Pick Me Up! 30-Jun-2016

7 That’s the number of times I’ve gone through literally every drawer in the house in the past two days, hunting for some special greetings cards I stashed away somewhere. Gonna have to accept they may be reaching their recipients once the moment has well and truly passed! What A Flashback! Woolies, C&A… the high street used to look so different. Check out my post on nostalgic shops we used to love by visiting lifedeathprizes.com and searching ‘high street’. What A Good Idea! The sun came out, giving us the perfect excuse for the first Aperol Spritz of the season! Cheers! What A Throwback! It was doubly emotional for me this week when my daughter finally left high school – the same one I left 35 years ago! The words…

Robo girl Half girl, half robot, all star! My daughter Lucia, 3, getting creative with cardboard boxes. Lyndsay Banks, Prescot Look who I met! Olly Murs stood for ages in the rain, taking photos with fans – including me! Ali Williams, Liverpool Dolly’s gals We’ve got the hats and we’re off to see Dolly Parton! From left: Julia, 51, my wife Angeline, 39, and me, 34. Louise Grant-Towns, Durham Greece is the word My daughter Paige enjoying an idyllic blue vista in Santorini. Portland Marsh, Romford Tidy bunny Our new maid is very particular when it comes to plumping up the cushions on the sofa. Charlotte Joseph, Lelant Stunning scenery Just look at this amazing view over the Grand Canyon – I snapped this pic while I was up in…

‘He’d kiss away my tears, then put his lips all over my body’ I was only 6 when it happened. Too young to really know what was going on... My mum Dot had died from cervical cancer. She was in her early 40s, far too young. Me and my brothers, then 11 and 15, missed her terribly. Every night, I’d have nightmares and wake up crying. ‘It’s OK,’ Dad would tell me, carrying me to his bed for a cuddle. He’d kiss away my tears then hold me until I fell asleep. But it was during a cuddle that horrible things started happening. Dad’s hands would wander down my legs and over my bum. I was too young to know it was wrong and soon his cuddles became even more…

‘He told me it was my fault he was violent’ ‘I had a dislocated knee, broken ribs and bruising’ Darryl Moore flashed his trademark cheeky grin. ‘You’re going to be my girlfriend. Just wait and see,’ he said. I couldn’t help blushing. Darryl was a customer in the pub that my mum Suzanne ran. I was just 16 and had never had a serious boyfriend before. But I just couldn’t help falling for Darryl. He was four years older than me, and he had a good job as a wind-turbine engineer. Every day, he’d come to the pub after work and say the same thing. He was so sure of himself. And I had to admit, I was flattered. When we finally started dating, I felt like the luckiest girl…

When cooked on the barbecue, potato waffles come up crisp on the outside and fluffy on the inside! Bea Wilkinson, Clyst Hydon Scorch marks on your iron? Rub the hot iron with paracetamol – but be careful! Lindsay Matthew, Heywood Bamboo steamers are perfect for storing onions and garlic – keeps them well-ventilated so they stay fresh. Eva Vida, Prestatyn Now that it’s summer, I hang my children’s caps on the stair banister, so they’re handy but out of the way! Zoe Wilken, Cleveland Lay an old shower curtain under your picnic blanket – it’ll stop damp coming through from the ground. Ann Johnson, Runcorn I covered a broken pedal bin with fun stickers and made a cool plant pot. Maureen Hobbs, Weston-super-Mare Using four sticks (cricket stumps work well)…

1 Jump around  Turn jumper s inside-out before putting them in – stops ‘pilling’. Florrie Harvey, Stoke-on-Trent 2 Deep clean  Occasionally clean y our washing machine by putting in an old towel with cheap washing powder and running the hottest cycle. Angela Garvin, R omford 3 Save smalls  Protect your delicates by popping them inside a pillowcase before washing. Judy Iles, Bristol 4 Fresh scent  Get rid of any mildew smell in your machine by putting bleach in the powder drawer and running (empty!) on a hot cycle. Kate Richardson, Exeter…