Pick Me Up! 21-Nov-2019

Walking onto the tarmac, I excitedly prepared to board the plane. It was my 70th birthday, and I was doing a sky-dive with my son Steven, 34, to raise money for Cancer Research. I’d lost my wife Barbara to the disease in 2006, and so, I decided to take the plunge and face this terrifying challenge. I’ve always been a bit of an adrenaline junkie, so I decided there would be no better way to spend my birthday. In my younger years, I’d never really had time to fundraise or do anything for charity, and so in later life, I decided that I wanted to give something back. As me and Steven jumped out of the plane at 13,000 feet, I felt amazing. Free falling for almost a minute was…

HOW CLEVER! Nothing says countdown to Christmas like an advent calendar. This year, why not use your countdown to give back? The world’s first braille advent calendar from the not-for-profit organisation Advent of Change not only supports the National Institute of Blind People, but each day, you’ll also be making a donation to 24 amazing charities – from helping the homeless to protecting our oceans and helping endangered animals. The calendar comes in a specially-adapted flipbook format, with braille text to identify each day. Simply tear open the door and reveal the charity recipient and how your £1 donation could be used. 24 donations are included in the price, so you’ll be changing the world one day at a time! Get your calendar for £29.95 at www.adventofchange.com or from John Lewis…

The day that Billi started school this September, her sister Georgi didn’t want to let her go. They are so cute and I’ll treasure this pic forever! Sue Hutchinson, Cheltenham A best bud for life. This is my daughter Millie-Rose enjoying her time with her favourite character. What a bond! Jade Yeoman, Essex I am a nanny to six beautiful grandchildren including three grandsons that were all born last year! Lucy Bennett, Kent Meeting John Lennon in Liverpool! Jacqueline Mullen, Glasgow Here’s my mum, Karen, and my two aunties, Joanne and Tracey, on their weekly dog walk. They have dog walking clothes made in honour of my grandma Maureen Sarah Walker, Oxfordshire If your letter makes Star Letter of the week, you will receive some beautiful blooms from Flying Flowers.…

Glancing up from my glass of wine, I tried to wipe the look of shock off my face. ‘I’m serious, I really want us to have a baby together,’ my boyfriend Aiden, then 24, grinned. ‘Let’s do it then!’ I said. I already had a little boy, Marley, then five, from a previous relationship, and always wanted more kids. The only problem was that Aiden and I had only officially been together for a month! We’d started chatting on Instagram in January 2017. We had a lot in common - including a shared love for tattoos - and the following month, we met for drinks. Aiden was such a gentleman, insisted on walking me home at the end of the night. He’d previously worked as a personal trainer, had even…

Standing next to my older brother Peter, 11, we looked up at our mum, Barbara, with big eyes. ‘Please can we camp in the garden tonight, Mum?’ Peter pleaded. ‘Go on then,’ Mum laughed as she played with our twin siblings, Robert and Sally, six. ‘Just stay in sight of the house!’ she said. Elated, we ran to tell our friends the news. It was a beautiful summer’s evening in August 1969. We lived in the countryside in Mellor, Greater Manchester, and were good mates with the kids on our street. Gathering our tent and sleeping bags, we headed down to the field at the bottom of our garden and set up camp. ‘Look what my mum’s given me,’ our friend, John*, 14, said, showing us a cooking stove fuelled…

This week, our tip of the week will receive a great product from Addis! Their INVISIFIX crystal clear bathroom collection (from £5.99) with strong, non-marking mount, easily secures to smooth surfaces and is ideal for fixing to tiles. The INVISIFIX pad can be easily lifted and re-located, plus the strong, shatter-proof acrylic construction will comfortably hold up to 5kg. For more ways to make your life easier, visit addis.co.uk Bakers gonna bake I recently purchased oven gloves but couldn’t find anywhere to hang them. My granddaughter told me to hang them over the door handle. What a good idea! Dot Whittaker, Bracknell Hey pesto! To save my pesto going off, I freeze it in my ice cube trays. When I fancy some, I simply pop one out and add it…