Pick Me Up! 24-Nov-2022

Scrolling through Facebook, I felt a familiar sinking in my stomach. All my friends and family were out living their lives and I was just stuck here, inside. Having been in a highpressure job for years, the stress of it all got too much in 2016, and I became too terrified to leave my house. My anxiety levels were through the roof, and I completely relied on my husband, Nick, 54, and my sons, Oliver, Matthew, and Alexander, for absolutely everything. Only, one evening in 2020, an ad caught my eye on Facebook. Fight waste. Help your neighbours. Save our planet. OLIO made my world merry and bright Feel amazing! Clicking on the ad, I was directed to OLIO, a platform where you could upload things going to waste, and…

BUY OF THE WEEK A peaceful slumber is the key to feeling rested, relaxed and ready to tackle anything life throws at you. This new Zen alarm clock radio from Roberts is designed to give you a perfect night’s sleep – packed with clever features to help you drift off, snooze soundly and awake refreshed and reinvigorated. Awaken to a gentle marimba tone or FM radio station of your choice, with the option of setting two alarms in case you accidently snooze back off – so you’ve got no excuses for sleeping in! Available in black, white or duck egg blue, it also has an auto-dimming display and buttons, to keep light levels low in the bedroom. • £59.99, please visit: robertsradio.com Jazz up your morning routine! GET IN TOUCH…

Here’s my little Wiggles writing out his Christmas cards to his fur-iends – isn’t he cute?! Krissie Cope, Manchester Here I am helping our wee Alexander climb up a wall while holding his McDonald’s drink. Oh, the joys of multitasking. I guess he just needed a ‘pick me up’! All I could hear was my husband behind the camera saying: ‘Please Alexander, don’t pass wind!’ Fiona Deans, North Ayrshire STAR LETTER Here’s me and my hubby celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary in romantic Rome – the Colosseum was amazing and now ticked off our bucket list. Here’s to the next 25 years! Michelle Beacham, Halesowen Here’s my dog Lucy waiting for a treat in Peasholm park, Scarborough! Dawn Humphrey, Scarborough If your letter makes Star Letter of the week, you will…

Making the most out of the summer heat, in August 2016, with my kids staying away at their dad’s, it was my time to have a little fun. Sitting in my friend’s garden we talked about everything. Only, disturbing our gossip, my phone buzzed with a Facebook message. Would you be able to come and pick me up? the message read, before cutting off. Opening my phone to see who it was, I recognised the name – Ally Thomson. That’s odd, I thought. I’d never even met him, let alone message, I only knew of him in and around the local area – but I could tell that he needed help. My girlfriend has kicked me out of the house, he typed. Can you come and pick me up from Edinburgh?…

Whipping three pairs of socks from one side of my bra, it was time to show off my party trick… ‘Look at my one enormous boob!’ I screamed, showing off my uneven rack – the socks had helped to keep my smaller boob in place. And at age 18, getting drunk and messing around, it was my go-to excuse for a good laugh. Rocking my lopsided chest was the norm – it gave me a newfound confidence. Only, it hadn’t always been that way. Hitting puberty and starting my period at just 11, it was clear that my boobs were starting to come in a lot earlier than my friends. In comparison to other girls my age I was a lot curvier, so I just assumed that was why my…

This week, our tip of the week will receive a product from Addis. This rattan effect bin and toilet brush is a perfect accompaniment to your loo! Cleaning detergent can be dispensed in the toilet brush, pressing to dispense when required. The bin can also be used as a storage basket for your toiletries. To make life easier, visit: addis.co.uk Loo-king good I wanted a tall, plain vase to display my autumnal flowers but couldn’t find what I was after. When I was doing my weekly food shop, I saw this toilet brush holder for only £3. I think it does the job perfectly. Nicola Richardson, East Sussex Cake-tastic Instead of splashing out on a Cocomelon cake for my daughter Olivia’s birthday, I bought a cheap iced sponge and cake…