Pick Me Up! 17-Nov-2016

What A Joke! Having vowed I’d try my hand at stand-up this year, palms clammy, I went on stage… ‘Everyone laughed when I said I’d make it as a comedian. Well, they’re not laughing now..!’ To learn how, go to www.londoncomedycourse.com 11 Series 11 of one of my all-time fave sitcoms Red Dwarf is back on our screens. For 11 facts about the spaced-out crew, go to www.lifedeathprizes.com/ red-dwarf-facts What A Night! I had a sparkling Bonfire Night! After the 1605 Gunpowder Plot, the nickname 'Guy’ caught on, highlighting Mr Fawkes’ treason. Effigies have been burned on bonfires ever since, with the practice said to ward off evil spirits. What A Stripper! Arranging a hen do, I was unsure whether to get a stripper. So I brought along this little…

Little STAR How much does my 3-month-old son Archie love swimming with the fishies in his bouncer?! Stacey Young, Angus Lean on me Looks like the builders of the Wanaka Tower in New Zealand took a page out of Pisa. Here’s my hubby Gareth giving a helping hand! Tessa Roberts, Mold India shores What better place for my niece Amy, 26, to practise her yoga than in the country where it originated? Here she is on Benaulim Beach in south Goa. Jenna Harden, Sir Ddinbych Happy holiday As a treat, my mum Karen took my children Kieron, 11, and Paris, 9, to Turkey! What a great grandmother. Stacey Hill, Torquay Faithful reader As you can see, I’m a big fan of Pick Me Up! True to its name, my weekly…

“I ran for the front door, but he dragged me back by my hair” The night before I jetted off on holiday Josh Gray, then 20, came over and asked if I would be his girlfriend. ‘Yes,’ I beamed, kissing him. It was November 2014, and it’d been ‘will-they-won’t-they’ since we first met in October, at the house of Danielle, 27, my best mate. Josh had charm, made me laugh, and I was soon in love. Only, he had a temper when he’d been drinking, could be controlling. He started keeping tabs on me, checking my phone. So, in January 2015, I told him it was over - but he didn’t take it well, sending me messages on Facebook all the time. But then Danielle’s house was burgled - and…

‘The chemo was brutal. It caused liver damage’ As I clipped up my bra strap, pain shot through my chest. ‘Ouch!’ I winced. It was this January, and my left boob felt tender, hot, looked swollen and was spilling from my bra. Doctors prescribed antibiotics, but soon my breast was so swollen I needed a bigger cup size. In February, I was referred to the breast clinic in Burton upon Trent for a mammogram and biopsy. ‘It’s just an infection,’ I told my partner Gavin, 39. I was so sure it wasn’t anything serious, I insisted on picking up my results alone. Only, the consultant dropped a bombshell. ‘You’ve got inflammatory breast cancer,’ he told me. It was one of the rarest and most aggressive types. Lucky me, I thought,…

To prevent your suitcase getting a musty smell, pop a couple of tumble dryer sheets in it before storing it away. Shirley Canton, Pembroke With bits of cloth and buttons, I made some flags for my granddaughter Hannah. She loves how they brighten up her room. Jackie Turpin, Bromsgrove Tip of the Week Place a piece of ribbon under batteries. When it’s time to replace them, pull the ribbon at each end and they pop out! Jackie Baldwin, Lee-on-the-Solent Top Mum’s Tip! Encourage children to wash their hands by buying a transparent soap dispenser and popping a toy inside. Tell your kids they can have it when the holder’s empty. Here’s my son Abrey, eager to get at his monkey! Gemma Davies, Tuffley The breakfast bar in our small kitchen…

Lose Weight For Less Trying to lose a little weight before the party season? Luckily, you can now get 25% off all Atkins products at Boots until 6 November. Their new Cookies & Cream bars are really delicious! Fizzy Fun Pick up a bottle of I › Prosecco for just £7 (normally £9) at Sainsbury’s until 22 November. Like we even needed an excuse! Don’t Give It The Boot! These Board Angels Women’s Zip Trim Boots are just £24.99 (was £49.99) at www.mandmdirect.com until 12 December. The neutral shade means they’ll go with everything in your wardrobe! Hair Raising! Get your fella’s hair groomed to perfection with 33% off the Moosehead range at Superdrug until 22 November. This Grubby Putty is now just £2.69 instead of the normal £3.99. You…