Table of contents for 27-Dec-2018 in Pick Me Up!

Good as gold that’s always been my Chloe. As a child, with a heart as big as a bucket - she’d play ‘Mummy’ when her friends came to our place for sleepovers. ‘Do you want anything to eat or drink?’ she’d fuss. ‘Are you warm enough?’ She was very caring about people and would go the extra mile. I’ve always been proud of that spirit in her. But sometimes I did worry that people might take advantage of her kind nature. And sure there were some that did, but when she brought her boyfriend Haitham home in 2015, I was thrilled. ‘He’s a nice boy,’ I’d teased as Chloe blushed. I knew that not only was he going to do right by my girl, but some really painful times over…

Giggling away with my sister Leanne, I smirked as she whispered another joke into my ear. We both collapsed onto the sofa in hysterics. I was 8, Leanne was 10 - and to me, she was the best big sis ever. Of course, we argued now and again, but we were as thick as thieves most of the time. So when our mum Toni, 28, met Andrew, 19, in 1998, Leanne was the first person I spoke to. ‘He’s going to take us to the arcades!’ I squealed. I was fearful my sister would somehow see my shame Mum was smitten, so were we, and within a couple of months, he’d moved in. Andrew became like a dad to us. Letting us watch our favourite cartoons on TV after school,…

I woke with a start in the middle of the night, gasping as searing pain flashed through my belly. ‘I’m bleeding!’ I cried to my partner Adam, 31. It was late October and I was 24-weeks pregnant with my first child. Two weeks earlier, the doctors found I’d been funnelling - my cervix was dilating due to the weight and pressure of the baby. As I was at risk of going into early labour, surgeons gave me a cervical stitch to keep the baby in the womb to allow her a greater chance of survival. I’d actually thought we were back on track. Until I’d woken up in agony... Adam took me to hospital where I was told that my cervix was dilating again and the stitch had ripped. ‘Can…

For advice, contact us via one of the methods below. Letters and emails are selected randomly for publication. Sorry, Dr Onslow can’t reply personally. WRITE TO: Pick Me Up!, 161 Marsh Wall, London E14 9AP. EMAIL: pickmeup@ti-media.com Health On Twitter  Follow me @DrBellyButton Disclaimer: Medical advice provided is for interest only and should never be substituted for seeing a doctor or seeking medical advice. If you have specific medical concerns please seek advice from a qualified medical professional.…

Skip New Year’s party with ex? Fiona, 27, Lowestoft Earlier this year, me and my boyfriend who I’d been dating for four years, split up. Although we’d been together for years, we had a toxic relationship and I was unhappy towards the end. However, we’ve still got the same circle of friends, so he’s been invited to my best friend’s New Year’s Eve party. I’ve heard that he’s now got himself a new girlfriend and that she’ll be coming, too. I don’t really want to go, but all my friends will be there and I don’t want to spend New Year alone! Plus, I don’t know how I’ll react if I see him... Should I just skip the party? YES Pick Me Up! reader Michelle McGrath says, ‘Skip…

Glowing skin For dewy skin with a lit-from-within glow, lay the foundations with a long-lasting base and use a silky liquid highlighter to catch the light. Maybelline Superstay 24H Full Coverage Foundation, £9.99, Superdrug Instantly blurs imperfections for a budge-proof finish that will stay put all night. Nip + Fab Illuminating Fixing Mist, £9.95, Superdrug Spritz over your finished look to stop make-up slipping. The pearlescent particles will perk up your complexion too. Sleek MakeUP Highlighting Elixir Illuminating Drops, £6.99, Boots Full of pigment, these pack a real punch. Apply sparingly on the high points of your face (nose, chin, cheek and brow bone). Bold lips Five minutes is all you need to create the perfect statement lip – just prep, line and colour. Team with fresh skin and a…

Tramping through the door, I took one look at Mum’s face, knowing what she was about to say. ‘Look at the state of you!’ she cried. ‘Sorry, Mum,’ I mumbled, staring at the muddy stains and holes in my frilly dress. I don’t know why she was surprised. This wasn’t the first pretty outfit that I’d ruined when out playing. It wasn’t my fault, anyway. Aged 9, I’d wanted to wear shorts and a T-shirt for a kickabout with my mates. It was Mum who’d insisted on putting me in the pink dress and cute cardigan, plaiting my waist-length hair with a ribbon. She was religious and conservative, I was raised to be a good girl, to not answer back. But later in my room, I looked at my reflection…

ARIES 21 March-20 April LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP In 2018, you learnt so much more about your close ones that you didn’t know before. This drove you apart at first – but has now brought you closer. Big events in love in June help you feel your future is more secure. So try not to ruin this with jealousy in February and March this year. HEALTH AND HAPPINESS The New Moon which occurs in the first week of the new year (the 6th to be precise) is going to see you feeling a lot more like you. The anxiety that you’d been experiencing over Christmas will be replaced by confidence and adventure. 2019 will also see you getting on better with older family members at long last. MONEY MATTERS You love…

We all know the saying ‘something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue’, but it’s time to learn a bit more about a few wedding rituals around the world… • In Mexico, it’s common that the bride carries two bouquets and leaves one behind at the church for the Virgin Mary. • Candy confetti – small almonds with white sugar coatings – are traditionally offered at Italian weddings. They are served in a multiple of five to bring the newlyweds health, prosperity, happiness, fertility and longevity! • A day before the wedding, many Indian brides have to sit very still for many hours. The reason? Beautiful and intricate henna designs are drawn on their hands and feet. • It’s customary for the bride and groom in the Philippines to release…

Whether it’s posing beside all your Christmas presents or with your best mates on a New Year night out, it’s unlikely that you’ll get through the festive period without taking a selfie. And chances are, it’ll be a lot more than just one. What was once a handy photo technique to escape the awkwardness of asking a stranger to take a snap of us has taken over social media. Close-ups on nights out are now the norm on Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat. We even turn the camera on ourselves in the office, bedroom and bathroom! Now, approximately 2,428,571 selfies are uploaded every day to social media sites. With the help of filters, airbrushing software and even light-up phone cases, showing the best version of our face to the world has…

I think George was hoping that Rudolph’s carrot was actually for him... I swear I saw him hop closer to it. Caroline Paline, St Helens With winter well and truly here, Tilly couldn’t wait to try on her new jammies. Karen Welch, Warrington I think Mr Toad got confused as to where his pond was, but he found our cat’s water bowl just fine. Shirley Fox, via e-mail Oliver gets slightly restless while waiting for his toast to cook. Apparently his pear wasn’t up to scratch. Louise Milne, Worthing My Bengal kitten, Jade, may be the queen of the jungle in our house but it’s too cold to go exploring without her new jumper. Lucy Hill, Halifax 'What you looking at?’ says my gold severum, Sid. I think he feels…

Months later, Mum took Leanne out for the day but she returned home by herself. Leanne had gone into a care home. I’d never felt so alone. Years passed in the same sickening cycle. Until... On New Year’s Eve 2007, when I was 18, Andrew came into my room with that familiar sick look in his eye. But as he pushed his hand down my trousers, I grabbed his wrist and glared at him. ‘Don’t ever touch me again,’ I hissed. He scarpered, and for the first time, I reckoned the tables had turned. That was the last time Andrew ever touched me. Though I moved on with my life, forming friendships and relationships, the abuse tormented me every day. When I was 22, I fell pregnant with my son…

From our first date, I knew things were going to work out with Dixie. ‘You gab as much as I do,’ he’d joked in the pub in 2008. It was true, there were no awkward pauses between us. ‘This’ll work out well, then,’ I’d laughed. And it had. James ‘Dixie’ Dixon was the one for me. We both worked for Thames Valley Police, me as a family liaison officer, him as a constable. Dixie had a real passion for the job. It was one of the things I loved most about him. He liked meeting new people, being outside, a different challenge every day. He’d even appeared on the Sky show Road Wars , which followed the efforts of police officers from Thames Valley, proudly sharing his work with the…

1 Heartburn is the burning sensation in your chest caused by acid travelling up towards the throat (acid reflux). ■ True ■ False 2 Other less-common symptoms can include headache and dizziness. ■ True ■ False 3 You’re more prone to this if you smoke or are overweight. ■ True ■ False 4 Eating less-frequent, larger meals helps ease symptoms. 1 TRUE Another main symptom is an unpleasant, sour taste in the mouth. 2 FALSE Less-common symptoms would actually be a cough, bad breath, bloating or nausea and a hoarse voice. 3 TRUE Also fatty or spicy foods, excess alcohol consumption, stress or being pregnant can exacerbate the condition. 4 FALSE You’ll find eating smaller, more frequent meals is far better for your heartburn and acid reflux.…

Q My left testicle is slightly larger than before – but there are no lumps. I also get gripey stomach pain. Will this resolve itself? Carl, Bournemouth A Testicular swelling alone has a small risk of being cancer, but if there’s also abdominal pain, the risk is increased. Please get yourself checked out. 5,373 …that’s how many calories the average Brit will consume on Christmas Day according to a survey by Wren Kitchens. Almost three times our recommended daily amount!…

Wrapping my arms around my girls Tiana, 5, and Aaliyah, 2, I opened the book. But this wasn’t a fairytale. It had a different kind of ‘baddie’. ‘Mummy has a lump,’ I said, reading the words aloud, my voice trembling. The book, written with children in mind, was about a woman with breast cancer. When I reached the final page, I closed it. ‘Girls, I’m afraid I have a lump, too,’ I told them. They looked at me, confused, and my eyes welled. It was May 2017, and I’d recently been diagnosed with breast cancer, after finding a golf-ball-sized lump in my left armpit. Tests had revealed two further tumours in my left breast. I wrote my partner a list of my single friends’ names The cancer had spread to…

Pawsecco, £1.99, Aldi Why should humans have all the fun? With notes of elderflower, ginseng and linden blossom, this refreshing drink is the perfect party treat for your four-legged friends. Don’t worry, it’s completely alcohol-free! Verdict: GENIUS! Pet owners will love this! Magical Unicorn Energy Drink, £4.99, firebox.com If too many late nights have taken their toll, replace your lost sparkle with this unicorn-inspired energy drink. Enriched with B vitamins and a hefty hit of caffeine, you’ll be ready to face the day in no time! Verdict: BONKERS! But fun for unicorn fans! Party Bulb, £11.99, thefowndry.com Perfect for NYE, the glitter ball has had an upgrade with this colourful, spinning bulb. It Verdict: GENIUS! Lightbulb moment! plugs into a bayonet socket and will turn your…

Plus-size retailer Curvissa has partnered with Pick Me Up! to offer readers an exclusive 20% discount online from 13 December until midnight 27 December 2018 at curvissa.co.uk. Curvissa is a specialist retailer of plus-size fashion which caters for women in sizes 14-32. The brand offers high-quality, feelgood products in a range of styles, from wide-fit shoes to all types of plus-size clothing, across an exclusive range of brands, such as Sheego, Bonprix, Coast, Heine and Studio 8. To redeem your 20% discount, enter the code PPZP at the Curvissa online checkout at curvissa.co.uk Curvissa T&Cs: The offer code is for single use only and cannot be used in conjunction with other offer codes. The offer code used must be valid and within its live dates. Offer live 13…

Flicking through the TV channels, I couldn’t find anything to watch. So I clicked the TV off. ‘I’m not in the mood for telly,’ I told my husband Paul, 38. ‘No, me neither,’ he agreed. With our three children in bed, we had a whole night ahead of us. Bliss. But how to spend it? We watched telly most nights, but I fancied something different. ‘What about a game on Pick Me Up! Bingo?’ I said to Paul, taking out my mobile phone. I’d signed up to Pick Me Up! Bingo earlier that day, after a friend of mine told us how much fun the games were. ‘You’re on,’ Paul smiled. I chose to play Bingo Royale. The rules were simple. There were 90 balls in the game, and the…

Logging into Facebook, I had only one reason to be online. To find my childhood sweetheart. I’d known Gary since we were 9 years old. He’d lived across the street, had been my first everything. First crush, first kiss... But when I was 14, he moved 70 miles away from me in Nottingham, to Shropshire. Devastated, I thought that was the end. Only, I thought about him every single day. So now, nine years on in summer 2009, I decided to try to track him down online. Scrolling impatiently through the list of Gary Grants that appeared on my screen, I finally found him. Same dark eyes and mischievous smile that made my stomach flip. I hit ‘Add friend’. Within seconds he accepted. I fired off a message. Remember me?…

I’d always dreamed of a white wedding. No, not a big, white frock. Although I fancied one of those, too. I mean a snowy one. ‘It’d be so romantic,’ I sighed to my fiance Martin, 31. But, with the unpredictable British weather...and anyway, it didn’t feel likely when we set the date for 4 March 2018. ‘It’ll probably be blue skies,’ I laughed to Martin. Together since April 2017, we’d decided to tie the knot at a hotel in Devon. But, with just a few days to go, Martin looked a bit worried. On the morning, I opened the curtains to find a winter wonderland ‘Have you heard of the Beast from the East?’ he asked. ‘What’s that?’ I replied. ‘It’s a massive snowstorm,’ Martin continued. ‘And it’s heading straight…

Body dysmorphic disorder is a mental-health condition where someone spends an unhealthy amount of time worrying about perceived flaws in their own appearance. Those with the condition might spend hours comparing themselves to others, uploading pictures of themselves, looking in mirrors a lot, sometimes avoiding them altogether, or researching cosmetic procedures to find a solution to their perceived flaw. It shouldn’t be confused with vanity, and can often lead to depression and anxiety.…

Send us your stories and photos, including all names and ages, a daytime phone number and full address. E-mail pickmeup@ti-media.com CALL 020 3148 6460 WRITE TO Pick Me Up!, 161 Marsh Wall, London E14 9AP FACEBOOK facebook.com/pickmeupmag SEE OUR WEBSITE lifedeathprizes.com TI Media Limited reserves the right to reuse any submission sent to Pick Me Up! magazine, in any format or medium. Unfortunately, we can’t return photos without a stamped sae. Letters/photos must not be sent to any other publication.…

At the lunch table, a gaggle of girls were talking in hushed tones. Joining them, I soon figured out why. ‘I’ve started using tampons,’ one of them said. ‘Oh, yeah - me, too,’ I lied. It was 1997, I was 14 and already beginning to think my body wasn’t like my friends’. I’d started my periods and wanted to use tampons, but I’d never managed to insert one. When I tried, it was just too painful, as if the tampon had nowhere to go... Every guy that I dated complained of the same thing In the end, I gave up, used sanitary towels instead, putting it down to inexperience. So when my mates were whispering tips to each other I kept quiet, not wanting to feel like the odd one…

2018 ON THE BOX… These shows and moments of 2018 got us all talking. But were you paying attention? 1 In hit show Bodyguard, what’s the protector’s name? a) David b) Richard c)James 2 Pete, Jenny, Karen, David and Adam are pals in which drama set to return for an eighth series? 3 Kerry and Kurtan Mucklowe appear in which mockumentary? 4 Jodie Comer starred in which thriller as Villanelle, a deadly assassin? 5 Who replaced Ant McPartlin on I’m A Celebrity…? 6 Lee Ridley, winner of this year’s Britain’s Got Talent is better known by what stage name? 7 Larry, Leslie, Margot and Gerry are all siblings in which series set in Corfu? 8 Jodie Whittaker is the new Doctor Who but which number doc is she? 9 Which…

Peeing in her sleep Q My daughter is nearly 6 and still wears a nappy at night. She’s fine during the day, but she is such a heavy sleeper and her nappy is always loaded when she wakes. How will she become dry at night? Megan, Manchester A For nocturnal polyuria (large urine volumes at night), medication can reduce the volume. If she doesn’t wake, she might need an alarm to train her to wake. See your GP about a bladder diary and treatment options. Less booze..? Q I’m going to cut back on alcohol in 2019 to be more healthy. What’s the best advice for safe drinking levels and what exactly is a unit? Teresa, London A You should aim for a maximum of 2-3 units per day, maximum…

The siblings were full of excitement when they arrived in London on 16 December 2010. The Bamu family - Yves, 22, Kelly, 20, their brother Kristy, 15, and two younger siblings, 13 and 11 - had kissed their mum and dad goodbye at their home in Paris. They’d come to stay for Christmas with their sister Magalie, 27, who worked at Marks & Spencer, and her boyfriend Eric Bikubi, then 26, a well-built football coach they called ‘uncle’. The couple had moved into a new flat and were busy redecorating it. For the Bamu brothers and sisters, this should have been the trip of a lifetime. But, the holiday quickly turned into the stuff of nightmares. By Christmas Day 2010, when the youngsters had expected to be opening their presents…

Undoing a wrapper, I popped another sweet in my mouth. Nan always had my favourite treats in. And not just at Christmas. It was one of the reasons I loved popping round to see her - to get spoiled! But most of all, I just loved being with her. Growing up, I’d spent many afternoons around Nanny Julie’s, even lived with her for a little bit. We were incredibly close. I could tell her everything and she knew me inside out. Which is why it didn’t surprise me when she said to me one day, ‘You’re not happy with how you look, are you?’ She’d hit the nail on the head. ‘No, Nanny,’ I replied dejectedly. ‘I’m not...’ I’d always had chubby cheeks, and never shifted the baby fat everyone…

Straightening my Santa hat, I took a deep breath. ‘OK, love?’ my husband Ian, 52, said. It was Christmas Day 2017, and Ian, my daughter Rhiannon, 17, and I were about to visit someone very special in hospital. ‘Merry Christmas, Dad!’ I said walking onto the ward, as the others sang Jingle Bells. Dad’s eyes twinkled. ‘Thanks for coming,’ he said. He was so thin. At 71, my dad Hugh’s time was running out. He had lung cancer, heart and kidney problems. Still, he was a tough old bird. Not only did he survive that Christmas, he lasted into the New Year and beyond. But sadly, in April 2018, Dad passed away in a care home. ‘I’ve lost everyone now,’ I sobbed to Ian. ‘Apart from you and Rhiannon.’ My…

My young daughter Megan, 10, was pushing her dinner around her plate and not eating any of it. ‘I feel sick!’ she groaned. For days now, she’d been nauseous, with tummy aches and temperatures. ‘I think you must have a bug,’ I said, sending her to bed. In contrast, her identical twin Sophie had totally cleared her plate! ‘I’ll finish Megan’s dinner!’ she told me. They were such a double act and couldn’t bear to be apart With a jolt, I then realised that this was the first time that the two of them had been out of sync in their whole lives. From the moment they’d been born in November 2006, they’d always done everything as a pair. When they were just 4 weeks old, they’d both contracted bacterial…

Picking up his phone, my fiance Rick, 32, filmed my son Joshua, 6, opening his presents. It was early on Christmas Day 2017, and Joshua had burst into our bedroom, wearing his Elf in Training pyjamas. Perched on the end of our bed, he was so excited. And so was I... Because this year there was an extra gift my little elf wasn’texpecting. Ripping off the paper, he found a romper suit and scan picture. He looked puzzled. Then it dawned. ‘I’ve got a baby brother!’ he shouted. On the card were the words... Merry Christmas, big brother. I can’t wait to meet you. Love Bump. ‘His name must be Bump,’ he said, confused. So cute! I was 19 weeks pregnant, due on 20 May 2018. We didn’t actually know…

It was the end of a really busy weekend. Peace at last, I thought. It was 7.30pm on a Sunday night last January. Though it wasn’t totally peaceful! I chuckled at the familiar sound of my hubby David, 41, shouting at the TV. His footie team, Manchester United, was obviously losing! He was so obsessed with footie, I often joked to friends I was a football widow. But the truth was, I didn’t mind. David’s footie-watching meant I had some metime! I loved watching the soaps. And recently, I’d found a fun new way to enjoy some of my free time. I’d joined Pick Me Up! Bingo, could play on my phone. I’d found a fun new way to enjoy some of my free time I’d only joined three days…

Herby toad in the hole Serves 4 Prep: 10 min Cook: 40 min ◻ 4 large eggs ◻ 300ml semi-skimmed milk ◻ 140g plain flour ◻ 1tbsp wholegrain mustard ◻ 1tsp dried thyme ◻ 1tsp dried parsley ◻ Salt and freshly ground black pepper ◻ 2tbsp sunflower oil ◻ 8 pork sausages ◻ 2 red onions, peeled and cut into wedges ◻ 1 pack beetroot, drained and quartered ◻ 3tbsp balsamic vinegar ◻ 1tbsp olive oil ◻ ½ pack soft goats’ cheese ◻ 2tbsp reduced-fat creme fraiche ◻ 1tbsp mixed seeds 1 Crack eggs into milk and mix well. Tip flour into a mixing bowl and gradually whisk in eggs and milk to make a smooth, lump-free batter. Add mustard, herbs and season to taste. Cover and set aside, preferably…

‘With selfies, we’re lying to others and ourselves. From the lighting, the cropping and filters – selfies are far from real life. We are a selfie-obsessed society, searching for “likes”– causing us to erase our imperfections, which actually make us who we are.’ Gemma Louise Davies, Tuffley ‘I don’t think taking selfies is negative. It’s fun for people to take photos with all the filters. A lot of people take selfies because they enjoy it, and if no-one else is around to take the photo of you and your pet, friend, child, then it’s a great way to capture memories.’ Krystdena Cardwell, Leamington Spa ‘I don’t take loads of selfies, but I definitely spend more time posing and trying to get a “good photo” than I used to. I’m also…

CHRISTMAS RADIO Keep the Christmas tunes belting out throughout the festive period with 80 Christmas radio stations. There’s even a North Pole Radio! • Free on Android, iOS PNP (PORTABLE NORTH POLE) Make it a truly magical Christmas for your little one by creating a personalised video message from the big guy himself. You can even film their reactions! • Free on Android, iOS ELF YOURSELF Ever fancied watching your dad dancing in a silly hat and curly shoes? With a few taps of your finger, this app will help you make a video of just that. Giggles guaranteed. • Free on Android, iOS CHRISTMAS SWEEPER 3 Candy Crush fans, meet your new addiction. Waste hours aligning Santa hats and snowflakes. You won’t be able to put it down! •Free…