Innholdsfortegnelse for January 2022 i Pick Me Up! Special

HOW TO REGISTER It’s FREE to enter and it really is so easy to do! Just visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com and register by hitting the join button and then you can enter as many competitions as you like. Go on, have fun! For website rules of play, go to comps.lifedeathprizes.com/rules. Terms and conditions apply, UK only. This promotion is running concurrently in the January issues of Chat Monthly and Pick Me Up! Special and the February issue of Chat it’s Fate.…

Fluffy hugs! This cat snuck into my house for food and I just had to give it some cuddles! Georgia, Yeovil Adorable addition… My friend has a new therapy puppy called Wesley, he is just too cute. Brigit, Southampton Oink Oink! I had such a fun day petting these miniature pigs at Pennywell Farm last year, I am already planning my next trip. Marianne, Devon Shaken not purred… My cat, Meeko, looks so dapper in his new bow tie! Laura, Tottenham…

Want to meet Postman Pat and his black and white cat? Well, now you can! The original filming sets from the children’s classic TV show have been saved from destruction and are now going on display for the first time. The sets, which depict the rolling lanes of Pat’s fictional Lake District home in Greendale, were in a storage facility but faced being scrapped if a new home could not be found. Animators MacKinnon & Saunders, who made the show’s last series, persuaded a film archive to step in to help. And now, the iconic models from the show, including Pat’s cottage, the school, the lighthouse and Pencaster Square are now proudly on display at Waterside in Sale, in Manchester! It’s on display for the first time Joint chief executive…

Blue Monday, on 18 January, is supposedly the most depressing day of the year. But this January, turn that frown upside down and try Brew Monday instead! It’s no secret that we’re a nation of tea lovers – so make a cuppa, grab some biccies and test your tea knowledge! OUR TEA HABITS Tetley Tea was established back in 1837 – and they brought the tea bag to the UK in 1936. They are also one of the founding members of the Ethical Tea Partnership, which is committed to improving the conditions of farmers growing tea around the world. A whopping 36 million cups of Tetley are drunk every day! Tea giant Tetley commissioned a consumer survey to celebrate Britain’s love of a cuppa, asking more 2,000 people across the…

We all love online shopping, outside of its one fault – the inability to try it on pre-purchase. Reactive Reality has got rid of the last glitch in the matrix! With this leading fashion augmented reality system, consumers can create an avatar that matches their own appearance and measures – and then try highly realistic virtual clothing onto it. That’s right – you can now try on clothes from the comfort of your own bed! It’s that simple. This technology not only ensures that you get the perfect fit, but it also helps billions of kilos-worth of returned items avoid the landfill each year. No more returns. No more waste. Just the perfect fit for you. Visit Reactive Reality’s website, reactivereality.com, to learn more, or try their app, PICTOFiT Shopping,…

Dear Danielle, When we first met on a blind date back in 1995, after being set up by a mutual friend, I was apprehensive. You’d already cancelled on me three times, and I was sure you weren’t interested. But you called me up, and after chatting for a while we met for dinner. I’m so glad we did. From that moment, we were inseparable. When we tied the knot in March 1997, it was one of the happiest days of my life – only topped by the birth of our three children. Ben came along first in 1999, followed by Joe in 2000 and our darling girl Amy in 2004. They made our life complete, and they were your whole world. Like any couple, we had our moments, but we…

It’s great that your friends are taking part in Dry January, but what they choose to do is up to them. Don’t beat yourself up about not being able to join in. Everyone’s relationship with alcohol is different. Seeking advice, which you’re doing now, is a great place to start in order to build a healthier relationship with drink. Teamwork A problem shared is a problem halved. Reaching out to friends and family members you trust could do you the world of good. If you explain to them that you need some motivation to lower your alcohol intake, they may be able to give you encouragement as well as try not to drink around you while you’re trying not to drink by staying away from booze. Small steps Some people…

Attractions 1. City Bus Tour If you’re tight on time, a City Sightseeing bus tour is the perfect way to see Bath. Hit all the top tourist spots like Pulteney Bridge and The Circus walking for miles, and learn about Bath’s history while you watch the city go by. Choose from two hop-on/hop-off guided tours, around the city centre or Bath Skyline. • Buses depart frequently, from all around Bath • Tickets cover both tours and are valid for 24 hours (covering two days if required) 2. The Roman Baths The people of Roman Britain made pilgrimages to the Baths to worship the goddess Sulis Minerva, and bathe in the waters of the natural thermal springs. Those waters still flow hot today. Visitors can walk on the original Roman pavements,…

Rolling over in bed, I got an unpleasant surprise. What’s that on my knee? I thought to myself, feeling something wet and slimy. ‘Phoenix!’ I winced. The culprit was my innocent white feathered angel, Phoenix the gosling. Despite her continual pooping in bed, pecking and pulling out of my chest hair, she was the only chick I needed in my life. Though I have tried to have girlfriends in the past. ‘It’s me or the goose,’ an ex told me as she left in a flap. But Phoenix has always been my number one. It was April 2020, and it was my first time raising a gosling. My father, Peter, inspired me. Since I was 16, Dad and I had been rescuing ducks. We returned over 150 of our feathered friends…

Playing in my bedroom with my siblings, Mum bellowed up. ‘Come on you lot, time for tea,’ our mum Linda, now 72, called. As a mum-of-nine, she had a lot on her plate. It’s certainly safe to say, we had a full house! Living at home was Darren, William, Belinda, Sharlene, myself and Nicola – with just two short years between each of us. Not to mention our three eldest siblings, David, Susan and Janet. We might have been a big family, but that didn’t mean we weren’t close with each other. In fact, I didn’t know anyone who was as close with their family as I was with mine. Belinda, Sharlene, Nicola, William and I spent all of our time together – we truly were each other’s best friends.…

Rummaging through rails of clothing, something caught my eye. Digging out a dress, hidden away right at the back, I smiled. I love it! It was a floral Zara number, and at just three quid it was a steal. I’ve always dabbled in charity shops and second-hand websites, but three years ago now I took on the charity Oxfam’s Second-Hand September challenge. I banned myself from buying anything new for a whole month. And I was surprised to discover how easy it was, and fun, too! I’ve always been concerned with the environment, and my impact on the planet, and I do anything I can to lessen it. My boyfriend Jack and I share a car, which we use no more than once a week, as we cycle and walk…

You don’t have to spend a lot of money to have fun! FOSSIL HUNTING AT CHARMOUTH BEACH DORSET If you’ve got dinosaur-mad kids, this is one you won’t want to miss. The shores along the Jurassic Coast are a magnet for fossil hunters, and Charmouth is one of the top spots. Visit the Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre to find out the best fossil-finding spots, and discover how to hunt for your own! Winter months are the best time to do it, too, thanks to the rough, choppy seas bringing all sorts of treasures to the shore – but make sure you always follow safety advice. Don’t forget to follow the fossil collecting code of practice – collecting from fallen or beach material is fine, but digging in the cliffs is…

I didn’t want Cams to worry, but I struggled to hold it together. ‘Where are we going, Mummy?’ Cameron asked, as we got ready to leave. ‘Why are you crying?’ My heart broke. What was I supposed to say? Come on Kim, pull yourself together, I thought. Cameron will be fine, everything will be fine As we arrived at the hospital in Pendlebury, Salford, a consultant told me that they wouldn’t be able to take a biopsy of the mass in Cameron’s brain, as it was pressing on his brain stem, but he was sure it was cancer. ‘It could compromise his breathing, so we need to act quickly,’ he explained. It was so much to try and take in. But there was more. ‘There’s a high chance that Cameron…

The never-ending revolving door of clothing during and after pregnancy is one of the greatest fashion nightmares for any woman. Things that fit one day suddenly don’t three days later, and a changing bump means your go-to favourite styles no long suit your new shape. Enter For the Creators – the UK’s first maternity and post-natal fashion marketplace, designed to help mothers reinvent their postpartum style without costing the earth. The online rental platform is a sustainability ethos, catering for the top-end, fashion-conscious mum-to-be and their changing body shape and size. By renting instead of buying that new £100 dress, and wearing it just once, it saves the equivalent CO2 of two trees being cut down, or a whopping 245 miles in a car. You’re a super mum – so…

Pulling out baby grow after baby grow from my shopping bags, my boyfriend looked at me and laughed. ‘Surely we’ve got enough now?’ William, then 19, chuckled. ‘I couldn’t help myself. Look how cute these are!’ I beamed. Three months pregnant, I could barely stop myself from shopping for our baby boy. Due in May 2020, I was absolutely over the moon to be pregnant. And although we were young, William and I couldn’t wait to be parents together. In fact, it had taken us so long to fall pregnant that we’d ended up getting a little Pug to keep my broodiness at bay. And now our little boy was on the way, we were chuffed to bits. Juggling my work as a community carer, the early stages of my…

1 Cervical cancer is caused by a virus ❑True ❑False 2 There are no symptoms ❑True ❑False 3 Smear tests can help prevent cervical cancer ❑True ❑False 4 Anyone with a cervix can? get cervical cancer ❑True ❑False 5 It can be treated ❑True ❑False 1. TRUE The main cause of cervical cancer is a virus called high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV). This can sometimes cause changes in the cells of the cervix, which can develop into cancer – this usually happens slowly, between five and 20 years. You can get HPV from vaginal, oral or anal sex, sharing sex toys and any skin-to-skin contact of the genital area – and people are generally vaccinated against HPV before they hit their teenage years, and start to become sexually active. 2. FALSE There…

If you’re eagerly planning on your next getaway, check out travel site Booking.com’s predictions for this year – compiled from research with more than 24,000 travellers, across 31 countries and territories! HOLIDAY TRENDS: 1. Vitamin Vacay: Getting away will become self-care! 2. Resetting the Out Of (Home) Office: Holidays will be strictly work-free for three quarters of us. 3. All the First-Time Feels: Travellers are relishing every moment of the journey. 4. Community First: More than half of people agree it’s important that their trip is beneficial to the local community at their destination. 5. New Places and Faces: 51% want to meet new people while away. 6. Just Say Yes: 62% agree they will say yes to any opportunity. 7. Embracing the Unpredictable: Technology and flexibility will help to…

Aries March 21st - April 20th You enter the New Year with the confidence you could not find last month. Thank your lucky stars! Family needs to be taken in hand, and you’ve known this for a while, as it’s time to teach them that your life means your rules. Stand your ground as only your sign knows how to go forward towards your dreams, you could end up missing out on opportunities which you have waited over five years for. Weekends with friends you plan put the spring back in your step. Ring my starline now to hear why I’m so sure it’s time to claim your future. Taurus April 21st - May 21st Home affairs come to the fore (you’ve felt them bubbling away for some weeks now!)…

A walk in the park Me and my partner, Woody, like to go on an evening walk to talk about our day, come rain or shine! Audley, Woburn Elephantastic! I want a zoo of wooden animals on display in my house. Here is my first one! Tonya, Saltash Why shouldn’t you kiss anyone on January 1st? Because it’s only the first date! Take a break Look how pretty this hot chocolate was! It tasted just as yummy as it looked. Salka, Brentford Proof is in the pudding Fudgy chocolate brownie and ice cream is a dream combo, a Saturday treat for sure! Pearl, Penzance Warm and cosy Nothing better than a comfy night in with the wood burner on. Helen, Padstow Oh my cod! The tropical fish in my tank…

Will had been in the facility for about six years by now, and we’d seen vast improvements in his mood and behaviour. However, in 2014, Mum returned from a visit with a concerned frown. ‘There’s this strange chap who hangs around Will every time I’m there,’ she told me. ‘Will’s not really speaking. He seems scared.’ According to Mum, Will had told her Matt was just a friend. However, on my next visit, I understood what she meant. As a patient with schizophrenia himself, Matt just hovered over us. ‘This is my friend,’ Will told me when I arrived, but something didn’t feel right. Will barely uttered a word the entire visit, and I felt Matt’s luring eyes on us. Something was just off about him, and the entire family…

Despite once having strong enough feelings to agree to be his wife, and sharing six children between them, Kelly Weaver knew that her marriage to husband Harry was over. And after splitting in 2018, Harry only proved that she was right about him. It was time for that chapter to finally close. There had been domestic violence incidents throughout their strained marriage, so it came as no surprise that in the July, brave Kelly, 52, took out a restraining order against Harry, 64, to try and keep him away. She had confided in her friends that Harry had been sending her threatening messages, and that they were disagreeing on the details of their separation. The Weaver divorce might have been underway, but it seemed breaking away from their relationship was…

Online Home Shop (OHS) has put together their top tips to ensure you can keep cosy – without having to turn up the thermostat. Keep out the cold For maximum insulation choose a pair of thick blackout curtains to keep the heat in and the cold out. Open them on a warm day so the sun can shine through and heat up the room. Blackout curtains, £11 Sleep like a baby Switching up your bedding can be the easiest deterrent from keeping your heating on throughout the night. Choosing a fleece duvet set will keep you warm as you sleep and ensure you have an uninterrupted slumber. Swap your lightweight summer duvet for an extra cosy 15 tog duvet, perfect for cold winter nights. Extra cosy 15tog duvet, £10 Toasty…

Sitting at the dinner table with my husband Marek, then 46, and our daughter Ola, then 10, I frowned. ‘Are you alright?’ Marek asked. ‘My tongue feels strange,’ I said. It almost felt like a strained muscle. ‘It’s probably nothing though,’ I continued, and I picked up my knife and fork and carried on with my meal. I didn’t think too much of it. But over time, the pain got stronger. At first I’d only noticed it when eating, but if I wiggled my tongue around it was also uncomfortable. This is odd, I thought to myself. After around four weeks, back in September 2016, I started looking up my symptoms online, but there didn’t seem to be a definitive answer. Sticking my tongue out, I couldn’t feel anything unusual,…

Chopping carrots into small chunks, the Sunday roast was going well. ‘That smells good,’ my hubby, Kevyn, 42, whispered whilst pulling me in. ‘So do you’ he followed. ‘You’re a smooth talker,’ I smiled as I turned around to see him, leaning in for a kiss. That’s when our boys Ethan, 14 and Noah, seven, charged through the back door like a heard of elephants – perfect timing! ‘When’s dinner ready?’ Ethan moaned whilst clutching his tummy. ‘Muuuum, Ethan was mean to me,’ Noah whined whilst tugging at my jumper. Me and Kevyn rolled our eyes. ‘Maybe later,’ I whispered. Kevyn sighed in disappointment. And right on cue, our youngest Nellie, one, began to scream at the top of her lungs from her high chair. Our evenings were normally pretty…

In Melbourne, Australia, it is illegal for men to be seen in public wearing what? The answer to each clue (apart from the first) begins with the last letter of the preceding answer. The shaded squares will spell out the answer. 1 Clear gemstone (7) 2 Tuxedo (6,6) 3 Painful arm joint disorder acquired at Wimbledon, perhaps (6,5) 4 Look but don’t buy (6,4) 5 Order for drugs written by a doctor (12) 6 Shop that sells papers and magazines (9) 7 Top aviator who tries out new planes (4,5) 8 Inedible, sometimes poisonous, fungus (9) 9 Athletics field even with a sand pit (4,4) 10 Cream-topped meringue named after a ballerina (7) 11 Seabird with a very long wingspan (9) 12 Blue gemstone (8) Spiral crossword Answer: STRAPLESS GOWN…