Table of contents for 07-Nov-2019 in Pick Me Up!

DON’T MIND IF WE DO We’ve tried Nutella, peanut butter and honey on our morning porridge, but we’ve never had steak, garlic and hot sauce… White’s Oats are mixing up sweet and savoury porridges to pay homage to the humble oat this autumn. Their Korean style savoury porridge is sweet, spicy and raw all in one. It’s made with oats, vegetable stock, ginger, chilli, steak, soy sauce, sweet chilli sauce, egg, shredded carrots, courgettes, and hot sauce. Visit www.whitesoats.co.uk for more sweet and savoury recipes to give your breakfast a kick! FISH FOR THOUGHT… Fish are the most popular pet in the UK, with around 33 million fish making up some of the 54 million pets owned by households across the UK. This isn’t surprising when you consider the positive…

With blood dripping down my face, I scurried into a nearby hedge just outside of the house. The pain was starting to set in, and I could barely see out of my swollen eyes. Moments later, Gareth burst out the front door, and started patrolling the streets, looking for me. I held my breath and prayed he wouldn’t find me. ‘Nerys?’ I heard a small voice say. ‘Are you OK?’ I looked up and was so thankful to see my teenage nephew, Tom*, peering down at me. Tom had been out on one of his camping trips and was on his way home in the early hours. He quickly called 999, and when Gareth spotted us, he jumped in his car and sped away. Paramedics arrived in five minutes and…

Award-winning life coach Chloë Leibowitz believes that life is about seeking progress, not perfection.(chloeleibowitz.com) Constantly domineering Q My older sister is so domineering. Now Mum isn’t around, she makes all my decisions - even though I live on my own! I even have a green lounge, which I hate because it’s her favourite colour. How can I learn to say no to her? Helen, Bath A You’ve hit the nail on the head at the end of your letter. Learning to say no is indeed a skill. Saying no is really a way of showing people what is acceptable in terms of how they interact with us. If your sister tells you to do things, and you say yes, you are effectively showing her that it’s fine. You don’t necessarily…

1 Moisturise Apply a good moisturising cream or lotion several times a day and after you’ve washed your hands. 2 Treat them overnight Slather them in moisturiser and cover your hands with a pair of soft gloves to trap the moisturiser in. 3 Bathe in oats Oats are great for chapped hands. Soak your hands in water and oats for 10-15 minutes. 4 Speak to your doctor If symptoms don’t get any better medications may be needed. Contact your doctor and see what they recommend. We become more prone to dry skin in the winter months…

A healthy diet can improve depression We all know that eating a healthy diet is good for our health, but did you know it could help ease depression, too? A new study conducted by researchers in Australia looked at 76 depressed students and found that when they switched their diets from processed foods to healthy fruits and veg, fish and lean meat, their mood had improved in just three weeks. Experts are claiming that foods containing lots of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants nourish the brain and lower inflammation and ‘internal stress’ associated with depression. 1.4 billion…  fewer cigarettes are being smoked each year in England than they did at the beginning of the decade. Have you tried...Nizoral dandruff shampoo, £6.39 for 60ml and £9.29 for 100ml, Boots Compared to most…

Andy Hawkin, 57, from Birmingham, was married for 28 years and had three daughters when in 2015, he went through a divorce. ‘By then I’d got deep furrow lines on my cheeks that I’d hated for many years, but being newly single and ready to start dating meant that I became more conscious of them,’ he said. Despite having laser eye surgery years earlier, Andy even began wearing glasses again. ‘I didn’t actually need them to see, but used them as a  mask to hide behind, something to cover my wrinkles, crow’s feet and the bags under my eyes,’ he said. And although he had always kept himself fit and healthy, going to the gym three times a week, no amount of exercise would change the deep wrinkles that had…

Heinz PotSoup range, from £0.99, all major supermarkets The perfect winter warmer, Heinz have added two new varieties to their popular microwaveable Pot Soup range. You can now try Cream of Chicken and Cream of Mushroom flavoured soups. HECK Guy Porks sausages, £3, Sainsbury’s. Great for your Bonfire Night celebrations as you watch the fireworks, these pork sausages combine diced apple and just a hint of black treacle to create a toffee apple twist. J20 Orange & Cranberry Fruit Blend, £6.49, Tesco. A perfect alcohol-free alternative, this orange and cranberry fruit blend brings together a fusion of fruity flavours reminiscent of some of our favourite cocktails. Add ice, a wedge of lemon and enjoy! Taste the Difference Indian prepared meals, from £4, Sainsbury’s. A new range of Taste the Difference…

This is my grandson Lennox. Having been in the pool, he decided he needed his snorkel to assist him with his computer game! Wendy Dillon, Portsmouth I’ve been framed! Jennifer Shelden, Kent Here is my fiancé Richard passing the time whilst waiting for the birth of our first child! Abbi Mann, Chesterfield What a great way to campaign for Macmillan! A specially parked double decker bus in Romford Market. Who wouldn’t want a photo sitting in the driver’s seat? Angela Garvin, Essex My mum Nicola is such a thoughtful, kind, bubbly and caring character. No matter what, she manages to keep that big smile on her face. She really is super mum! Laura Cox If your letter makes Star Letter of the week, you will receive some beautiful blooms from…

We all have money worries every now and then, but financial stress can sometimes get the better of us. This can stem from being in debt, not earning enough, or even the expense of raising kids. If you can reduce your financial worry, you’ll be able to focus on other important areas of your life . Creating a budget is the first and most important step. This plan makes sure you cover your immediate expenses, while still working towards your saving goals. The first few months of sticking to a budget are the most challenging, but once you understand what to do, you can often reduce the amount of time you spend on it, and in turn, reduce the amount of time you spend worrying about money.…

Dementia 1 Dementia isn’t just about memory loss True False 2 Dementia is a natural part of ageing. True False 3 There are different types of dementia. True False 4 Dementia isn’t common. True False 5 There is no cure for dementia. True False 1 TRUE Dementia can also affect the way you speak, think, feel and behave. 2 FALSE Although we can get a little more forgetful as we get older, dementia isn’t a normal part of the aging process. 3 TRUE Dementia is the broad term used to describe a number of different conditions affecting the brain, including Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia. 4 FALSE There are around 850,000 people in the UK living with dementia and the condition affects one in six people over 80. 5 TRUE Currently…

PET NEWS How to keep your pet safe on firework night Many animals find fireworks scary. It’s estimated that 45% of dogs in the UK show signs of fear when they hear fireworks. But it doesn’t have to be that way… There are lots of simple things you can do to help your pet deal with fireworks. Follow the RSPCA’s top tips: • Walk your dog during daylight hours to avoid times when fireworks are likely to be set off • Close windows and curtains to muffle the sound of fireworks. • Partly cover outside cages and pens with blankets so an area is soundproofed and hidden, but allow another area for the animals to look out. • Create a quiet space where your pet can feel in control. •…

Surrounded by my petite, pretty friends on a night out, I felt uncomfortable. ‘You’d be pretty if you lost weight,’ a boy walking past shouted to me. What a gentleman, I sighed. But I was used to it. Growing up, I was always the funny fat one in the group. My friends shopped on the high street, whilst I ordered from plus-size websites. I never knew any different. I grew up a secret eater, and would emotionally binge eat chocolate or crisps in my room. Whether I was happy, sad, or anxious, I scoffed food. We lived around the corner from a McDonald’s, and if I didn’t go there before my shift at work, I went there after. ‘Do you want to share 20 chicken nuggets?’ I asked my older…

Looking at my reflection in the mirror, I gasped. My roots had turned entirely grey, quite literally overnight. Checking my head at all angles, I could see the silvery strands growing from my front, back and sides. That’s new, I thought, completely mortified. At just 21 years old, my hair was turning grey. But I’m far too young, I worried. I was becoming an old woman in the height of my beauty and youth. Dashing out immediately, I went to the shops to buy a box dye. I woke up and it was suddenly grey And painting my hair black, I covered up my silvery secret. As I watched the dark dye trickle down the drain, I felt a sense of relief and sadness. My hair turning grey early was…

Candace and her son were found in the park after they’d been gunned down Sometimes life throws you a curveball and at first, you don’t know how to react. That’s exactly how Candace Pickens, 23, felt when she first fell pregnant. At high school, Candace was a popular cheerleader who was fast on the athlete track and sang in the chorus. She was outgoing, with a love of the church and country and western music. Being a single mum hadn’t been part of the plan, but once Candace was over the shock, she was excited. She’d helped raise her younger brothers and was a naturally maternal person. And when her son Zachaeus was born, she’d never felt a love like it. By 2016, she was a devoted mum to her…

What’s the cause? Q My husband who’s in his 50’s gets up in the night for a wee several times. Is that normal? Linda, Stoke-on-Trent. Having to pass urine during the night is a common complaint and something that we are asked about quite often, as it is increasingly common as we age. Drinking alcohol, or excessive fluids later in the day can also mean we have to pass urine in the evening and at night. There are however, several other important medical conditions that can cause this problem such as prostate disease, diabetes, neurological disorders and heart failure. I would always advise anyone who is concerned about this to discuss the problem with their doctor. They can establish if there are any other associated symptoms in their history that…

Endometriosis is where tissue similar to the lining of the womb starts to grow in other areas of the body, including the ovaries and fallopian tubes. It affects women of all ages but most commonly in their 30s and 40s. Symptoms include pain in your lower tummy or back, period pain that stops normal activities, pain during or after sex and when going to the toilet, heavy periods and difficulty getting pregnant. There’s currently no cure but treatments can ease symptoms, including contraceptives and surgery. Contact your GP for help.…

Turning on my laptop, I made myself comfortable. It was early on a Wednesday evening. ‘Time for a spot of bingo!’ 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 all the time and a quiet night in was rare. But once the kids were in bed, I had some time to myself. And one of the things I liked to do was play bingo. So that night last July, I thought I’d…

Have you ever spotted your man obsessing over his reflection in the mirror? Has he ever complained about the shape of his nose, his receding hairline, or the bags under his eyes? Well, there’s a good chance he may be considering cosmetic surgery. Blame it on selfie culture, a surge of new superhero films, or sheer vanity - a growing number of men are having cosmetic surgery to enhance their faces. Last year alone, men accounted for more than 1.3 million cosmetic procedures, an increase of 29% in the last 20 years. Do face lifts make men look more trustworthy? While some of the men turning to surgery to alter their appearance work in entertainment or fashion, data from The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) shows that men…

We all want a nice white smile, but with so many different products out there, it can seem impossible. So, the founder of The Dentist Gallery, Dr Jerome Sebah, is here with some of his top tips. • THE RIGHT KIND OF TOOTHPASTE When it comes to your toothpaste, you should ideally be using one that contains baking soda. Baking soda is made of natural salt and CO2, therefore making it harder for stains to penetrate the teeth. You should also look for a toothpaste which contains xylitol, an all-natural sweetener. This ingredient will stop bacteria from attaching itself to the teeth. • SEE A HYGIENIST REGULARLY To help keep on top of your oral hygiene, you should visit your hygienist for a scale and polish treatment every three to…

Feeling down? Got the blahs? Meg Selig, author of Changepower! 37 Secrets to Habit Change Success, shares seven easy ways to feel happier in 30 seconds or less. 1 Find something in your day that triggers a feeling of gratitude You had a good breakfast, you have a job, or you enjoyed reading the newspaper this morning. Absorb that feeling of gratitude for a few moments. Lingering on a positive experience helps embed it in your brain. At the same time, take time to appreciate something that didn’t happen during your day. No one in your family got sick, you didn’t have car trouble, and you didn’t fight with anyone. Remember to keep things in perspective. 2 Label your negative feelings Angry. Helpless. Sad. Anxious. Simply labelling your emotions can…

ARIES 21 March–20 April The need to spend time with less people says a lot about how harsh a lesson life has taught you of late. Those who let you down lately will not be getting a second chance. This week will be when you cull the Facebook friends who bring negativity to your life and block the numbers of those who never seem to check in to see how you are doing. Go, Aries. You’re back! Call: 09058 170 710* TAURUS 21 April–21 May There is a really organic feel to your chart this week, which, if you give into it, can take your life to a much happier place. Before, you were saying what you thought others wanted to hear, now you are laying your feelings bare for…