Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2022 i Pick Me Up! Special

Packing the car to the brim, I held my breath as the boot finally closed. ‘Let’s go on holiday!’ I shouted, as my hubby Dexter, now 53, and daughter Michelle, now 40, buckled themselves in. With my son James and grandson Liam gurgling in their baby seats. As a family we were really close. With James and Liam just five months apart in age, we wanted the pair to grow up surrounded by love and plenty of family time. ‘Can you say Liam?’ we questioned James, as he started to string a few words together. ‘Fish!’ he blurted and from that moment the name stuck. My beautiful grandson – Fish. Over the years we would jet off to various destinations all over the globe from sun filled holidays in Spain…

Coming out of the bathroom, I left the pregnancy stick on the side cabinet ‘I’ll do the bins,’ I called to my hubby James, 36. That might seem a little strange. After all, you’d think I’d be pacing impatiently. And trust me, for three-and-a-half-years, that was me. Only, after countless negative results, I simply couldn’t face it anymore. James and I were desperate to start our family after tying the knot in 2015, and were going through IUI to try and conceive. We were on our second round and I just convinced myself it would be negative again. And so, taking out the bins, I leisurely did a few chores before heading back to the bathroom. Two lines. Walking into the bedroom, I threw the stick to James. ‘I’m pregnant,’…

Hearing the chime of the TV, I rushed into the living room. Neil Buchanan burst onto the screen, with gigantic pens and pencils surrounding him. ‘This is Art Attack!’ he shouted, with blobs of paint filling the screen. Following along with the tutorials, I grabbed foam, pipe cleaners, and googly eyes from my craft box. I even begged my parents for a subscription to the Art Attack mag. As soon as the post hit the doormat, I would run to open my latest crafting instalment. From the age of three, every Christmas I would pray for craft materials in my stocking. I must have kept all the stationary brands in business! Then going into secondary school, I realised I was never the one to fit in. I would wear the…

Horrible head lice Q My daughter keeps getting head lice – as soon as I get rid of them, she has them again! How can I get rid of them for good? Becky, Yeovil A See your GP for confirmation of the diagnosis. This means establishing the presence of active, mobile lice, and egg cases attached to the hair shaft – not just having a red and itchy scalp. Every person living at the same address needs to be carefully examined, and treated at the same time if needed. Daily nit combing is essential, using a magnifying glass and a bright light. Apply conditioner to the hair to make combing easier. This damages the lice, so they die. Keep combing for two weeks after treatment is complete, and until no new lice have…

With so many types of contraception, how do you know which is best for you? Check out our guide to the most common types, from Dr Belinda Griffiths at Fleet Street Clinic. The combined pill Containing oestrogen and progesterone, this acts by stopping ovulation. It is taken for 21 days of the month, with a one-week break. The lining of the uterus is shed in the break, and this is similar to having a normal period. When taken correctly, the pill is 99% effective at preventing pregnancy. When you stop taking the combined pill it is possible for resumption of periods and ovulation to be delayed, but each case is different. In general, the longer you have taken the combined pill the greater the chance of delay. The progesterone only…

As our social calendars fill up for the summer, it’s important that we take some time for ourselves. Whether it’s reading a book (pg12) or listening to the sound of birds in the garden (pg66), a bit of ‘me time’ can make the world of difference. Grab a cuppa and take some time to read our incredible real life stories. Lee was on top of the world when he met the love of his life (pg16). However, Kerry was battling with Crohn’s and not a year after they met, she passed away. Now, Lee has cycled 350 miles in her memory for Crohn’s & Colitis UK. When Rachel found out her baby was going to be a little small, she was rather pleased (pg10). Only, it soon became clear that…

Saving up for a car and looking forward to the future, Liam had his whole life ahead of him. But that chance was stolen away. For the first year after Liam passed, it really was the most traumatic time. Sleepless nights and waiting to hear Fish’s cheeky laugh burst through the room. I’d sit up and watch the CCTV footage over and over, trying to understand exactly what Liam went through that night. I think I must have seen it over 700 times. If anything, I gained a sort of strength from doing so. Knife crime wasn’t just something that was going to go away, and I wanted Liam’s story to be out there. Waking up early every morning, I checked the news praying that there wouldn’t be another knife…

Are you sitting comfortably? It’s the perfect time to ignite your love of reading. Whether you want to settle into a good read or you’re ready to delve into something new, maybe a book club is the option for you. Unleash your inner book worm with experts, book lovers, and popular publishing houses offering their advice, you’ll have to make space on your bookshelf… Chapter one… Reading is something we are taught from a young age, but how many of us have actually picked up a novel since? If books aren’t really your thing and you enjoy social events more, have you ever thought of combining the two? Meeting in a social environment every few weeks and openly taking about the book that you have all chosen is what a…

Sipping on a cold pint, I saw a blonde woman across the room. We caught each other’s attention and looking at her she was just beautiful. Approaching her, she introduced herself straight away. ‘I’m Kerry,’ she smiled. Working as a scaffolder, my job meant that I had to travel over the country. In August 2020, I had headed to a small pub in Scotland after work. I didn’t know the area and never really intended to stay for very long at all. But the next thing you know, me and Kerry were sat together, joking, and laughing. Tongue-tied and deep in conversation, we got on like a house on fire. We had great banter. All of her jokes would be at my expense though! The night pulled to a close,…

A travel company in Japan is offering to take customers’ what on a holiday and to post photos on Facebook, with overseas tours priced from £12.40 to £34? To find out, solve the puzzle… Add a letter anywhere in each of the boxed-off words to fit the clue, eg, FROG’S EGGS = SPAN + W = SPAWN. Write the added letter in the space provided. Read down the added letters to spell out the answer. Initial Pull hard Pulverise Centre Baker’s need Desk Elite Metal links Thick soup Just for FUN Your answer____________________________________…

Want to spend some time alone, but don’t know where to start? Why not try one of these solo activities? VISIT A MUSEUM Sometimes, visiting a museum with others can be more frustrating than fun. Going alone means you can go at your own pace and soak in what interests you the most. GO ON A SPA DAY The purpose of a spa is provide the ultimate form of self-care. Why wouldn’t you go alone? Although a spa weekend with the girls may be fun, going alone gives you the opportunity to really switch off. You’ll feel like a new person when you leave! TAKE UP A NEW HOBBY Life is short and now is the time to do what you want to do. Whether it’s pottery, dancing or joining…

Celebrate! Psst…we’ve got a scoop for you! Consider yourself a true ice cream afficionado? Head to Ben & Jerry’s Sundaes on the Pier! With live music, festival fun and, of course, plenty of ice cream, it’s the perfect summer day out. Fill up your bowl with the new Ben & Jerry’s Sundaes range – including Cookie Vermont-ster, Oh My! Banoffee Pie! And Non-Dairy Berry Revolution. If you’re not too full of creamy goodness, give the Cookie Dough climbing wall a go and frolic in the Banoffee Pie ball pit. To make it even sweeter, all the proceeds from ticket sales will go to local charity The Refugee Buddy Project. Grab a spoon! • Saturday 6 August, 12pm – 10pm, £5 per person, at Hastings Pier, East Sussex • Please visit:…

When our body is fighting off infections and toxins, it triggers an immune response that can cause inflammation, to tackle whatever’s damaging our cells. But if this lingers it can cause chronic inflammation, which leaves the body in a constant state of alert – causing a problem dubbed ‘inflammunity’. Follow Dr Carrie’s top tips to beat inflammunity! Get fruity Drink a glass of fruit juice a day. You can even use it in your overnight oats, for a quick breakfast. Eat well Boost your five-a-day to eight-a-day! Include all the colours of the rainbow to maximise the range of anti-inflammatory plants. Be zen Take time out to relax and grab some thinking space. Stress releases the inflammatory marker, cortisol, which can be detected minutes after a stressful experience. More meat Avoid…

Scrolling through puppy adverts on my phone, I found myself smiling. After being surrounded by dogs my entire life, I wanted to welcome a new pup into the household after my daughter had left home. Over the years, I’d gotten into breeding Golden Retrievers. Sadly, they had all passed away and I wanted a little bundle of joy to fill the emptiness that the others had left. I had a Labrador cross Golden Retriever, Georgie, who I thought would want company. There were hundreds of cute beady eyes staring at me, but I didn’t really feel drawn to any of them. Scrolling further down the page, I saw a cute litter of spotty Dalmatians posing for the camera. One of them had a huge patch covering their eye – his…

Under construction We donned the hard hats to look around our future house! I can’t wait to make it our own. Em, Leeds What do you call a bee who is having a bad hair day? A frizz-bee. Party time My hubby-to-be had a great time on his stag – his best man pulled out all the stops. Mary, Oxford Mighty mouse The kids loved The Gruffalo trail at the arboretum! Gill, Coventry Amazing ancestors We found this beautiful painting of my great grandma when clearing out the loft. It’s still in such good condition. Casey, Falmouth Just married I was so lucky to have my girls by my side when I tied the knot! Finally got them to smile for a photo! Rachael, Bristol Stunning spot I’ve found my…

Minty fresh Dab a dot of toothpaste onto a bug bite to reduce the itchiness and swelling. Seanna, Bridport Bye bye, fly Pop your orange peel on top of your house plant’s soil, to keep aphids away. Maisie, Warwick Caffeine rush Sprinkle some coffee grounds in the doorways to keep ants away. Deb, Blackpool Bad egg Don’t know if your eggs are good to eat? Put them in a cup of water, if they sink, they’re good! Zoe, Liverpool Making music Put your phone in a glass for a DIY speaker. Janet, Wiltshire Makeup hack Apply antibacterial hand wash to your beauty blender and lather it up. Then, squeeze and swill with water to see the foundation wash out. Nina, Hull It’s a scorcher To prevent the steering wheel from…

International Executive Coach of the Year and confidence & human behaviour expert, Jo Emerson, answers your questions. Jo’s new email course can help you build confidence – visit jo-emerson.com. Grab her book, Flying for Beginners, on Amazon. Find Jo on Instagram: @jo_emerson_ Shall I raise my concerns? My sister’s children are so badly behaved. Everyone talks about it behind her back. Should I tell her what they are all saying? Keeley, Manchester YES Pick Me Up! reader Chloe from Manchester says: I’d hate it if anyone was talking about me, so I would tell her. Be honest that you can see the behaviour and ask if there is anything you can do to help. She may be struggling – or won’t admit there are behavioural problems with her kids. Say something but try…

On my way home from a wonderful wedding with my partner, Dan, I felt full of love. We’d had a great time dancing and toasting the happy couple on my cousin’s big day. But I couldn’t get something off of my mind. And I couldn’t hold it in. ‘We should get married!’ I suddenly blurted. As he gripped the wheel, he looked at me with a raised brow. We’d always been happily ‘partnered’ and had a son, Samuel, four. We’d also both been married before and felt no need to get a piece of paper now. After all, we had a child. How much more committed could you get? But now, after a beautiful wedding weekend, I wanted a taste of that again. ‘Is that a proposal?’ he asked, smiling…

You’re supposed to walk down the road with your baby taking in all the hustle and bustle, excited by the sound of happy children running around a park and the noise of the buses as they drive past. Only for me, this experience isn’t what I thought it would be. I’d counted my blessings at the ease I felt during pregnancy and on 6 October 2020, I gave birth to a happy and healthy baby boy. Zac came crying into this world weighing 8lb 11oz and I couldn’t believe what an easy labour I’d had. The first 10 days of being a mum was like living in a bubble. My fiancé Jonny, 38, and I were adapting to life as first-time parents and we were loving it. Only, this bubble…

Performing in my living room, my Irish Granda’ Sammy cheered me on. Music just ran through my blood. My aunties and uncles travelled the country playing in local pubs and entering music competitions. I wanted to be like them. From the age of five, I loved to sing to my hearts content. ‘You’re going to be a star,’ Granda’ Sammy would tell me over and over. My family were all supportive but Granda’ was my biggest fan. He would always listen to my mini concerts in the living room and I couldn’t wait to see his reaction when I started singing. But, Granda’ Sammy sadly passed in 2006. I made sure to keep his spirit alive by continuing to play music, making it a real passion. For Christmas that year,…

With vanilla, strawberry, mint choc chip and raspberry ripple to name a few, summer is all about ice cream! Why not dress using inspiration from your favourite flavour and head to the beach with a waffle cone in hand – delicious!…

Aries March 21st - April 20th This month, your real friends come to the fore. You see this for a fact as soon as you enter July. The love sector of your chart has enough spark in it to be attracting the attention of faces old and new. Be careful that you don’t paint yourself in an easy light. Mars favours good news which you were ready to give up on. There was a time when you could forgive a close one who has lied to you, but patience is wearing thin. You’ve grown apart, but continue to do so with grace please. Ring me now to work out what has to happen next. Taurus April 21st - May 21st The sun in Cancer brings out your need to secure…

Film and TV 1 What is the highest grossing film of all time? a Avatar b Avengers: Endgame c Titanic 2 What pub featured in the show Only Fools and Horses? a The Swan b The Long Arms c The Nag’s Head 3 Which one of these characters was married to Ross Geller in Friends? a Rachel Green b Monica Geller c Phoebe Buffay 4 How many dresses does Jane Nichols wear in the 2008 film featuring James Marsden, that also is mentioned in the title of the film? a 26 b 27 c 28 5 What is the name of the pub in EastEnders? a The Queen Elizabeth b The Queen of Scots c The Queen Victoria Showbiz 6 Who presents Britain’s Got Talent? a Dermot O’Leary b Ant and Dec c…