Pick Me Up! 01-Feb-2018

As her mother, I’m ever so proud of my wonderful daughter Nancy. She’s always been such loving and caring daughter and she’s an absolute delight to everyone she meets. Nancy is remarkably intelligent and really enjoys her reading - especially the Harry Potterbooks! A few months back, threw a surprise birthday party for her 50th - where countless friends and relatives gathered to celebrate with her. Nancy now lives with her husband Tom in a lovely village. It’s about an hour away from our area, so I don’t see her as much, but that just means the times we do spend together are all the more special. Nancy and Tom have given us two wonderful teenage granddaughters - Georgina and Connie - who do us all proud each and every…

My son Charlie was lucky enough to meet this owl at my brother’s wedding. Zowie D’Souza, Southampton My grandson thought having his meal on a guitar-shaped dinner plate was awesome. T Griffin, Bristol My 6-year-old Bunnie was delighted when Peter Rabbit joined us for lunch! Gemma Davies, Gloucester Training for a triathlon is hard work, but I love it. Alexandra Low, Halesowen Look who I bumped into after seeing Footloose in London – it’s Maureen Nolan! Kirsty Dawson, Barrow-in-Furness I took a selfie with my kids Cai and Nia to celebrate my wild new hair colour! Mari Drury, Ewloe My daughter Laura, 23, couldn’t refuse a glass of Prosecco while out shopping. D Hunt, Nottingham My daughter Courtney was delighted to meet this stormtrooper in Disneyland Paris. Laura Baker, Tamworth…

My heart was broken but it felt liberating to cleanse him from my life! Opening the door to my mate Lee, I saw a stranger lurking behind him. ‘Hope you don’t mind me bringing Jamie over?’ Lee asked. Confident and tanned, this hunk was welcome in my house any day! ‘I’ve just got back from Bali,’ Jamie told me. ‘How adventurous,’ I twittered, swooning. Luckily, he was interested in me, too... Before long, Jamie had asked me out and, in March 2013, we were an item. He got on great with my son Samuel, 5, from a previous relationship. With Jamie still looking for work after his travels, he’d hang out at mine a lot. Suited me. I was so smitten, I loved having him waiting at home when I…

I was frightened, had no idea what was happening in my body The waistband of my jeans was digging painfully into my tummy. Not a feeling I was particularly used to. Weighing 8st 7lb and wearing a size-10, I’d always been slim. Until lately. It was April 2016, and while I can’t say I’d got fat, exactly, I’d definitely piled on the weight. A good stone at least. And the weird thing was, most of it seemed to have gone onto my tummy. ‘It’s huge!’ I complained to my sister Lucy. She rolled her eyes. ‘As if!’ she said. ‘There’s nothing to you.’ ‘Look!’ I said, lifting up my top. My pale tum bulged over the top of my jeans. ‘Oh!’ Lucy said, surprised. ‘Well, I guess you do look…

SAVING OF THE WEEK Fancy a roast? A whole chicken is a delicious and great-value way to feed the family. You can get a Butcher’s Selection Large British Chicken in Asda for only £3.20 (usually £3.49) throughout the whole of January. OUR TOP TIP Go nuts for this Whether you use it as a dairy-free cooking oil or as a moisturiser (trust me – this works!), you can get Coconut Oil from The Groovy Food Company in Tesco for £3.99 (usually £4.99) until 6 Feb. Run for a good cause Race for Life is offering 30% off all event entry fees this January, for over 300 events running from May onwards. Sign up and redeem the discount at raceforlife.org  or call 0300 123 0770. Discount valid until 31…

Movie munch When the kids are watching a film, I fill silicone cake cases with popcorn and give them one each. Jodie Giblin, Penarth Dry scalp I suffer from a dry, itchy scalp but a couple of drops of tea tree oil in with my shampoo gets rid of the problem instantly! Sian Walker, via email Spare sponge I always keep a new kitchen sponge in the bathroom. It makes a great exfoliator for your knees and elbows! Bea Wilkinson, Cullompton Turn a new leaf Stop prewashed bags of lettuce going brown by stuffing kitchen roll in the bag. The paper absorbs the water from the leaves and keeps the lettuce fresh for longer! Margaret Anderson, Sunderland Smelly watch A coat of clear nail polish on a metal watch strap…