Pick Me Up! 11-Jun-2020

I started working for Water Babies in 2008. It’s an organisation that helps teach babies the early skills of swimming. However, watching on, I always wanted to be a teacher – in the pool with the little ones. Only, with no swimming qualifications, I had to train through the company. Thankfully, by 2018, I’d done what I needed and started teaching newborns to four-year-olds. I loved it, but I realised I wanted to push myself, too. So, in January of last year, I started doing a 28 day, no alcohol challenge. To replace alcohol, I needed to do a physical activity, and naturally, it was swimming. To mix things up, I wanted to do open water swimming as I knew it would be more of a challenge. And so, with…

What’s your favourite? With Disney+ providing us with some much-needed entertainment, OnBuy.com discovered which classic animated Disney movies are the most popular in 42 different European countries. The iconic Lion King (1994) is the favourite in the UK and nine other European countries. Aladdin (1992) is the most popular in 14 countries, including France, Germany and Italy. Interestingly, Tarzan (1999) has swung his way to the top in Moldova, Romania and Slovakia. Peter Pan (1991), Mulan (1998), Cinderella (1950) and The Jungle Book (1967) are also among Europe’s favourites. What Disney film have you got on repeat? WHAT A GREAT IDEA! Struggling to make homeschooling fun? Combine your love for cats with education to keep your children entertained while they learn! Comedian Bob Mortimer has lent his support to Cats Protection’s…

Solve the puzzle to spell out a term related to the picture. The arrows show you where to put your answers. The answer is spelled in the yellow squares. Follow it! pg 6 Flightless Blueberry and pistachio mug cake Berry season is here and Love Fresh Berries (lovefreshberries.co.uk) want to help you make the most of it! These delicious blueberry treats are really ramekin cakes, but can be made in a small mug if you don’t have any. They make a quick and easy fix for a snack or pudding, and include ingredients that you’ll have at home! • 1tsp flour• 1 tbsp oats• 1 tbsp finely chopped pistachio nuts• 2 tsp brown sugar• pinch baking powder• 1 tsp vegetable oil• 1 tsp peanut butter• 1 tbsp milk, dairy or…

Taking off my coat, I sat back and let out a deep sigh. ‘Fancy a glass of red?’ my friend Kristen, 37, asked from the bar. I’d headed to the pub after a long day, needing a girly catchup with my best friend. Kristen brought over a bottle for us to share, and we delved into normal love-life chatter. ‘Anyone new on the scene?’ she asked. ‘Oh you know, nothing much going on with me!’ I replied. It was April 2011, and I’d just turned 25. I’d had a few relationships over the years, but nothing ever that serious. And now, I’d been single for around six months. I’d always dreamed of being in a loving marriage by this point of my life. Instead, I was a single mum to…

Wiping angry tears from my face, I looked at myself in the mirror. How could he do this to me? I thought, the question repeating in my head. I thought we’d been happy – why would Tony sleep with someone else? Another man? Just then, I heard a soft knocking at the bathroom door – Tony had come up to explain. ‘I’ve haven’t been with anyone but you, Trish,’ he said through the door. ‘You must believe me. You’re the love of my life and the mother of my children!’ But there was no getting out of this. The STI was proof in my eyes. I swung open the door in a rage and glared at him. ‘Doctors don’t lie, Tony, but apparently you do,’ I spat, furious that he…

All mums dream of the person their child will one day grow up to be. They look forward to milestones – his first steps, first words, his first day at school, going to university and his first job – and one day his own wedding. For my baby, though, these milestones will never come. ‘Enjoy it while you can,’ other mums say, referring to the magical newborn phase. ‘They grow so fast.’ Don’t get me wrong – when Freddie arrived in June 2017, I loved every moment of that phase – his tiny hands and feet, the smell of new life in his wispy blond hair. My husband Tony, 28, and I were overjoyed, and our son Frankie, then three, was so excited about being a brother. Freddie completed our…