Pick Me Up! 26-Oct-2017

What A Countdown! Kate Williams, Head of Features Once Halloween’s done, the countdown to Christmas can begin! So, 55 days to go… Now, that is scary! 310... …that’s how many millions it’s estimated Brits spent on Halloween last year. Yikes! In my day, we made DIY costumes out of binbags. What A Head Scratcher! No fan of Halloween? Well, 31 October is also National Bug Busting Day, where the aim is to find all the head lice and zap ’em. Who knew?! What A Howler! Q Why doesn’t anyone like Count Dracula? A He’s a real pain in the neck! What A Wow! You have to check out these amazing jack-o’- lantern designs. Go to lifedeathprizes.com/pumpkin-carvings to see the fantastically intricate carvings.…

Little STAR I love this photo of my 3-month-old son Albie dressed as a pumpkin on his very first Halloween. Matt Read, via e-mail Get in touch If you’ve got a story for these pages, send photos and letters with all names and ages, plus a daytime phone number and full address, to the address below and GET BIG MONEY E-mail pickmeup@timeinc.com Call 020 3148 6460 Write to Pick Me Up!, 161 Marsh Wall, London E14 9AP Twitter twitter.com/pickmeupmag Facebook facebook.com/pickmeupmag Time Inc. (UK) Ltd reserves the right to reuse any submission sent to Pick Me Up! magazine, in any format or medium. Unfortunately, we can’t return photos without a stamped sae. Letters/photos must not be sent to any other publication. LIFE! DEATH! PRIZES! Check out our website: lifedeathprizes.com Spooky supper Everything…

• Raped as she slept in her bed • A decade-long wait for justice • Not his only young victim Sarah Savage, 29, Hawick, Roxburghshire As I pulled on my red and white striped football jersey, I smiled. I couldn’t wait to celebrate my team Maryhill Juniors’ success in the championship. It was August 2006 and I was headed to the football presentation. I wanted to laugh and dance with my friends, like any other 17-year-old. ‘Remember to take the hamper I got you,’ said Uncle Paul as I headed out. ‘Usually, I was feisty – now I was frozen with fear’ ‘Oh yes,’ I laughed. ‘Thanks again for it.’ Paul had donated it for our raffle. So kind. But that was him. I called Paul ‘uncle’ even though we…

Julie Oldacres, 45, Nuneaton There’s nothing wrong with being different. And that’s what I always tell my son Jack, 9. See, he’s not like other little boys. He’s got a rare condition that causes dry, flaky, itchy skin. You were made to be special,’ I remind him daily. When he was born, in August 2008, he was a blessing to me and my husband Danny, 39. After two miscarriages and an ectopic pregnancy, I worried we’d never have a baby. But then along came Jack, filling a hole in our hearts. Born at 35 weeks, he weighed a tiny 5lb, and was pink and wrinkly like all newborns. ‘He’s perfect,’ I told Danny. But Jack couldn’t seem to regulate his own body temperature. What’s wrong with him?’ I begged doctors…

Cut out spooky shapes and stick on jam jars to make Halloween tealight holders! June Lomax, Marsden Place bottles of iced water in front of your fan to cool yourself down quicker! Angela Garvin, Romford, London When dyeing your hair, use Vaseline around the hairline, on eyebrows and around the ears so that the dye doesn’t stain those areas. I even put some on my neck, too! Manisa Kuinkel, Harrow To keep my scarves tidy and easy to find, I put them on coat hangers outside of the wardrobe. Mitra Zehtabi, Southmead I made these witches’ and wizards’ wands for a Halloween party – my grandchildren loved them! Christine Underwood, Woking, Surrey Top Mum’s Tip! Sandwich bags are an excellent way to store jigsaw-puzzle pieces. They don’t take up much space and the kids…

Tips 1 Scary stencil If you’re not great at pumpkin carving, you can print a design off the internet to use as a stencil and mark it out with a dry-wipe marker! Andrea Illingworth, Runcorn, Cheshire 2 Cast a shadow Create eerie shadows by carving another pattern into the back of your pumpkin! Scarlett Humphreys, Lowestoft, Suffolk 3 Wrapped like a mummy Get a few days’ extra use out of your pumpkin by wrapping it up tightly in film and storing it somewhere cool, like your fridge or garage. Danielle Waldren, Truro 4 Stay fresh Cutting off the top of a pumpkin deprives it of moisture and nutrients. Instead, make a hole at the back to put your lights in – it will keep the pumpkin fresher for longer! Gabby Bernes, via e-mail…