Pick Me Up! 01-Sep-2016

What A Gift! My friend brought me a fig cutting into work the other day – and it was huge! I got a few looks on the train that night… What A Treat! I love peanut butter. I love white chocolate. Now those clever Reese’s people have combined the two. Bliss! What A View! Quite proud of this gorgeous pic of London on a summer’s eve. Mind you, my camera phone did all the hard work. What A Poser! Our cat Moose likes to pose. The only thing she likes better is napping! 20,108 That’s how many photos are on my Cloud photo album. I reckon at least 15,000 have been taken by my 10-year-old daughter Marnie! £25! Can you unscramble this six-letter word to reveal something Lee's cat Moose…

Little STAR It’s nearly September, but my son Oakley, 2, isn’t prepared to give up his summer cocktails just yet! Carolyn Howells, Cardiff Dino-mite Yes, that spells Rex, as in T-Rex – my new friend at a local fun park. Steph Beaumont, Trefnant Going nuts Our garden squirrels go to great lengths to get a square meal! The poor birds don’t get a look-in. Sue Watt, Fife Sea trek Underwater walk at the Manchester Sea Life Centre – my daughter was thrilled with her 9th birthday present. Sarah Jefferson, Burnley Brotherly love My son Ethan, 4, is clearly besotted with his 4-month-old sister Megan. Carmelah Hulse, Stockport A family affair When my sister Jayne and her husband Mike renewed their wedding vows, Mike’s twin sister was the vicar at the…

‘He was a grownup, and I did as I was told’ Tucking me in beneath my Rainbow Brite bedcovers, my mum kissed my forehead. ‘Goodnight, sweetheart,’ she said, tucking a stray lock of mousy hair behind my ear. ‘Snug as a bug,’ I heard her whisper to my stepdad David, as she closed my door. My mum and dad split up when I was 7, and Mum met David Nicklin one year later. She wasted no time moving him into our home. I didn’t mind. I loved David, pleading with Mum to let me sit next to him whenever we went to the cinema. ‘He’s my best friend!’ I’d say. Then, one night, about a year after he’d moved in, I’d heard Mum run a bath. As she shut the…

‘Kiah didn’t seem happy – was moody and miserable’ As my daughter Kiah, then 5, tore around the garden on a BMX bike wearing a Spider-Man T-shirt, I sighed. It was 2009, and we were going to a fancy restaurant that night for a family meal. I knew I was going to have a battle on my hands when I tried to dress her up and curl her hair. See, Kiah was such a tomboy. She hated anything pretty and girly. And she refused to grow her hair long or wear it in pretty styles. For as long as I could remember, she always wanted to wear boys’ clothes - she even wore trousers to school. Just a phase... Later that night, I handed her a pink, butterfly top. ‘Put…

If you don’t have a car but need to buy a load of supplies for a party, take a wheeled suitcase to the supermarket. Then you can just trolley them home. K Brown, Croydon Our marble hearth was quite sharp, so we covered it with pipe-insulating foam from a DIY shop. Now it’s safer for when the grandkids come crawling! Lynne Newton, Spennymoor Lure snails away from your flowers by placing a container of beer in the plant bed. Deborah Johnston, Stevenage Mix a little fabric softener into a jug of water and pour into your iron to make your clothes smell lovely and fresh. Angela Garvin, Romford Turn funky drink cans into herb planters by removing the lid with a can opener and punching a hole at the bottom…

Back To School Get your kids ready for the new term at Home Bargains! They’ve got it all from stationery to water bottles at bargain prices. We love this pretty lunchbox for just 99p! See Clearly Pick up a bottle of Prestone Max Visibility Screen Wash at Tesco before 31 August and get 25% extra free. Chocolate Fix Brioche Pasquier Pains au Chocolat are now just £1 for 6 (normally £1.75) until 30 August at Morrisons. They’re the perfect snack or treat for breakfast. Wedding Bells! Enter PICKMU at www.nationalweddingshow.co.uk or quote it on the hotline 0844 874 0486 by the Thursday before each show to get two tickets for the Manchester show for £20 (normally £36) or two tickets for London and Birmingham for £25 (normally £40). Wine Time!…