Pick Me Up! 10-Nov-2022

Scrolling through a list of gorgeous hotels, my heart sank. There was simply nothing suitable. Myself and my brothers, Russell, 49, and James, 37, were planning a family holiday. We wanted to give my mum Jennie, then 66, a special trip to look forward to. Having been diagnosed with a rare form of terminal cancer, aged 63, she’d had a rocky few years to say the least. And by 2015 she was in a wheelchair, having lost her mobility from the waist down. ‘This is impossible!’ I sighed, exasperated. ‘Well, our hotel isn’t accessible either…’ Russell admitted. And he had a point – having run the Marsham Court Hotel for over 30 years, we too didn’t have accessible options. There was simply nothing suitable… Even Mum couldn’t stay in some…

Good to know It’s Remembrance Day next week – have you got your poppy yet? This year’s Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal is in full swing – look out for appeal collectors across the UK and support a worthwhile cause. Now it’s easier than ever to make a donation – you can pay with cash, contactless card or even via a QR code with a link to the RBL website. If you want to recycle your poppy, simply pop into your local Sainsbury’s store after Remembrance Sunday – or try an enamel poppy pin instead, available online from the RBL Poppy Shop. ● Please visit: britishlegion.org.uk What’s trending We’ve all been there – the clinking of the glass recycling box, filled to the brim with glass each week. It seems…

My eight-year-old granddaughter Billi absolutely loves fossils, dinosaurs and sharks, so she was in her element to have her picture taken in this shark’s teeth – she even wanted to take them home with her, but her mum was having none of it! Patricia Cordon, Cheltenham Here is my six-month-old kitten, Hope. He is full of mischief, but very affectionate and cute, too! Louise Wiggs, Stevenage My mum Jo loves Pick Me Up! but as she now lives in Spain, she finds it hard to get hold of. So, I buy a copy with my weekly shop and take a pile over to Spain for her every time I visit! Alicia Shaw, Ilkeston I now know why my dog Cody follows me to the toilet. I follow him outside when he goes…

Scrolling through Facebook, a picture caught me off guard. I swear I recognise that face, I thought. And after a few moments, it clicked – it was the handsome man that I’d seen in the pub. I’m off to celebrate my divorce, the caption read, with Umit, 44, pictured cheering. Hitting like, in October 2018, his post had created quite a stir. Well liked in the local area for his boxing classes, it was clear that Umit was popular. Calling himself the Turkish Warrior, he certainly knew how to entertain a crowd. Just coming out of an abusive relationship, I was on the lookout for exciting ways to step out of my comfort zone. And I thought Umit would be able to help me do just that. I’d love to…

Flicking through my photo album for the second time that night, I felt emotional. I had stared at the same pictures of my dad, Bachir, over and over. Tracing my hands over the pages, I wondered what kind of dad he would’ve been. Would he have picked me up from school like other dads? Would he have sat on my bed and read me to sleep? After all these years, it felt like I was no closer to meeting him in person. The only communication we’d ever had was through a video call. My mum, Patricia, would phone him when I was little and I’d sit in. Although I could see his face, seeing him through a laptop screen was never enough. And when our FaceTime calls stopped at aged…

This week, our tip of the week will receive a great product from Addis! Ideal for all hard wood surfaces and carpets, the Carpet Sweeper will make your home sparkle. With no batteries or leads required, as well as being effective on pet hair, watch as the rotating brushes sweep your dirt away. It also folds flat for easy storage. For more to make life easier, visit: addis.co.uk Mud-buster I have a great hack for dirty football boots. Get a cleaning caddy, or washing up bowl so they can put their boots in there, and let that catch all the mud, rather than it going everywhere in the car. Richard Adams, Halesowen Light it up Fairy lights in a glass bowl make a cheap yet effective decoration. Doesn’t it look…