Pick Me Up! 23-Aug-2018

I met my best friend, Danni, 17 years ago on the dance floor of Barron’s nightclub! And she’s one of the most inspirational people I’ve ever known. ‘I love this tune!’ she’d said back then as we’d boogied to Bon Jovi. And that was it. We became pals, would go out dancing, meet for coffee. And gossip on the phone for hours. Sharing secrets and lots of laughs! Danni became a huge part of my life, even my children - Jack, 18, and Lily, 8, started calling her Auntie. And I became Godmother to her daughter Amelie, 14. Now, she’s become the person that I rely on the most. And I tell her everything and anything! And she does the same. When my son was young and my husband Gareth,…

I couldn’t believe my eyes, when these elephants in Botswana followed our Jeep. Amazing to see them so close! Kendra Aitkins, Prenton Thomas wasn’t so sure about Minnie Mouse at first…but he decided a formal handshake was the way to go. Lesley Dunn, Cranham Share nicely, that’s what my mum always taught me – and it’s a lesson I live by even now I’m all grown up. Emma Matthews, Heaviley On my holiday in Barcelona, I found time for a quick Pick Me Up! by the pool. Linda Townley, Bloxwich Two-year-old Matilda had a snapping time at South Lakeland Zoo. Here she is, doing her impression of a hungry croc. Rebecca Law, Colne They’re serving my favourite kind of soup in my local pub…I’ll take several helpings! Sylvia Foster, Bridlington…

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As my partner Jamie sunk down onto the couch next to me, I gave him a squeeze. ‘I love a bank-holiday weekend,’ he said. It was August 2017, and Jamie and I were enjoying our first summer with our 8-month-old son, Tyler. Jamie and I had met in 2008, when he was 28 and I’d just turned 18. We’d fallen head over heels in love, and within weeks we moved in together. We had so much fun, laughing and joking around at every opportunity. But our relationship hadn’t always been easy. We didn’t know him that well, only to say hello in passing Blessed with a son, Tommy, in 2013, he passed away at 7 days old. I was an emotional wreck, but Jamie never left my side, supporting me…

Emerging from the bathroom, I grabbed my mobile and immediately texted my boyfriend Luke. I' not pregnant, phew! I typed, hands shaking with relief. I was 17 and doing A levels. Not ready to be a mum. In fact, I was planning on having a gap year, then maybe on to university. But with extreme fatigue and a bloated feeling for the past couple of months, I’d started to worry, even though we’d been careful. At least now I knew that I wasn’t pregnant. It was February 2017. Maybe just a bit of winter weight gain, I thought. So I started to do sit-ups . ‘You’re too body conscious, my mum Lydia, 47, said to me. Maybe. But nothing was shifting my bloated tummy. And over the next couple of…

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