Pick Me Up! 03-Jan-2019

A bad influence. That’s what I tell my best mate Jay she is. ‘Me!’ she’ll splutter. ‘You’re the one that’s trouble!’ Truth is, get the pair of us together and we both get the devil in us! Mates since we were 17, Jay and I are always cracking each other up with laughter. But it’s not all jokes and laughs with us. When the going gets tough, we’re there for one another. When I was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2015 I just couldn’t face talking about it at first. After a month, though, I cracked, told her everything. ‘Oh hun,’ she said. ‘I knew something was wrong.’ She knows me better than anyone. Knows just how to cheer me up. So before my op she surprised me with a…

Conor, 18 months, loves to play hide-and-seek, although I don’t think he’s quite mastered the hiding part… Claire Whitmore, Leicester I spent ages looking for my son William, 5, and then I spotted a very familiar-looking mannequin! Emma Palmer, Vale of Glamorgan The name of these socks nearly knocked mine off. How rude! It did make me laugh, though… Susan Carr, Cleveleys I was totally blown away to meet my teenage crush Ross Kemp – and he was equally lovely in real life. Alison Tucker, Edenbridge I can’t take my eyes off my new baby girl. Here’s Jessica at just 6 weeks old, staring into my eyes. How cute! Jane Lock, Preston I’ve just got home from an amazing trip across the US. I road-tripped in this little beauty along…

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Peeping through my curtains, I watched as a tall, dark, handsome stranger carried boxes into the flats next door. ‘Our new neighbour’s a bit of all right,’ I smiled to myself, dragging myself away from the window. Later, after taking my kids, Kyle, then 9, and Amy, 6, to school, I was letting myself into the house when someone tapped me on the shoulder. ‘I’m Colin,’ said the handsome stranger with a wide smile. ‘I believe I’m your new neighbour.’ ‘Hi,’ I grinned back, feeling my face go red. I soon learnt that Colin, 34, was a chef, and just like me, he was divorced and had two children. A real family man, he clearly doted on his kids. As I got to know him, I noticed that he was…

Police searched the garden, even took away the pot plants for forensics. Sox must have tried to protect Colin from the intruder. We realised our loyal dog had a small stab wound on his chest. But thankfully he soon recovered. For the next six weeks, me and the kids stayed with my parents, Irene, 68, and Jimmy, 70. ‘I can’t believe Colin has gone,’ I sobbed to them. We were all in total shock. I started suffering from anxiety, couldn’t eat or sleep. Had panic attacks too. Kyle wouldn’t talk about what had happened, just bottled it all up. While Amy didn’t stop crying. I missed Colin desperately. Every minute of every day. In November, Colin’s daughter-in-law gave birth to his first grandchild. A beautiful little girl. ‘Your grandad was…

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Baker said, ‘It’s approaching eight years since Colin Hughes was murdered at his home address in Old Swan and we remain determined to find those responsible and allow his family to finally have some closure. ‘Colin was a man dearly loved by those that knew him, and his death left a great hole in the lives of his family and friends. ‘We know that loyalties change over time and I would hope that anyone with information can find the courage to come forward to tell us what they know. We are committed to finding those responsible for the death of Mr Hughes and bringing them to justice for this crime, which has deeply affected so many lives.’ • If anyone has any information, please call Crimestoppers…