Table of contents for 26-Dec-2019 in Pick Me Up!

Completing my master’s in music therapy I was absolutely thrilled. I’ve always been big into my music and for the past few years, I’d been a music teacher in a secondary school. But soon, I realised music can do so many great things. So, that’s when I decided to take my career a step further and train in music therapy. I got my first job at Claire House Children’s Hospice. And then, a few years later, after having three children myself, I took a step back. But, I knew music could help other people. So, that’s when I applied to MHA care home charity. They were looking for a music therapist to come in and do one-to-one and group sessions with their residents living with dementia. And soon, I started…

INSTANT appointment With GP Dr Roger Henderson who has almost 35 years of medical experience. Flare ups Q I have eczema all over my hands. It’s painful and irritating. What’s the best way to treat it? Georgie, Norfolk A Moisturising is vital to managing eczema. Try using a skin-friendly emollient, such as Diomed Dry Skin (RRP 100g, £6.49, Boots), even when your skin doesn’t feel like it’s particularly dry. It’s available over the counter, and is a clinically proven treatment that helps soften, moisturise and protect the skin by trapping moisture and restoring the skin’s natural protective barrier. You could also try washing your hands with lukewarm water and applying an emollient immediately afterwards to trap moisture in. Remember to pat your skin dry (not rub) before applying, as rubbing…

Do we fear bad news? According to a new poll, millions of Brits avoid seeking help for a health issue because they worry they’re going to get bad news when they go to the doctors. The new research found that it takes nine days for someone to book a medical appointment when something is up. The fear of bad news wasn’t the only reason, with others claiming they didn’t want to waste doctors time over trivial issues. The research also discovered that most Brits have an average of two health issues that they are currently putting off getting checked by a doctor. 2 million…  The number of adults in England who don’t see a dentist because they struggle to get an appointment or are put off by the cost. Have…

Is it just a number? Q I’m coming up to my 40th birthday and I feel so depressed about it. My friends say it’s just a number but I’m dreading it. How can I feel more positive? Kelly, London A What makes you feel so depressed about turning 40? Do you feel that you’re on the right track in life, or do you have unfulfilled ambitions and dreams? Use this milestone birthday to take stock of your life and make positive decisions about what you want it to be like.  Maybe make a list of 10 things you want to change, and then draw up an action plan for each one, and a date by which you want to have achieved it by. Enemy within Q There’s a girl at…

When Rod Colvin and Shele Danishefsky first met at a Jewish dance for singles, there had been such a spark. They were so desperate to be together that they got engaged within months and talked about running away to Vegas to get married. To please their families, they married seven months later instead and went on to have a daughter, Anna, and a son, Myles. Shele was 11 years older than Rod, and a high achiever. She was a senior executive for private wealth management at UBS, and on a big wage. She was always impeccably dressed, compassionate and kind, and although she strived for success, her priority was always the happiness of her two children. Stockbroker Rod was far more erratic, and his priority was playing backgammon. He’ d…

Get party ready this season with the Party All Night collection from KIKO Milano! Available at KIKO stores and online. All less than £10! 1. Lasting Eyeshadow, £8.99 Make getting ready easier than ever with these long-lasting stick shadows. With a pearly metallic finish, your eyes will be your standout feature. In four magnificent shades, this creamy formula will last up to eight hours, seeing you right through the night. Choose from, Shimmering Champagne, Shiny Discoball, Amethyst Brillante and Glittering Rosè. 2. Jelly Highlighter, £9.99 Sparkle from the roof-tops with these irresistible jelly highlighters. With a dewy glow, these highlighters have a refreshing and light formula, which will leave you with a sensational radiance. Thanks to their highlighting pearls, you’ll be left with a sophisticated shimmer, which everyone will envy.…

Seven tips to help hungry hedgehogs survive As the weather gets colder, Brits are encouraged to look after garden hedgehogs and help keep them safe. Experts from Garden Buildings Direct have offered seven tips to support young hoglets. 1. Safety Hedgehogs are good swimmers, but if caught by surprise can often drown. Covering drains and holes and placing bricks around ponds can stop hedgehogs from being caught out. Remember to check under strimmers and lawn mowers before using them. 2. Food Leaving a little dish of dog or cat food will make hedgehogs very happy. Place in a quiet, covered area around dusk and it will keep their bellies full. 3. Water dish Fresh water left in shallow, non-tip dishes, will give hedgehogs in your garden access to clean water.…

For the Persian community, New Year is on March 20. In 2010, mum of three Zahra Abrahimzadeh, 44, was celebrating in an Adelaide Convention centre with her daughters and hundreds of guests. She had a restraining order out on her husband, Zialloh, 57, who she was divorcing after enduring 20 years of violence at his hands. In his final act of control, Zialloh entered the convention centre with a knife hidden in his coat, and stabbed Zahra to death in front of over 300 horrified witnesses yelling; ‘You’ve betrayed me’. Zahra died from eight knife wounds. Zialloh was sentenced to life in prison. Their children continue to campaign against domestic violence.…

The January sales can be a bargain hunter’s dream. When the discounted emails pop into your inbox, it can be hard to escape temptation. But this New Year, before you jump on the bandwagon  and panic-buy unnecessary items, check out these savvy shopping tips to ensure you’re making the most of the sales. Erica Wolfe-Murray, leading finance and business expert, gives her advice to help you plan ahead… 1 Ask for vouchers Instead of filling your Christmas list with clothes that will probably go into the January sales, ask your family and friends to give you gift vouchers for the stores you love. That way you can shop in the sales without spending money! 2 Write a 2020 birthday list Make a list of all the birthdays you have coming…

Plotting out the design of our new extension with our architect, I was starting to get really excited. ‘The kids will finally have their own bedrooms,’ I smiled to my husband, Simon, 53. Our children, Oliver, 14, Jacob, 12, and Lily, 10, were sharing a bedroom in our small house at the moment. And thanks to some inheritance money, we were now able to expand the house - something we’ve always wanted to do. ‘I know a really good building firm. I’ve worked with them before,’ our architect assured us. 4D Project Management sounded like a safe bet. ‘Let’s do it!’ we agreed, with no reason not to trust his sound recommendation. After receiving a quote for £80,000, we met with the company to set a start date. ‘They seem…

Unusual idea Getting married in 2020? Why not try this new trend? Whilst many of us have traditionally chosen to dry clean and store our precious wedding dresses, new brides are opting to deliberately ruin their special dress soon after the big day. Originating from Las Vegas, the latest bridal trend has landed in Britain. ‘Trash The Dress’ captures brides ‘ruining’ their wedding attire on camera. It gives couples unusual and memorable photos. Dresses can be burned, muddied, painted or ripped to shreds. Many brides trash their dress to raise money for charity, too! Would you sacrifice your white dress to have a wedding album like no other? WALK THIS WAY Have you ever heard of walking therapy? Science has proven that walking in nature improves our mental wellbeing, calms…

Wind down Make sure you’re feeling relaxed before bed. Try reading a book or do some gentle yoga to help you unwind. Keep a routine Make sure you keep regular sleeping hours. Your body clock will then adjust to a set routine. Be sleep-friendly Your bedroom should be a relaxing environment. Avoid using your phone or other electronic gadgets and make sure you room is dark, quiet and tidy. Track your sleep If you continually struggle to sleep, try keeping a sleep diary. It may help uncover lifestyle habits that contribute to a bad night’s sleep.…

Heart Attacks 1 Symptoms include chest pain and shortness of breath. ☐ True ☐ False 2 Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of heart attacks. ☐ True ☐ False 3 There are waysyou can reduce your risk of heart attack. ☐ True ☐ False 4 There is an increase in heart attacks in the summer. ☐ True ☐ False 5 Heart attacks aren’t common. ☐ True ☐ False 1 TRUE Other symptoms include feeling weak or lightheaded and an overwhelming feeling of anxiety. 2 TRUE CHD is a condition where the major blood vessels that supply the heart get clogged up and cause a blood clot. This then triggers a heart attack. 3 TRUE Ways to reduce your risk include quitting smoking, losing weight, exercising regularly and moderating…

Being thankful is good for you – fact. Studies have shown that as well as helping you shake off negativity, it enhances your relationships with those around you, improves your self-esteem and makes the world a better place. You know how you feel when someone doesn’t appreciate you, so don’t be one of those people! If someone has done something to help you, however small, remember to thank them for it. Even better, go the extra mile and send a card. Remember, there is always something to be thankful for.…

Laying back in my hospital bed, I was absolutely exhausted. It had been a 25-hour labour, but when the nurses gave me my beautiful girl, it was all worth it. ‘Hello Scarlett,’ I cried, looking down at her. ‘She’s perfect,’ my husband, Matt, 29, sobbed. Me and Matt had been together since 2006, and after seven years in 2013, we tied the knot and decided to start trying for a baby. Bringing Scarlett home, we were completely overjoyed and as she was born in August, it wasn’t long until our first Christmas rolled around. Letting my hair down one evening, I went with my mum, Sandra, 54, to her work party and left Scarlett at home with Matt. It was nice to be out, but I missed Scarlett like crazy.…

Party-Perfect Bites by Milli Taylor (Ryland Peters & Small, £9.99) is an excellent guide to impressing your guests Frangelico truffles □ 200g dark (70%) chocolate, chopped □ 200ml double cream □ 5 tablespoons Frangelico □ A pinch of salt □ 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste □ 15g unsalted butter □ 15 x 12.5cm/6 x 5in. plastic container 1 Put the chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Bring the cream to a gentle simmer and then pour over the chocolate. Leave for 30 seconds. 2 Whisk the cream and chocolate together, then add the rest of the ingredients and stir. 3 Line the container with cling film and pour in the chocolate mix. Refrigerate overnight. 4 Turn out the truffle onto a board and use a sharp knife to cut it into…

Locking the front door, snow crunched under my boots. ‘Everyone ready?’ I asked, clicking open the car doors with my remote. ‘Ready, Mum!’ my son Bradley, 14, smiled, opening the back door and trundling in. My other son Hayden, nine, clambered in after him. It was 13 January 2017, and I was taking my boys to school. It had been snowing heavily the night before, and now, under crisp blue skies, the ground was covered in white. The boys loved it, had spent the previous afternoon building snowmen with their dad - my husband Mark, 37. As for me, I dreaded it. Driving in the snow was always tricky. I’d been driving a company car for the past few months - a blue 2014 BMW 3 Series. ‘Everyone got their…

No Time To Die This April sees the release of the latest Bond film, marking the last time Daniel Craig stars as the MI6 agent. Bond finds himself hot on the trail of a mysterious villain who’s armed with dangerous technology. Throw Oscar winner Rami Malek into the mix and you have yourselves a cracker of a film. Disney’s Mulan Starring Liu Yifei, the iconic 1998 animated adventure is the next Disney story to get a live-action remake this March. Directed by Niki Caro, the remake is based on the Chinese legend of Hua Mulan. As the movie unfolds, it follows the original story of a girl impersonating a man in order to fight in the Chinese military. Dolittle When Queen Victoria falls ill, Dr. John Dolittle (Robert Downey Jr.)…

My friend Imogen fell head over heels for this handsome, larger than life toy soldier outside Salisbury Museum. But sadly, he only had a wooden heart! Sue Angus, Wolverhampton My wife Fiona and I came across this unique way of collecting for charity. Where’s Dr. Who when you need him? Mike Lunn, North Ayrshire My very own princess Grace celebrating her 6th birthday watching Dancing on Ice. Rachel O-Connor, West Bromwich Here’s my two daughters Grace and Angelina enjoyed themselves on our day out. They are so close and do everything together! Clare Cannon, Glasgow Every year I make resolutions that I know I won’t keep. This year I’ve made one I’ll stick to – to be in bed asleep at midnight! Lucy Travell, Gloucester If your letter makes Star…

Dearest Hayley, I remember the special day that you were born as if it were only yesterday. Your dad, David, and I had always wanted a girl. And your older brothers Paul, six, and Nigel, five, couldn’t be more excited to have a baby sister. You arrived on 3 May 1973 in Grimsby Hospital, and we fell in love straight away. Weighing 9lbs 10oz, you were a little chunk! With beautiful blue eyes and blonde wispy hair, you were our little princess. Our family was complete. The midwives mixed up the cots and you were almost taken by another mother. But luckily, I spotted the mistake before they left! How life would have been so different if you weren’t ours. From the minute you were born, you were a daddy’s…

I’d been taken aback when a stranger offered to set me up with a man. It was November 2000, and I was a health visitor attending a conference. ‘There’s someone you should meet,’ a friendly woman who I’d been chatting to said. ‘Do you mind if I give him your number?’ ‘Erm, OK,’ I said hesitantly. I’d recently divorced and was new to the dating scene. What’s the harm? I thought. I’d forgotten all about it when he finally called six months later. ‘My name’s Bill,’ he said. Instantly, I felt a connection. He was warm, friendly and had a lovely voice, too. ‘I’m having a BBQ with friends tomorrow, you’re welcome to join us,’ I blurted. ‘The most daunting first date in history,’ Bill joked. ‘Count me in.’ The…

This issue, our tip of the week will receive a great product from Addis! Create order and maximise your wardrobe space with the Addis range of wardrobe organisers (from £3.99) . The range consists of hanging organisers as well as suit and dress covers and under the bed organisers. For more ways to make your life easier, visit addis.co.uk Bow tie I don’t understand why people buy clips or ties for their freezer bags. I just snip a couple of strips in the bag and tie a knot. So cheap and really secure! Lisa Adams, West Midlands Mum hack To lift my granddaughters milk bottle out of hot water, I use a poached egg utensil. It works brilliantly! Who needs fancy gadgets when you’ve got this? Joanne Morrison, Antrim Light…

FOUR PARTY LOOKS! Don’t know what to do with your hair this New Year’s Eve? Why not try these four looks by celebrity hair stylist Phil Smith? THE RIBBON Hair accessories have generally been big this year. But for New Year’s Eve, choose a luxe satin, sparkly or adorned ribbon to elevate the look. Wash hair using my Big It Up shampoo and conditioner to give bouncy volume, then, spritz my Cocolicious Heat Defence spray through the lengths and ends to protect locks, before styling. Pull hair into a half up, half down ponytail and secure using a hairband, remember to leave some face framing sections. Tie your ribbon around the ponytail, hiding the visibility of the hairband. Finish by spritzing my Glam Shine Gloss Finishing Spray. THE MULTIPLE KIRBY…

Odour eliminating candle, £5.25, prices-candles.co.uk Hate a smelly kitchen after you’ve cooked a pungent meal? This candle is the perfect answer. Rather than masking the cooking with another smell, this technology neutralises the air! Verdict: GENIUS! Get rid of the Brussels sprout smell! Onion goggles, £7.99, prezzybox.com Everyone’s eyes water when they chop onions. But they taste so good, you can’t cook without them! These ironic goggles will save you many tears in the kitchen when you’re cooking yourself up a feast. Verdict: BONKERS! Picture perfect! XL Prosecco glass, £5, Poundland Why drinkyour Prosecco out of a normal sized glass, when you could drink it out of a giant one? Looks the same, does the same job – but it fits a whole bottle! It’s…

They’d both pledged their unwavering devotion to the US Army, and also to each other as man and wife. Kemia and Tyrone Hassel were both soldiers and so understood what it took to always put others first. When they became parents to their two-year-old son, they vowed to protect him as well as their country. US Army Sgt Tyrone Hassel III had been destined for the military. He was high achieving, athletic, and had a strong sense of right and wrong. Tyrone, 23, had joined the Army in 2015 and showed such promise that he was quickly promoted. His job meant everything to him - but so did his family. He was married to Kemia, an Army Specialist. Tyrone and Kemia, 22, were at the will of the Army and…

If you have trouble loving your body, incorporating a self-esteem practice into your daily meditation routine might help. In 2014, researchers asked a group of women to include a self-compassion meditation in their routine for a brief three-week period. During that time, they discovered that participants’ experienced higher levels of self-compassion and body appreciation. The Headspace app offers meditation courses that can help you reframe negative mental chatter and strengthen the connection between your body and mind. Sign up for free at www.headspace.com/register or download the Headspace app to try it out.…

Plymouth Christmas Buck INGREDIENTS: □ Plymouth Gin □ Lemon juice □ Ginger ale □ Rosemary □ Cranberries HOW TO: 1. Pour 50ml of Plymouth Gin and 150ml of Ginger Ale 2. Add 20ml of lemon juice 3. Serve over ice 4. Top with a bunch of rosemary and cranberries Beefeater Christingle INGREDIENTS: □ Beefeater Blood Orange □ Orange juice □ Lemonade □ Orange wedge HOW TO: 1. Pour 50ml Beefeater Blood Orange and 30ml orange juice 2. Top up with lemonade in a highball glass 3. Garnish with an orange wedge studded with cloves Absolut Rhubarb and Apple Hot Toddy INGREDIENTS: □ Absolut Juice Rhubarb Edition □ Cloudy apple juice □ Hot water □ Maple syrup □ Cinnamon stick OR hydrated lemon HOW TO: 1. Pour 50ml Absolut Rhubarb and…

ARIES 21 March–20 April Family and friends I know that relations have been strained with those you love lately but that seems to have as much to do with you restricting the freedom of others, as it does them restricting yours. Decisions that younger faces make without you this year will be the change you didn’t know you needed. Embrace the bravery of others. It’s the key to newfound freedom in 2020. Love and romance The way you view relationships is really changing. No longer do you want a separate life from loved ones, you’d rather work as a team. This year, you get your answer. July is forecast to be a life changing month and speaking from the heart in February and November will see you more legally or…

HARRY STYLES – LOVE ON TOUR 15 APRIL – 3 OCTOBER In December 2015, One Direction broke thousands of young girls’ hearts when they announced they were going on a break. Four years on, it doesn’t look like they’ll be getting back together, but 1D fans are in for a treat. For the first time, Harry Styles will be taking on a world solo tour to promote his new album, Fine Line , which is set to be released on 13 December. Touring alongside him will be King Princess in Europe and Jenny Lewis in the States. So, whilst you may not get to see him singing with the other One Direction boys, you will get to experience his musical talent as he hits the road for six long months!…