Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2018 i Pick Me Up! Special

Sometimes, strength comes to us in the darkest of times and we discover how powerful we can be. When Suzanne (pg54) was told that her brain tumour was terminal, she refused to be taken from her family. That determination means that she’s still making memories with them all today. Daisy (pg6) suffered terrible abuse when she was a child and thought she would never defeat the monster that haunted her dreams. But confronting her past has set her on a path to recovery. Brave Joanna (pg34) is also speaking out about the horror she went through in order to help other victims who might make the same mistake she did. When Crystal’s cat lost the use of his legs, she wasn’t giving up on him. Check out the amazing device…

Skipping up the drive to my grandma’s house, I shrieked with joy as I saw her coming to the door. ‘Hello my darling!’ she cooed, ruffling my hair. My parents had split when I was very young, so I would often go to stay with Dad and Gran on the weekend. Sometimes Dad would be away working, but I loved seeing Gran. We’d make cakes, play games and go to the park. She’d show me how to do arts and crafts and would give me endless streams of pens and papers to practise my drawing. I’d often cry on Sundays when it came time to leave. I loved my mum, but her house was always a more hectic environment and I really craved stability. My mum had a new boyfriend,…

When you’re a mum of two young-uns, shopping is hard. Last November, I braced myself for a trip to Asda with Ronnie, two, and Isla, five. Ronnie needed new shoes. Arriving at the supermarket, I plopped Ronnie in the front of the trolley, strapping him in. Isla trotted alongside me, jabbering away. Just then I spotted some potty-training seats to sit on top of the loo. I’d been trying to train Ronnie to use the big boy’s toilet. ‘This is to help you wee!’ I smiled to my little’un, passing him a loo seat. As soon as he got hold of it, he wore it like a hat! Sighing, I felt Isla pat my leg. My back was turned for 10 seconds when Ronnie giggled. Turning back, he was wearing…

Scooping fries into the paper, I chatted away to a regular customer. ‘Enjoy your dinner,’ I smiled, handing him his fish and chip supper. It was an October evening last year, around 8.15pm, and we were about to hit our quietest part of the day. I’d worked in the chippy for three years and loved it. When I’d first started the job, I’d been a shy teenager with buckets of nerves. Now I was confident and had a great rapport with the regulars. As I cleaned down the worktops, I heard the door swing open. ‘Portion of fish and chips, please,’ said a man with a bald head and stubble. ‘Of course,’ I replied with my usual grin. Heaping chips onto the paper, I noticed the man was standing very…

Watching my son Jayden with his older siblings, I beamed with pride. Jessica, then 11, was humming the Thomas the Tank Engine theme tune. It was her baby brother’s favourite show. Jayden, then one, giggled as he lay on his back, wiggling his little legs in the air. ‘He’s so cute,’ Dylan, then 15, cooed as Daniel, seven, tickled Jayden’s belly. As a single mum, nothing made me happier than watching my kids together. But it hadn’t been easy for us over the last year. All my older kids had been perfectly healthy babies. And my fourth pregnancy had gone as smoothly as possible, too. But when Jayden was born in August 2014, things were different. ‘He’s having trouble breathing,’ the doctor said. Jayden was whisked to a specialist unit,…

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS The birthplace of British motorsport and aviation, and home of the famous Concorde, has a lot to offer for a fun family day out. At Brooklands Museum in Weybridge, head into the Aircraft Factory, where you'll learn all about the history of aircraft manufacturing - from pioneering early aircraft from wood and fabric, to the supersonic airliner and technologies of the future. Don't miss the Wings and Wheels event on 25 and 26 August, an impressive five-hour air show that's sure to leave your jaws dropped. • Tickets from £7 • www.brooklandsmuseum.com BIGGEST OF THE BUNCH With four exhibition halls, over 90 aircraft, two million records and 30,000 artefacts, the Fleet Air Arm Museum in Ilchester, Somerset, is Europe's largest naval aviation museum. The collection also houses the Concorde 002,…

Earlier this year, I had a meaningless one-night stand. My husband found out and I realised it was a huge mistake. After begging, he took me back, but now he treats me so disrespectfully and constantly throws it back in my face. Should I stick with it because I was in the wrong? Sara, Reading YES Pick Me Up! reader Val from Bournemouth says: Your husband is hurt and quite frankly, you were in the wrong, so sadly you’re going to have to ride this rough patch out for a while. If you really want your marriage to work then you must allow him to be angry for a while. I’m not saying let it go on forever though – if it continues, you know he’ll never forgive you. But…

Coming out of the shower, I rubbed a towel over my wet hair and ran a comb through it. ‘All done!’ I said. My short cropped hair was very low maintenance. Never needing to blow dry or style it meant I could be ready for work in minutes. It was great. But sometimes I did wish I could have long, luscious locks like all my friends. For me, though, that didn’t seem possible. Born with mousy brown hair, I was never happy with the way it looked. And from the time I was a teenager, I’d experimented with trying to make it look better in whatever way I could. Sizzled straight one day, singed curly the next, it was no wonder that now, my hair was an unhealthy disaster. ‘I’ll…

Best for travelling… alone: COPENHAGEN This laid-back city makes a brilliant weekend destination for a solo traveller. It's a compact city that's easy to explore on foot or by bike – there are cycle paths everywhere! There's also a charming café culture, great art museums, and a cool, low-key nightlife. In summer, you can hit the nearby beaches or take a stroll along the picturesque harbour. It's a super friendly place, too – If you sit alone at a bar, you're bound to make a new friend in minutes. Don’t miss: If you're into history and literature, the famous Kronborg Castle, known as the setting for Shakespeare's Hamlet, is a must-see. GETTING THERE: Fly to Copenhagen from £96 with Norwegian Air. Best for travelling with… the kids: EDINBURGH The Scottish…

Seeing the same doctor doesn't just give you the comfort of a familiar face - it might actually save your life. In a study by the University of Exeter, 22 different health systems were analysed, revealing that countries where patients see the same doctor over time have significantly lower death rates than those with less continuity. ‘When a patient sees a doctor they know, they are more likely to talk more freely and provide more relevant information, sometimes quite personal information,' says Dr Denis Pereira Gray of St Leonard's Medical Practice. ‘The doctor can then tailor their advice for each patient.'…

From 1913, Peter Kurten slit the throats of nine victims and drank their blood for sexual kick. Kurten slaughtered in the German city of Dusseldorf and used various methods so police thought there were multiple killers. When caught, Kurten claimed to have drunk so much blood after one murder he was physically ill. Even when he was executed by guillotine in 1931, blood was his priority. His last words were: 'After my head is chopped off, will I still be able to hear, at least for a moment, the sound of my own blood gushing from the stump of my neck? That would be the pleasure to end all pleasures.'…

WINNING SKIN 1. Cocoa Brown Chocolate Moisturiser, £5.99, Superdrug This delicious smelling moisturiser helps your fake tan last even longer and leaves your skin beautifully soft. It also contains Vitamin E which helps reduce the appearance of stretch marks and age spots. It’s almost good enough to eat! 2. Wilkinson Sword Intuition f.a.b, £12, Boots This clever razor allows you to shave both forwards and backwards. The top blades shave up, and bottom blades shave down, so you never need to lift it. Its water activated gel provides a smooth glide and the rubber handle gives great control. 3. B. Vitalised Vitamin Facial Spritz, £7.99, Superdrug Awaken your skin instantly with this lightweight facial spray. Not only will the cucumber, caffeine and Vitamin C leave you feeling revitalised, but it…

As my due date came and went, everyone was speculating… ‘I wonder if you’ll give birth on your birthday,’ my mum Julie, 56, said. It was May 2005 and I was ready to pop. It was my 19th birthday on 11 May, but that was nine days after my due date. ‘Surely I’ll have the baby before then!’ I said. On 9 May, I went into labour. It was slow progress, though. ‘This baby certainly isn’t in any rush,’ a midwife at Airedale Hospital laughed. Eventually, I was given an epidural and, hours later, on 11 May, I was ready to push. Suddenly, it dawned on me… ‘It’s my birthday!’ I panted. So, as I pushed, Mum and the midwives sang Happy Birthday ! Paige soon arrived,…

Cheering my students on, I felt a pulsing in my head. A Performing Arts teacher at a primary school, I was helping out at the after-school talent show. Almost home time, I thought. It was March 2017 and I’d had a pounding headache all day. Certain it was nothing, I’d powered through. But as I stood there watching the kids perform, I collapsed. Everything went black. The next thing I remember is waking up in Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital. A thousand questions raced through my mind. How did I get here? What happened? I looked around and saw my dad, Roger, 66. ‘Hi Em,’ he said, relieved. I tried to respond, but no words came out. What’s going on? I panicked. Sensing my fear, Dad placed his hand over…

WISE ONES Wine fans tend to steer towards a cold glass of white or rose during the warmer months, but wine buffs say you can chill red wine, too, as long as you pick the right bottle. As part of Lidl's latest wine tour, they've included a red wine that's perfect to drink cold. ‘Not just any red qualifies for chilling,' explains Lidl's Master of Wine Richard Bampfield. ‘What you want are light, fruity examples with lower alcohol and softer tannins. Time in the fridge will increase the freshness, so the wines taste juicier.' Put the bottle in the fridge for 25 minutes before serving, or plunge into an ice bucket for 8-10 minutes. For faster results, just throw in an ice cube or chill the glass before pouring. Vin…

Money street Britain’s most expensive street has been revealed – and there’s no prizes for guessing which city it’s in. Grosvenor Crescent, in the heart of London’s Belgravia, is the priciest street, where a property will set you back around £17 million, according to research by Lloyds Bank. The area is near Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace and Knightsbridge, where the average price of a house is £16 million. Future food Tired of waiters getting your order wrong? At a restaurant in southern India, you won’t be! At the Robot Theme Restaurant, customers use tablets to order their food, before a team of rolling robots bring them their meal. They’ll even take away the dirty dishes. ‘We just wanted to do something different that had never been done in India before,’…

THEY SAY: Theye's range of ultra-slim, compact micro sprays are the perfect addition to your handbag, offering up to 300 sprays from just one credit card-sized bottle. Choose from a hand sanitiser, sun screen, or a mosquito repellent, among many others. YOU SAY: 'This product makes topping up the sun cream so much easier as you can keep it in your pocket. I'd recommend this for people who work outdoors.' Paula, London WE SAY: With a hand sanitiser that kills 99% of bacteria, a convenient bottle of SPF 30 sunscreen, and a super effective mosquito repellent, this range is ideal for your holiday handbag.…

As blood trickled onto my workbench, I pushed the sharp scalpel into the rabbit's flesh and peeled its skin and fur away. I often get raised eyebrows when I tell people I'm a taxidermist, but the funniest reactions I get are when I go on to tell them I'm also a vegetarian! ‘Isn't that a contradiction?' people ask. But I don't think it is at all. For almost two years, I've shunned meat, and haven't struggled to reject the chicken, beef, and ham options on menus. My main reason for going veggie was that I just couldn't stand the way some animals are cooped up in tiny pens and raised for slaughter. But taxidermy is different – I only work with animals that are already dead. It's not like I…

1 Become an early bird Life is busy, and the earlier in the day you work out, the fewer things there are competing for your attention. 2 Sleep on it Go to bed in your workout clothes. If you’re already ready to go when you wake up, you’ll be more likely to head out for that morning run. 3 Be realistic Set regular, achievable goals. Don’t just focus on your ultimate goal of losing 10lb in a year. Focus on monthly milestones, and celebrate each pound you lose. 4 Be accountable Enlist a friend to help you. Knowing you have someone to meet at the gym forces you to stick to your routine. 5 Enjoy it If you don’t like running, then don’t do it. Find an activity you enjoy,…

Recently I was contacted by a woman who is my half-sister. Turns out my late dad had an affair – something my mum hasn’t a clue about. It would destroy her. I want to meet this woman, but should I say no to avoid hurting my mum? Emma, Bristol YES Pick Me Up! reader Laura from Kent says: You have no connection to this stranger apart from DNA – and yet you have a relationship with your mum that could seriously be put at risk by bringing your half sister into your life. Why hurt your mum by telling her the marriage to your dad was a lie? You admit it would destroy her and whether you like it or not, people do shoot the messenger. I would steer clear…

Since we’d been introduced through mutual friends, Reece Smith and I had hardly spent a day apart. He was funny and charming, and to top it all off, Reece, 22, was brilliant with my one-year-old daughter, Libby. We were so happy that I had to pinch myself. But one night, Reece was going out with his mates. ‘I’ll be back at 9pm,’ he said, giving me a peck on the cheek. ‘Cool, see you later,’ I said. ‘Have fun!’ When Reece didn’t come home, I was worried. He didn’t have a phone and I had no way of contacting him or any of his friends to make sure he was okay. Reece finally walked in at 11:40pm and I was so relieved. ‘Where have you been? I’ve been so worried…

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 back up and left the store. My hubby, Mark, then 35, and I weren’t hard up, but at the same time, we didn’t really have much money to burn. Mark had recently started his own sign writing business, so most of our money went into that. Our sons, Leo, then eight, and Cole, then four, never went without, though. We’d just save up or buy them stuff second hand. My job managing website promotions boosted our income a bit, but I couldn’t help wishing there was more room in our budget for the occasional shopping spree. Then in October 2011 while browsing online, I…

Sitting alone in the doctor’s waiting room, I was shaking with nerves. It will be OK, I thought. It’s just a simple procedure. I was 32 and was in for my first ever smear test. I’d been putting it off for years, thinking it was going to be a painful, embarrassing experience. ‘I feel healthy anyway,’ I’d said to my husband George, 36. But he insisted. ‘Please just book a test,’ he’d pleaded with me weeks before. ‘Do it for me?’ I thought about it more, but was still so scared of the whole thing. My friends would often bring it up, too, and they couldn’t believe I’d never had one. ‘It’s over so quickly and it doesn’t hurt at all,’ one said. So eventually, I relented and booked myself…

When Daniel Ruda was looking for love, he placed a lonely-hearts ad in a German heavy-metal magazine. Car parts salesman Daniel, 26, knew exactly what he was looking for. The ad read: Pitch-black vampire seeks princess of darkness who hates everything and everyone. Quick to reply was Manuela Bartel, 23, and she was perfect for him. The self-confessed wannabe vampire loved to spend her time in graveyards. At 16, she’d run away from her middle-class parents and spent time in the UK, attending ‘bite parties’ where they’d drink each other’s blood. When she returned to Germany, she was deep into the satanic scene. She had teeth removed and animal fangs implanted, and promised to serve Satan. That same year, she replied to Daniel’s lonely-hearts ad and she was the girl…

Talking with my husband Owen one day, I suddenly couldn’t understand a word he was saying. It was the strangest sensation. I could hear he was speaking, I just couldn’t make out the words. Less than a minute later, I was back to normal. ‘Are you OK?’ Owen, 45, asked, concerned. ‘Fine,’ I stammered. But this wasn’t the first time it had happened. I’d been having these strange absent moments for a few months now. They’d started in early 2014. During the episodes, I’d lose my speech, too. I thought I was talking normally, but it was actually total gibberish. That wasn’t the only worrying symptom. I’d send text messages to my friends and they didn’t make any sense. And I couldn’t understand the ones sent back to me. That’s…

Newquay Zoo in Cornwall has recently welcomed two adorable additions to their wildlife collection. Born in May, the fluffy Eurasian twin lynx cubs were discovered in the enclosure after their mother, Kicsi, didn't show up for her regular feeding times. The kittens are almost two months old now, and have been spotted by zoo staff playing together and with their older sister, Tink, who was born in May last year. The twins are being kept away from public view for now, while Kicsi and their father, Boomer, watch their new arrivals closely. Kicsi also often carries them in her mouth while walking through the lynx house. Mike Downman, the zoo's senior carnivore keeper, said he was over the moon about the little ones. ‘I'd suspected Kicsi was pregnant for a…