Pick Me Up! 29-Dec-2016

What A Revelation! I learned that the sleepy period between Christmas and New Year is known as Betwixmas. Love it! Hope you spend yours in your new, festive PJs… What A Blow-Out! I’m staying in this New Year’s Eve. But, if you’re a party animal, you’ll have a laugh at our list of things that always happen at NYE parties. Check out www.lifedeathprizes. com/ new-years-eve What A Cheat! Have you heard about the latest baking trend known as ‘Dump Cakes’? Look ’em up. Baking has never been easier – but I’m not sure whether Mary Berry would approve! 900,000 …that’s how many of us in the UK work on Christmas Day. We say hide the mince pies so there’ll be some left for you when…

This is my little elf Amari on his first Christmas, all ready to help Santa with the big day! Sian Walker, Halesowen Posing with Frosty Along with their snowman mate, my cousin Francesca and her friend Megan were looking very glamorous on their Christmas day out last year. Lucy Strange, Swindon Happy holidays Tis the season to be jolly for my boyfriend Brandon and me! Great hats, don’t you think? Gemma Martin, Hutton Cosy canine Falkor knows that the best place to sit on cold winter nights is right by the roaring fire. Alice Old, London Odd one out? Global warming must’ve hit Bethlehem, too, as I found this polar bear in my nativity scene after my grandchildren stayed over last year! Carole Casan, Tiverton Lap land... Who says sitting…

“An MRI scan showed a shadow on Dave’s brain’’ “I’ve explained Daddy will be a star in the sky...’’ Tiptoeing downstairs, I peered into the lounge, and my heart melted. It was 2am, and my fiance David had our 2-month-old Kayne lying on his chest, and was gently stroking his feet. ‘I’m so lucky,’ I smiled, creeping back to bed. Dave and I met at college in September 2005. He was quiet, kind, and had the sexiest bum! I was working part-time on the deli counter at Asda, and he’d come in to chat. We started dating, but it was six months before we slept together. And I fell pregnant the first time! Taylor-James was born in January 2007. Dave and I were only 18, but happy. And now…

“Soon, he was telling me I couldn’t go out with friends’’ “Enough. I wanted him out of my life – for good’’ Sitting at the dinner table last Christmas, I had butterflies in my tummy. Across from me sat Andy Foran, 23, and he wouldn’t stop smiling at me. ‘Do you want to pull my cracker?’ he grinned. From then on, we couldn’t stop talking. It was like there was nobody else around. Andy was a family friend, but this was only the second time we’d chatted properly. We stayed up late, drinking and laughing. Next morning, I texted my best mate. I’ve met a guy I really like, I wrote. OMG, ring me, she replied. But, when I said who he was... Babe, be careful, he’s got an…

'Lauren was lucky to get out of such a horrible situation before it got worse. I hope she's able to move on,' Kayleigh Reeves, 26, Woodley ‘These people never change, it’s so scary. Lauren did the right thing to report him to the police, and I’m glad she’s managed to escape him.’ Nicola Green, 49, Derby ‘Terrifying. But Lauren is incredibly brave, and, hopefully, her story will inspire other women to come forward, too.’ Ashleigh Tuttle, 22, King’s Lynn…

“She’d need a blood transfusion before she was born’’ “Finally, we got the news we’d been praying for...’’ Santa had been. He’d left lots of cuddly toys for the little ones and yummy boxes of chocolates for the grown-ups. But the most important thing he’d left us... Hope. It was Christmas morning last year. Me, my partner Russell, 31, and our lads Eethyn, 7, and Marley, 5, had just arrived at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the Jessop Wing of Sheffield Teaching Hospitals. The corridors were decorated with tinsel, and the nurses were wearing elf hats. One of them was waiting for us when we arrived... ‘Santa’s been!’ she smiled. Then, she pulled a small present wrapped in glittery paper from behind her back and placed it in…