Innholdsfortegnelse for Best Of 4 - 2015 i Pick Me Up! Special

Summer's fading fast, so snuggle up on the sofa with your fave monthly mag! But take more care than little Milo here, whose owner Jessica flew into a panic when her pup got stuck in her two-seater (p55). Warm the cockles of your heart by reading about little Alyssia (p15) who, despite battling rare juvenile arthritis, is a karaoke queen! If it's real-life drama you want, check out Clair's story (p26). Her belly burst open when she went to the loo. Ouch! And it wasn't a clumsy three-point turn that ruined Lindsay's driving lesson (p6). A crash made her petrol tank blow up, turning her into a fireball. Horrifying. There's also shocking crime... Poor Sophie was a little girl when she saw her evil stepdad rape her mum (p20), while…

Putting the car into third gear, I checked my mirror. ‘Good work, Lindsay,’ my driving instructor said. Soon I was driving along steadily at 30mph. It was August 2009, I was 18, and days away from my driving test! I’d been dating Robert Wood, 21, for 11 months. Things were going well. ‘When I pass my test, we can drive off for weekends away,’ I’d told him. I couldn’t wait. A week on, I had my last lesson... ‘Then it’s ‘goodbye L plates’,’ I laughed to Mum, Valerie, 42. Setting off, I was driving well. But as I pulled onto a main road... Noise exploded around me, the crunch of metal, my own piercing screams. I saw a flash of light, then nothing. I’d no idea how much time had…

It’s amazing when you meet someone who’s into the same things as you. That’s what happened when I met Ashley, now 23, back in May 2012. My cousin, Emma, introduced us and we had lots in common... More than I expected! ‘I love Disney films,’ Ashley admitted, a few weeks later. A boy after my own heart! Since I was a kid, I’d loved the princesses and fairy tales. A year to the day after we met, Ashley proposed, surrounded by rose petals and candles. ‘Yes!’ I beamed. ‘You’re my princess,’ he grinned, in response. That’s when the idea sprung. ‘Can we have a Disney-themed wedding?’ I asked him. It was perfect for us and, once Ashley had agreed, we started on the fairy tale details... I wanted a horse…

As the music blared from the karaoke machine, I looked to my daughter Alyssia, then 5. ‘One, two, three,’ I mouthed. Then we both broke into our best Taylor Swift impressions. Hey Stephen, I know looks can be deceiving… we chorused as we danced around the living room. It was just a typical Saturday evening for us. Obviously, every mum thinks her child is talented, but my Alyssia was born for the stage. If she wasn’t singing, she was at drama class or clowning around, making us all laugh. ‘Where do you get your energy from?’ I’d wonder. She wouldn’t be listening, too busy singing into her hairbrush. That was until the morning of 15 December 2012. Waking up Alyssia for school, I noticed she didn’t bound out of bed…

I’d always wanted a big family, so I was delighted to find out me and my hubby John were expecting twin boys. Brothers for our other boys, Lawrance, 10, and Toby, 6. And on 19 April 2013, five weeks early, Henry was born, followed 11 minutes on by Sebastian. At 5lb 2oz and 4lb 13oz, our sons were small, yet perfect in every way. But when the midwife was checking them, she discovered Henry had a tiny hole the size of a cotton-bud tip in his back, just above his bottom. ‘He needs to go for tests,’ she explained, before telling us it could affect his walking. Thankfully, the scans came back clear, and we were told the hole would just close up by itself. But Henry wasn’t out of…

Imagine having a job where you fall in love every day. As a veterinary nurse, I do! All those kittens and puppies melt my heart on a daily basis. Take Barney, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel... He came to our surgery in September 2011. Just 4 weeks old, he’d already had a hard life. A woman had rescued him from a puppy farm. ‘He has a contagious kennel cough,’ the vet diagnosed. ‘We’ll keep him in isolation.’ We gave him treatment, but his respiratory condition was still getting the best of him. And there was a big risk that he’d pass it on to other dogs. I knew what that meant. If Barney didn’t find a home fast, the vets would have no choice but to put him to sleep.…

Period pain really ruins your week, right? Well, try being me... I’ve always suffered from heavy, painful periods, bleeding for up to three weeks at a time. Back and forth to the doctor for years, so in April last year, I came to a drastic decision. ‘I’d like a hysterectomy,’ I said. Me and my hubby, Jason, 41, already had quite the brood, with Shannon, 13, Shawn, 7, Abigail-Grace, 6, and Lily-Jean, 3. But it was still a big op - especially as I was only 34. As I had scarring from Caesarean sections, I couldn’t have keyhole surgery. ‘We’ll also need to cut vertically, to avoid the old tissue,’ the doc said. It meant a longer healing time. ‘I’ll cope, whatever,’ I promised. I’d been diagnosed with fibromyalgia in…

You know how it is when you’ve got kids. The most exciting thing that could happen to you of an evening is a bag of crisps in front of Coronation Street . Not that I minded - I liked it like that. Me, the kids and my husband, Richard, 34. All of us under one roof. Safe and sound. It hadn’t always been that way because Richard had been a soldier. Over the years, he’d been to places like Afghanistan. Then, at the end of last year, he’d left the Army. Which meant that he was back at home with me, our two kids, Bailey, 7, and Ellie, 4, and spending weekends with his son from a previous relationship. Game time On that particular Friday night, we were relaxing with…

Friday nights are a chance to let your hair down after a long week. On 31 January last year, I’d just finished hosting my first ever Ann Summers party. It’d been a giggle, but just a small bash with my mum, Natalie, 38, and three pals, so I could earn extra cash while studying for a BTEC in Travel and Tourism. Afterwards, I was ready for a night out. My mates were in town. Like most skint students, I love a good deal. Then I spotted a sign behind the bar... 2-4-1 on Jagerbombs! A shot of the spirit Jagermeister dropped into a glass of caffeinated energy drink. We racked up a line of 10 shots and had three each. Then, with one left over... ‘You’re catching up!’ one mate…

We were a tight bunch, me and my boys, Kieran, 12, Paddy, 8, Aiden, 4, and our greyhound, Uno. He’d been part of the family since we got him at Hollin Hall Rehoming Centre in August 2013. The boys idolised him and we soon got into a routine. So, at midnight on 4 September 2014, the boys asleep in bed, I headed upstairs. ‘Goodnight, Uno,’ I said, leaving him downstairs as usual. I was soon asleep. The next thing I knew, it was 4am and Uno was barking outside my door. He’d done it before, when he was sick. ‘Come on,’ I said, putting my gown on to go downstairs. But he paced outside the boys’ bedrooms, distressed. What's he doing? I went to the top of the landing, trying…

Learn some table manners Sit down and eat with your kids. A study found this helps improve parents’ well-being. Be alive to five Get your five a day! Not only is it good for you, but it also gives you a golden glow. Eat up! Red it? A study found people who drink tomato juice after a workout have quicker levels of muscle recovery. It’s spud advice Go potato potty! Just three boiled new potatoes can give you 30 per cent of your daily vitamin B6 intake. Flax the way! Mix flax seeds into yogurt or salads. They could reduce the risk of dying of breast cancer by 40 per cent. Up the steaks Low iron levels could affect your sex drive. Eating green veg, brown rice and red meat…

Bright lights, beautiful costumes, amazing music. Most of us daydream. Only the scenes in my mind weren't a faraway fantasy. But, rather, memories! For I lead a secret double life. As a famous Bollywood actress! In 2009, I was working at my local council in Oxford, when I got an email. I'd recently done some modelling for Asian bridal mags in the UK, and a director had come across the pictures. We'd love to offer you a lead part in our film , he wrote. Eh?! I wasn't an actress! But it seemed too good an opportunity to miss. 'You won't believe this!' I squealed to my mum, Meena, 55. She was ecstatic! So, at 22, I lived in New York for two months while we filmed, all expenses…

They say that curiosity killed the cat. Scrap that! More like, prying gets pups in a pickle! My bull terrier cross, Milo, was only 6 weeks old when he came to live with me and my Staffordshire bull terrier, Millie, in October 2013. Milo’s mum had rejected him at birth. Not my Millie, though. A big softie, she immediately took him under her paw! They became firm friends and loved chasing each other around the house. ‘Be careful you two,’ I’d call out when they got too boisterous. Of course, they didn’t take any notice of me! That November, I had two friends round for a girlie night. The dogs were running in circles around the reclining settee we were sitting on. Then the pair of them vanished behind the…

Imagine a birthday party without cake. Seems wrong. But on my youngest daughter Keira’s 1st birthday, that’s what happened. And it was going to happen every year... In 2004, when Keira was 9 months old, she was diagnosed with coeliac disease - the autoimmune condition caused by intolerance to gluten. A dietician suggested we stop giving her wheat and gluten. My hubby, Wayne, then 32, and I did as she said, and it worked like magic. Except, taking each day as it came, I hadn’t thought about Keira’s birthday... So me and Wayne made a tough decision... ‘If Keira can’t have birthday cake, none of us can,’ I told our boys, Ben, then 7, Cameron, 5, and Daniel, 4. Except, I soon backtracked. ‘It’s not fair on them,’ I sighed.…

As blank faces stared back at me from the wedding guests, I smiled. It was most people’s first reaction when they realised I was a professional mermaid. Admittedly, it wasn’t my original career choice. I’ve always had a performing streak. And while studying at uni, I was making waves as an entertainer - trying everything from fire dancing to trapeze. But one day, while landing a somersault, my shins ached. We had a show coming up, though, so I pushed through. After, the doctor had bad news though. ‘You’ve got shin splints,’ he said. Exercise-induced pain. His prescription - time out for a few weeks. Although it eased up, the pain came and went over the year. It meant my acrobatics had to go on the back burner. After graduating…

As we splashed along, folk cheered us on - well, it’s not often you see a pedalo shaped like the Loch Ness Monster cruising around! My boyfriend, Ed, 31, has always been big on fund raising - raising dosh for Parkinson’sdisease research because his dad suffers from it. Now he’d persuaded his friend, Sholto, and me and my brother Nico, 31, to tackle the 500 miles around the Northern tip of Scotland in a monster pedalo! Well, the crazier the event, the more people would give... But then, sadly, Nico and I lost our lovely mum, Antonia, 57, to lung cancer. Heartbreaking. That was it - we’d pedalo to raise money for Parkinson’s and lung cancer charities. So, on 2 August last year - after much grieving and tough training…

Ouch! My head!’ come the groans from under the duvet. You’d think my fella, Matt Hogg, 34, had been out on a bender the night before. But Matt’s teetotal. Never lets any booze into his system. Apart from the booze produced in his belly, of course. Sounds weird? Imagine what went through my mind when he told me all about it during our first date in a restaurant in Harrogate back in 2008. ‘I have a chronic illness,’ he’d confessed. He didn’t go into any more details... And I didn’t ask! But the more we got to know each other, the more he told me about his condition. ‘It’s called auto-brewery syndrome,’ he explained. ‘What on earth’s that?’ I said. He told me it was rare. He had too much…

Every area has its quirks, and ours is world famous. Each year, my mum, Michaela, 36, and dad, Cleyton, 40, go to watch the cheese rolling on Cooper’s Hill. Since at least the early 19th century, folk have given chase down a steep hill to an 8lb wheel of Double Gloucester - first to the bottom wins the cheese! It’s a dangerous chase and lots of racers have even broken bones! That doesn’t stop people trying, though... Every year, there are dozens of entries. You aren’t allowed to take part until you’re 15 but, in May 2012, that’s how old I was. ‘Don’t you dare go down that hill!’ Mum warned, as the day of the chase came round. But, leaving the house with my mates, I grinned. A bit…

Cracking physique My gorgeous man, Scott, 30, in our hotel on a spa break. I asked him if it was sunny outside and he replied, ‘No... there’s a full moon instead!’ Cheeky! Claire Phillips, Yeovil Sign of the times To save my wife having to say it, I’ve bought this little present for her… Russell Griffin, Bristol Licking good... Although one this big would soon melt, my mum, Louise, is hanging on to the belief that this ice-cream cone is real! Anna Draycott, Purfleet Sole mates? I think my pet tortoise is trying to tell me he needs a friend! Carole Squier, Saxilby Sea saviour As you can see, I came to my boyfriend James’ rescue on a day out on Brighton Pier. Typical! Hannah Jackson, Havant A hard bay's…

I grinned, smacking my lips together. Mmmm... I’d just polished off a massive portion of sweet and sour chicken, egg fried rice and spring rolls from my local Chinese takeaway. But this wasn’t a treat - it was a typical dinner for me. At 17, I was a size 20/22. My parents, Beverly, now 48, and William, 52, often nagged me about my weight. ‘I’m fine,’ I’d snap at them. Truth is, I’d been growing since the end of primary school. I just loved food - and lots of it! I’d have a pasty on my way to college and greasy chips for lunch. Then gorge on chocolate and crisps. And come home to a massive takeaway dinner. Making up for my size with my bubbly personality, I had loads…

The queue stretched out the door, full of perfectly groomed girls and boys... And their owners! It was mid-January 2014, and we were at doggy speed-dating. Our local radio station had set it up and had promised to give the best pair a doggy wedding! I knew I had to take Rufus along for a giggle. But, before we were even through the door, my pooch was making puppy-dog eyes at a special someone. I smiled at her owner. ‘This is Lady,’ he said. She seemed just as keen on my Rufus as he was with her. As me and Graham, Lady’s owner, chatted, our pups were inseparable. Then, a week later... ‘Rufus and Lady have won!’ a presenter told me. Before long, Rufus got fitted for a suit and…

When Chris Birch came into our lives, I couldn’t have been happier. Just 7 then, I’d never known my dad and my mum, Louise, seemed so happy with Chris, then 24. It was nice to have an extra pair of hands around the place, too. Mum needed lots of help... She’d been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when she was 11 and she’d had difficulty controlling it since then. It’d led to complications with her health, so I was always helping out around the house and making sure she tested her blood sugar levels. Chris settled in nicely and it was great having a father figure. He’d buy me sweets, take me to the park and make me tasty dinners. Well he was a chef, after all! And when my…

Flicking her new, glossy 'do, my best friend, Petri, gave a toothy smile. 'Looking good!' I told her. Like most girls, Petri does like to try out a new style. We get her locks cut in a barn though, not a salon. Well, she is a horse after all! I've been riding since I was tiny, but I've only had Petri, 19, for two-and-a-half years. Her mane grows fast, meaning it's due a trim every few months. Luckily Petri's never happier than when I'm sprucing her up. Usually, I just cut her mane so she can see. But in 2013, before her trim, inspiration struck... Cutting some bits shorter than others, I was able to give Petri's mane a stripy effect. Very stylish , I decided. And I wasn't…

2013 JENNY Weight: 20st 1lb BMI: 46 GARY Weight: 26st BMI: 49.5 2014 JENNY Weight: 11st BMI: 25 GARY Weight: 16st 7lb BMI: 32 ‘On the plane, we both needed special seatbelts’ Our eyes first met over the cigarette machine. ‘Oi! Turn it back on!’ I bellowed over the music to the tall, well-built lad who’d switched it off. His face broke out into a smile as he started laughing. Cheeky! It was 2005 and we were in Blue nightclub in Longford. At 17 years old and 17st, I was on a rare night out. But my size didn’t seem to bother this bloke. Me and Gary Nolan, 20, swapped numbers. We quickly became an item. Two months on, when I was 18, we got a place together. We worked…

Working in science means you often get stereotyped - you know, geek or nerd! Not that I minded. I loved my job as a Fellow in Forensic Science, mostly teaching genetics. But in 2009, I got a new hobby that certainly shook off any stereotypes. ‘I’ve joined the British Pole Dance Academy!’ I told my boyfriend, Chris, 33. I fancied getting fit but found the gym boring. A friend had tried pole dancing and said it was fun. At the first class, I was nervous. I was hardly the most flexible person. But it didn’t matter. Everyone was friendly, and I got a buzz from mastering basic moves. Even better, as I kept attending classes, my body toned up, and I got stronger. Lots of toppling off meant that I…

Staring at the pregnancy test, I couldn’t believe it. But there it was in blue and white! ‘We’re having a baby!’ I beamed to my hubby, Ross, now 33. There was a reason we were so shocked, however. Diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome, I’d needed fertility drugs to help me fall pregnant with our first two - Mya, 3, and Noah, 23 months. But when we decided to have a third, I wanted to try naturally at first. ‘It’ll never work, but it can’t hurt,’ I’d said. But it had worked! We kept the good news to ourselves, until the first scan. ‘We’re so lucky,’ I’d smile to Ross. Then, walking to catch the train to my bank job one morning, when I was six weeks pregnant, I felt a…

Even though I’d never been a sports fanatic, in 2013, with my 30th looming, I decided it was time to ditch my couch-potato lifestyle. ‘I’m going to raise £30,000 for charity, doing sports events,’ I told my fella, Karl, 31. He smiled, but I had the last laugh - as with careful training, over a year, I did 30 gruelling sports events! In June 2014, with £10,000 to go, I did a triathlon. The final leg was a tough, open-water swim. ‘I’m so proud,’ Karl beamed, as I crossed the finish line. But 10 days later, I had a headache, temperature and felt dizzy. ‘I think I’ve got the flu,’ I told my boss, calling in sick. Next day, I felt better, but my voice was all muffled. I thought…

Most families have huge photo albums that document their lives. But our journey can be summed up in 14 simple snaps... In October 2000, when I was 18, I started dating Giles, 23. We’d known each other for years, but finally got together. Giles was in a rock band and I loved seeing them play. A month into our relationship, we were at Brighton train station when Giles saw a photo booth. ‘Let’s take some pics,’ he grinned. So we got snapped, then forgot all about the photos! Until, the following October, we found ourselves next to a photo booth in Woolworths. ‘This should be a tradition each year,’ Giles smiled. Great idea! In February 2002, he proposed, and we married in the summer. Our third photograph was our first…

A GYM GOT ME TRIM Exercise classes helped Sharon lose 7st NAME: Sharon Nicholson, 44, from Stoke-on-Trent VITAL STATISTICS: I put on 6st when I was pregnant in 1999, but after, only lost 4st. Slowly, I got bigger. I’d go all day without eating, then stuff myself in the evening! At my heaviest, I weighed 18st 5lb and was a size 22. MY MOTIVATION: I woke up one morning, threw back the covers and thought: ‘Sharon, you’re disgusting!’ I wanted to lose weight and stop smoking. MY ACTION PLAN: I joined my local PureGym and, with exercise and by cutting out bread and potatoes, I lost 3st in three months. Then, I joined the PureLoser weight-loss course. LOOK AT ME NOW: I work out with a personal trainer four times…

I couldn't help licking my lips as the butter oozed over the golden surface of my corn on the cob. Only I wasn't looking at my lunch. I was looking at my nails. And they looked good enough to eat! Not that I'd ever be tempted to bite them. My corn-on-the-cob talons were one of many mini works of art that have won me over 100 nail art competitions! When I first trained as a beautician, aged 17, nail art didn't really exist. But I'd been good at art classes at school and I liked to experiment, painting pictures on customers' nails with tiny brushes. And as I practised, nail art took off big style, all around the world. When competitions started springing up, I was raring to go. In…

Kitty call I’m on the phone! Our adorable kitten, Colin, takes a call… Emma Spelman, via email Taking it easy... My sister-in-law’s cat gets a ride on the stairlift every night. This is his ‘why are we waiting?’ face! Sylvia Rowley, Manchester Let's paws Charlie the cat resting before the party season. Linda Barton, Sutton-in-Ashfield Need a hand? All ready for her claws-up! My cat, Sheba, having a good stretch! Lucy Dunn, Exeter Cat's not your teddy! As he’s still just a kitten, we really don’t mind if our cute little Bandit cuddles up with one of our bears when it comes to his nap time! Charli Knights, Crawley…

It wasn’t the most romantic proposal, but I wouldn’t have changed it for the world. In our living room in Ross-on-Wye, my boyfriend of two years, Paul Rusher, 27, dropped to one knee as the telly blared in the background. ‘Becky, will you marry me?’ ‘Yes!’ I screamed. We’d met through our jobs at Sainsbury’s, and had fallen in love quickly. Now we were going to spend our lives together! I was on cloud nine - for the next three months at least. But then, I noticed Paul seemed distant, hardly ever touching me. And he was always on Facebook or his phone. ‘I think Paul’s cheating,’ I said one night to my mate, Kirsty. ‘Get proof,’ she advised. That meant snooping. It was something I’d never done before, but...…

I know what you think when you see a picture of a man with a six-pack and bulging biceps. Phwoar! Me? I simply think: His poor girlfriend! Or at least I used to... When I met my muscly hunk, Johnny Reid, 25, last year, I loved his physique. What I didn't love is how much time he spent maintaining it! 'It takes a lot of work to look like this,' he explained, heading to the gym each night. He was there three hours a day, seven days a week. And with my job as a teacher and his as a design engineer, we were like ships in the night. My solution? If you can't beat them... 'I'll come to the gym, too,' I smiled. 'Are you…

1 Pimp your ride Pop a tumble-dryer sheet under a floor mat in your car to keep it smelling fresh and lovely! 2 Easy freezy Clean, empty marg containers are great for freezing single portions. 3 Bake off To keep fresh-baked scones soft, pop a damp tea towel over them when you take them out of the oven. 4 Best dressed Wash out used vitamin bottles - they're the perfect size to take salad dressing to work for your lunch. 5 It's a stick up! Velcro fastener not working? Run a fine-toothed comb along it to remove any fluff and it'll be as good as new!…

Picking up the two tiny ginger kittens, I could see that they were in desperate need of love. It was August 2014, and the purrfect pair had been brought into the practice where I worked as a veterinary nurse. They’d been found in a shed, around 3 weeks old, abandoned by their owners or mum. Malnourished, tiny and confused, it was clear they’d need regular hand feeds. ‘I’ll do it!’ I offered. I already had an adult foster cat at home, and my two mutts, Borrow and Wee Jim, had been foster dogs until I’d taken them in full time. I knew these two little mites needed some TLC. Plus, my hubby, Dan, 47, was used to me bringing home furry waifs and strays! I named them George and Elton…

You must be a real gym bunny!’ a friend of a friend said to me. You could be forgiven for thinking that. My arms are big, like weightlifters’ arms - and I’ve got pecs and abs. But I’ve never lifted anything heavier than a shopping bag! You might think it’d be great to look muscly without exercise, but for me, it’s a curse... I suffer from lipodystrophy - a rare disease which means my fat is stored under muscles, not the other way round. My masculine physique makes me so self-conscious. I yearn for a womanly figure. I even pad my chest and hips with chicken fillets if I have to wear a dress on a special occasion. I started showing signs of the condition when I was 16. ‘What’s…

There were two words to describe my daughter, Becky... Wild child! Wilful and headstrong, she’d run me ragged, always sneaking out to party. Then, when she was just 15, she fell pregnant. ‘She’s beautiful!’ Becky wept, when Charlotte was born. But back home, she struggled to cope with the responsibility. So when she was almost 17, Becky begged me and her stepdad, Ted, to raise Charlotte and we sadly agreed. After that, Becky ran off with a crazy crowd. We hardly heard from her and I was worried sick. Yet, after five years, Becky returned to live at home again, older and wiser. ‘I want to be Charlotte’s mummy, do the right thing,’ she said. We were thrilled to watch her dote on Charlotte. Life was happy and settled. When…

I plucked a shirt from the rail and held it up against me. It's gorgeous, I thought. But before temptation could take hold, I hung it up and left the store. My hubby, Mark, then 35, and I weren’t hard up, but we didn’t have money to burn. Mark had recently started his own sign-writing business, so most of our money went into that. Our sons, Leo, 8, and Cole, 4, never went without, though. We’d just save up or buy them stuff second hand. My job managing website promotions boosted our income, but I couldn’t help wishing there was room in our budget for the occasional shopping spree. Then in October 2011, I read about a woman, Di Coke, who entered competitions as a hobby. She called herself a…

Compliments should make you feel good. But the words I'd just heard hurt. 'You'd be beautiful if you lost the weight,' a relative said casually. I shouldn't have been surprised really. Thanks to comfort eating, I'd always been big. Still, I put on a brave face when I couldn't shop for clothes with my friends or another diet failed. By 18, I weighed 15st and was utterly fed up. 'You're fab just as you are,' friends consoled. In denial, I kidded myself my bulging bod was OK. Then, when I was 23, I met Chiino, 18, on a night out in Nottingham. He wasn't fussed about my size, loved me for me. But I still wanted to lose weight, especially when I went up to 18st. So, in 2012, I…

Family She Does Everything Tracey, 26, Newport My mother-in-law has three adult sons at home. She fetches and carries for them. They never do a thing. I want to tell her to put her feet up, but my hubby says she likes it and would be offended. Meanwhile our 10-year-old son sees this and thinks women are just there to wait on men! Should I keep quiet, or tell her that they expect too much? YES  Clinical psychologist and life coach Natalie Thomas says: ‘I'd strongly advise against discussing your mother-in-law's parenting skills with her! ‘It sounds like her adult sons' behaviour is ingrained and would be difficult to change. ‘Instead, tell her how, in your home, you share responsibility for household tasks - and even your son is made…

Remember us? Me and my wife, Chrissy, were in Pick Me Up! before, as I told how I’d shed 13st before we married. But what I didn’t say then was that, like all weddings, there were other dramas going on... Our original wedding photographer, Paloma, had had to cancel. She’d been heavily pregnant, and her due date was near the wedding. We didn’t blame Paloma, and nothing could change how excited we were. On 30 November 2013, we said our vows at a hotel. It was an incredible day, captured wonderfully by our mates. But, earlier this year, Paloma got in touch. ‘I’m getting back into work,’ she said. ‘I really want to do a trashed wedding dress shoot, and would love you guys to be the models.’ A trashed…

They always tell you: Never talk to strangers. But, in October 2013, I’d had a Facebook friend request. David Barr. I didn’t recognise him, but we’d mutual friends so I accepted. Though I wasn’t looking for a relationship, we hit it off. ‘He’s got a heart of gold,’ one of our friends encouraged. After messaging daily for a month, David asked me out in November. Cute, charming and polite, he was the perfect gentleman. He explained he was ‘between jobs’ after splitting with his ex. But I wasn’t bothered, I was sure he’d find work soon. My mum, Liz, 60, was impressed, too. Always round mine, in January last year he moved in. Still unemployed, the cracks began to show within a week. I’d noticed he liked his drink, but…

It might sound cheesy but, when it comes to art, it’s not all about crayons and card. From pizza to hair, people create collectables from all sorts. And, frankly, why not? Back in 2010, I was studying at drama school. But I enjoyed illustrating and painting, too, so sold my works on the side. I posted them on Instagram as well, for all to see. Though I didn’t think anyone really took any notice. But then, out of the blue, I got an email from Primula. Do you fancy painting celebs in cheese? it read. Eh? They must've got the wrong person, I thought. Still, I like a challenge. So, curious, I agreed. I didn’t have a clue how I’d make my smelly masterpieces, but it sounded fun! Soon, loads…

As I sat with my GP, she gave me a friendly smile. ‘How can I help today?’ she asked. My cheeks flushed. I was there for a problem ‘downstairs’. A few days earlier, I’d inserted a tampon and felt a lump. It’d given me a real fright. After my doctor examined me, she put my mind at ease. ‘It’s an abscess,’ she said, prescribing antibiotics. But the lump only grew. And soon, it was the size of the bowl of a teaspoon - painful, too. My office job was hard, as it hurt to sit down. And sex with my partner was out of the question. Surely this wasn’t normal? After more trips to my GP, I was referred to a gynaecologist at Peterborough City Hospital. ‘We’ll need to operate…

As the engines around me revved, I fastened my seat belt. Our crazy adventure had got the green light! Yes, last year, and me and my hubby, Garreth, 35, took part in Gumball 3000’s world-famous car rally. It involves driving 3,000 miles through America and Europe in a week. But for us, it wasn’t just a rally. It was one for a good cause. In 2013, Garreth found out about the charity When You Wish Upon A Star, which grants wishes to terminally ill children. Sadly, months after we’d heard about it, I’d given birth to triplets at 24 weeks, and we’d lost them. So we decided to raise £100,000 for the charity, knowing it’d help around 100 children have their dreams come true. ‘How will we do it?’ I…

Some people are known for their fashion sense, or their eye colour. But what made me stand out was... 42in long! My brown hair – so long it hung down past my knees. My barnet had become a part of me and my identity. 'I will get it chopped off one day,' I told friends. 'But it'll have to be for something special.' That day came in 2011, when a friend told me about the Little Princess Trust. They make wigs from human hair for children who lost theirs having chemo. So I set up an online page and handed out leaflets and got lots of support and donations. Once, a man stopped me in the street and told me his wife passed away from cancer two weeks before and…

VIRGO 24 Aug-23 Sept Fresh starts are possible as you find yourself moving from a period of learning and reflection to one of action and new possibilities. However, to capitalise you need to stick to your goals and plans and not get deflected. It's possible you will encounter less than enthusiastic feedback, or someone may try to deflect you with faint praise. There could be unexpected costs from any new approaches, but try to take all this in your stride. Equally, if you take a path less trodden you could earn extra money. If you feel you have been falling short of your true potential, and you really go for it, October could be a month of change. In love, a glamorous new makeover can be a fine way to…