Pick Me Up! 21-Jan-2021

As a family, we’ve suffered the pain of breast cancer far too many times. My sister Joan was diagnosed with the disease nearly 17 years ago. Thankfully, after treatment and surgery, she’s been 16 years clear. Since then, she’s dedicated much of her time to fundraising for Breast Cancer UK. With coffee mornings and bake sales, she’s always tried to give something back. We hoped after Joan, we wouldn’t have to experience breast cancer again. Only, after an eight-month battle, in March last year, we lost our sister-in-law Lesley, to the disease – aged just 46. As a family, we were devastated, and we rallied around our brother Robert for support and comfort. It was a difficult time for all of us, but Joan wanted to do another fundraiser –…

DON’T MISS THIS Ever wish you could bottle up the smell of your home? Now you can! Relocation website My Baggage is offering fresh air bottles from the four home nations – England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales – for £25 each. The perfect thoughtful gift for homesick Britons living overseas. My Baggage is also offering new special limited-edition bottles featuring air captured on the London Underground and air from a Norfolk fish and chip shop. Each 500ml of air comes with a cork stopper so the owners can open for a moment, take a breath and quickly close again, allowing many weeks or even months of use. Even more, My Baggage is willing to fulfil special customer requests by bottling air from any UK location. They have already fulfilled an…

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 way to celebrate sharing smiles and happiness. See flyingflowers.co.uk for more details.…

Pottering around the house, I was getting ready to head to work. It was a Sunday morning in February 2018, and I was on a relief shift at the local children’s home. ‘See you later,’ I called out to my daughter Emma, now 20. Arriving at the home, I got stuck in. After a few hours, I noticed a tiny red paper cut on my index finger of my right hand. As a single mum of two, Emma and her big sister, Kim, now 29, I was more than used to these annoying little cuts. I had no idea where I got it from, but I put it to the back of my mind. Only, the next morning when I woke up, I noticed a blue blister surrounding the skin.…

Throwing clothes onto the floor, I looked around me in horror. Standing there half-naked, I caught a glance of myself in the mirror and it took all my strength not to burst into tears. ‘What’s going on here?’ my husband John, 47, asked, coming into the bedroom to check if I was ready. ‘I can’t go,’ I whimpered. ‘Everything looks awful on me.’ I’d been big since hitting puberty, but after getting married in 2002, things had really gotten out of control. Even on my wedding day, I was too large for John to carry me over the threshold – something I would have loved! It wasn’t that I ate a particularly unhealthy diet, but my portion sizes had become massive and just seemed to keep on getting bigger. ‘I…

This week, our tip of the week will receive a great product from Addis! This stylish soap dispenser and sponge keeps your sink side area organised and clutter free, with a soft touch non-slip base. Fill with your favourite detergent or hand wash. For more ways to make your life easier, visit addis.co.uk Save your pennes A fab pasta tip is to portion out your dry pasta into bowls before cooking it. Angela Garvin, Romford Vanishing keys Never forage for your keys again! Simply tie them to a long piece of string and hook them around the front door handle – add a mini bell for safety. Julie Surtees, Tyne and Wear Perfect display Glue together three open egg boxes and attach some string to hang it from. Pin photos…