Innholdsfortegnelse for June 2019 i Pick Me Up! Special

Bright sunshine blazed outside, but I lay slumped against the sofa. Only 13, there was normally no getting me to sit still. I was always off playing cricket or footie with my mates . Lately, though, the only thing running was my nose. My summer holidays had been one long cough and cold. I was constantly tired. ‘Let's get you checked out,' my mum Alison, 45, said, prodding me into a trip to see the GP. Just an hour after a blood test, Mum's phone rang. I vowed to give back, even if it took years The nurse told us to go straight to Chesterfield Royal Hospital, before we were transferred to Sheffield Children's. The next day, Mum and my dad Paul, 54, explained that I had something called acute…

Planting a gentle kiss on my little boy Anwar’s head, I popped him down in front of cartoons on the TV. ‘Now, be good for your auntie today,’ I said. As soon as his feet hit the floor, he was off, tottering away. He’d taken his first steps at just eight months old, and now that he’d found his feet, there was simply no stopping him. ‘Good luck, you’re going to have your hands full,’ I said to my sister Fauzia, as I headed off to a shift at my job in healthcare. As well as Anwar, 11 months, she’d also offered to babysit my other children – Nailah Bukirwa, five, and Abdulnoor Lule, four. Fauzia had two little ‘uns of her own, and another on the way. So she…

STEAMING TRAVELS Does Dad love a grand adventure filled with steam-powered fun? If he loves nothing more than spotting a train or two, there’s a place that will be top of his list to visit this Father’s Day. The Talyllyn Railway  in Wales, running from Tywyn to Nant Gwernol, will see you steaming through the charming Fathew Valley in Snowdonia National Park – your comfortable carriage pulled by an historic steam engine will take you past streams and waterfalls, through a remote and beautiful valley in the Merioneth mountains oozing with Celtic mystery. It’s a truly historic adventure that promises a day of fun for the whole family. • Tickets from £4.50 • www.talyllyn.co.uk ANIMAL ADVENTURES If Dad is an animal fanatic, then an animal adventure is what you need this Father's…

Frantically doggy paddling left me panting like just that – a dog. ‘How interesting,’ I puffed, hardly hearing the small talk over the rush of lake water and panic in my ears. Why had I agreed to go out swimming for a first date?! When Sean, 30, made conversation, we’d drifted out far, and now, robbed of my breath, I silently slipped downwards. Sean snatched me up just in time and dragged me back to the docks. ‘I can’t really swim,’ I admitted, shaken. The truth was hardly appealing! Suffering from dyspraxia, I struggled with physical coordination. I first started experiencing chronic leg and back pain when I was in my teens. I’d spend months in bed and had endless hospital appointments. Incurable interstitial cystitis and endometriosis meant I head…

Do you believe in miracles? I never used to. But back in March 2008, I had no choice but to believe. Because I was looking right at one, on the screen before me. ‘I’m having a baby?’ I said. ‘How is that even possible?’ That question wasn’t actually as daft as it sounded. You see, I’d never had penetrative sex before! I’d been born with lots of organ problems, including two vaginas – one beside the other. Two wombs, as well. It meant that penetrative sex was impossible for me – my vaginas were way too small. Me and my partner Ciaran, 22, found our own ways to be intimate. Though it’s fair to say, neither of us was expecting this as a result! Especially as I’d been on the…

1 Giving blood is not important. 2 Giving blood is simple. 3 My donated blood will only be given to one patient. 4 Some blood types are in higher demand than others. 5 As a woman, my blood can only be donated to other women. 1. FALSE The NHS requires 400 new blood donors every day to meet demand and ensure they have the right mix of blood groups to meet patients’ needs. Those with rare blood types, such as O negative, are in particular demand, while more young people are needed to start giving blood so they can make sure they have enough for the future. 2. TRUE Giving blood is simple and it saves lives. All you have to do is register and book an appointment at www.blood.co.uk.…

TIME TO SPEAK UP From 10 to 16 June, we mark Men's Health Week, an annual international week preceding Father's Day to focus on several issues facing men's health. Run by the Men's Health Forum, men and their partners are encouraged to speak about and get help for issues such as diabetes, obesity, stress, dieting, healthy living, and so much more. Visit www. menshealthforum.org.uk for more information and ways to get involved.…

This was what two weeks of overindulging had done to me! I'd just come home from visiting my family in the Highlands, and had indulged in one afternoon tea too many! ‘I'm out of breath walking upstairs,' I panted to my boyfriend, Ben. ‘I need to hit the gym.' But I had other things to think about, like starting my new job handling insurance claims. It was August 2015, and I had a few more days off before I started it on the Monday. But the breathlessness didn't get any better. I started to feel dizzy, too. Then on the Saturday, Ben took me to Ipswich train station so I could buy my ticket ready for Monday. He parked around the corner and I trotted across the road. But as…

Horsing around Making friends with a horse in the New Forest. He was adorable! Lauren, London Wedded bliss My husband Andy and I on our honeymoon to France. I couldn't be happier! Cara, London Fun in the sun My sister Shona loves the sea, as you can see! Here she is on our last holiday to Portugal. She's hilarious! Perry, Essex We love summer! My two boys, Riley and Oscar, love spending time on the beach. I'm sure we'll be doing a lot of this in the next few months. Tina, Portsmouth Sister sister Happy birthday to my amazing sister Jean. So glad I got to celebrate with you! Lot's of love. Diane, Margate Fiesta fun My boyfriend Tom and I had such a lovely time at my friend Laura’s…

Sweat dripping down my legs, I stripped off my gym clothes and chucked them in the washing machine. But it wasn't enough for a load… Breezing through the house, I collected all the dirty linen. ‘Sorry, Gracie,' I said, disturbing my dozing moggy as I stripped off my bedsheets. Me and my hubby Cliff, 51, had got Gracie in April 2016. I'd just been made redundant and diagnosed with ovarian cancer – a double whammy! But Gracie gave me something to wake up for. By last December, I was healthy again, but I still treated Gracie like my baby. Now, I chucked the bedsheets in the wash. By then it was nearing 5pm, so I got busy sorting dinner. Heading back to the machine, I started a 20-minute quick wash.…

GLASTONBURY FESTIVAL 26 to 30 June, Pilton LINEUP: The Killers The Cure Janet Jackson Miley Cyrus Christine and the Queens Glastonbury sets the bar when it comes to worldwide music festivals. It hosts the biggest names in music on its famous Pyramid Stage, but that’s not all it has to offer. Take a stroll through Shangri-La and you’ll be thrown into a themed world full of immersive theatre. Just up the path is Arcadia, the sprawling spiderlike flame-throwing structure, open to only the most hardcore ravers, or the cosier circus and cabaret field, where some of the country’s best comedians come together with drag queens and trapeze magicians. With tickets hard to come by, watch on TV in the comfort of your home! www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk CAMP BESTIVAL 25 to 28 July,…

Rifling through my wardrobe, I pulled out a little black dress and held it up against myself in front of the mirror. ‘What about this?’ I asked my friends Catherine, 21, and Kay, 23, as we got ready in my bedroom for a night out on the town. ‘It’s gorgeous, definitely wear it!’ Kay smiled. I got changed, did my hair and applied a slick of lip gloss. It was December 2017, and I was looking forward to catching up with my mates and having fun. In between working in a hotel as a waitress and looking after my little boy Riley, six, I didn’t get out much. But tonight, my mum Shelby, 43, was babysitting and I wanted to make the most of it. ‘Shall we head to a…

YOU'RE IN THE RIGHT PLAICE National Fish and Chip Day brings together everyone involved in creating this iconic British dish – from fish and chip shops, pub chains, restaurants and retailers, to the fishermen and farmers who provide the sustainable and natural ingredients needed to create this family favourite. Headed up by the National Edible Oil Distributors' Association (NEODA), National Fish and Chip Day is designed to encourage us all to buy sustainably. Don't miss your chance to get involved – start tweeting #nationalfishandchipday now! COD ALMIGHTY! In many places around the world, Friday night has been the established night to eat fish. This stems back to religion - traditionally, Christians abstained from eating red meat on Fridays to mark the day of Christ's death. According to the National Federation…

In the close-knit community of Placentia, California, everyone knew each other. Families grew up together and were intricately connected by friendships and romance. A prime example being the bonds between the Torrez family and the Lopez family. Cathy was stabbed over 70 times as she fled Cathy Torrez, 20, was dating her former school sweetheart Sam Lopez, who she’d known since she was a child. Cathy’s sister Tina was married to Sam’s older brother Armando, and lived across the road from Cathy in the Lopez family home. In 1994, Cathy was considering marrying into the Lopez family, too. Her relationship with Sam hadn’t always run smoothly. They’d broken up a few times over Sam’s flirting with other girls and his jealousy. But despite it all, Sam was smitten with the…

Burns and scalds Each day, nine children are admitted to hospital with a severe burn, and shockingly, 95% of all childhood burns happen at home. WHAT CAN YOU DO? Hot drinks can easily be knocked over or grabbed by little fingers, and a cup of tea can burn even 15 minutes after it’s been made. Put your baby down before picking up your hot drink, avoid passing drinks over children’s heads, and keep them out of reach of children at all times. Hair straighteners can still burn even after they’ve been unplugged. If they’re safely placed on a high shelf, or put inside a heatproof bag, you can stop your little ones from getting their hands on them or from stepping on them by accident. Install thermostatic mixing valves in…

A young, pregnant mother was missing, and her distraught husband begged the public to help him find his ‘angel.’ It was January 2006, and Jody Galante, 26, had vanished. Australian-born Jody was already a devoted mum to a two-year-old daughter, and she was three months pregnant. Husband Mark, 27, had said he had dropped her off at the local market near their home in Sydney on January 7. He’d then taken their daughter to feed the ducks at a park, before having some lunch together and returning home. Jody was supposed to phone Mark and let him know when she needed to be picked up. But she never called. It was extremely out of character for Jody to disappear. Family was everything to her. Jody and Mark had been dating…

Playing in the park with my daughter Corrayah, four, and son Aason, two, I caught sight of someone watching me. He was good looking with dark hair, and I couldn’t help but blush as he smiled at me. I smiled back at him shyly, and he came over. ‘Hi, I’m David,’ he said. We got chatting, and I introduced David to the kids – although they were too busy playing! David Gifford, 37, was so charming, paying me compliments and even warming up to Aason, helping him down the slide. We swapped numbers, and soon went on our first date. David told me all about his job as a petrol station attendant, and I was instantly smitten. Things moved pretty quickly after that, and David and I were soon a…

BARGA, ITALY Tucked within the mountainous Serchi Valley is Tuscany's best kept secret. Barga is a quiet medieval town that takes you back to old world Italy, where Mama cooks for everyone and wineries are still run by families. The art scene is alive and well – the Duomo di San Cristoforo at the top of the town is worth the walk and the food. And at just over an hour from Florence, you get the best of both worlds when you fly into the city before heading to the countryside. Good to know: A local highlight is the lunchtime tour at Podere Concori, a biodynamic winery with a passion for cultivating the purest of products. Getting there: Fly from Gatwick to Florence from £91 with Iberia www.visittuscany.com LISBON, PORTUGAL…

While there are times when we all dislike who we are, loathing your thoughts and actions is a classic sign of low self-esteem. Self-hate is characterised by feelings of anger and frustration about who you are and an inability to forgive yourself for even the smallest of mistakes. It's important to remember that even the most confident person struggles with low self-esteem at some point. Change your dialogue An internal critic fuels self-hate, so step one is to silence the voice in your head by consciously making yourself repeat a positive response for every negative thought you have. Why be your own worst critic? If you wouldn't say it to your best friend, don't say it to yourself. Remember, no one is ever all good or all bad. Making mistakes…

I SCREAM, YOU SCREAM! Good news for ice-cream lovers! Halo Top Creamery has launched a brand new range of snackable ice cream sticks containing just 80 to 100 calories. Following their huge success in the US, these ice-creams hit Tesco stores last month, and are available in four mouth-watering flavours. Choose from sea salt caramel, peanut butter swirl, birthday cake, and strawberry cheesecake, for those who want to have their (cheese) cake and eat it, too. And if you're used to a tub, don't worry – this new range gives fans the same Halo Top they know and love, only now with 100 percent more stick – and for just a fiver. GREEN FOR GOOD Children love growing plants and being in the garden, but they're often impatient, wanting to…

A young man has defied the odds by becoming a successful wildlife photographer. At the age of 11, Oliver Hellowell, who was born with Down’s syndrome, started playing with his stepdad Mike’s camera, and has never put it down since! His love of wildlife was nourished by his mum Wendy, and now at 22, the successful photographer has over 60,000 Facebook followers, and has launched two of his own books. Born in July 1996, Oliver was diagnosed with Down’s syndrome, severe cardiac issues, and poor muscle tone. At three years old, a speech therapist told his mum that he would never be understood by someone who didn’t know him. ‘I refused to believe any negative predictions and simply knew that this amazing boy was going to prove them wrong,’ said…

My heart flipped as I looked down at the basket full of tiny balls of fur. It was March 2013, and I was visiting a litter of newborn beagle puppies. My husband James, 48, and our kids, Ellie, 15, Max, 13, and Freddy, 10, were all dog mad, just like me. And we reckoned it was high time our five-year-old beagle, Reggie, had a little friend. So when I’d heard from a friend about a litter of pups she’d seen, one with an injured leg, I’d come along to meet him myself. The tiniest puppy was hopping, one of his front legs tucked up in front of him. ‘He was born without bones in his front left leg,’ the breeder explained to us. The poor little chap would never walk…

The wind was howling outside one chilly October night last year. I couldn’t get to the bingo hall, so thought I’d play from the comfort of my home. Since signing up for Pick Me Up! Bingo in September 2007, I’d won over £16,300. Not all in one go - I’d scooped five jackpots! And in 2015, I even won a holiday to Tenerife in a promotion on the site. My husband Barry, 66, and I are both retired, so we’d spent much of our winnings on trips to Italy, Spain and Switzerland. We’d redecorated the house, too. When I joined, I wasn’t expecting to be a big winner. I played because I enjoyed the bright games, the small wins and the chatter with my bingo pals. That evening, I played…