Pick Me Up! 15-Nov-2018

Growing up, whenever I visited my big sister Kym, we’d fight like cat and dog. ‘Stop nicking my make-up!’ she’d screech when her fave lippy was missing. ‘And what have you done with my jeans?’ Me, pinching my sister’s stuff? Guilty as charged! But it’s only because I thought she was so cool. When we weren’t arguing, Kym was the best sister ever. She made me laugh like mad, and when the going was rough, she was always there to support me. And as a teen, I’d really needed that. Let’s just say I had a tough time. I ended up homeless at 16. After that, I bounced between foster homes for a while. Kym and I stayed in touch and she helped me apply for my own home at…

My friend Rosemary and I both fancied ourselves as astronauts after an out-of-this-world experience at the Planetarium. Maureen Farren, Derry Whizzing through the tunnels underneath New York City was far more exciting than riding the London Underground. It was a lot less busy, too. Genna Cooper, Cheshunt When we visited Eyam in Derbyshire, my six-year-old daughter Alexis wasn’t keen on putting her hands and feet in the village stocks for a photo. So she decided to volunteer her toy cat’s head for the job instead. Pat Lowther, Durham Flying high above the trees on a recent holiday in Bali was simply beautiful. I wish I could have stayed forever! Amie Yetton, Burwell As a special treat, we got William, 18 months, his own little armchair. Now he looks just like…

A surreal sense of disbelief enveloped me as the sonographer smeared icy gel onto my belly. I shouldn’t be here, I thought. This shouldn’t be happening. But here I was, aged 35, having a 12-week scan for a baby I’d never planned. ‘Excited?’ the sonographer said, as the monitor flickered to life. I was about to nod, make all the expected noises. But as a fuzzy little shape appeared on the screen, I felt a jolt of shock. There was my baby. Wriggling, waving. As if to say ‘Hello, Mummy!’ My life was tough. I couldn’t bring another child into it My baby, who I was planning to give away. It was July 2015, and since discovering I was pregnant weeks earlier, my head had been in a whirl. The…

Pushing the cold cup of coffee across the table, I glanced impatiently around the cafe. He’s got caught up, I thought to myself, looking at my watch. It was a Saturday in March 2004 and I’d arranged to meet my dad John, 34. He’d split up from my mum Nicki, 37, when I was little. But he’d always been there for me - taught me to read, even let me practice driving his car in fields when I turned 15. ‘Don’t tell Mum,’ he’d wink. Now, we’d meet twice a week, for lunch or shopping. I was a real Daddy’s girl, idolised him. He was often late, muttering excuses, flashing a cheeky grin. But he’d always turn up eventually. Until this time... I checked my watch again, felt a flash…

Is it wine o’clock yet? Koha Gisborne Chardonnay is a smooth white wine with fruity and floral flavours. It goes well with a chicken curry, so you could have a glass with a Mumbai Street Co meal (see right)! It’s only £6 at M&S (usually £8) until 3 December. Clean the machine… Dr. Beckmann Service-it Deep Clean leaves your washing machine smelling fresh and hygienically clean, tackling the dirt that you can’t see. Until 27 November get it for £2 (RRP £3.30) at Tesco. Bread winner! Naan bread is the perfect accompaniment to a curry – ideal for mopping up all that tasty sauce! Get a free pack of Patak’s Mini Naans (usually £1.25) when you buy four of Iceland’s delicious Mumbai Street Co meals. The offer is running until…

Bag a bedside bargain Rather than spending loads on a fancy bedside table, I opted for a cheaper rack – one that’s usually meant for bathroom storage – to hold all my odds and ends. Jacqui Cooper, Bradford Never forgotten… Keep the memory of your furry friends alive when they’ve gone by turning one of their old treat jars into a candle holder. You can even decorate the outside with a charm or even their old collar. Pauline Wheeler, Roby Mill Getting cross with wires? I like everything tidy, so I bought these pretty bulldog clips. Now everything looks neat and, rather than opening my drawers and finding a big muddle of leads, I can easily access everything. Sian Walker, Halesowen It’s really knot so hard Teach your littl’uns how…