Innholdsfortegnelse for Winter Special 2016 i Pick Me Up! Special

When it's freezing outside, my favourite winter warmer is a hot cuppa watching Corrie with my two gorgeous house bunnies. So, pet lover Lisa's barking idea of recreating scenes from her favourite films for a calendar using her dogs (p27) tickled me pink! Slimmer Katie continued the movie star theme (p22) - celebrating her six-stone weight loss by dressing as a Disney Princess and joining an 11-strong choir. This month's Pick Me Up Winter has some deeply disturbing crime stories, too. Raped by her evil neighbour, Jessica discovered her terrible ordeal had also been filmed by her attacker (p18). While Kim (p6) tells how her niece was killed in the Caribbean by her brutal hubby after she learned he'd bedded their babysitter. Alongside incredible real life stories, there's travel, fashion,…

‘She made excuses Ð despite having broken bones’ Looking through the window at cold, rainy London, my mind wandered to the sunnier climes. To the luscious Caribbean paradise of Grenada, to be precise. It was where my niece, Nixiann Downes-Clack, had settled with her hubby Alex Clack. And I missed her like mad. Born on Grenada, we’d both moved to London for school and lived together here for 11 years. I’d emigrated first, aged 14, when a relative had given me the chance to study in England. Writing home to Nixiann about my life in Bermondsey, south London, I raved about everything. Our mums were sisters, but because of our 11 year age gap, she’d always called me Aunty Kim. And I was delighted when, aged 11, Nixiann joined me…

Meet the expert: Sophie Gladwin is a junior designer for Tu at Sainsbury’s. Visit tuclothing. sainsburys. co.uk IT’S PUFFER PERFECTION Karen, 32, Yorkshire Matalan puffer jacket Sophie says: This selection represents a practical person who loves the outdoors. They like a coat to be functional, and this is a great choice with the multiple pockets. She likes to layer up and be cosy – especially for winter walks in the park with the dog. Black is the perfect colour for being outside because it won’t show up any dirt – and it’s a classic! Karen says: I don’t think of myself as very outdoorsy, but I do cycle everywhere and I need a practical coat with lots of pockets for carrying my keys etc. I’m more…

‘When I came round, Glen was on top of me’ I’d known Glen Mills for a while. We had mutual friends and, when I moved to a new home in April 2014, he was my next door neighbour. ‘How are you?’ he’d ask, stopping for a chat in the street. People had warned me to steer clear of him, said he was trouble, but he was nice enough to me. I was a single mum to Finley, 3, and he’d sometimes play with Glen’s kids in his garden. I’d pop my head over the fence to check on him. He always seemed happy. Bumping into Glen again in the June, we started nattering. ‘Why don’t we have a drink on Friday?’ Glen, then 30, said. He had a party that…

‘We had always brought the kids up to be antidrugs’ ‘Cocaine wrecked my lad's life... I'll never stop fighting’ Every mum thinks their son is good as gold. And I was no different. My Carl, now 30, had it all. Hard-working and bright, he had loads of pals and his own flat near mine and his dad Gary’s home in Farnborough, Hampshire. He owned his own digging company, too. Even in the dead of winter - with rain hammering down on the roof - he’d be outside. ‘I’m so proud of you,’ I’d tell him. Overalls on, swigging a cuppa, he was full of life. A Royal Marine as a lad, fitness was important to Carl. ‘I don’t know how you do it,’ I’d remark, as he pulled on his…

My Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Lucy, 7, hasn't always looked like a model mutt. In February 2013, I discovered her on a rescue centre website and learned she'd survived appalling conditions, having been bred for profit on a puppy farm. Skin and bone, just 8lb – about half what she should be – Lucy was covered in bald patches, and was nearly blind in her left eye. I had two dogs already – a Lhasa Apso, Daisy, then 4, and a Cavalier, Lady, then 2. My life revolved around mutts, running my online business, Little Pooch Dog Boutique. After asking for email updates and sending treats, in March 2013, I adopted Lucy. She soon settled, grew stronger. To document her journey in photos, I launched Facebook page Lucy…

‘I knew our baby would be quick. But not four minutes!’ Lying on the sofa watching The Dark Knight, I felt like a beached whale. It was February 2016, and I was nine months and four days pregnant, feeling ready to burst! ‘Come on little one, it’s time to come out now’, I whispered. On maternity leave from my job as a support worker, I’d tried hot curries, hot baths, pineapple... every old wives’ tale in the book. But this little mite was clearly very stubborn - even before she was born! My partner Scott Robinson, 26, had put the film on to take my mind off my back pain. It wasn’t working, though. At last, at 11.30pm, my contractions had started... By 1am I called our midwife at St…

Fish Pie With Cauliflower Mash Serves 4 Prep Time 20 mins Cook time 50 mins • 1 large cauliflower, broken into florets (around 750g) • 2 tbsp half-fat crème fraîche • 15g unsalted butter • 1 tbsp plain flour • 300ml semi-skimmed milk • 2 tsp wholegrain mustard • 200g spinach • 300g smoked haddock fillet, cut into large chunks • 250g skinless salmon fillet, cut into large chunks • 15g Parmesan, finely grated 1 Cook the cauliflower in boiling water for 8-10 minutes. Drain and set aside in a colander for a few minutes to steam-dry. Transfer to a food processor with the crème fraîche and blitz to a purée. Season. 2 Heat the butter in a frying pan over a medium heat until frothy. Add the flour and…

‘It's fair to describe this as a paradise for little boys’ ‘For kids, the pool area is the world's best playdate’ It’s 35°C and we’re shambling down a dusty track on the back of a camel somewhere in Gran Canaria. My five-year-old son breaks into a grin as our guide hands him a freshly-picked fig to eat. This is absolutely not the sort of peaceful situation I expected to find myself in on our first visit to the Canary Islands, where we are staying at a family resort at the peak of school holiday action. I was braced for carnage. My son Arthur is looking like a miniature extra from the set of Lawrence of Arabia after careening around the local mountain roads in a 4x4 jeep on our way…

INSTANT Appointment With Professor Stephen Spiro The British Lung Foundation’s honorary advisor answers your respiratory questions… Worse with time? Q My mother’s been diagnosed with mild emphysema at 64. Will it get much worse? Bella, Greater Manchester A Probably not if diagnosed as mild at 64. I assume she smoked but has now given up? There are rare genetic causes of emphysema, triggered by smoking, but this normally presents at a younger age. She should keep active - walking’s wonderful - and she should do well. Generally, the severity and rate of progression of COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), including emphysema, depends on somebody’s smoking history. Chronic concern Q I’ve had a few bouts of bronchitis. I wondered if this is the same as having ‘chronic bronchitis’? Lynda, Norfolk A…

Dipping my fingers in a pot of wax, I tweaked and twirled my hair until it looked perfect. Next, I made a little ponytail here and there, tying them in place with ribbons in little bows. Pretty as a picture! With my luscious locks styled to perfection, I was ready to step out in style. But this was no ordinary barnet. look - a pretty dress, some nice shoes and a cardi - with a prolific beard. Yes, you heard right, I’m a gal with a goatee! I was 14 when I first noticed stubble sprouting on my chin. ‘What the...’ I’d gasped, devastated, seeing stray hairs peppering my upper lip and chest. They had to go… now! So, taking a razor, I blitzed them. From then on, I shaved…

Cool dude My hubby had a very relaxing time while we were on holiday in Sweden! Cassie Tahiraj, Radcliffe How funny! Have you heard the joke about the playing cards? It’s no big deal! On the lookout Here’s my daughter, Bunnie, 19 months, wishing she was outside playing in the snow! Gemma Davies, Gloucester How funny! What's white and fluffy and lives in the jungle? A meringue-utan! Santa Claws! I had to share this photo of our adorable cat, Winston, from Christmas last year! Natalie Robson, Sheffield How funny! Why don't polar bears eat penguins? They can’t get the wrappers off! Just zip it... I wrapped up really warm to go to Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park, London. Colleen Brunton, Enfield Tash-tastic Here’s my son, Murray, 9, enjoying a milkshake!…

‘A red, blotchy rash spread all over my body’ Pushing my sunglasses back on my nose, I curled up on the sofa, flicking through the TV channels. ‘There’s nothing to watch,’ I sighed. Seeing the bleak winter weather outside, I felt totally miserable. Yes, you heard right. I was wearing dark sunglasses inside in midwinter! You see, light sensitivity was just one of the horrible side effects caused by my dodgy breast implants. I’d had a boob job after many years of being teased about my pancake chest. A 32A, at school, kids dubbed me BBG - or ‘breast bone girl’ - as I had a bone sticking out of my chest, made more prominent by my tiny bosom. So, I was overjoyed in 2009 when I breastfed my son…

Pulling open the oven door, a rush of hot air warmed my cheeks. Inhaling deeply, I breathed in that familiar scent of warm pastry and sweet, sugary mince. Bliss! With winter well and truly setting in, it was bitter outside. So, how better to beat the chill than with a piping hot mince pie, washed down with a brew? To most people, mince pies are something that goes hand in hand with Christmas. But not me. I’m absolutely mad about them. Always have been. And I tuck into them all year round. For me, they aren’t just a scrumptious, snack - they’re my meal ticket. See, I’m a professional mince pie taster. I know it’s not exactly a job title you hear about every day. But I absolutely love what…

1 www.spotify.com/uk Boasting over 30 million tracks, with Spotify you can stream your favourite songs, discover new ones and enjoy playlists on all your devices for free! You can pay £9.99 a month to go ad free. 2 www.soundcloud.com With over 175 million listeners a month, SoundCloud – the free audio platform – is the ideal stomping ground if you’re looking to discover smaller artists and share music. 3 www.apple.com/uk/music Available on everything from iPhones to Android, Apple Music has as much music as Spotify, plus its own radio station. Get the first three months free, then it’s £9.99 a month. 4 www.play.google.com As well as a library of 35 million, ad-free songs, if you sign up to Google Play Music you can get 50,000 songs from your own computer…

‘The one thing he did remember was Gracie’ Curled up, toasty warm in bed, I was looking forward to my early night. It was getting dark so early, I’d even switched the heating on. Bliss. What was that? It was 2.30am and our black Patterdale Terrier, Gracie, was barking non-stop. Then, a thud... We’d fostered Gracie a month earlier, in September 2015, along with her five newborn puppies. She’d been abandoned, heavily pregnant, and found wandering the streets. I work at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home in Old Windsor, Berkshire, and couldn’t resist taking her and her puppies in. Now, wrapped in a dressing gown, I went to check on her. To my horror, I found my stepdad Andy Smith, 48, lying facedown in the lounge. ‘Andy?’ I cried. Nothing.…

RINK-REDIBLE! Get your skates on at the National Ice Centre in Nottingham. If you’re feeling brave, learn to play ice hockey, get your glitz on with figure skating or fly like the wind as a speed skater! • £6.50 + £2 skate hire. Visit www.national-ice-centre.com SNOW WORRIES Head to London’s Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park, where this year there’s a brand new attraction, The Magical Ice Kingdom. Made out of a whopping 200 tonnes of ice and snow, pop by between 18 November and 2 January. • Adults, from £7; children, from £5. Visit hydeparkwinterwonderland.com CRACKING FUN! The kids will never misbehave again if you get them tickets to Disney On Ice Presents Frozen ! See Elsa, Anna and Olaf the adorable snowman spin, dazzle and sing…

1 Deluxe Mulled Wine Chutney, £1.29, Lidl Mmm, the smell of winter! This fruit-filled mulled wine chutney really livens up cold cuts of meat. Delicious. 2 Ploughman's Plum Chutney, £1, Tesco Cheese and this chutney go hand in hand. And because it's nice and sweet, you only need a smidge to add some flavour to your sarnie. 3 Branston Caramelised Onion Chutney, £1.48, Morrisons Sweet onions without the trauma of cooking them, hooray! This chutney was cracking in a crusty roll with cheese.…

‘The speeding cyclist had come from nowhere’ ‘Has the naughty man on the bicycle gone?' she asked’ All mums know how hectic the school run can be. Bundling your kids out the door on time is no mean feat. For us, organisation was crucial! My partner of 10 years, Matthew Wilding, 26, and I had three gorgeous girls. Our eldest, Katie, 6, Lucie, 3, and Ellie, 7 months. They definitely kept us on our toes. And one day, in May last year, we’d everything planned. I was picking Katie up from school, while Matthew took Lucie and Ellie to wash his car. ‘I’ll just pop Lucie in your car,’ I told Matthew. Opening the front door, I walked down the path and through our gate. Little Lucie toddled behind me.…

Pulling into the drive-through, I rolled down the window and leaned out into the chilly night. ‘A six-piece chicken meal with a Coke and an extra cheeseburger,’ I ordered. Sitting in the McDonald’s car park, I devoured the takeaway in just a few minutes. But I loved all food. Despite the crisps, chocolate and takeaways, I hovered around a size 14. Or so I thought…. Clothes shopping was a nightmare, though. ‘Why won’t you fit,’ I grumbled, trying to yank on size-14 jeans. Exhausted, I gave up, deciding they must be wrongly sized. Needing something new to wear on a night out with friends, I texted my mate, Amy. HELP, I need a dress for tonight. Can I borrow one? I messaged her. A few moments later, my phone buzzed…

Sarah, 34, Tunbridge Wells Ever since my hubby and I first met, we’ve always dreamt of saving up enough to move to the seaside and open our own B&B. My husband’s been working two jobs for years to make it happen, and I took a hospitality course so I’d be able to manage the business side of things once we were set up. It’s taken us a really, really long time and a lot of hard work to get to this point, but we finally think we might be ready to do it. Our plan is to get things moving so we’ll be able to make a fresh start at the beginning of the new year, and we’re really excited about it, even though we know it’ll be tough leaving…

Okey Cokey Keep this chart handy in case you forget the moves at the office party. What a fun(gi)! Stay poison free with this old chestnut Close shave There's no excuse for growing a goatee, but at least now we know how it's done! Colour blind We'd rather not sea sharks either, thanks very much! Hocus pocus For when you're not quite sure just how wicked you're feeling. Drink up January is going to be all about the vitamins. Chartography: The Weird and Wonderful World of Infographics by Stephen Wildish is published in hardback by Summersdale, priced £9.99.…

game’s motto. And I was ready to! Obsessed with checking my mobile phone, I strolled to the local park. It was a month since my friends had first introduced me to Pokemon Go... and I was hooked! I remembered playing the game the first time around, when I was 10, on a Gameboy. We’d walk around an animated zone, looking for animal, dinosaur and dragon-type characters. Pikachu, Bulbasaur, Charmander… But the new, interactive version was totally addictive. You could be down the pub, at the supermarket, or even in the bath and suddenly, Squirtle the turtle could appear on your screen. ‘Gotta catch them all!’ was the Meeting my mates in Regent’s Park, in London, there was a buzz of excitement. ‘It’s over there,’ I heard strangers whispering and pointing.…

My fella, Phil Pidgeon, 24, asked me out while I worked part-time at a local bar. Both film fans, we watched Inception at the cinema for our first date in September 2010. From then an item, we moved in together in 2014, and soon discussed marriage. Phil wasn't the sort for grand gestures, so I wasn't expecting an extravagant proposal. Then, on 9 June 2015, I got home from work around 5pm. Phil's car wasn't in the drive as normal. Strange. Indoors, I found a note on the hall cupboard: I want to treat you tonight, expect a knock at the door at 7pm. Next, arrows on the floor led me upstairs. Another cryptic note on the bathroom door simply read: Get…

HAIR TODAY, GONE TOMORROW Until 22 November, bottles of shampoo and conditioner in the Phil Smith BE GORGEOUS range at Sainsbury’s will be £2 instead of £3.50! SAY CHEESE Head to Morrisons, where Gallo Risotto Pronto mushroom and four cheese risottos will be £1.50 (RRP £1.90) from 21 November-5 December! Cough up Fight off nasty colds with Sambucol Immuno Forte. There’s 25% off until 27 November. Get pickled Stock up on Haywards silverskin pickled onions at Morrisons, at £1 down from £1.98 until 19 December! MAX OUT You can nab two boxes of Nestlé Maxibon ice cream sandwiches at Tesco for £3 until 12 December – they’re usually £2 a pop!…

‘What kind of girl hoped they would wake up a boy?’ ‘I hate the way I look. But I've learned to love myself’ Running through the front door, I tore off my shoes and sprinted up the staircase. Within seconds I was settled at my computer and frantically checking the messages. One... two… three… four! The unread messages flashed up on my screen and I got to work responding. Most girls my age spent their free time shopping, watching films and gossiping with their friends. Yet I couldn’t wait to wile away my evenings talking to my girl friends online. But there was one slight snag. My friends didn’t know the whole truth. To my family I was Poppy, a normal teenage girl. But to my friends online, I was…

Wrap tin foil around your hob, with holes for the hot plates. Simply replace the foil when it becomes greasy. Sabina Gurung, Aldershot How about a fun alternative to expensive, store-bought birthday cakes? Just decorate a pile of pretty doughnuts with ribbons, flowers and candles. Lynne Newton, Spennymoor I bought this plain chest from a charity shop and put wrapping paper on it with Blu-Tack – it’s easy to remove if I want to change the design. Kitty Pink, Wirral Throw away packaging, then freeze items in a bag, along with cut-out cooking instructions. Sally Court, Holme Hale Having a girly party? Hang tutus over your chairs to make fun, stylish seat covers! F Giblin, Vale of Glamorgan Keep a shoebox filled with paper, stickers and other craft goodies. It’ll…

1 Compare notes First and foremost, check you're getting the best deal in your area. A site such as www.uswitch.com will compare the market for you. 2 Bright idea Invest in energy-saving light bulbs. They'll reduce your costs and last up to 12 times longer. 3 Dish the dirt Load your dishwasher efficiently and only click it on when it's full. If you have the option, go for the economy setting. 4 Tap out Still not fixed that leaky tap? A hot water tap can waste enough hot water to fill a bath in a week! 5 On the boil Kick the habit of boiling a full kettle every time - only boil the amount you need. 6 Old flame Up the relaxation factor by enjoying your dinner - and…

From the minute I first clapped eyes on Ariel in The Little Mermaid , I’ve wanted to be a Disney princess. I was 4 and my nan, Kath, had taken me to the cinema. I don’t think I’ve stopped singing the soundtrack since! I’ve always loved singing... signing up for every school play, driving my mum and dad nuts with my constant warbling. ‘I’m going to be a Disney princess one day,’ I’d tell my mum, Debbie. I didn’t have the princess dresses my friends had growing up. Money was tight. But when I got older, my parents splashed out on singing lessons for me. Determined to work in theatre, I quit my academic subjects at sixth-form college in favour of a BTEC in Performing Arts. My parents were disappointed…

Woof! Woof! Our Border Collie, Mist, wagged her tail, frantically. ‘Time for walkies,’ I cooed. ‘I’ll take her out,’ my husband, Robin, 44, said, opening the front door. Mist, 4, bounded out, before sitting patiently in the driveway, waiting for him. Always obedient, she was also a little anxious - a characteristic of her breed. Now, waving Robin and Mist off, I settled down to watch telly. But a few minutes later, I heard a screech of tyres, followed by a desperate cry for help. ‘Call the vet, a car’s hit Mist!’ Robin yelled. Grabbing my mobile, I sprinted out into the road. Mist was lying on the tarmac, blood covering her legs, her breathing laboured. Spooked by something ‘My poor baby’, I sobbed. Mist was transferred to Langford veterinary…

‘My three boys, all gone. How does a mother get over that?’ Smiling, I listened to the rough and tumble as my twin boys played outside. Patrick and Thomas, 9-and-a-half, were so full of life. ‘We’re going down the park!’ they’d holler. ‘Be good then,’ I’d call back. Luckily, their older brother, Jonathan, 21, who adored them, was around to keep them safe. When they got home, I’d ask what they’d been up to. Swimming, playing footie against Jonathan... it was always something like that. My husband, Thomas, 46, and I had taken Jonathan in when he was 3 days old, officially adopting him at 15. We loved him like our flesh and blood. So did Paddy and Tom Tom, as we called them. They all loved boxing and karate.…

‘Peering beneath the bandages, I was in for a shock’ ‘‘I've never seen anything like it,' a doctor said’ It was extreme. And I can’t tell you how nervous I was. But desperate times call for desperate measures... All because of the ugly, sagging apron of skin I used to call my stomach. For each of my kids - Rachel, now 20, Paul, 17, and Vicky, 15 - I’d had an emergency Caesarean. So all the muscle tone in my stomach had gone. The skin hung loose, like melted pink wax, though I was slim everywhere else. I’d dieted, joined gyms, done more stomach crunches than I could count. But I’d just have to live with it. Or would I? ‘I’ve been thinking about a tummy tuck,’ I told my…

‘Jack wanted his mother out of his life – for good’ On 1 November 1955, John Gilbert Graham, known to family and friends as Jack, drove his mother, Daisie King, his wife, Gloria, and their two children to the airport. Daisie, 53, was off to Alaska to stay with her daughter - Jack’s half-sister - for the holidays. Jack dropped his mother and family at the airport terminal and parked his car. Then he adjusted something in his mum’s suitcase before taking it to the check-in counter. Jack watched as the bag was tagged and disappeared to be loaded onto the plane. As Daisie boarded, Jack kissed her goodbye, then took his young son to the observation deck to wave his grandma off. At 6.52pm, later than expected, United Airlines…

Varicose veins Swollen, bulging veins – usually affecting the backs of the legs – might look alarming, but they don't always pose a health threat. However, varicose veins can sometimes be uncomfortable and painful, and some people would simply prefer to get rid of them. Treatments might be available to help address this, so seek expert advice from your doctor. In more serious cases, worrying complications, such as bleeding, blood clots and restricted blood flow can occur. Speak to your GP if you have any concerns, and seek medical advice immediately if you experience any sudden pain, swelling or colour changes in the area.…

Let there be light Natural light is key to combating SAD, so make sure you get out and about as much as possible during the day, and when you’re at home, sit for periods by the window, so you soak up those natural rays. It’s the perfect excuse for finally finishing that bestseller! Step to it You’d probably rather curl up in a ball under a blanket, but a one-hour walk every day during winter will help you cope with the symptoms of SAD. Why not drag a friend along so you can have a natter? Keep warm No-one likes to feel their shoulders hunching up against the cold of winter, so make an extra effort to keep warm and knock those feelings of depression on the head. Keep your…

PRIMARK TIP Team with a chunky knit for classic comfort GEORGE Perfect for the party season NEXT TIP Pair with a ruffled blouse MATALAN Maroon is this season’s must-have BONMARCHE Great to dress up or down! VERY Studs give any outfit an edge ACCESSORIZE TIP Makes a lovely gift with a personal touch PRETTY LITTLE THING Tailoring is this season’s top trend RIVER ISLAND TIP Wear with tights on winter nights PEACOCKS H&M TIP A great accessory to wear with a plain top…

‘Having this special element, we were ecstatic!’ Knights on horseback - C-H-A-R-G-E! As knights galloped past, lances at the ready, it was like a real-life Game of Thrones. Me and my fella, Chi, 36, were huge fans of the hit medieval fantasy series. But this particular jousting tournament was even more special than anything we’d seen on the American show. You see, we’d been invited to ‘throw the gauntlet’ - basically tossing down an armoured glove - as a challenge, to start the action. What made it even more exciting was that it was June 18 2016 - our wedding day! And, after tying the knot at Sacred Heart Church in Wimbledon, south west London, near the house where I’d lived several years back, we’d brought our guests to the…

VIRGO 24 Aug-23 Sept Often at this time of year you make the transition from a reflective mode into a more playful one, just in the nick of time for the celebrations. This year however, you are blessed by the arrival of your ruler on the 3rd in the bubbliest of areas, joining up with the joyful energies of Venus. Though you may find yourself wanting to socialise with people you are particularly close to, or even playing host, December is going to be a more upbeat month than it is sometimes. You can enjoy some lovely interactions which can light up both week two and the 27th to the 31st. Your ruler connects with the penetrative energies of Pluto between the 14th and the 24th, and this can help…