Pick Me Up! 23-Jan-2020

Putting together the final touches to my cart, I was ready to set off on my next challenge. It was September last year, and I was about to embark on a 300-mile cart pulling challenge, to raise money for Brooke, the working horse and donkey charity. I’ve always been a big animal lover and after completing a 900-mile cycle in 2018 for Senior Staffy Club, I decided to take on a challenge each year. So, with my 50kg cart attached behind me, I made my way through Shrewsbury, Kidderminster, Worcester, Gloucester, Cirencester, Swindon and Salisbury. Trekking for anything up to 12-hours a day, it took me a month to get back home. Due to the early autumn flooding, I was pushing my way through inches of water, creating blisters on…

Good deed of the week Since 2004, there has been a steady decline in mental wellbeing in the UK, especially among children. Leicestershire businesswoman Joanna Proud has come up with an idea to support these youngsters – Mood Bears. ‘As little people, we often feel the same emotions as adults, but we don’t always have words for what we feel, or know how to express them,’ says Joanna. Mood Bears are designed to help with this. There are five cuddly bears that each express one of the five recognised feelings or states - sad, silly, nervous, love, and happy – encouraging kids to talk, listen and understand feelings. For anyone wanting to express their feelings, Mood Bears are a helpful and comforting support. If nothing else, who doesn’t love a…

Playtime at nannies! I love having my granddaughter two days a week, she keeps me on my toes. Carol Adams, West Midlands My 13-year-old daughter Jennifer made gifts for homeless people in Windsor and gave them out with a smile. Her amazing heart has restored my faith in humanity! Rebecca Alcock, Bedfordshire Crossing the finish line on my first half marathon in Birmingham. It was so hard but I felt a great sense of achievement! Alexandra Low, Halesowen Look at my little mama’s cutie! Bless him. Sian Salsbury, Cradley Heath This is me and Evie at her cousin’s princess party. I couldn’t find a Snow White outfit so I made one! Amanda Hadley, Hayseech If your letter makes Star Letter of the week, you will receive some beautiful blooms from…

Blowing my nails so they’d dry quicker, I grabbed the clear topcoat varnish and took it to the living room where my daughter Jade, 14, was watching telly. ‘Want to finish my nails off?’ I smiled, passing her the bottle. ‘Oooh yes,’ she squealed, setting up on the dining room table. It was her turn to pamper me. Jade was chuffed I’d given her such an honour. When I started my job as a nail technician, I agreed that Jade could occasionally have a go on my nails if she returned the favour. I needed to practice, and she loved to shine, especially when sitting on the back of a horse, her favourite pastime. Extremely outdoorsy, and always up for a hands-on adventure, Jade had taken up horse riding as…

As I knocked on my little boy’s door, I was ready to see his new look. Fabian, 10, didn’t dress like other boys his age, nor did he kick a football around or want to play video games all day. He never liked any of that stereotypically ‘boyish’ stuff and would turn down his dad, Darren, 40, if he asked to play rugby with him or bought him toy cars. Even so, I’d never been too worried about him. And when I walked into his bedroom to see Fabian trying out a pair of my new high heels, I felt nothing but pride for the person he was now becoming. As long as he’s happy, I don’t care what he wears Ever since Fabian was born in 2009, he’d been…

This week, our tip of the week will receive a great product from Addis! Their premium washing up range (from £5.99) is designed to protect your dishes and your sinkware. No longer worry about damaging your sink as the soft touch feet prevent scratches and offers cushioning protection while the inner liner protects your dishes. For more ways to make your everyday life easier, visit addis.co.uk Makeup queen I always use a primer instead of a make-up remover to fix eye makeup mistakes. It leaves a primed surface for new attempts and makes less of a mess. Angela Garvin, Romford The grass is greener I was spending a fortune on buying fresh flowers until one day on a countryside walk, I noticed some beautiful grasses growing by the path. They…