Innholdsfortegnelse for February 2019 i Pick Me Up! Special

Romance is in the air with Valentine’s Day on the horizon, and we have the greatest love story this month. When Emma met Daniel, he was convinced that they had no future together because of his debilitating condition, (pg8) but she proved him wrong. And with some much needed tough words, they now have a wonderful family. Inspirational Mandie (pg22) is fighting cancer and her bucket list is keeping her going. Finding love wasn’t on the list – but she couldn’t be happier to now have Ross by her side for both the good and bad days. Poor Gillian was just doing her job when she was viciously assaulted in the street (pg26). Her attacker’s excuse? He hadn’t eaten enough. There had been no warning signs for Gillian – but…

Leaning back in my deck chair, I lapped up the warmth of the sun like a cat with a bowl of milk. Then came a screeching cry. I whirled around. My seven-year-old Norwegian Forest cat, Beebz, was sprinting in and out of the house. I knew what that meant. My daughter Annie, 19, was having a seizure! She’d been diagnosed with epilepsy four years earlier and, whenever she suffered a fit, Beebz would gently tug on her  hair, give her a comforting lick and pat her with his paw. Then he’d remain by her side until the ambulance arrived. We called him our purr-amedic ! Annie soon recovered, and a few days later, I was on my way to the care home where I worked as a…

Scratching my eye, I desperately tried to see what the teacher had written on the board. It was December 2012 and, aged 14, I’d been having trouble with my right eye. It was sore and red, and I couldn’t stop rubbing it. Even with glasses or contact lenses, I was struggling to see. The irritation got worse, and my eyelid began to droop. My mum Samantha, 41, took me to the GP, who referred me to Stoke Mandeville hospital. There, an eye consultant examined my eye. ‘This is acanthamoeba keratitis,’ he said. We learnt that AK was an infection caused by a tiny water parasite. The parasite was burrowing into my cornea Found in rivers, lakes, oceans – even tap water – it was usually harmless, unless it affected the…

OLD FAITHFUL It's ‘til death do us part' for wolves in the wild. They pick a partner at around two and then build their pack with a yearly litter. They might be considered tricksters, but in fact they're very loyal. An older lone wolf is likely to be mourning a lost love. DANGEROUS DEVOTION The butterfly fish is a solitary creature, swimming around alone until they find that perfect someone. When they do, they’re committed for life! If they get separated, they will risk swimming to the top of the corals to find each other. OTTERLY ADORABLE When a sea otter finds its mate, they become inseparable and it's monogamy all the way. They eat, sleep, travel and play together. They even hold hands when they are floating on their…

Slipping on my roller blades, I skated to the front door. ‘Bye, Mum!’ I called. ‘Take it easy!’ she replied. But before she could finish her sentence, I was gone! A few hours later, I could barely walk up the stairs. ‘Spa time?’ my mum Lauren, 32, smiled, taking my legs in her hands. This was our routine before bed, ever since I’d developed crippling pain in my legs. Mum would massage them until the agony eased enough for me to fall asleep. It first started at my school sports day when I was six. During a race, my legs suddenly felt like lead. ‘I couldn’t move them,’ I wailed, indignant that I’d come last. After that, my body always felt like it was aching – or burning. ‘I’m on…

Clambering up and down ladders, stocking shelves and updating price tags, I had one of those jobs that kept you on your feet. So whenever my legs began to ache or my feet began to pulse, I never took too much notice. ‘God, I’m wiped out,’ I’d moan to a colleague at the pet store. But it was all part and parcel of the job – at the end of the day, someone had to do it. It was August 2016 – and despite my aching joints, I was fit and healthy. I thought I'd been on my feet too much I lived at home with my two puppies, Chaz and Dave, who were always buzzing around me. But lately, Dave seemed to be acting up. With my aching legs,…

Three young children were curled up in the living room of their California family home, watching cartoons. The Harper siblings, two boys aged eight and one, and a six-year-old girl were all lost in a world of fun while their parents, Julie and Jason, argued upstairs. Hearing raised voices was nothing new to the youngsters as their parents’ marriage fell apart, but this particular morning, an almighty thud above them caught their attention. The two eldest kids raced upstairs to find the door of the master bedroom firmly shut. The kids heard the very moment their dad died ‘You can’t come in,’ yelled their mum from the other side. ‘Daddy has fallen off his chair.’ They were confused, and Julie’s behaviour would only get more puzzling as she reappeared with…

The time we spend in the shower is often cited as a source of inspiration or a place to think. Spanning everything from sleep, science and history, to space, psychology and time, analysis by leading UK shower brand Mira Showers has unveiled some of the top areas of shower thoughts. While 28 percent of Brits think about society, politics and history while having a wash, 20 percent think about philosophy, 17 percent about pop culture, and eight percent about health and fitness. Celebrity psychologist Jo Hemmings explains: 'during auto-pilot activities like showering, the pre-frontal cortex in the brain, which controls decision making, is relaxed and the brain's default mode comes into play, giving us clarity and creativity.'…

Mum was shocked and repeated what I’d just told her: ‘You’re going to be a soldier?!’ I nodded, smiling. No wonder my mum Tina, 47, was surprised. Just 16, I was a girly girl – never went out without my mascara on. Truth was, a comment from someone at school that I’d ‘never amount to anything’ had really stuck with me. I’ll show you, I thought. I’d always loved a challenge. Once my family knew I was serious, I had their support. ‘You’ll be like Goldie Hawn in Private Benjamin,’ Mum teased. ‘Tottering around in heels and makeup!’ But it wasn’t like that… During training, makeup was banned, my blonde hair was scraped back, and I wore combats and heavy boots. But, one of just three girls among over100 lads,…

Brushing her curly locks, I admired my daughter's thick head of hair. ‘There!' I cooed, tying her plait. ‘Just like a little princess.' Beaming Enya-Rose, then two, twirled in a happy circle. My little girl loved dressing up, pretending to do her makeup. But in October 2016, I noticed something about her was different – her hair. It was thinner than before, with clumps on top, the sides wispy and flyaway. In some places you could see her scalp. I took her to the doctor's, but the GP wasn't concerned. Maybe it was my imagination. But a month later, a lady approached me in the shops. ‘Such a shame you're going through this,' she said, gesturing to Enya. ‘What do you mean?' I asked. Red-faced, she said she'd assumed that…

Giggling in front of the computer screen, my friends dared me to click ‘accept’ on Facebook. ‘Stop! I don’t want to start chatting to strangers,’ I laughed, pulling the mouse back from my friend’s grip. Daniel confessed at the very start We were scrolling through my homepage and it suggested I join the ‘are you interested page’, which was like an old-fashioned Tinder for Facebook and showed you singles and like-minded people in the area. It was 2009 and I was 18, living at home with my parents in Clifton, Nottingham, and although I was single, I definitely wasn’t looking to meet someone online. ‘Go on, it’ll be a laugh,’ one of my friends chuckled, goading me on. ‘Fine, but I’m deleting it straight afterwards!’ I insisted. The next day,…

To use your contact lenses properly and keep your eyes healthy, the NHS advises. DO: Always wash, rinse and dry your hands properly before touching your lenses. Wear your contact lenses only for the recommended time given. Have regular contact lens checkups with an optician. Seek advice immediately if your eyes become sore, red, itchy or swollen. DON'T: Wear damaged or unfitted contact lenses or a lens that you've dropped on the floor. Put water on lenses while wearing them, or swim or shower when you're wearing them. Keep wearing a lens if it doesn't feel good or your vision is blurry.…

Opening up the ticket, I peeled off the sticky back and slapped it on the front of the car. ‘Well, you probably shouldn’t have parked there,’ I mumbled, tapping the electronic pad and noting down the license plate number. Although we get a bit of a bad rap, I absolutely loved my job as a traffic warden. I fell into the role back in 2002, when I moved from Buckinghamshire to Nottingham to take care of my dad, John. He had a swollen aorta and early dementia, so I needed a job while I was there. I knew I couldn't stop writing out the ticket Luckily, I came across one for a traffic warden at a job fair. After a few months in the area, I met my husband, also…

ME, or chronic fatigue syndrome, is a long-term neurological condition affecting many body systems, but, more commonly, the nervous and immune systems. It can affect anyone, but is more common in women. It tends to develop between your mid-20s and mid-40s. The main symptom is tiredness, but people can also have sleep problems, joint pain, headaches and flu-like symptoms. Most people find over exercising worsens the symptoms, which can vary from day to day. Visit www.actionforme.org.uk  for more information.…

Everyone knows our canine friends have incredible powers of smell. That’s why they’re used in the police force and bomb squads. So why not use them in medicine, too? With their heightened sense of smell, dogs are able to detect minute odours now understood to be associated with some cancers and other diseases. Charities like Medical Detection Dogs are working to train canines to detect odours known as ‘volatiles’, which are associated with the disease. They’re present in urine, skin swabs and breath samples – and, thanks to the nose structure of dogs, they could one day be a valuable asset in early cancer diagnosis.…

Another infamous murder in Carlsbad involved skateboarder Mark 'Gator' Rogowski. He rose to fame in the 80's and his success saw him making a fortune from endorsements. Everything came to an end when Rogowski pleaded guilty to raping and  murdering model Jessica Bergstein, 22, in 1992. The pair were old friends. After spending a day together, Rogowski knocked Jessica unconscious and raped her, before suffocating her to death. He stuffed her in a surfboard bag and dumped her in the desert. The disgraced athlete got life in prison.…

Booking sweet spot When travelling on a budget, every penny counts. Researchers at travel agency CheapAir ( cheapair.com ) have found a sweet spot on getting the biggest bang for your buck. While prices tend to stay the same between 320 and 106 days before a trip, they start dropping at the 105-day mark. You’ll save more money by booking exactly 70 days before your trip – you  can save up to 48 percent of the ticket’s total by using this trick. After that date, airfares will increase again. And don’t even think about booking any later than 20 days ahead of time, as prices will be soaring. Royal attractions The royal wedding came and went in a flash, but we’re still hung up on Harry and Meghan.…

REFRESH YOUR LOOK 1. Hair Xpertise Argan Oil, £12.99, Superdrug Argan oil is an effective way to nourish your locks with vitamin E and leave you with a healthy shine. Apply at the ends of your towel-dried hair and style. A little goes a long way. 2. Matte lipstick in Bellini, £3, George Cosmetics Next time you’re in Asda, check out their makeup. Highlights include lipsticks that are a great price. We’re loving Bellini, which will take us into spring. 3. B Booster, £9.99, Superdrug If your skin needs hydration, then this is perfect. It contains a blend of three Australian super fruits and will leave your skin looking fresh. Apply after cleansing and massage into skin. 4. Silver Glow Eau De Parfum, £8.99, New Look This bargain fragrance has…

A photographer with a passion for dogs has travelled the world capturing amazing images of man’s best friend in the most stunning locations. Polish pooch photographer Alicja Zmysłowska runs shoots for dogs in places where they’ve never been captured on camera before. She has shot  incredible photos of dogs dancing in the Northern lights, playful friends on a Polish beach, and even a dog overlooking a Norwegian lake from a cliff’s edge. Her project ‘Craving Miracles’ was a way to combine her fascination with travelling and her love for dogs. Alicja, 23 said: ‘I wanted to find a way combine dreamlike landscapes with dogs as my main models. ‘I have always had the desire to travel to breathtaking places, and I didn’t want to limit myself to classic landscape photography…

Arriving at the airport in London, the cold air blasted in my face. ‘It’s so cold,’ I shivered to my husband Kim, 64. It was November 2011, and after 12 years living in Tenerife, we were moving back to the UK to be close to our daughters Nicola and Julie, and our six grandkids. ‘Better get used to it, Mum,’ smiled Nicola, 36, as she piled our bags into her car. I lit a cigarette, blowing the smoke out the car window. ‘Not in the car!’cried Nicola. ‘Sorry love,’ I said, putting it out. ‘You should give up,’ Nicola said. ‘I have.’ I was shocked. Nicola had always loved smoking. If she could do it, maybe it was time to change my ways. As the weeks passed, I cut down…

Hide and cat seek I was looking everywhere for my cat Misty, then I found her here, in the back of our garden, completely happy and oblivious to the world. Carly Frost, Coventry Please play with me! Bruno is such a happy dog, loves playing outside, and adores attention. Here he is begging me to play with him! Donna Ragland, Kent Cone of shame Little Jasper has been a bit poorly lately and has to wear this cone for a few weeks. He’s handled it so well and I’m so proud of him. Lynsey Hatton, Northampton…

Simple steps Marisa Peer, hypnotherapist and author of I Am Enough: Mark Your Mirror and Change Your Life (£10.99, Amazon), shares simple steps for learning to praise yourself: BE YOUR OWN BEST FRIEND Talk to yourself like you would talk to a good friend. If your friend was late or messed up a presentation, chances are you wouldn’t berate them, you’d tell them they did the best they could. Try giving yourself the same respect you would give others; it’s a simple change but it can dramatically alter our mindset. PRAISE THE LITTLE THINGS It’s so easy to forget all the little wins you achieve day in day out. Perhaps you’ve negotiated a tricky situation at work or you’ve made it out for a jog this…

1 Add colour to your walls A lick of paint is a quick, easy and inexpensive way to give your home an instant lift. Paint an entire room in an intense shade or opt for a feature wall to add glamour. 2 Rethink what you have Reassess what your room already looks like. Why not move a few things around? A fresh approach will help you get rid of tired pieces that only clutter up space. 3 Choose lighting wisely The right lighting can transform the look of a room at very little cost. Why not buy a fresh shade for your lamp? Try replacing mismatched table lamps with stylish matching ones. 4 Update your pillows You don’t need to spend money on a new sofa to revamp your living…

Is it best to keep lying about my past? I’ve fallen in love, but I’ve lied about my dating history. He thinks I’ve only had a few long term relationships because I knew he’d disapprove of my wild past and one night stands. Shall I stick to my story to avoid losing him? Tara, Sheffield YES  Pick Me Up! reader Vicki from London says: I don’t think that who you have been with is any of his business. It has nothing to do with the way you feel about your new boyfriend and you sound devoted to making it work. Everyone has things in their past that they might not be proud of, but it makes us the person we are today – the woman this guy has fallen in…

Dr Jane Leonard is a fully qualified GP. She has over five years of aesthetic treatment experience and holds clinics in London and the North West ( www.drjaneleonard.co.uk ) In a flutter Q Recently I feel like my heart suddenly beats too strongly or it starts to flutter. Should I be worried? Ellie, Leeds A The symptoms you are describing are called heart palpitations. Any symptoms related to your heart should be fully investigated by a doctor as soon as possible. There are many causes of palpitations, ranging from irregular heart rhythms to anxiety. Your GP will arrange some simple tests, including blood tests and an ECG. If you experience any sharp chest pain, shortness of breath or worsening palpitations, you need to seek urgent…

Q I forget to moisturise all the time. Is it really that important, and does it need to be an expensive product? Claire, Norwich A Establishing a twice daily skincare routine is essential for a healthy, and youthful complexion. Try keeping a small bottle of moisturiser to hand or simply a note on your fridge saying ‘Don't forget to moisturise!' Look out for more natural products that don't contain harsh chemicals. The key to getting the maximum benefit is to use it regularly. It's better to use a £2 moisturiser every day than a £200 product every blue moon! Start with cheaper products to establish a routine and move onto pricier ones over time. Moisturising is fun as it can make your skin look gorgeous, and investing a small amount…