Innholdsfortegnelse for Summer Special 2017 i Pick Me Up! Special

Welcome to our Summer Special! We’ve packed our pages with plenty of real life stories to shock, inspire and make you smile this month. You can’t fail to be in awe of Carleen (pg24) who showed huge bravery when she finally sought justice for the abuse she suffered as a child. The odds were against best friends Robyn and Libby (pg36) , when they were both diagnosed with a rare cancer but they beat it together. Stacie (pg38) refused to let the heartbreak of losing her ‘Peter Pan’ baby overshadow his short life and found a way for his memory to travel around the world. That incredible level of courage was also shown by Toni’s young son (pg8) when his innocent words stopped a brutal attack on his mum. Love…

‘The cracks had started to show’ Strolling through town with my best friend, we were suddenly interrupted by a man wolf-whistling at us from across the street. ‘Why did you do that?’ I called, rolling my eyes at him. ‘I wanted to get your attention,’ he grinned. Karl Hughes had a cheeky smile, a friendly laugh, and a wicked sense of humour. We swapped numbers and soon Karl won me over with his charm. I was 17 at the time and living with my parents, who weren’t keen on Karl at all. ‘You can do better, that’s all,’ Mum told me. They were even more disappointed when I fell pregnant a year later. But they were so supportive when Josh, nine, arrived, followed by Alexander, four, and Jessica, two. With…

‘We wanted her so badly’ A blurry image appeared on the screen and my husband Christopher, 29, held my hand while I lay on the bed. ‘It’s a girl,’ the nurse announced. It was our 16 week scan and we paid a little extra to see a 4D image of our baby, and when we found out we were having a little girl, we were both so thrilled. ‘She couldn’t be more perfect,’ I said. We already had two boys, Kaiden, four, and Bayley, two, so secretly we were hoping for a little girl. We decided to call her Keira. Before we knew it, it was time for our 21-week scan. I lay there with the cold gel on my tummy, excited to see the progress my little girl was…

“It was my word against his” “I was still suffering after 30 years” My grandma Josie was waving a brown paper bag in the air as she walked through the door towards me one afternoon. ‘Guess what I’ve got?’ she said. My brothers, Nicky and Sean, and I jumped up and down excitedly as she handed us each a crumbled up gingerbread man. ‘Yum, thank you,’ I mumbled, munching away happily. ‘You’re welcome,’ she smiled, ruffling my blonde hair. My siblings and I had a bumpy start to our childhood. We had been taken into care when I was just 18 months old after our mum couldn’t cope. But before long, Grandma and Grandad Sam took us in and fostered us in their home. Grandad worked as a baker while…

‘We were there to get a new cat’ Strutting into the living room, our tabby Phoenix acted like the king of the household. My son, Ronnie, five, made him feel even more special as he rubbed his ginger tummy. Phoenix had been part of the family for five years. My sons Reggie, two, and Ronnie, absolutely adored him, and our other cat, Ditto. So when Phoenix went missing one day, my partner Jay, 38, and I were out all hours searching and putting up posters. Despite being micro-chipped and having a funny shaped left ear, there was no sign. Devastated, we sat the boys down and explained that Phoenix hadn’t come home and that we couldn’t find him. The boys were distraught. They sobbed for weeks and made endless posters,…

“Our lives turned upside down” “We didn't let the cancer define us” When Robyn Lock and Olivia Fox met in their first year of university, it wasn’t long before they became best friends. Both into sailing, they shared a love of the sea and bonded at the campus boat group. But before long, they found they shared something else in common when they were both diagnosed with rare forms of blood cancer just a few months apart. The devastating news came during their studies and forced them both to suspend their degrees in marine biology at Swansea University. Robyn and Olivia, known as Libby, supported each other throughout their illnesses and were there for each other every step of the way. Libby said: ‘The odds were just out of this…

• THEY SAY: This complete oral care solution does the job of a normal toothbrush, but in a handy waterless, powder-based system that can be used anytime, anywhere. Simply place the powder on your tongue, swish it around for 10 seconds, and swallow to get cleaner teeth while you're on the go! • YOU SAY: 'These are perfect to keep in my handbag! When I'm at work, I can grab a sachet, swish it around and be fresh for my next meeting.' Val, Sussex. • WE SAY: We love things that we can use on the go, so this is the ideal product for us! Perfect for festivals, holidays, and even to pop in the kids' lunchboxes!…

BEAT THE HEAT 1. Protect After Sun Lotion With Shimmer, £2.50, Asda With soothing aloe vera, this light lotion contains a subtle shimmer to give an all-over glow while moisturising your skin. 3. Style Expertise Taming Anti-Frizz Serum, £2.99, Superdrug When the humidity rises, keep your frizzy hair in check with this effective hair serum. 2. Juice Goals Infuser Water Bottle, £4.50, Primark Hydration is key to summer beauty - fill up with ice water and your favourite fruit to enjoy a refreshing summer treat. 4. Cucumber Cooling Clay Mask, 99p, Superdrug This refreshing combination of cucumber and sea minerals gently soothes your summer skin. WOW WITH WATERPROOF LASHES Essence I Love Extreme Waterproof Mascara, £2.80, Wilko The extra large brush offers plenty of volume. Ideal for those who want…

I love bingo, used to play with pals at our local hall, but we had busy lives now, rarely had time to go. Last December, I joined Pick Me Up! Bingo I liked the idea of playing in my own home. The site was easy to navigate, and there were lots of games. I soon found Emerald Bingo. And, after depositing a bit of cash, I enjoyed a few games. This is fun! I thought. Still getting the hang of things, I spent just £2.40 on tickets. As my games played, numbers were automatically dabbed off. Then Congratulations and confetti filled the screen! I thought it was a promotional message, but I checked my account and realised I was actually a winner. I’d scooped £1,044 and couldn’t believe it! I…

‘It was an emotional visit’ As I shook her hand for the first time, she welcomed me with a warm smile. This was the first time my sister Frances, 60, and I had ever met her, but there was something truly special about Anne Whiteman. For almost 50 years, she has been living with our brother’s kidney. In 1968, at just 18-years-old, our brother Ellis was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident. In her state of grief, our mother agreed for his kidneys to be donated. Anne was 25 at the time, and suffering from renal failure when she accepted Ellis’ donation – making her the first person in Bristol to have the procedure. She had been warned that the new organ would only last 10 years at most. But…

‘Time was running out for Mum’ ‘It was so important to include her’ Slipping into my elegant gown, I took a deep breath in as my daughter, Jessica, 18, and cousin, Janet, 43, tied the lace-up back. ‘How do I look? I asked, giving them a twirl. ‘Beautiful,’ they both cried in unison. Glancing at my reflection, I felt every bit the blushing bride. Butterflies fluttered in my stomach and as I strolled down the corridor, clutching a single red rose, I felt all eyes on me. But I wasn’t about to walk down the aisle, and the looks were more of confusion than awe. Instead of waltzing into a church or registry office, I was stepping onto a hospital ward. The stares were from patients and not guests. I…

1 Hats are super handy Always pack a hat. They're great for keeping the sun off your face. They're also handy for when you can't be bothered to plug in the straightening iron. 2 Do the laundry A day or two before you start packing, make sure all your clothes are clean. The last thing you want is your favourite top in the wash when you need to pack it! 3 Safety first Pack a first aid kit. Pain killers, decongestants and bandages are a must. You never know when these things might come in handy. 4 Wrinkle-free Don't pack clothes that require ironing. You don't want to be stuck ironing when you could be doing something much more exciting. 5 Grab a gift If you are staying with someone,…

‘Three rhinos blocked our way’ Sea lions, hippos, penguins, tigers and cheetahs: my 20-month-old daughter, Evelyn was loving West Midland Safari Park. Especially the seagulls flying by the car window. ‘We should have just taken her to the beach,’ I joked with my husband, David, 34.‘She’s more interested in looking at the birds than the lions,’ he chuckled. On the way out of the park we were given a free ticket to come again. ‘It’s a winter deal,’ the man at the desk said with a smile. ‘But it runs out in a few weeks, so you’ll have to come back soon.’ A couple of weeks later, my sister Beth Rees, 26, and I were bored at home and lost for what to do. Then I remembered that extra ticket,…

‘We can play cops or corpses’ The counter started and the director yelled; ‘Action!’ Blending into the background, I did my best to look like I was having a good time. I was an extra in a party scene, where a cancer patient was returning home from hospital after having successful treatment. Playing the role of a friend or relative for the daytime TV show Doctors, I was there to welcome her back. I mimed chit chat with a fellow extra as the cameras rolled. ‘Nicholas, where’s your wife Joanna?’ the leading actress in the scene asked. ‘There she is,’ the man playing Nicholas said, pointing at me! I guessed that meant I was Joanna today, so I tried not to act too shocked that I had been cast as…

‘It was the opportunity I'd been longing for’ ‘He locked the door and punched me to the ground’ Anna*, 31, Kent It was the opportunity I’d been desperate for. My boss Rafel Kafel, 40, was moving from our hometown in Poland to the UK and wanted me to go with him to help him out. ‘I want to make some money for my family,’ he insisted, talking about his wife and three children. At 21, working at his bar had been my first job and I was practically running it, so I knew he needed me. But I was also thrilled about seeing the world. ‘Ok, I’ll come,’ I agreed excitedly, seizing the opportunity to travel. We headed to Maidstone, Kent, and managed to find work and a flat to…

“All I ever wanted was to be a mum” “His short life taught us so much” Wrapping up a tiny pink comforter for my best friend’s new baby, I felt a pang of envy. My partner Stephen, 28, and I had been trying for a baby for two years, and while everyone was announcing pregnancies on social media, it just wasn’t happening for us. So in 2014 I decided to go to my GP for answers. I held my breath as he gave me the results that I’d been dreading. ‘Your hormones are incredibly low, Stacie,’ he told me in no uncertain terms. ‘I’m afraid it’s unlikely you’ll ever be able to conceive a baby naturally.’ I felt like my whole world was falling apart. All I had ever wanted…

Smile bright I'm tempted to try some teeth whitening kits at home. Are they safe? Jenny, Cardiff Perhaps the more sensible question to ask is ‘do they actually work?’ There are many bogus tooth whitening systems available on the internet, and some can, and do, cause damage to the teeth. Only those based on Carbamide Peroxide actually work, and these are only available from a qualified dentist. Why take a chance? Baby teeth What age should I start taking my three-year-old to the dentist and how often? Melissa, Kent NHS dental care is free for children, so what are you waiting for? Your little one will probably not need any active treatment, but your dentist will be happy to offer sound preventive advice to ensure young teeth stay healthy and…

It's no secret that the summer can take its toll on our skin. But there are daily measures we can take to prevent damage from the sun. Consultant Dermatologist from the Harley Street Clinic, Dr Iaisha Ali, gives her tips on staying safe. ‘Make sunscreen part of your daily routine,' she explains. ‘It should be applied half an hour before sun exposure to allow time for your skin to absorb it.' She recommends wearing a minimum of SPF 30. It is also important to bear in mind that sunscreen never offers complete protection. ‘Always accessorise with sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat to provide extra shelter,' says Dr Ali. Other tips include not sitting next to a window while you're at work, never using a sunbed, and being mindful of any…

Should I look for Mum? Samantha, 24, Chepstow When I was five, my parents adopted me and gave me the perfect upbringing. It never crossed my mind to look for my biological mum, who gave me up as a teen, but lately I’ve grown more curious. Problem is, I really don’t want to make my parents think they aren’t enough for me. Should I just leave the past alone when the desire to track her down isn’t really that strong? YES Pick Me Up! reader Jayne from Leeds says: You have to remember that your biological mum would have given you up for a good reason – and that reason is probably still relevant now. It sounds like you've got great parents, so I say leave the past in the…

Q: I have very pale skin and would love to fake tan, but my friends tell me it will never look natural. Are they right? Fake tans have a bad rep and that's totally unfair! There are some amazing formulas out there that look natural. Prep is key, whether you are visiting a top tanner or doing it yourself. Shower, shave and exfoliate before your tan - waxing should be done 24 hours before. My favourite at home option is Sienna X Q10 Bronzing Mousse, £24.95, sienna-x-co.uk, as it gives you a sun-kissed glow that looks SO natural. And for that pro finish, always use a tanning mitt, like the Sienna X Luxe Tanning Mitt, £3.95. Q: How do you stop your skin drying out when you use foundation? Your…

‘I was saving money and making people smile’ Ginger ninja, carrot top, ginger nut... The playground taunts were cruel, but by the time I’d reached my teens, I’d heard them all. In my youth, I’d resented my locks. It wasn’t so much the bright colour, but the target it made me. But as I got older I’d learnt to brush off the jibes and embrace being a redhead. ‘If you’re big, they’ll call you a fatty. If you’re small, they’ll call you a shorty, and if you’re ginger, there’s always going to be endless taunts,’ my parents had told me. And they were right. When I hit my teens, I grew more comfortable in my own skin and realised being ginger was a big part of my identity. It helped…

‘I'd always been a daddy's girl’ The front door opened. ‘Only me,’ called a familiar voice. My dad, Kelvin, 44, popped his head into the living room and I leapt up to him for a hug. Dad and my mum, Assia, 44, had been married for 20 years and separated for two. Still, he came to the house every day to see me and my sisters Emily, 23, and Lisa, 17. I had always been a daddy’s girl. While Mum and my sisters went shopping, I’d often go to rugby training with Dad or out horse riding on my pony, Prince. Dad was a builder and he’d go over to Emily and her boyfriend Matt’s and offer to do any odd jobs. He would also happily taxi Lisa around when…

‘We had a lucky escape’ As I carefully opened the cupboard door, my jaw dropped in shock. Inside lay a huge strange-looking hunk of steel. My mum Fiona, 55, and dad Gavin, 62, had come to see my new house, and I was excited to show them around the place. It was clear the house needed work, but it had potential. I had started the grand tour, leading my parents through the living room and then into the kitchen. ‘What a strange place for a cupboard!’ Mum said, pointing towards a white storage cabinet in the corner of the room. ‘Let’s see what’s inside,’ I said. But as we stared at the chunk of metal inside, I became a bit suspicious. I decided to give my friend Hugh – a…

‘It was something I never thought I'd do’ Plucking a pink shade of nail polish from the shelf, I perched on the edge of my bed to paint my toenails. ‘Ugghh,’ I groaned, trying to bend over my bulging belly to reach my feet. After five minutes of holding my breath and sucking in my stomach, I gave up. I was mortified but it was no good, I couldn’t see over my flabby tummy let alone reach over it. Tipping the scales at 20st 2lbs and bursting out of a size 26, I hadn’t realised just how big I had got. It wasn’t until I saw a photo of myself that the enormity of my weight problem really hit home. I had been celebrating the baptism of one of my…

Salmon in Lemongrass and Ginger with a Coriander Salsa • 2tbsp Kikkoman Less Salt Soy Sauce • 1 stalk finely chopped lemongrass • ½tsp chilli pepper sauce • 1tsp ground ginger • ½tsp bruised coriander stalks • 2 x 150g salmon fillets• 1tbsp honey • 125g egg noodles For the salsa • 1-2 red chillies, de-seeded • 2-3 spring onions • Small handful fresh coriander leaves 1. Pre-heat the oven to 200°C/Gas Mark 6. Mix together the Kikkoman Soy Sauce, lemongrass, chilli pepper sauce, ginger and coriander stalks. 2. Place the salmon in a non-metallic dish, pour over the marinade, cover and leave to marinate for at least 30 mins in the fridge. 3. Put salmon on a baking sheet, drizzle with the honey and bake for around 12 mins. 4. Cook the noodles, drain and keep warm. 5. Mix…

‘It didn't happen with any other artist’ ‘Removing part of my brain didn't work’ As I strolled the aisles at the supermarket and popped a loaf of bread in my trolley, I hummed along to the background music, when suddenly the track finished and the song ‘Give Me Everything’ by Ne-Yo started. My heart started racing. I abandoned my shopping and dashed towards the front door in sheer panic, with my hands over my ears. ‘Uh oh, not again, Mummy,’ my daughter, Abigail, eight, cried, chasing after me. Just as I reached the car park, I collapsed and began to have a seizure. Quick-thinking Abigail knew what to do and immediately sprang into action. ‘Help! Mummy’s epileptic!’ she shouted as shoppers hurried over. Keeping her cool, Abigail started counting slowly…

“She started with the rug in our living room” “The dangers are such a worry” When Nikki’s little girl started chewing on the living room rug as she crawled around on the floor, she thought Charlotte was just being inquisitive. Most babies explore new things by popping them in their mouths for a taste, and Nikki had no reason to think that Charlotte was any different. That was until she started to find lime green strands of material from the rug in her daughter’s nappies. As she got older, Charlotte, now four, began to bite material from the sofas, carpets and her own cuddly toys in a bid to satisfy her bizarre cravings. Her worried parents later discovered their little girl was autistic and also suffered from a disorder called…

According to a recent survey, Brits waste a staggering £558m a year on unused gym memberships! Carly Yue, personal trainer at DW Fitness (www.dwfitnessclubs.com) says as a rule of thumb, it takes 66 days to break a habit and learn a new one. Carly explains how you can get started. NO DRAMA Change your mindset. Getting fit and eating well shouldn't be all or nothing. Dieting is one of the few areas where we refuse to be flexible. We tend to hit a downward spiral if we ruin our diet with a chocolate bar or miss a workout. Be kinder to yourself, expect a few slip ups along the way, and move on. SHARE THE JOURNEY Have an ‘accountability buddy' - someone close to you that you have to report…

'I completely lost interest in the game' As I whisked the cake batter in the bowl, I thought about how much my life had changed in the last few years. It wasn’t that long ago that I wouldn’t have been caught dead baking a cake. Instead I would be out on the stands, cheering on my favourite team - Hull Kingston Rovers - as they scored another try. I was a season Rovers ticket holder and I never missed a match. I was so Rovers-mad, that I had even decorated my house in red and white, and named my dog after one of the players. I used to go everywhere to watch rugby. I was always first in line for new shirts and getting tickets in advance. But all that…

Get Naked Waking up thinner sounds like a dream, but it could be a reality as long as you wear as little as possible. Sleeping in the buff actually encourages your body to burn fat as your metabolism speeds up to stay warm. The cooler you are, the harder your body works to get your temp up. Lose calories while you snooze! Switch Hands Researchers in the US discovered that eating with the ‘wrong' hand - left for right-handers and right for left-handers - makes a difference in how much we eat. When eating with our non-dominant hand, we eat slower, giving us time to realise we're full before we're stuffed! So chew for longer, use chopsticks, and take smaller bites. Smile Bright If you're miserable and stressed out, your…

'Ryan had been hiding something' The airport was full of people changing their plans. ‘My flight is cancelled,’ I sighed, on the phone to my boyfriend, Ryan, 27. We had planned to fly from our home in Dallas, Texas, to Miami, Florida, to help friends move house. Ryan had arrived the day before. But overnight a storm had been brewing, which meant mine was the only plane in the airport to get grounded - typical. ‘Oh no!’ Ryan cried. ‘Don’t worry, I’ll get you on another tonight.’ ‘What’s the urgency?’ I replied ‘I’ll just catch one in the morning.’ But Ryan insisted. ‘I want to see you,’ he said. Always the romantic, I thought he was just being his usual sweet self. He was so thoughtful. On our very first…

‘The babies are taken to another world’ In the dry and scorching summer heat, with waves crashing around him, a tiny baby tugs the sails, struggling to keep his ship in full control. Drawing his sword, he bravely faces a large green sea-serpent baring its fangs. Not too far away, in the dusty desert, another baby perches on the back of a camel, soundly sleeping. Thankfully though, no babies were harmed in this hilarious and adorable newborn baby shoot. Instead, these photographs capture the moments when unsuspecting tots were transported to another world. Photographer Neli Prahova wanted to avoid traditional cherub poses and knitted hats to deliver something truly magical that parents can cherish for years to come. And so she put together a remarkable ‘Arabian Mites’ photo series with…

Aries 21 Mar - 20 April Passions are set to run high in August- the stars will favour romance and creative thinking Aries! Let your playful enthusiasm rule and run with this busy spell. You will easily bring order to projects, though watch out for errors after the 13th. The 15-17th could get quite emotional, however the 20th-22nd will more than make up for it. Taurus 21 April - 21 May Circle back to your comfortable nest in August, Taurus - there will be fresh starts for home, with some close connections by your side. You are visible on the 7th so let your achievements shine! The 15th-17th present tension; this is a wonderful month to explore and build your skills, yet a busy routine can hamper your keen curiosity.…