Pick Me Up! 01-Mar-2018

My mother is an inspiration. She looks after my dad every day, and though they live in assisted housing, she chooses to do most things herself, even though there are people to do it for them! She has a big heart and also helps a friend with washing, shopping and any odd jobs! Mum is good to me, too. When I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, I was already off sick from a knee op that had gone wrong. Without fail, Mum got a taxi to help me with all I needed. Besides that, she was also constantly calling me to check that I was all right and to lift my spirits whenever I was feeling low. My mum just thrives on helping other people, and I hope that she…

I got up close and personal with this beautiful lemur at Amsterdam Zoo. Alisha Khan, London My granddaughter, Susan, thought she was going to see a show at the Liverpool Philharmonic, but was overjoyed when her partner Iain popped the question! Happy engagement, kids. Jan Thelwell, Wirral My twin sister, Lindsey, and I had a great time at this fancy-dress party with our friend, Dave! He went as Wally, while we were Toad and Princess Peach! Louise Lewis, Carmarthenshire Happy half birthday! We threw a surprise half-birthday party for my sister, Heather, complete with half a cake! Susan Wallace, Belfast My boy Archie really wasn’t impressed when he fell headfirst into a puddle. But after a bit of chocolate, he was right as rain! My son is such a little…

The pain was coming in waves. It felt as if I was being stabbed Waking up on Sunday morning, I had a headache. It was spring 2015, I was 19, and enjoyed going out with friends on a Saturday night - usually in a new, size-8 dress and killer heels. Prosecco and cocktails were my choice of tipple, but the hangovers that came with them could be dreadful! Still, a pounding head and throbbing feet were the price you paid for a great night out. During the week, I worked in a nursery. I loved babies - their chubby arms, button noses. But I’d no plans for my own...yet! That June, my mum Lynne, 50, and I were off to Lanzarote. ‘I’m exhausted,’ I yawned before we left. I’d been…

Her teacher made sure she sat at the front Dinner done, washing-up sorted, kids in bed... At last I was free to flop on the sofa, exhausted, to watch telly. My husband Stuart glanced over, looking concerned. ‘You’re covering up your eye again, love,’ he said. ‘You’ve been doing it a lot recently.’ I realised he was right. For months now, whenever I was tired, I automatically put a hand over my left eye. I found it helped me to relax - but maybe it was a sign that something wasn’t quite right. I booked an eye test at the optician, where I discovered that while my right eye had perfect vision, my left was significantly weaker. I needed glasses to help correct my vision. That got me wondering about…

Don’t delay taking your child to Specsavers for an eye test. It’s FREE for under 16s to have an NHS test every two years. The test will pick up any problems with vision, and the optician will also evaluate the muscles and structure of the eyes to ensure they’re healthy. Children’s glasses are designed specifically for a child’s head, and are stylish enough to rock in the playground. They’re also available in loads of cool styles. Specsavers has also teamed up with Thomson Screening to deliver free vision-check software to schools. The test only takes three minutes, and can be operated by teachers, teaching assistants or volunteers. This will establish whether a child would benefit from a full eye test. If your child’s school hasn’t signed up yet, you can…

He made me tie an iPod Touch to my bed frame with FaceTime on Listening to my mates chatting about boys, I felt awkward. At the age of 13, my classmates were getting boyfriends, giggling over first kisses and dates. I want that, too, I thought. But I was so shy I could never see it happening to me. So, back home, I downloaded a dating app on my phone, lied about my age to sign up. And I didn’t tell Mum. Well, I didn’t think anything would come of it. I just saw it as a bit of a laugh. So I was surprised when I got a message from a lad called Darius Agar. You look really pretty. Flattered, I replied. Darius told me he was 16 and…