Pick Me Up! 15-Feb-2018

I’d like to nominate my mother Carol Davies, 46. My wonderful mum is my absolute rock, and I just couldn’t imagine what I would ever do without her. She’s my best friend in the world. You could never find a more caring or considerate person. She always puts others and their problems before her own. After we lost my grandad, mum was there to look after my grandmother every day for eight years while she suffered from Alzheimer’s until she passed away, too. Mum is the first person I go to when I need advice, support, or even just a hug, and she’s always there without fail, waiting with open arms. She is my inspiration for her consideration and kind nature towards other people. She’s been the best mum and…

That’s me at the back with my nieces Donna and Gail and my great-niece Rosie. Beautiful girls! Elizabeth Williams, via email Eye see you! My daughter Jadine through the looking glass… or bottle! Karen Wells, Gravesend I got a little bit wet near the Erawan Waterfall in Thailand, but loved every second of it! Reeve Coulson, Somersham Butlin's isn't just for children, but also for big kids like me and my husband Alan. We loved meeting Billy Bear! Christine Name Addr Barssam, Heanor My daughter Daphne adored the Enchanted Forest at Stockeld Park! It took us nearly 40 minutes to convince her to get out of this boot! Hannah Moreau, Shipley I nearly melted when I saw this tiny baby panda in China! He was in an incubator so his…

On low days, when we felt poorly, we’d text each other from our beds It was just an incredible coincidence that I had the same condition Staring at the four white walls, my mind began to race. I’d been in hospital on and off for the last two years and those walls had started to drive me crazy! ‘I’m bored stiff,’ I sighed to my mum Elaine, 57. ‘Watch a bit of telly or listen to some music?’ she suggested. But I was too fed up. It was late 2014, and I’d been diagnosed with Crohn’s disease earlier that April. It’s an inflammatory bowel disease which causes severe abdominal pain, diarrhoea, fatigue, mouth ulcers and more... Sometimes my flare-ups needed hospital treatment. So, Darent Valley Hospital was now a second…

If it makes the streets safer for children, it’s worth it As another message pinged in my inbox, I hastily opened it. I really want to kiss you, it read. My heart started racing as I typed out a reply. I’d like to kiss you, too,I wrote. I’d been messaging Alecsandru, 19, on an online chatroom for a few days. He’d flooded me with compliments, told me how pretty I was. Now he was keen to meet up and I couldn’t wait. But not because I fancied Alecsandru or wanted a relationship with him. In fact, he sickened me and I couldn’t wait to report him to the police. You see, Alecsandru thought I was a 14-year-old girl. He’d started messaging a friend’s teenage daughter in March 2017, after meeting…

Smooth operator All Wilkinson Sword Quattro for Women Bikini razors (normally £11.99) are half price in Boots stores from 14 February until 14 March. This beauty tool boasts a razor with four wire-wrapped blades, designed to minimise cuts and irritation. Nice, nice, baby Piccolo is offering 50% off its baby food pouches until 20 February at Ocado. Go in store or visit ocado.co.uk  to take advantage of the offer. Vegan meal deal Boots has a new limited-edition range of vegan lunches, including a Coronation Veggies Sandwich, Samosa Style Veggies Wrap, Tandoori Style Beetroot Flatbread and Sweet Potato Falafel Grain Box. They start at £2.75 each, but can be bought with a drink and a snack for only £3.99. We’ll toast to that Whether you receive a Valentine’s card…

Scarf basket If you’ve been given a gift basket, you can still use it afterwards to store things. I use this one for my scarves. Jan Savage, Ipswich Pot pal I made this pencil pot to encourage my kids to stop leaving their pencils all over the floor. I simply covered a tin can with scraps of fluffy material and stuck on eyes and a nose. Now they enjoy tidying up after themselves! Karen McGuire, Cleethorpes Knotted necklace Never waste time tugging at a tangled necklace again! Just loosen the knot with a little baby powder and use the sharp end of a safety pin to pull it apart! Richard Clifton, Felixstowe Makes scent! An open container of coffee granules gets rid of any nasty smells in your home! Helen…