Pick Me Up! 05-Aug-2021

As a teen, I always wanted to be cool. I dumbed myself down and failed my exams on purpose to fit in. Only, it wasn’t long before I realised that was dumb! So, I enrolled in night school and went on to gain a degree, Diploma and an MBA. Afterwards, I became a serial entrepreneur and focused all my efforts on my career. I was making money and losing it in equal measure. However, by the age of 40, I was completely burnt out and unfulfilled. Taking a year out to reassess, I recognised my need to inspire and support others to shine in life, so I trained to be a coach and therapist, and soon started working with women. After five years as a coach, speaker and author, my…

Digital nomads are taking the tropics by storm! HAVE YOU HEARD OF? Picture this–you’re lounging by the pool under the scorching sun, whilst leisurely replying to messages. Sounds a heck of a lot better than working in the office, right? Well, ‘digital nomads’ seem to think so! Typically considered something only a select few can do, this laid-back way of working is certainly on the rise. Thanks to the power of technology, and one of the few blessings of the pandemic, more of us can now work from anywhere and everywhere–so why not do it from an exotic destination?! We’re loving this Take a trip down memory lane with heartwarming jigsaw puzzles from Lucy’s Farm. The 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzles will keep the whole family entertained on a wet day in…

Look at my little man, Ronnie, all dressed up for England’s game. Alexandra Low, Halesowen My daughter Mia enjoying a sunny day out at Stourport. Richard Adams, West Midlands Here are my grandchildren, Izzie and Sam, all ready for bed on a sleepover at Nannies. Tina Vowles, Gloucs I enjoyed a walk around the wonderful town of Whitby. Ellie Parlak, Saltburn-by-the-Sea This guy has been in the queue for the Universal Studios for so long he’s wasting away. Amanda Hadley, 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 way to celebrate sharing smiles and happiness. See flyingflowers.co.uk for…

Scrolling through Instagram, a message popped up from a guy. Hey, I used to do Park Run, it read. He must have seen my recent post about doing the local run. Browsing through his account, I didn’t recognise him. Ignoring the message, I didn’t think anything of it. However, over the next three months, he was persistent. Are you going to keep ignoring me? he typed. Feeling a pang of guilt, I decided to reply. Sorry I’ve only just seen these messages, I lied. We got chatting in early 2017 and he told me his name was Tom Coughlan, then 27. He was a bricklayer who lived near-by. Although I’d been hesitant at first, Tom and I hit it off and soon we were messaging back and forth. Would you…

FRAGRANCE CAPITALS Meet River Island’s fragrance collection inspired by the glamour and elegance of the fashion capitals of the world–London, Paris and Milan. The collection is made up of four beautiful fragrances, including London which is new to stores! Available from River Island. 1. LONDON, £16 A fruity, floral fragrance that is beautiful, bold and crowned with confidence, just like London. With head notes of raspberry, lemon and neroli, this sweet scent has a soul of vanilla, musk, amber and sandalwood. 2. PARIS, £14 A sparkling, oriental, floral fragrance to fall in love with, just like the fashion capital, Paris. With headnotes of Italian lemon and bergamot, this fragrance has a deep and beautiful soul of sandalwood, cedar, musk and vanilla. 3. PARIS BY NIGHT, £14 A stunning warm, oriental,…

Sitting there in silence, the room began to spin out of control. I looked around me. Where there had once been one consultant, now three more filed in. Then someone handed me a gown. I’d come in to get results which I thought would be negative–but it was bad news. ‘We are very sorry. You have breast cancer,’ one consultant told me instead. It was 2013. I’d only just had my third child, Henry. My others, George and Will, were at sports day. I’d found a lump a few months earlier, but because I’d been breastfeeding Henry and had had mastitis, I’d been misdiagnosed and told the lump was down to that. Now, after the results of a biopsy had come in, the opposite was true. I had cancer. My…