Pick Me Up! 19-Nov-2020

Caring for my Aunty Aniela was more important than ever once my Uncle Peter passed away in 2015. He was a gentle soul, who we all still miss. After moving in with them once I started my studying, their dependency increased. To begin with, they just needed my help with shopping and meals. However, once Uncle Peter became fatigued, I was helping by providing bed baths, toileting and bed exercises. I was lucky to have my wonderful partner who helped me during these times. Unfortunately, I soon realised my dreams of becoming a surgeon were not possible due to university admissions and funding. But knew I wanted to do something to help others. I was first introduced to care work through a dear friend who worked for Consultus Care and…

Good to know Meet the social networking app connecting women throughout all stages of motherhood. Everyday on Peanut, likeminded women connect to seek advice in a safe place, addressing topics ranging from fertility and miscarriage to motherhood and sex. With over two million users, the app is helping mums and mums-to-be navigate their way through parenthood. And now, they’ve launched a new feature–Bump Buddies. The feature aims to help mums-to-be navigate pregnancy, as well as foster new friendships. Users on the app will automatically be added to a Bump Buddy group after updating their profile with how far along they are into their pregnancy. Alongside Bump Buddies, women can also match with each other by interests, personality types, neighbourhoods and more, as well as take part in community discussions and schedule meetups. • Download the Peanut app on the App…

My husband and I at an 80’s themed fancy dress party. Lisa Adams, West Midlands My mum was put in good spirits for the rest of the day after coming across this sign. Natasha Douglas, Kent My daughter Evie always has such a giggle swinging around upside down. Amanda Hadley, Cradley Heath My four year old daughter Annabelle loves a morning snuggle with her best friend Skye. Nikki Murphy, West Sussex STAR LETTER Me and my boy Amari enjoying the beautiful beach on our holiday away to Lanzarote. 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 a lovely…

As I put the bottle of Prosecco on ice, my first guest rang the front doorbell. Taking a deep breath, I checked my lipstick in the mirror and smoothed down my new outfit. That night, I was throwing a bash no one would forget–a ‘goodbye hand’ party to celebrate its amputation! For nearly 20 years, I hadn’t been able to use my right hand at all. However, I knew I was lucky to be alive after a horrific car accident in 1999, when I was 22. Driving home from a day trip to Brighton, my tyre blew out while I was going 70mph along the A23. Thankfully, I’d managed to avoid hitting any other cars and quickly swerved over to the hard shoulder. But there were no crash barriers, and…

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. Answers on page 47. Follow it! pg 8Explorer Christmas baking calendar The Easy Peasy Baking Campaign, launched by nabim, shares their schedule of when to bake what this festive season… 12TH NOVEMBER: Make mincemeat for mince pies. Keep sterilised in jars in the fridge. 12TH NOVEMBER: Make Christmas cake, ready to mature. 17 TH NOVEMBER: Feed Christmas cake with your chosen alcohol. 22ND NOVEMBER: Make your Christmas pudding. 22ND NOVEMBER: Feed Christmas cake with your chosen alcohol. 28TH NOVEMBER: Bake your decorative gingerbread house. 1ST DECEMBER: Feed your Christmas cake with your chosen alcohol. 12TH DECEMBER: Cover your Christmas cake in marzipan. 19TH DECEMBER: Cover your Christmas cake in royal icing. 19TH DECEMBER: Bake mince pies. 24TH DECEMBER:…

As my fiancé, Gareth, then 31, chatted away on the phone, I was up to my eyeballs in wedding prep. Seating charts, table decorations, wedding favours - you name it, I still had tons of organising left to do. Who was that?’ I asked Gareth, prying myself away from my endless to-do list. ‘It was the blood stem cell people,’ he told me. ‘They think I might be a match for someone!’ ‘That’s amazing,’ I beamed. Gareth had signed up to be a donor back in 2016 in the hopes that it could save someone with blood cancer’s life, and I knew just how much it meant to him. When his dad was diagnosed with liver cancer earlier that year, and urgently needed a liver transplant, Gareth wanted to give…