Pick Me Up! 20-Feb-2020

Sitting down with my dad Bob, 86, on Boxing Day 2010, he broke some devastating news. ‘I think your mum has Alzheimer’s,’ he told me. My grandmother suffered from it when I was younger, so we knew the symptoms. And six months later, our fears were confirmed. My wonderful mum Isabelle was sadly diagnosed with Vascular Dementia. Thankfully, for the first few years, she had a steady decline. But then, in 2015, my dad suffered a stroke and spent six months in hospital recovering. Every month I had to travel up from London to Scotland to help my two sisters look after Mum at home. Unsurprisingly however, her health deteriorated. And when Dad was discharged, we moved them into a two-bed bungalow that suited both their needs. We wanted to…

GIVE IT A TRY! Looking for a new hobby to take up? Why not take a leap of faith (or should that be a swivel) into the world of dance! From line dancing to Latin, ballroom to ballet, there are dance classes available to suit all interests and abilities. Helen Stirrup, health advisor at Stannah, shares her reasons to dance: • You’re never too old - there are no rules when it comes to dancing. Start small if your mobility isn’t what it used to be. • Build up a sweat - dancing keeps you mobile, maintains your agility and strengthens bones. • Reduce falls - dancing is one of the best forms of exercise to help with balance, which in turn could improve coordination in the over 65s. •…

Look at that mush! Ronnie is making less of a mess than his dad! Alexandra Low, Halesowen Here is my daughter Heidi getting ready to set sail in Corfu. Rebecca Simmons, Derbyshire Here’s my four-year-old Tristan hiding in his grandad’s guitar case. We couldn’t find him until we heard the giggles! Alexandra Bennett, Porth My little flossy, isn’t she cute! Her whole day was made just from this candy floss. Richard Adams, Halesowen Look at this pair! So excited that we’d hired out a boat. Sian Salsbury, Cradley Heath If your letter makes Star Letter of the week, you will receive some beautiful blooms from Flying Flowers. With over 30 years’ experience of helping celebrate life’s special moments and FREE delivery by post, a gorgeous bouquet by Flying Flowers is…

Cashing up at the end of the day, I couldn’t wait to get home. It was 2004, and, working at a newsagent, I’d been on my feet all day. Just then... ‘I recognise you,’ a customer said, as he tried to place if we’d met before. ‘You’re not Tracy, are you?’ I recognised him right away. ‘I am,’ I smiled. ‘And you must be Anthony - you haven’t changed a bit.’ I hadn’t seen Anthony Robinson, 43, for years after he moved away from the area. We’d gone to the same secondary school, and, although he was in the year above, we had the same group of mates and hung out together. Back then, he was known for being a bit of a troublemaker. A few years later, when his…

Then it all came flooding back to me. Anthony raining punches down on me as I lay helpless at the bottom of the stairs. Why had he done that to me? It wasn’t like him at all. I couldn’t comprehend it. My tongue was split in two Just then... The kids! I thought. Had he hurt them, too? Thankfully, a few seconds later, I heard their voices around me. ‘We’re OK, Mum,’ Lucy said tearfully. ‘What happened?’ I asked. But as soon as I opened my mouth, I realised my speech was slurred and I struggled to get my words out. Later, a doctor explained that I had two broken wrists, a broken nose, broken shoulder, and serious injuries to my face -including losing the tip of my tongue. I…

Counting my reps as I lifted dumbbells in the gym, I felt strong and fit. ‘How are you doing?’ my husband, Rus, then 31, panted. ‘Great, I’m almost done,’ I smiled to him. At 28 weeks pregnant, I was in my third trimester of pregnancy and still loving working out in the gym. I’d fallen pregnant in December 2015, and it had been a smooth ride ever since. ‘I’m so lucky,’ I told my friends, enjoying every moment of having a bump. As the end neared, Rus and I started to get ready for birth. When the week of my due date arrived, my mum Liz, 51, moved in with us. A retired midwife, she was the best person to care for me. ‘Your bump has dropped,’ she smiled as…