Table of contents for 14-Mar-2019 in Pick Me Up!

Swinging a leg over the quad bike, I held on to the back of the bike tight with both arms. ‘You ready?’ he called back. ‘As I’ll ever be,’ I laughed, somewhat nervously. It was October 2018, and my hubby and I were trying our hands at quad-biking while on holiday in Kos. Only shortly after taking off, we realised our bike was faulty. Whenever Rob tried to brake it simply sped up. As I held on tight, Rob did everything he could to keep control, but it was no good. We lost control and plunged into a ravine, saved only by a few brambles. Amazingly Rob was unscathed, but I wasn’t so lucky. Several broken ribs, fractures and I’d lost half of my left thumb. But Rob was a…

Week-night special PizzaExpress Vegan Giardiniera Pizza is piled high with scrumptious veggies and vegan cheese, and is ideal for an express midweek dinner. Currently ⅓ off at £3.40 (usually £5) at Waitrose until 19 March. Sweet touch Perfect with porridge, waffles, ice cream  or fruit salad. You name it, a touch of sweet maple syrup might give your dessert the boost you are looking for. Clarks Pure Maple Syrup, 180ml, is now £2 (usually £2.68) at Asda until 27 March. Bath and bed bargain Get 20% off your first order when you sign up at Soak & Sleep until 28 March. To take advantage of the deal, visit moneysavingheroes.co.uk/duvet-and-pillow-warehouse. Book now and save! Save £75 per single passenger on all Jet2holidays if you book before 31 March. To take advantage…

Constipation query Q I’ve been feeling really constipated for about a month now. What should I do? Helen, Kent A Some changes in bowel movements are to be expected if you’ve been eating more than normal, and usually settle with time. However, as you’ve been suffering for a while, see your local pharmacist, who’ll be able to advise on remedies. Menstrual cycle gone awry... Q I’ve started to have irregular periods and don’t know what to do. Should I be worried? Isabel, Brighton A It’s not uncommon to have irregular periods, whether that’s starting a couple of days early or late. Irregular periods aren’t always a sign of a problem - but if you’re worried, go and see your doctor, who can refer you to a gynaecologist if they think…

What’s normal, what’s not? Night sweats Sweating at night is natural if your room or bedding is making you too warm. But night sweats are when you sweat so much you end up soaking wet, despite sleeping in a cool environment. This can be caused by a number of reasons, such as menopause, anxiety, low-blood sugar or alcohol. See your GP if you’re having regular night sweats and are concerned – they may check for other symptoms in case there is a bigger issue. 50% Pensioners are this much more likely to end up in A&E if they live alone, says The Health Foundation. They are also at a higher risk of being admitted to hospital and 50% more likely to visit their GP. Have you tried… The Baby and…

While many teenage boys are obsessed with football or computer games, young Michael Hernandez, 13, had far more chilling interests. This terrifying teen was fascinated by serial killers. He loved to read about their crimes, even studied their mental illnesses, wanting to know what made them do the horrific things they did. His taste in films and music was just as dark - violent horror movies, death-metal bands who wrote songs with sadistic lyrics. But in 2003, Michael took his obsession one step further, telling his friends Jaime Gough and Andre Martin, both 13, that he dreamed of becoming a serial killer himself. The two boys thought their friend was joking. He had a dark sense of humour, after all. But just six months later, in February 2004, Michael, then…

A baby’s laughter - it’s the nicest sound in the world. And my newborn Jack was one heck of a giggler. ‘Aw, listen to him,’ I said to my husband Ed, 39. It was June 2014, and though Jack was only 5 weeks old, he was constantly letting out little chuckles. ‘He’s certainly a happy boy,’ Ed beamed, proud. Jack was our first child together, and we were bursting with happiness. But a week later, when Jack’s health visitor came round, she suddenly frowned. ‘Does he always make that noise?’ she asked as he let out one of his chuckles. ‘He makes that noise a lot, yes,’ I said, worried by her tone. ‘But I just thought that was because he’s happy?’ The health visitor wasn’t so sure, said she’d…

I hated myself. So much so, that when I was 14, I took an overdose of Mum’s prescription drugs. ‘What have you taken?’ Mum panicked as I stumbled drowsily into her bedroom. And even after two months in a children’s psychiatric unit, I was still a broken teenager, hiding a dark secret I couldn’t bring myself to talk about. Growing older, I became promiscuous, letting men do whatever they wanted to me. My only view of sex was violence. When I was 16, I came home late, drunk and high on marijuana. He taught me how to love, and proved to me I was loveable ‘Where have you been? What if you’d been attacked?’ Mum fretted. Little did they know, I already had been. The following day, I left a…

Stain remover Micellar water is amazing for getting more than just your make-up off… I use mine to remove stains from suede shoes – works a dream! Lisa Adams, Halesowen Shake it off To avoid getting sticky fingers when peeling garlic, simply shake the garlic cloves in a sealed pot to get all the skin off easily. Lyndsey Clayton, Swansea Scissor spaghetti Make less mess at dinner time by simply chopping up spaghetti with kitchen scissors. Stacy Gibson, Wordsley Overdoor store My necklaces and scarves were always getting tangled in their drawers – now I hang them over my door and it keeps them nice and tidy. Julie Joslin, Bracknell Message receipt Store important gift receipts safe and sound in a zip-lock bag. Not only does it keep them together,…

1 Check your breasts Feel your breasts for any lumps that don’t seem normal, or any change in shape or size. Look out for redness or rashes around the nipple area, and see if any liquid is coming out without squeezing, or if there’s swelling around the armpit or collarbone. 2 Check your stomach Stomach-cancer symptoms are sometimes confused with minor ailments or irritable bowel signs. Keep a diary of symptoms, including feeling bloated or being very full after eating. Difficulty swallowing is something you should also note. 3 Check your mouth Look and feel around the gums, lips, tongue and the sides and roof of the mouth for any lumps, red or white patches, changes in colour or texture, sores or lingering ulcers. Also look for swellings – either…

Ovarian cyst 1 An ovarian cyst is a fluid-filled sac that develops on a woman’s ovary. 2 An ovarian cyst usually only causes symptoms if it splits (ruptures), isvery large or blocks the blood supply to the ovaries. 3 All ovarian cysts will eventually disappear on their own. 4 Post-menopausal women who have had a cyst tend to not need monitoring as much. 1 TRUE They are very common and most ovarian cysts occur naturally and disappear within a few months without treatment. 2 TRUE In these cases, symptoms include pelvic pain, pain during sex, difficulty emptying the bowels, frequent need to urinate, changes in your periods and bloating. 3 FALSE While most of them do, surgical treatment may be necessary if the cyst is large, causing symptoms or potentially…

Passion Fruit Chocolate Margarita Selector, £3.95, Hotel Chocolat A sweet treat that packs a serious punch, these tequila-filled chocolates are eye-wateringly boozy. The perfect mid-week alternative to a night out – all the flavour of a shot with no hangover! Verdict: GENIUS! Night-on-the town choccies! Snuggle Dog Bed, £70, cuckooland.com The ultimate bed for the pooch who loves nothing more than to snuggle under your duvet. This cosy bed keeps them snug as a bug – even when you’re not there to tuck them in! Far more appealing than walkies… Verdict: GENIUS! Let sleeping dogs lie – in luxury Where’s the Dude?, £11.99, firebox.com Move over, Wally, there’s a new Dude in town! In the grown-up alternative to everyone’s favourite puzzle book Where’s Wally, track down…

Turning on my laptop, I made myself comfortable. It was early on a Wednesday evening. ‘Time for a spot of bingo, I think,’ I said to my boyfriend Aaron, 28. He was relaxing next to me, fiddling about on his phone. ‘Why not!’ he grinned. I’d played a couple of games of bingo before on various sites, but decided to give Pick Me Up! Bingo a shot after a relative recommended it to me. ‘It’s great fun,’ she’d said. As a mum-of-five, I tended to be on the go rushing around and a quiet night in was very rare. But once the kids were in bed, I had some time to spend on myself. And one of the things I liked to do was play bingo. A bit of me-time,…

BRISTOL Sheila Thompson, 53 Holidaymakers were left fuming last September, when their Ryanair flight heading for Alicante, Spain, was forced to return to Bristol airport shortly after take-off. Drunken passenger Sheila Thompson displayed abusive behaviour so disruptive that airline staff were forced to take action. Police officers arrived at the airport – and once the plane had landed, Thompson was arrested and charged with common assault and being drunk on an aircraft. At Bristol Crown Court in February this year, Thompson, from Torquay, admitted the charges and was sentenced to 12 months in prison. NORFOLK Dean Otoka, 38, and Alfie Curtis, 21 Two men have been sentenced to a combined total of 10 years in prison for supplying drugs to a 21-year-old who later died at an address in Great…

Inspecting the packet of soft cheese, I shook my head and put it back on the supermarket shelf. ‘I can’t eat this one, either,’ I groaned. ‘Well, not until this little one arrives, anyway,’ my boyfriend Stephen Harrison, 31, smiled, eyeing my bump. It was March 2016, and we were expecting our first baby - a little boy - in four months. I’d stuck to the official guidelines, eating and drinking the right things. No soft cheese or pate. I had a teetotal pregnancy until the very last minute... No alcohol, either. I hadn’t even touched cola. ‘Too much caffeine,’ I’d sniffed. Months passed. ‘Not long now, baby,’ I smiled, packing my hospital bag on 14 July 2016, two days before my due date. I was so round, I couldn’t…

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Staring down at my boy’s little pink body in the incubator, my heart filled with love. It was October 2011, and I’d just given birth to Nicholas. It’d been a tough few days... A single mum, I’d been alone when I went into labour at 32 weeks. Nicholas was born breech and premature - a difficult but quick labour, lasting an hour. But as soon as I caught sight of his tiny wrinkled face, I knew it’d all been worth it. Yet, something wasn’t right. Nicholas’ body was swollen. To me, he looked perfect, but I could see the concern on the doctors’ faces. ‘It could be due to the labour,’ they explained. But after a few days, the swelling hadn’t reduced. And when my mum came to visit, she…

When I heard my husband Marios, 33, calling me, I followed his voice to the bathroom. It was September 2013, and he was bathing our son Connor, 3. ‘Look at his back,’ said Marios. ‘His shoulder blades aren’t matching up,’ I replied, leaning in closer to see. I hit the Internet for answers. Scoliosis, an abnormal curvature of the spine that could develop at any age, popped up over and over again. The next day, I arranged a GP appointment and Connor was referred to a specialist. Following an X-ray, Connor was diagnosed with idiopathic scoliosis. ‘His spine is curved at 22 degrees,’ explained the doctor. Though I was half expecting it, my heart sank. As scoliosis sometimes rights itself, we were advised to wait and see how Connor got…

Twirling the carousel of birthday cards, I searched for the prettiest one. ‘Perfect!’ I said, picking something pink and covered in glitter. It was October 2001, and my little girl Kalyn would soon celebrate her first birthday. Had 12 months really gone by already? On the one hand, it felt like only yesterday that I’d given birth to her. But on the other, like an agonising lifetime ago. Swallowing back the lump in my throat, I paid for the card and took it home. I’ll be thinking of you on your birthday. All my love, Mummy, I wrote. Because I wouldn’t be seeing my darling girl blow out her candles and open her pressies. Not this birthday. Not the next... In fact, I didn’t know if we’d ever share a…

‘Why not age gracefully, instead of injecting into your face and ending up looking utterly ridiculous?  Botox should be completely banned. You might look younger on the outside, but inside, you’re still exactly the same age. The only difference is you can’t move your face and look like a wax model!’ Tracey Ward, Sunderland ‘I was so against this until I bumped into an old friend who I haven’t seen in ages. She  looked so happy – and 10 years younger. It has really made me think... If Botox makes someone look and feel that good, I need to get in the queue! I know it comes with risks, but so do a lot of things.’ Tanya Thomas, Great Gonerby ‘There are medical risks, so people should give more thought…

Beaming at my new husband Jim, then 29, I smoothed my hands over my strapless ivory frock. It was our wedding day in June 2008 and I felt like a million dollars! After a few sips of bubbly, though, there was a fluttering in my stomach - and it wasn’t bridal butterflies. ‘Sorry, gotta dash,’ I winced, rushing to the loo. Cringe! But Jim was used to me running off like this. I’d been living with Crohn’s disease since being diagnosed aged 22. An inflammatory bowel disease causing blockages, it left me with excruciating pain and severe diarrhoea. Crohn’s can cause extreme weight loss, too. During my late 20s, I’d once dropped to just 7st. Frequent stints in hospital stopped me holding down a regular job and made life even…

ARIES 21 March–20 April Try not to lose your patience with family this week who are likely to know the very thing to say to make you feel stressed. Try to remember to stop and count to 10, especially on Friday and Saturday. It can save you from saying things you will regret! Call: 09058 170 710* TAURUS 21 April–21 May Life isn’t just about finding yourself, it’s also about creating yourself! And that is indeed what you are in the process of doing this month Taurus. This week, you lay the base for a better future by admitting to close ones what you really need to be content. You have the power. Call: 09058 170 711* GEMINI 22 May–21 June New paths open up in your career that make…