Pick Me Up! 9-Feb-2023

Peeling off a sticky note from my colourful pad, I set to work. You are enough, I wrote carefully. ‘There, I think that’s the last one,’ I smiled to my fiancé, Holden, 32, looking at the pink pile of notes in front of me. I couldn’t wait to stick them up around town. Something that I never dreamed I’d be doing a few months ago. After starting a Twitter account to follow my favourite singer, Cheryl Cole, I had built quite a fanbase by 2018. But, having grown out of her music, I decided to stop posting and unfollowed her a few months later. Only, my followers had something to say. In a matter of days, I had death threats as well as body shaming messages. I came across something…

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I caught this rainbow on camera – it looks like it’s coming out of my wife, Fiona’s, head. Maybe she has Skittles on the brain? Mike Lunn, Beith I had to laugh when I asked my husband Jon to put out the washing as I was late for work the other day…he’d carefully pegged out the ‘colour catchers’, too. Lucy Travell, Barnwood My boy Ronnie always copies me after we’ve had a bath. He loves to wrap his hair up like his Mummy! Alexandra Low, Halesowen I have such a wonderful hobby – known as comping! I love to take part in competitions – everything from tagging on social media to coming up with a slogan! I am usually very lucky and have won some unusual prizes! I’m always excited…

Running a hairbrush through my locks, I took a deep breath. Why am I so nervous? I thought. It’s only a date. But I liked Matthew already. After matching with him on Plenty of Fish in November 2011, he’d sent me a message and we’d been talking for the last four months over Facebook Messenger. Although shy and a little nervous over text, Matthew, then 39, was funny and kind. Signing up for the dating site, I knew I wanted a partner. A single mum to my daughter, Tina, 11, I didn’t often get time to think of myself, but with her being a little older, now felt like the right time. Looking for the usual tall, dark and handsome, Matthew fitted the bill – apart from his bright ginger…

As the break went on, I noticed him getting more and more yellow. I’d never seen him like that before. ‘I’m fine,’ he reassured me. ‘I think my meds need upping.’ Matthew had suffered from Crohn’s disease as long as I’d known him – but his meds had kept his illness under control. ‘You need to see a doctor,’ I told him. ‘I don’t want to spoil the holiday,’ he countered. ‘I’m fine.’ It took the persuasion of me, his mum, and his sister, Lisa, to persuade Matthew to go to the doctors when we got home. ‘What did they say?’ I asked as soon as I got through the door that evening. ‘I’m all good,’ he said. ‘No need to worry.’ But I insisted he go back to get…

Stifling a yawn, the idea of getting into my comfies and falling asleep was on my evening agenda. Only, the night was young – or so my friends thought! Just getting back after a night out, in September 2022, celebrating my friend Florrie’s 21st birthday at the Queens Hotel in Cheltenham, we’d headed back to one of my friend’s flats before the group all had another idea. ‘Let’s go to that new bar,’ they said. I’m so tired… I didn’t want to be a party pooper but staying at home and getting myself ready for bed sounded dreamy – the usual routine I’d follow living in my own flat just around the corner. ‘I think I’ll just stay here guys, have the best time though,’ I announced just as everyone…