers have found regular cuddles can protect us from infections as they cut the effect of stress on immunity. Red this? Beetroot’s not only a good source of iron, it also contains nitrate, which is believed to lower blood pressure. Gym-credible Get pumping iron! Lifting weights could stop you feeling stressed and anxious. And relax... Try yoga if you have heart problems. As well…

Shovelling the potato-ring snacks into my mouth, I felt satisfied. Well, in my mind, if no-one saw me eat them, it didn’t happen. So I often scoffed my fave snack between meals. Only that had got me into trouble! It was no surprise that the weight crept on, and on... And, by January 2011, I was so big, it was hard to play with my daughter, Elisha, then 5. I couldn’t go on like this, so joined Slimming World. ‘You’re 12st 9lb,’ the leader said, when I was weighed. At just 5ft 3in, that was definitely overweight. Determined, I stuck to the plan, swapping crisp snacks and sausage rolls for jacket potatoes and salads. The pounds dropped off, but I still wasn’t happy - I wanted a toned bod, too!…

A HEALTHY BALANCE Cutting back on treats helped Tracey slim NAME: Tracey Howson, 34, from Leeds VITAL STATISTICS: I was overweight even as a child. As I got older, I’d lose weight and then gain it all again! After meeting my partner, Tom, the weight crept up, and then I got pregnant. At home with a baby, I ate all day. By the time he was 2 in Jan 2012, I weighed 19st 4lb. MY MOTIVATION: Climbing stairs left me breathless and even walking had become a bit of a struggle! MY ACTION PLAN: I liked weight expert Steve Miller’s 80:20 concept of eating healthily 80 per cent of the time, and what you want the rest of the time. So I got myself a portion plate and lost 3st…

It’s funny the things kids are interested in. From the age of 2, my son, Callam, was fascinated by the police. ‘What do they do?’ he asked me, a year or so later. ‘They catch bad people and protect us,’ me and my husband, Richard, 43, said. One day in September 2014 there were quite a few police cars in the area. A few days later... ‘Can I write a letter to the police?’ Callam, then 8, requested. ‘Ask them if I can see the station?’ ‘OK, but they’re very busy, so they might not have time,’ I said, not wanting him to be disappointed. An hour later, he showed me his handwritten letter. Dear police man, I am Callam… the letter began. We posted it that morning. Two days…

VIRGO 24 Aug-23 Sept How you interact with others, how they perceive you, and your competitive spirit are all to the fore this month Virgo. If you are happily connected to a special person, March can be a time when this tie becomes an even more integral part of your existence. For this or any other relationship to thrive there has to be a sense of simpatico around your emotional responses and your home life. So, if you are sharing your abode with any person or working with an individual you find challenging to get along with, then this month does have some potential sticking points. But it also has the potential to harmonise things if you're prepared to be flexible and meet people halfway. This is underlined by the…

‘Careful not to wake the boys, we did a silent dance!’ My friends loved going to the bingo hall together. ‘It’s a laugh, you should come,’ a mate said. I wasn’t much of a bingo player, but I thought I’d give it a try. And they were right, I had so much fun. But, a single mum to three kids, I rarely found the time to go. Then a friend suggested online bingo. After looking at a few sites online, I came across Pick Me Up! Bingo. There were so many great games, I was spoilt for choice. So I decided to try a few out, to see what I liked. Quickly Sapphire, a 90-ball bingo game, became my fave. I played a few lines here and there, but I…

A cheeky little snap? While my fit fiancé, Darren, 24, enjoyed the scenery from our hotel balcony in Cape Verde, I took this pic – we both had a great view! Jayne Alexander, Hamilton Such a laugh! This is my boyfriend, Steve, shadow dancing with Eric Morecambe. Janet Murphy, York Licks good OK, it’s not summer yet – but I can still treat myself to a cornet on the beach! Sarah Robertson, Glasgow Trot a nicepic! Oink, oink! My mum, Sue, had a swill time on a family day out to our local farm. Annette Pruden, Bedford Grr-eat fun I’ll probably never visit India to see the real thing – so I was glad to make friends with this pair! Jane Price, Sidmouth A hoppy couple... Our rabbit, Millie, loves…

The dress hung from my emaciated frame Why do people say school days are the best days? When I was 15, bullies made my life hell. In the canteen, in the changing rooms, they’d poke me in the ribs and say: ‘Getting porky?’ At 4ft 9in, 7st and a size 10, I was far from overweight. For some reason, they singled me out. Maybe they saw how much it got to me? Each night, I’d stare at my reflection in the mirror. And soon, a voice in my head was saying, You're fat, just like they say. So I made a decision. No more chocolate, crisps, chips or fizzy drinks. ‘You don’t need to diet,’ my mum, Lesley, 59, insisted, as I turned down sweets. ‘I’m being healthy,’ I replied.…

Every Sunday, I don’t just feed my husband, Colin, 42, and children, Stacey, 25, Kirsty, 20, Saffron, 6, and Shae, 5. There are 30 more hungry mouths waiting for my scrummy spuds, too! In March 2014, I began to volunteer for my local dog pound. After lunch one Sunday, and after giving scraps to my four dogs, I still had lots leftover. ‘I’m going to take these to the pound,’ I told Colin. But there wasn’t enough grub! ‘We’ll choose the malnourished dogs first,’ my manager said. So, I went home, cooked up more food and took it along to the pound. From there, the idea was born. ‘I’m going to give the dogs a roast every week!’ I said to Colin. The next Saturday, I spent the evening cooking…

Yellow pus was leaking from a hole in my chest! What teenage girl doesn’t hate getting changed after PE? For me, it was especially horrible. No matter how much I tried to hide, I could feel my classmates’ eyes on me. Then the comments... ‘Ugh, your chest is disgusting.’ So cruel. Thing was though, I agreed. Aged 3, I’d had a bad accident. My mum, Christine, now 60, had nipped to the loo. I’d managed to climb over a baby gate and wander into the kitchen, where there was a pan boiling on the stove. Reaching up, I’d pulled it over onto myself, the scorching water burning my skin. Mum rushed me to Queen Mary’s Hospital. I’ve no memory of the pain, but the scars wouldn’t be so easy to…

‘Sport wasn't really my thing – especially running’ Back in 1999, my dad, Charlie, now 54, who served in the army, started to lose his sight. It was down to retinitis pigmentosa, a genetic disease. In 2007, after my mum, Jacqui, 51, pestered him, he got in touch with Blind Veterans UK. Over time, they helped Dad to live his life again. 'They've given me a guide, so I can do the Great South Run,' he grinned back in 2011. He enjoyed it so much, he found another race to do. 'I really want to do the Great North Run,' he said. 'Will you do it with me as my guide?' Sport wasn't really my thing – especially running. And the event was over 13 miles! But if I didn't…

‘I was happy and my boys meant the world to me’ Staring at the positive pregnancy test, part of me was excited about becoming a mum. But I was nervous, too Just 18, I was still so young, and my boyfriend, David Thorburn, wasn’t exactly marriage material. ‘I’m pregnant,’ I said to David, nervously. ‘I’m not ready for this,’ he said, didn’t want to know - and I knew it was for the best. Thank heavens my parents were supportive and, as my bump grew, I got more excited. In November 1995, my lovely Cameron was born. I heard through friends David was taking drugs, up to no good. When Cameron was about 4, I was out shopping and saw David. ‘I’d like to see my son,’ he said. I…

He slipped a white-gold ring onto my finger Growing up, Disney was my passion. And, as I got older, it didn’t fade. So, when my bloke, Karl Ritchie, 23, asked what my perfect holiday would be soon after we started dating in July 2012, there was only one answer. ‘Disney World!’ I laughed. Karl worked as machine operator and I had a part-time job in retail, so we couldn’t stretch to it. Then, Karl had news. ‘I’ve had a tax rebate!’ he said. ‘Let’s go to Disney World!’ So in July 2013, we hit the skies. On the second day in Florida, we went to Disney World. I spent most of the day queuing up to meet characters with all the kids! Top of my list was Ariel from The…

‘I grew and grew. I tried diets, but they never worked’ ‘When Jack was at school, I went for long walks’ Looking at the clock, I felt a guilty swirl in the pit of my stomach. It was just before 10am, and everything I’d bought was already gone. Devoured. After taking my son, Jack, 4, to school, I’d popped to the shop and bought treats - some Maltesers and biscuits. Then eaten them all as soon as I got home. A typical weekday morning for me, really. My food addiction started when I hit puberty. It was all about comfort. Eating just made me feel better, especially chocolate. Kids teased me at school and my mum gently urged me to lose weight. But I had no motivation, and as I…

Nervous as hell. That’s how I felt waiting at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital for my results. It was February 2013, and I’d been asked in by the doctors for hormone tests. I hadn’t had a period in over a year. In that time, I kept going to my GP. And I always got the same answer. ‘They’ll settle eventually, could just be stress.’ But the worry was eating away at me inside. I was 15 when I started my periods, which was late. But they were regular. Then in February 2012, they stopped. ‘I know something’s wrong,’ I pleaded with the doctors. Finally, a year later, the hospital gave me a hormone test. I had an FSH blood test, to measure my ovarian reserve to see how many eggs I had…

There's nothing worse than knowing you're overweight. And I was big as a child. By 14, I was a size-12/14. By 24, having discovered drive-throughs and alcohol, I was a 16/18. All on my 5ft 6in frame. I met Anthony, 34, when I was 28. We had our first child, Dylan, a year after we married and by the time we had our second, Pippa, I was 12st. And I couldn't shake my bad habits – going back for two helpings at home, munching on chips hours after a Chinese. In 2008, I started getting health problems. Fatigue, back pain, a foggy head. It was five years later before I found out why. 'You've got an underactive thyroid,' doctors said. It wasn't caused by my weight, but I was a…

‘If I get married, I want the whole family involved' The same way some women dream of their dress, when it comes to getting married, I dreamed of my party. ‘If I ever get married, I want the whole family involved,’ I used to say. Well, I grew up one of nine and we had a huge extended family. But, when I got to 38 and my 23-year relationship ended, I didn’t think there’d ever be a wedding - let alone a guest list. Then, in 2004, I bumped into Shaun Lawrence, then 43. We’d known each other as teenagers, and got on well before. ‘Funny our paths are crossing again now!’ I laughed. Over the next few weeks, we caught up. He told me his 19-year marriage had ended,…

‘They got to work making some leaflets’ As my kids charged around the garden, I'd never felt more at home. Only one problem –it wasn't our pad. Not yet, anyway. It was 1 January 2014, and my husband, Dave, 47, and I were viewing a house. We weren't desperate to up sticks. Until we spotted this five-bed in the paper. 'We'll just have a look,' Dave and I agreed. Only we quickly fell in love! As did our kids, Ella, 8, Tomass, 6, and Alex, 2. 'Let's make an offer,' I pleaded. And the next day, it was accepted! 'We haven't even put our house on the market,' Dave said. Though we planned to contact an estate agent, we couldn't hide our excitement from the kids. So. 'We'd love to…

Basket case My pup, Poppy, sleeps anywhere – even in my nephew’s teddy basket! Claire Thompson, Crewe Cracking idea... On his first walkies, my 3-month-old Westie, Ziggy, made straight for this egg-cup playground ride! Karen Wells, Northampton Eye see you! Here’s tiny Mitzi curled up with my bloke, Chris, 25. I didn’t know dogs could wink! Georgina Webster, Bodfari Dog tired When our bulldog, Holly, chills, she goes flat out! Stacy Gibson, Evesham You nutter! Missy, my playful pup, enjoys nothing more than head-butting her ball! Emma Bennet, Burnham Pawfect look... Here’s our pooch, Buddy, showing off his new nails to pal Junior! Mrs Reddy, Cumberworth…

‘I didn't want to believe that he was cheating’ Love finds you when you stop looking, so they say. And that’s how it happened with me - single for 10 years, I’d given up on romance. Then, in May 2014, I popped to The Burlington pub in Blackpool, where I met John Butler. He was dark-haired, handsome and a fair bit younger than me! ‘Would you like a drink?’ he asked, smiling. As we chatted, John told me he’d recently moved to Blackpool from Birmingham. When I left, he took my number and added me as a friend on Facebook. We met up a few days on for a walk on the prom. It was lovely, but our age gap played on my mind. ‘I’m 40,’ I said, worried it’d…

My mum, Susan, used to look after people's pets while their owners went away. One of our favourite guests was Charlie the parrot. In 2012, his owner sadly passed away – and left Charlie to us. Charlie and I were close. He'd let me tickle him, recognised my voice. 'How are you?' he'd chatter. In September 2014, I went to Portsmouth to study journalism. 'I'll Skype you,' I promised my parents. In the first few weeks, I turned on my webcam and said hello to my family. But suddenly. ‘Hello! Hello!' It was Charlie! He must've recognised my voice. My parents brought him over, and he started trying to grab the iPad, to touch me. 'Well?' he asked. 'Yeah, I'm well. Have you been doing washing up?' I asked him.…

Tips This month… Jeremy Andrews, Powys 1 No weighting Weight in your car makes the vehicle use more fuel. Don't load it up unnecessarily. 2 Digital outdoors Can't get kids away from gadgets? Bring them on a walk. They can take pics or use a treasure-hunt app. 3 Wipe clean Use face wipes to clean deodorant stains from clothes. 4 Paint free Before decorating, clean your hands with washing-up liquid - paint will come off much easier. 5 Eye-watering! When painting, put an onion in the room to absorb the fumes.…

Most kids are thrilled if they get money for a pressie. And, back in December 2013, my daughter Amy, 7, was no different. Only she wasn’t excited to spend it on toys or games. ‘I want to give it to charity. There are poorly children in hospital,’ she said, matter-of-fact. My husband, David, 42, and I looked at each other in surprise. Where had that come from? I’d done the Macmillan Girls’ Night In back in April 2013. We donated the amount of money we would’ve spent on a night out. We had a blast, and afterwards, Amy said she wanted to fundraise for them, too. But I never expected her to give away her own cash. ‘You keep it, treat yourself. Instead, we’ll help you raise money,’ David said.…

The dog's jaws clamped onto my face My friend Gemma’s mum took one look at my swollen belly. ‘Stay for dinner,’ she insisted. ‘Make sure baby’s fed!’ I was 29 weeks gone with my first, and had popped to see Gemma and her mum, Tracie Taylor, 49. Today, 14 May 2013, after we’d enjoyed Tracie’s sausage and mash, she let in their dog, Koda, which was an Akita. I had two Staffies myself, loved dogs. So I wasn’t worried when Koda followed us upstairs. We’d not been up there long when I got a text. As I was texting a reply, Koda turned to me, his teeth bared. Before I could move, the dog’s jaws clamped onto my face! Numb, I didn’t feel pain. I tried to prise his jaws…

‘I'd really gone to town with ‘eating for two'!’ My plate was piled high. Meat pie, lashings of thick, creamy gravy. ‘And extra chips for the baby,’ I grinned to my boyfriend, John. It was my second helping. For dessert, I gorged on chocolate. It was August 1999 and I was six months pregnant. I’d really gone to town with ‘eating for two’! I was only 18, John was 19. We’d met a year earlier, and couldn’t wait to start a family. ‘Let’s have kids early, so we can have fun once they’re all grown-up,’ I’d said. John had agreed, and he proposed while I was pregnant. As my bump swelled, I ate everything in sight. Delicious Chinese takeaways, roast dinners, pie and chips - with endless packets of Monster…

My head had ploughed through the window A good start is half the work. That’s my motto. I never leave the house without having brekkie, always with time to spare. And that’s exactly what I did on 15 November 2013. Having devoured a bowl of porridge, I wrapped up warm and headed off for work. After defrosting my car windscreen, I started the 20-minute drive to the office. I was travelling at 53mph - well under the 60mph speed limit - down a country lane, listening to the radio, when suddenly I went up a slight incline in the road, skidded out of control. The more I tried to turn the wheel, the more the car spun in the opposite direction. I'm on the wrong side of the road! I…

Me and my man, Paul, 25, met in 2011, and instantly hit it off, both enjoying the same things. Well, except one... ‘I’d love to do a skydive!’ I said. It turned out Paul hated heights, though, so I let it lie It was our second anniversary in July 2013. The day before, Paul sat me down. ‘We’re doing a skydive tomorrow,’ he said. I couldn’t believe it! Next day, after our induction, we sat in the plane. As we took off, I looked at Paul, his body shaking. ‘Are you sure you want to do this?’ I asked. ‘Yeah,’ he said, forcing a smile. The first one to jump, the guide led Paul to the edge of the open door. Then Paul suddenly held up a piece of paper.…

Family His wedding’s a worry Libby, 23, Manchester My dad lives abroad, and has recently got engaged. The wedding is planned for next year and he said he wants me to go. However, his side of my family always make me feel really uncomfortable in their company, so I try to avoid them as much as I can. There are a couple of them who have stopped speaking to me for absolutely no reason, too. I don’t know who’ll be attending the wedding, which makes me wary about going. I’m unsure how to tell my dad that I’m thinking of not going, as he has a short temper and a tendency to fall out with people, even over the smallest thing. Should I just go to the wedding?…

As soon as the film ended, I grabbed my laptop and searched the Internet. Beauty pageants in the UK, I typed into Google. I’d just watched Miss Congeniality, and was curious about local events similar to those shown in the movie. ‘I’m thinking of entering one,’ I told my mum, Caroline, 52. ‘Really?’ she asked, surprised but excited. Well, she’d won Miss Wales back in the 80s, and competed in Miss International-UK. Now, at 16, I thought it’d be fun. So, in 2010, I entered Teen Model of the Year. Unbelievably, I came third! But what surprised me most was that I really enjoyed it. Shortly after, I came second at Miss Teen Galaxy, and went on to compete in a few others. It was never going to be a…

As soon as I saw my daughter Alex’s sullen expression, I knew something was wrong. Usually, she was the happiest, bubbliest person in the room. ‘What’s the matter?’ I fretted. ‘Noel Fielding tickets are all sold out,’ she huffed. ‘Oh, no - that’s a shame,’ I replied, stifling a giggle. Comedian Noel Fielding was Alex’s biggest crush. She wanted to go to his gig for her upcoming 16th birthday, two months away. Little did she know her dad, Shaun Hardiment, 51, had already bagged a pair as a surprise! Me and Shaun had split when Alex was 9. Four years on, I married my hubby, Nick Curry. Luckily, we all got on like a house on fire and Shaun had sworn me to secrecy about his birthday surprise. ‘Life sucks,’…

Sometimes, being a parent means letting your little ones win. But when it comes to playing Scrabble against my son, Jack, now 13, we don’t have to! When Jack was just 6, my husband, Adam, 45, and I noticed he had a real interest in Scrabble. He’d ask to play and really concentrated on his turn. As he got a little older, Jack was beating us hands down. So in summer 2010, Jack took part in an official Scrabble tournament. At just 10, he won the Newcomers division! Jack went on to compete at the World Championships in the Phillipines in December. He played 24 games of Scrabble across three days. He didn’t win, but had a great time. In 2013, Jack won the Under-14 World Championships and he’s now…

‘Soon police started digging up her garden’ In 1988, Sacramento, California, a police investigation was underway... Not only had neighbours complained of a terrible stench seeping out of Dorothea Puente’s home, but a man was missing, too. The white-haired 59-year-old woman was thought to be kind-hearted. Her rosebushes and home-grown tomatoes were the envy of the neighbourhood. She put it down to her special fertiliser. But the sweet, cloying smell emanating from her garden was unmistakable... Social worker Judy Moise had helped place Bert Montoya, a mentally ill man, at the boarding house Puente ran. She went to check on Bert. Whilst Puente offered various explanations for his absence, Judy grew suspicious and reported it to the police. Soon, investigators started digging up Dorothea’s garden. They made a horrific discovery.…

‘‘Three girls for my three girls,' Dad smiled’ Heading to my sister Maria’s house one Friday night, I was nervous, but excited. ‘I think I’m pregnant,’ I told her. ‘Me, too!’ she said. Me, Maria, now 27, and our older sister, Sarah, 29, had always been close. Sure, there’d been squabbles when we were teenagers, but now we were best friends. We socialised together and went to our parents’ every Sunday. We each brought a dish along with us - and our partners! That night, in November 2013, Maria and I decided to buy pregnancy tests and take them together. Mine was negative. But then I heard a screech. ‘Jess!’ Maria yelled. ‘Come up here and look at this!’ Positive. She called her partner, Chris, our parents - and, of…