Innholdsfortegnelse for November Special 2015 i Pick Me Up! Special

Blimey! These jack-o'- lanterns look down in the dumps about Halloween. It's nothing the fab stories in our Pick Me Up Autumn Special can't sort out though! Zombies are walking the streets on p14 - or so the neighbours thought, after Chantelle gave her brother a truly monstrous makeover! And on p54, poor Robyn had a more serious scare when, trapped in a house fire, she had to throw her baby out of the window to safety, before escaping herself. Amazing! It's good to see adorable little Isiah smiling again. Read how he bravely recovered after suffering an agonising skin reaction (p34). Poor mite. And congratulations to Leanne (p73) who, at 22st, felt she was too fat for nookie with her fella. But now she's a 12st stunner - and…

Shopping and having my nails done with my baby sister was a real treat. ‘Love that colour on you,’ Viviana, 19, grinned, admiring her own glossy talons. It was July 2008 and we were enjoying ‘sisterly time’ together. A single mum to Michael, then 4, and Sebastian, 3, I was 13 years older than Viviana. But we were so close... An amazing auntie, she doted on my boys. ‘I can’t wait for you to have a daughter, so I can do girly things like this with her,’ she giggled, as the manicurist applied a final coat. Fun and outgoing, Viviana wasn’t short of friends. And she was my best mate, too. She confided in me, telling me all about her boyfriend, David Goodell, then 30. ‘He’s had such a tough…

Cosying up to my new boyfriend Darren, 19, I grabbed a fistful of popcorn. It was November 1990, and we were in the front row to see It , the movie based on Stephen King’s famous novel. I’d always been a fan of his books, and loved horror movies. Only as soon as Pennywise the Dancing Clown, the sadistic main character, appeared on screen, I got chills. Within minutes my palms were sweaty and I was having heart palpations. The evil jester was causing me to have a panic attack. Shutting my eyes tight, I tried to breathe deeply. ‘Is everything OK?’ Darren asked. ‘Fine,’ I lied, fists clenched tight. Everything was telling me to run out of the cinema and escape the creepy clown. But Darren and I had…

What’s the difference between a teenage lad and a zombie? Not a lot, right?! Especially not when I’m finished with them anyway... I’ve always loved make-up, had even studied a make-up artistry course at Warrington Collegiate. Graduating in summer 2014, I planned to start my own business, doing special effects make-up for plays and telly. But first, I needed a portfolio. Cue my brother, Jonathan, 17, and sister, Alicia, 15! Both of them volunteered to be made over using my special effects tricks and photographed. Alicia went first. ‘Something gory for me, please,’ she said. She was a big fan of the TV show American Horror Story. After that, Jonathan wanted to be a zombie. ‘Good choice!’ I teased. It took me 45 minutes to perfect his monster makeover. A…

1 www.amazon.co.uk They’re seen as the go-to place for Black Friday deals Ð and this year won’t be any different. 2 www.mobilefun.co.uk Last year they had loads of gizmos on offer with savings of up to 75%! This year they’ve confirmed they’ll once again be having discounts on the day. 3 www.halfords.com Get ahead start on Christmas shopping with Halfords who’ll have children’s bikes, toys and tech on offer! 4 www.ryman.co.uk Buying for some creative crafty types? Ryman’s online shop will have loads of deals. 5 www.appliancesdirect.co.uk Whether it’s gifts or household electronics, appliances direct.co.uk will have tonnes on offer at low prices. Black Friday’s on 27 Nov…

Looking for love can be a minefield. So, after a few bad experiences meeting men in clubs, I thought I’d give online dating a try. I’d been signed up for five months when, in February 2013, Peter Atkinson, 20, messaged me. Sweet and genuine, after four months chatting, I drove to meet him in Cannock, Staffordshire. ‘You’re gorgeous,’ he grinned as he saw me. He was so cute, worked as a welder. We quickly became an item, but our long-distance relationship was tough, as I really missed him. So, six months on, I asked my parents if Pete could move in. ‘Whatever makes you happy,’ my mum, Margaret, 54, said. Everything was great - until Pete started questioning my friendships with male mates. ‘They’re just friends,’ I insisted. The following…

Looking in my baby’s cot, I noticed a nasty rash around a cut on his cheek. ‘My poor darling,’ I soothed, deciding to take 3-month-old Isaiah to the doctor’s. Seeing the oozing sores, which were aggravated by clothes washed in fabric softener or perfume, the GP reckoned it was eczema. He told me to use over-the-counter topical steroid creams and the rash soon disappeared. But, a week later, it came back, so I treated it again. It was the start of a two-month cycle. ‘Mummy,’ said my daughter, Ariana, then 6, a few weeks later. ‘Isaiah’s hair’s falling out.’ She was right. And he was sick and lethargic. Still, various doctors who saw him said it was eczema - telling me to stop breastfeeding, as the milk protein could make…

Sausage Rice Bake Serves 4 Prep Time 25 mins Cook time 45 mins 1 Pre-heat the oven to 200°C/Gas Mark 6. 2 Cook the rice per pack instructions and chop the sausages into four chunks. 3 In a large frying pan or wok, brown the sausage pieces in a little olive oil, drain and transfer to an oblong baking dish. 4 Chop the peppers into small chunks - discard the stalk, seeds and white pith, add these to the sausages. 5 Sauté the mushrooms with a little olive oil and add to the sausages. 6 Put the cooked rice in the dish with the other ingredients, season with some black pepper and mix well, pour over the lasagne sauce. 7 Place…

The Deep, Hull Watch the experts dive into the tanks to feed the many fish on show, time your visit right and you’ll even see them feeding sharks. There are also ‘Touchpool Sessions’ where visitors can get up close to creatures, including starfish. • Visit www.thedeep.co.uk St Andrews Aquarium, St Andrews This aquarium is like no other! It’s not just fish that you’ll find here, there’s the centre’s resident meerkats too. Plus, you can take a gander at the world’s smallest crocodile and if you’re keen on reptiles you can visit the handling sessions. • Visit www.standrewsaquarium.co.uk Sea Life Centre, Brighton It’s not often you can climb aboard a glass-bottomed boat in a UK indoor attraction – but you can here! Just one of many attractions at the aquarium, underneath…

Sore stuff Q My teenage son gets really bad mouth ulcers when he’s run down. Is this a sign of something and what can we do about it? Melanie, Inverness A It’s very common during periods of stress for teenagers to break out in mouth ulcers, as stress plays havoc with our immune system. The key thing is to focus on helping them deal with stress, but also look at ways of supporting their immune system through healthy diet and exercise. To ease irritation, avoid spicy and acidic foods. Over-the-counter medicines might help the ulcers too. Your dentist can double check there’s nothing more going on, and you might want to talk to your GP in case there’s an underlying cause, such as anaemia. Bit patchy Q I have a…

Watery eyes Our eyes are designed to produce tears, to help keep them healthy and flush out any debris that gets in them – and at this time of year, especially stepping out in blustery winds, it can seem as though our eyes run more than usual. Plus, anybody who's ever had a lash, for instance, stuck under their eyelid, will know how quickly the waterworks can turn on. However, if your eyes are suddenly constantly watering, it's best to get it checked by your GP or optician. There could be a number of causes, including allergies, infection and ‘dry eye syndrome'.…

Katharine Hill is UK director at Care for the Family and author of If You Forget Everything Else Remember This: Parenting in the Primary Years 'You and your son are facing a situation where new boundaries are being worked out. Be true to what you feel is important to you – only you know what's best for your child. As parents we can set the boundaries for what happens in our home and if you are uncomfortable with the prospect, you're entitled to refuse his request. Rather than just saying 'no', try to talk the issue through with him. By keeping communication lines open, you're letting your son know you are available to talk, which will make him more likely to confide in you. You can't prevent your…

When my boyfriend, Louis, proposed, we were both so excited. We’d been together for nine years and couldn’t wait. Then we started planning it. ‘Weddings are so pricey,’ I sighed. I worked as an activities co-ordinator for adults with disabilities and Louis was a mechanical design engineer. We didn’t want to blow all our money on one day. ‘We’ll have to rethink,’ I said. A few days later, I was at Wicksteed Park, a local theme park. We’d always loved it there. The waltzers, the candyfloss. Stood in the pavilion, I took a look around. It's very pretty here, I thought. ‘What do you think about getting married there?’ I asked Louis later. He went for it straight away. We started making plans for our 100 guests. A good, old-…

Wag, wag, wag! Jumping off the settee, our boisterous black Labrador, Missy, was as excited about Christmas as we were. Thankfully, I wouldn’t be slaving over spuds and sprouts, though. My husband, John, 65, and I were going out for lunch with our son, Ryan, 30. Now, as I got ready, John took our pooch for a walk around the lanes near our house. An excitable 3-year-old, we often let Missy off the lead, so she could dart in and out of the bushes. As usual, when they got back, she was panting, but full of life. So, we scooped up our gift bags and set off. That evening, Ryan’s twin brother, Lawrence, stopped by. And Missy leapt off the settee to greet him, as usual. ‘Her leg’s wet,’ said…

Oh no! The yellow peril! My heart started racing, as the girl opposite rummaged through her bag. My heightened senses were warning me that any second she’d take out a banana. Glued to the spot with fear, I felt like the whole world was closing in on me. Then, panic stricken, I had to get out... To me, bananas were the enemy. I hated everything - from their colour to their smell, their unsightly curve... My fear had started before I’d even gone to school. After tucking in to a delicious fruit salad, devouring crunchy slices of apple and juicy orange, I’d reach the end. There, stuck to the bottom of my bowl would be soggy slices of banana. Eurgh! I loathed their mushy texture, their strange taste. ‘Eat it…

Use a new, clean toothbrush to scrub the dirt off celery and then store in a tall jug in 5cm of water. It keeps fresh for ages like this. Marion Bassett, Stroud Fill an empty bird bath with pine cones to make an attractive, natural garden decoration. Jodie Giblin, Penarth I made a drain cover using a plastic chocolate-box lid by cutting a U-shape around the pipe. Now it doesn’t get clogged up with leaves. Jusna Uddin, South London Scary snack! Cut a pumpkin shape out of red Leicester cheese and melt on top of toast. Kim Hochkins, Birmingham To make these witches’ hat treats, put ice-cream cones on top of biscuits, cover with melted chocolate and decorate. The kids love ’em! Dorothy Banks,…

1 Make a broth Eating roast chicken? Don't throw away the carcass, make a broth with it. 2 Stay chilled Buy frozen veg - it won't go off and you'll be more likely to use it as it will already be prepared. 3 Use your leftovers Keep spuds in the kitchen - you can add them to leftover titbits and make bubble and squeak! 4 Be prepared Freeze leftovers, then next time you're too tired to cook, you have a home-made ready meal! 5 Add tomatoes Not enough spag bol sauce for the family? Bung in another tin of tomatoes, they'll never notice! 6 Mince your meat Left-over cooked meat? Blitz it in a mincer and you have shepherd's pie! 7 Cook your spuds Cooked potatoes can be taken straight…

Snuggled up on the sofa with my husband Lee, I heard a key turn in the front door. ‘Good dinner?’ I called out to my son, Stevan, 23, and his fiancé, Yasmin, 19. ‘Delicious,’ they chorused. Stevan had proposed in March 2014, and the pair were inseparable. He was living with us while they saved up for their big day. After a chinwag, I put our dog Phoebe in her basket in the kitchen, then we all headed to bed. ‘Young love,’ I smiled to Lee, 47, turning off the light. ‘That was us once,’ he whispered. As soon as my head touched the pillow I fell asleep. But two hours later, I woke to an alarm blaring. ‘What the..?’ Lee said, bleary-eyed. Coming to, I noticed smoke billowing in…

BRANCH OUT Budding Tarzans can get strapped into a safety harness at Go Ape, before being let loose on a treetop trail. Tackle obstacle courses high above the ground, swing between trees and then zip wire back. Just don’t look down! • Visit www.goape.co.uk for more information. BE-WILD-ERINGLY GOOD If fairy tales and woodland creatures are your thing, why not take a trip to BeWILDerwood in Norfolk? When you’re not climbing into tree houses, building dens or taking a ride in a purple boat out on the lake, you can settle down for a magical story. • Under 92cm free. Visit www.bewilderwood.co.uk for more info. ON A HIGH! You can get the best view of the Isle of Wight from the top of a tree, don’tcha know? With the Goodleaf Tree Climbing…

Black cats, walking under ladders, opening a brolly indoors... Either you’re superstitious or not - and I knew which I was! ‘Let’s stay in tonight,’ I said to my mate, Gemma. It was a Friday night, my partner, Chris, was at his cousin’s house, and my son, 6, and daughter, 4, were staying at their nan’s. Normally I’d take the chance to go out on the town. But there was a reason I was staying in. It was Friday 13 December... and the date gave me the willies! So me and Gemma spent the evening in front of the telly. By midnight, though, my tummy was rumbling... ‘I’ve got nothing in,’ I said. ‘Let’s be brave and get a takeaway!’ We called a taxi and arrived to find a long…

I Won £10,025! With her winnings, Rosemary’s going on an amazing trip! Rosemary Porter, 42, Bangor, Co Down It was an awfully long way to go. And I was going to miss them so much. ‘But, after all, you’ve got one shot at life,’ I told my daughter, Natasha, 25. ‘And one chance to make your dreams come true.’ It was November last year. Natasha had just told me and my husband, her dad, Robert, 44, that she’d booked her tickets to Australia. She’d be going on a one-year working visa with her partner, Jonny, 27, and their boy, Lewis, 3. Jetting off! Natasha had been daydreaming about giving it a go in Oz for years. We were so close. I can’t tell you how much I’d miss our catch-ups.…

I glanced up at the clock. Big hand on the six, little hand on the five. ‘Is that the time already?’ I muttered to myself. Since starting my new job as a court administrator, the days had flown by, as I dashed around, barely able to find five minutes for a breather. By the time I clocked out, I scarcely had the energy to drive, let alone to rustle up some culinary masterpiece back home. Instead, I’d plonk myself down in front of the telly and scoff down chip butties, crisps, choccie - I couldn’t get enough. It was hard to believe I’d been an active youngster. Football was my favourite sport. I was in a local girls’ team and loved a good kickabout. Although I wasn’t a healthy food…

Strangers have asked me if I’m contagious or suffering from skin cancer. I’ve had all sorts of cruel taunts thrown at me. But people who stare and make ignorant comments should know that I’m living with a growing birthmark on my face, which could give me brain damage. I was born with a large port-wine stain birthmark, which is connected to Sturge-Weber syndrome. It’s caused by extra blood vessels in my face and brain, and it can trigger seizures and mental health problems As a result, I suffer from glaucoma and have a soft-tissue hypertrophy on my upper lip. The playground bullies rarely picked on me. Although, I can remember one upsetting incident. Aged 6, I was having lunch in the canteen with a friend. ‘You look like Two Face’,…

THEY SAY ‘Free of parabens and Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS), Cetraben works in harmony with the skin to soothe problematic dry, sensitive or eczema-prone areas.’ YOU SAY ‘I usually get mild eczema in my finger crevices at this time of year, but this lotion really helped to soothe the symptoms.’ Bonnie, Portsmouth WE SAY A lightweight version of the popular, traditional Cetraben cream, this unfragranced lotion absorbs quickly – and the handy 50ml bottle fits nicely in handbags too!…

Put the kettle on A mug of steaming hot tea or coffee is really hard to resist when your alarm clock goes off, but try swapping your morning brew for a cup of hot water instead. There are all sorts of benefits to drinking warm water – it can help aid digestion, ease constipation, and improve circulation. Try adding a slice of lemon to it and give your immune system an extra citrus boost. Treat your feet If you’re suffering from a headache, you might want to prepare a hot water foot bath, which some experts believe can help ease the pain. It’s thought that by drawing blood down to your feet, the bath will take the pressure off the blood vessels in your head. Stop pain, period An estimated…

Lying on nails, walking on sword blades, having blocks smashed on your body... Sounds crazy? But, for me, it’s a day’s work! Growing up, I trained as a classical dancer - but I was fascinated by freak shows. So at 21, after graduating from college, I couldn’t believe my luck when I was offered a job in a horror-themed circus! I specialised in dance and body contortion, but soon I’d mastered another skill - lying on a bed of nails with someone standing on top of me! My mum, Ruth, was worried, but I reassured her that I’d had professional training! Six months on, I did the act on stage, with an audience member standing on me. Hearing the audience’s reaction gave me such a buzz. In 2012, as I…

VIRGO 24 Aug-23 Sept Life can go at a cracking pace this month, and there is unlikely to be a dull moment. If you are interested in technology, cycling or walking, all these areas can find you engaged and keen to enthuse or join with others. A chance encounter around the 11th could prove to be particularly auspicious. Finances pick up from this time and anything that you've been working on behind the scenes can start to shape up nicely. However, with Saturn clashing with Neptune all through the month, interpersonal relationships may require more care. You have to be utterly grounded and realistic about what other people can offer you and you them. Don't expect to automatically get the support and encouragement from others that you would normally expect.…

Chomping on a crisp sarnie, swilled down with a fizzy drink, I eyed-up my wobbly belly. A size 28, my gut was enormous. ‘Urghh,’ I moaned. ‘I’m so fat.’ God knows what my fella, Grant, 25, saw in me. At 22 stone, I weighed more than double his slimline 9st. ‘Why do you fancy me?’ I asked. ‘I’m huge.’ ‘I just do,’ he’d say. ‘I think you’re great.’ We’d met through friends seven years earlier, clicking instantly - despite him being 13 years my junior. He got on brilliantly with my kids, Kelvin, now 17, and McKenzie, now 11, and four years ago we had Lexie. Hefty growing up, with every pregnancy my waistline expanded. I’d been around 20st when I met Grant. And now I was bursting out of…

Panic was swelling in my stomach. Deep breath, you can do this , I told myself. The voice in my head was firmly willing me to pull myself together. But I was a nervous wreck. My trembling legs and clammy palms were all to familiar. Anyone would think I was about to do some bonkers, adrenalin-pumping challenge – like flinging myself out of a plane, or off a length of bungee rope. Not quite. I was gearing up to use the loo. See, I've been terrified of toilets ever since I was little. Go ahead and laugh – most people do. But let me tell you, there's nothing funny about clinging on to the side of a toilet bowl, trying to talk yourself down from the terrifying throes of…

When it comes to the supernatural, you believe - or you don’t. I was firmly in the first camp, had been since I was 6. On the night of my great-nan’s funeral, she appeared in my bedroom and waved to me! ‘She was just saying goodbye,’ my mum, Jane, explained when I told her. I wasn’t scared. In fact, I was really fascinated. As I got older, I read up on the unknown and unexplained. Then when the telly show Most Haunted came onto our screens, I was hooked. One evening in March 2008, after watching the show, I logged onto the forum. I've just joined a local paranormal group, one woman wrote. So I searched Google to find my nearest group. Kent Paranormal Seekers popped up and, 20 minutes…

Wow! I felt great after my holiday. I looked so healthy following a week in Greece with my family. But now, in October 2012, it was back to normality. Sighing, I pulled on my bra. Hang on... I felt something hard, about four centimetres wide, in my right breast. A solid disc, it was the shape of a flying saucer sweet. Alarm bells rang. My mum, Janet, died from cervical cancer when I was 25. I wasn’t taking any chances.... My GP wasn’t too worried, sent me for a mammogram, just in case. But, after an ultrasound, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Devastating. My partner, Martin, and I went into a family room, where he told me everything would be OK. Tests revealed the cancer had spread to my…

Cradling my 22-week bump, I hoped it would be third time lucky. After losing two premature babies, I couldn’t help worrying. Jude Blue hadn’t made it, after being born at 22 weeks in 2003, weighing just 1lb. And little Indiana was stillborn at 22 weeks, five years later. Now, sitting on a park bench, chatting to Susie, my friend Emma’s mum, I watched Travis, 10, kicking a ball and felt lucky. At least I had him and his sister, Tierney, 18... ‘Are you OK?’ asked Susie. ‘I think the baby’s leaning on my bladder’, I said, feeling odd. Then I heard a loud ‘POP!’ Oh no! Had I wet myself ? Darting to the nearest loo, my trousers soaked, I soon realised my waters had broken at 22 weeks -…

3 of the Best We test 3 products so you don't have to. This issue APPLE PORRIDGE 1 Kellogg's Special K Super Porridge 5 Grains with apple, blackcurrant & pumpkin seeds, £1.99 for five, Asda Packed with goodies which keep you full for longer, this is a delicious, warming breakfast. 2 Quaker Oat So Simple Apple & Blueberry Porridge, £2.45 for 10, Tesco This is such a lovely combination! It's really nice whether you make it with milk or water. 3 Sainsbury's Express Porridge Apple & Cinnamon, £1.50 for 10, Sainsbury's This porridge is filling, and the cinnamon and chunks of apple really hit that sweet spot! Autumn Crumble Cake Serves 8 Cook time 40 mins 1 Pre-heat oven…

When it’s rainy and cold in the UK, it makes me want to go away, and this year we chose northern Cyprus for some sun, sea, sand - and lots of turtles! The kids love going to the zoo when we’re on holiday, but this year we went a step further, as I’d read you could see turtles hatching on some of the Mediterranean beaches there. Northern Cyprus is now becoming more popular with Brits who fancy a change from Turkey. We booked our accommodation just outside the pretty harbour town of Kyrenia, staying at The Ship Inn, complete with a gorgeous pool and stunning view of the Five Finger mountains. We met lots of other British families there and, although it was quiet during the day, on our two…

My son is 16 years old and so is his girlfriend of six months. He’s recently asked me if she could stay over in his room. I said ‘no’, as I thought it was inappropriate. However, the other day I bumped into her mum and I told her about this and she was fine with it, saying it’s better they’re safe (in every way!), rather than out somewhere dangerous. Now I’m torn. I know they are both legally old enough, but I was a young mother and I really don’t want that for either of them. They are both very smart and want to go to university - something that would be very hard to do if they, like me, ended up falling pregnant at a young age. I know…

Imight’ve been a young, single mum, but my world revolved around my son, Harley. He was the light of my life. A cheeky chappy, he was always smiling and was very loud! From our first cuddle, I vowed to protect him, whatever. And when Harley was just 14 months old, my vow was put to the test. In March last year, I’d stayed the night with my stepsister, Rebecca, 19. We often had sleepovers. Only my little boy had an ear infection and hadn’t slept a wink. ‘It’s OK,’ I said, gently rocking him, trying to soothe him. After hours of singing and talking to him, it was no use... ‘Let’s try a little Calpol,’ I said. The poor thing was still so uncomfortable. So at 9.30am, I took him…

Growing up, my waist-length fair hair was my pride and joy. In my teens, I'd get up at least two hours before school to straighten and tame it. But by my last year of secondary school, in 2014, I started to get bored of my locks. So I began experimenting with hair dye. First it was red, then blue, then black – and I even went ginger! 'Goodness knows what colour it will be next,' Mum would laugh. But while my hair was growing, my friend was losing hers. My pal Lizzie had been diagnosed with leukaemia. Watching her go through treatment was heartbreaking. Especially when her hair fell out. I tried to keep her spirits up however I could. But, a year in to her course, I decided I…