Table of contents for 07-Sep-2017 in Pick Me Up!

Welcome To Your Thursday PickMeUp! What A Bite! This is one treat we all wanted to hog in the Pick Me Up! office – a delicious Roots & Wings organic pork pie. Perfect with a spot of pickle! What A Ride! I recently bought my very own car. I’m so excited, as it means I can hit my local carboot sale! If you love boot sales, too, go to www.lifedeathprizes.com/car-boot 24... …that’s how many comedy shows I managed to fit into my trip to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this month. I can’t count how many laughs – or pints – I had, it was such fantastic fun! What A Cheek! I recently went on a family trip, monkeying around at Merseyside’s Knowsley Safari Park. My dad met his match with some very…

1 Work out how much you owe and how much money you have available, so its easier to make manageable repayments on your card each month. 2 Focus on paying off the most expensive debts first. Concentrate on cards charging high interest and pay as much as you can. 3 With low-interest rates, you may get a better deal by consolidating your debts into one credit card. This will also make it easier to make manageable monthly repayments. 4 Ensure you don’t miss any payments and avoid late-payment fees, which could push you into further debt. 5 Use the Debt Advice Locator Tool at www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk to find free advice in your area.…

My 17-year-old daughter has a boyfriend. He’s a lovely lad, but I insist that he sleeps in a separate room to my daughter when he stays at our house. They both respect my wishes. But I’ve learned they sleep in the same room when my girl stays at his house. She says his parents don’t mind. I’m considering having a gentle word with his mum, but my husband says it’s a bad idea. Should I talk to his parents? YES Pick Me Up! reader Christine Hinchliffe says, ‘There’s nothing wrong with airing your views. After all, she’s your daughter! But since they’ve already been sleeping together at his mum’s house, she might find it odd that you’re bringing it up now. Either way, it’s important she knows your feelings. However,…

1 HSP is inflammation of the bowel. ▭ True ▭ False 2 A skin rash is a common symptom ▭ True ▭ False 3 HSP is contagious. ▭ True ▭ False 4 It is untreatable. ▭ True ▭ False 1 FALSE Henoch-Schonlein purpura is a rare condition which causes vasculitis, which is an inflammation of the blood vessels. 2 TRUE HSP often causes a rash around the buttocks, elbow or legs. Other symptoms include stomach and joint pains, as well as vomiting and diarrhoea. 3 FALSE The condition arises due to problems with the immune system, often a result of a previous infection. 4 FALSE HSP isn’t usually serious, and often passes on its own. However, GPs may advise anti-inflammatory medicine for joint pain and steroid medication to help with…

A group of cats is called a clowder – and philosopher Isaac Newton is said to have invented the cat flap in the 17th century. Feeling Peckish? Even if some of these sound wrong, we dare your tummy not to rumble at this regional grub… Lobscouse, or scouse This meat stew was originally eaten by Norwegian sailors. After being introduced to the UK, it became popular in poorer areas here. Outsiders called fans of the dish ‘Scousers’. Parmo Popular in the North East, Parmesan chicken, or parmo, consists of deep-fried chicken, topped with bechamel sauce and cheese. Originating from Middlesbrough, it was created by Nicos Harris, a chef with the US army, during WWII. Pease pudding Aka ‘Geordie hummus’, this is a savoury dish made of boiled split peas, water,…

£1.42 per serving Only one pan to wash! Serves: 4 Prep Time: 10 min Cook Time: 25 min ▭ 1tsp olive oi ▭ 1 medium onion, chopped ▭ 250g chorizo sausage, cubed ▭ 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced ▭ 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped ▭ 1 green pepper, chopped ▭ 1 red chilli, seeded and finely chopped ▭ 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning ▭ 100ml chicken stock or water ▭ 1 pack microwave basmati rice 1 Heat oil in a pan, add onions and chorizo sausage, cook for 4-5 min until onions are soft. 2 Add chicken and garlic and cook for a further 10 min until chicken is cooked through. Stir in green pepper and chilli, cook for 2-3 min. Mix in Cajun seasoning and stock or water and stir…

Time seemed to stand still until they pulled her out Admiring my growing bump, I noticed it was a bit large. ‘Much bigger than with Lewis,’ I worried to my husband Rob, then 32. It was January 2011, and I was five months gone with our second child – a little girl. Diabetes ran in my family. Concerned, as I knew a big bump was a symptom, I went to my GP. I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes and prescribed insulin. During the rest of my pregnancy, my blood sugars fluctuated and I was emotional. Then, in June 2011, I was induced at 38 weeks at the Royal Bolton Hospital. A family friend took my son Lewis, 3, while Rob and my mum Denise supported me. Labour progressed slowly at…

READER’S TIP Have a warm shower before you pluck your eyebrows to make it less painful. Lauren Stuart, 28, Cambridge PickMeUp! FOR LESS Buy one get one ½ price on Solait bronzing at Superdrug until 19/09/17 ASK JESS Q After sunbathing all summer, I’m really worried my hands are starting to get wrinkles. Can you recommend a hand cream? Maria Little, 39, Southend A Hands are the first place to show signs of ageing. For younger-looking skin in just two weeks, give No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Nourishing Hand & Nail Treatment, £11, Boots, a go. Jess’ Beauty Hero I use Flexitol Moisturising Foot Cream, £5.99, Boots, all year round to keep my feet nice and soft. TRIED & TESTED This week: Rosehip Oil Botanics 100% Organic Nourishing Facial Oil with…

The tattoo was raised, yellow and dripping with pus Eyes wide, the perfect pout, it was hard to resist my little boy… ‘Mum, pretty please, can I have one now?’ pleaded my son Callum, then 5, as he stood by the henna tattoo stand – again. It was the fifth night of our family holiday in Antalya, Turkey, in August 2009. Each evening, Callum ended up begging me for a Spider-Man tatt. I hadn’t given in yet but, with just two days to go before flying home to Sunderland, I thought he deserved a souvenir. ‘Oh, go on then,’ I said. It would only last a week. Completely harmless, I thought. As the tattoo artist didn’t have the Spider-Man design, she offered Callum the superhero’s web. ‘Yes please!’ Callum grinned.…

Let’s go to the beach,’ my boyfriend Tom, now 28, said. ‘But it’s November!’ I grumbled, confused. Insistent, Tom grabbed my hand, and off we went. We were holidaying in Whitby, back in 2014. ‘Give me your coat!’ I moaned, teeth chattering. Instead, Tom ran ahead. On the beach, he wrote in the sand, and rummaged in his coat pocket… Then got out a ring box! Will you marry me? said the message in the sand. Squealing, I said yes. ‘But Graciella has to be at the wedding!' I said. She was my gorgeous Belgian Warmblood horse. I’d known Tom for 10 years, he knew I loved horses. When he said we’d drive to the reception, I refused. ‘Not even a nice vintage number?’ he winked. Not a chance! I’d…

Cradling my newborn Amy, my heart swelled. ‘I love you so much,’ I whispered. It was July 1994, Amy was my first baby, and I cherished being a mum. Only, at a routine appointment at three weeks, the midwife was concerned. ‘Amy’s lost weight,’ she noted. Failure to thrive, she called it. Panic zipped through me as Amy was admitted to hospital. I didn’t leave her side as doctors did tests, transferred her to the Royal Brompton Hospital in London, a specialist heart and lung centre. Finally, at 6 weeks, she was diagnosed. ‘Amy has cystic fibrosis,’ the doctor told us. I’d not heard of it. Doctors explained it was a genetic condition causing sticky mucus to build up on the lungs and digestive system. Amy’s dad and I both…

Real-Life Trends, Info and Advice My sister turned out to be a match, and was happy to donate She’s beautiful,’ I beamed to my partner Paul, 46. We welcomed our daughter Eimile into the world in January 2013. But our joy was short-lived. By 2 weeks, Eimile’s jaundice still hadn’t cleared. ‘Eimile has biliary atresia,’ our consultant revealed. We’d never heard of the potentially fatal liver disease that was causing a blockage in her bile ducts. ‘Not again,’ I sobbed to Paul. Tragically, we’d lost our first child to pre-eclampsia. We couldn’t lose Eimile, too. At Leeds General Infirmary doctors explained a liver transplant might be the only option. ‘But she’s so young...’ sighed Paul. Eimile was put on the donor list. ‘Put my name forward,’ my sister Sheena, 56,…

With my swollen tummy, people just assume that I’m pregnant. I can see why. Sadly, that’s not the case. I suffer from endometriosis, which causes painful or heavy periods. It also means I’ll probably struggle to conceive. It started at 14. My periods were heavy and I became anaemic, often fainting. ‘Why is this happening?’ I sobbed to my mum Gail, 46. ‘I don’t know love,’ she said. I spent years asking doctors for help, but nobody knew what was wrong with me. My work as a model began to suffer, too. I was ill so often, I had to pull out of jobs and my confidence took a blow. Once, I fainted on a shoot. So, at 21, I quit modelling, and soon had to give up my full-time…

How Well Do You Know Your Scandi Dramas? 1 Who wrote the famous Wallander detec tive novels? 2 The title of the political drama Borgen means what? 3 The American version of The Killing takes place in which city? 4 What does ‘Du kan snakke dansk med mig‘ mean in Danish? 5 The Anglo-French adaptation of The Bridge is called what? ANSWERS: SCANDI DRAMAS: 1. Henning Mankell 2. ‘The Castle’, a nickname for Christiansborg Palace 3. Seattle 4. ‘Speak to me in Danish’ 5. The Tunnel. GUESS WHO?: 1. Fantine 2. Jean Valjean 3. Eponine 4. Javert 5. Madame Thenardier…

1Aldi The Deli Mediterranean Style Falafel, 200g, £1.29 Just spicy enough and with lots of flavour, we liked these better hot than cold. Try stuffing them into a pitta bread and serve with salad and a drizzle of garlic mayo. 2Tesco Falafels, 152g, £2.30 A tasty – if a little dry – mixture of chickpeas, onion and broad beans, with a strong flavour of coriander. Much better texture when heated through, so that’s how we’d serve them, with a bowl of mint yogurt for dipping 3Cauldron Falafels, 200g, £1.50 The smoothest and finest in texture when cold, these are ideal for picnics or a quick lunch. They have a much crumblier texture when warmed through. Make it yourself... Serves: 4 Prep Time: 10 min Cook Time: 18 min Plus How…

Days before Barry’s funeral, I got some news… Leaning over the table at the club to say happy birthday to my friend Chris, suddenly there was chaos. A drink knocked over, my top almost came undone… ‘Oh!’ I gasped, embarrassed. I looked up to see the owner of the spilled beer smiling at me. ‘I’m Alex,’ he said. Hel-lo! ‘Can I get you another beer?’ I stuttered. Soon we were chatting away. I was 19, and it turned out Alex was a mate of Chris’. Soon, he became my boyfriend! We were so happy. And, in November 2013 on holiday in Mexico, Alex popped the question! I didn’t hesitate to say yes. But our plans were tinged with sorrow. Alex’s dad Barry, 60, had lung cancer. Tragically, I’d already lost…

1 MUA Highlight Perfection Matte, £4, Superdrug This is great for achieving a natural daytime look, as the matte shades will keep your skin shine-free all day. Apply with a soft brush to the places where the light naturally hits. 2 Collection Illuminating Touch Liquid Radiance, £6, Morrisons This little bottle turns even the dullest skin into a radiant complexion. Wear alone for a glowing, natural look, or mix with your foundation for a subtle sheen. 3 GOSH Lift & Highlight, £9.99, Superdrug Available in two shades, this creamy, double-ended pencil takes the hassle out of highlighting. The lighter end contains a subtle shimmer, while the darker one gives a matte finish.…

He’d been accusing me, while doing the dirty himself Logging onto my dating profile, a message leapt out. You’ve got beautiful eyes, it read. It was May 2013 and, after I’d been single for five years, friends had signed me up to the dating site. Lee Heggs, 44, was the first guy to get in touch. I was nervous, but his flirty messages made me relax. Six weeks later, we had our first date at our local pub. I loved his sexy, crooked smile and his jokes. He told me he was an amateur boxer, and seemed really passionate about it, which I found attractive, too. When Lee went to the bar to get another round, the woman sitting next to us leant over. ‘You look so in love,’ she…

It’s hard to look good at 39 weeks pregnant. So I thought I’d get my eyebrows tinted. I’d been seeing beautician Audrey, 40, for two years. She was pregnant as well and due the week after me! At my visit on 21 October 2015, I told Audrey I’d recently had a trickle and thought that my waters had broken. She said I should get checked. So when I left hers, I called A&E, who told me I should go straight in. My hubby Alex, 35, met me at Southmead Hospital. ‘You didn’t need to come,’ I said. ‘I’ll be out in a few hours!’ How wrong I was..! It seems my waters had actually broken four days earlier – and I’d been in labour for over 100 hours. After an emergency Caesarean,…

ARIES 21 March–20 April The Sun brings out your more sociable side and you feel ready, willing and able to let yourself relax and enjoy the good times. Don’t even think about telling lies to skip work. Your behaviour’s giving away both what you’re thinking and doing! Call: 09058 170 710* TAURUS 21 April–21 May Aspects suggest that you could well be reading too much into what people are saying. A nervous air to your chart sees you fearing the worst when, in fact, others only want to make changes that’ll benefit you. Exchanges on Tuesday can confirm this. Call: 09058 170 711* GEMINI 22 May–21 June A more creative feel to your chart sees you coming up with new ideas to solve old problems. You begin to find faith…

PickMeUp BIG STORY •Teen mum groomed by older man • Forced into degrading, public sex • Courageous fight to get justice Help Is Out There If you or someone you know has been raped, support is available from thesurvivorstrust.org, tel: 0808 801 0818. He said I deserved to be treated like a princess Stop wiggling, you little monkey,’ I said, strapping my baby boy into his buggy. It was October 2006, and we were meeting some friends in town. I was only 15. I’d fallen pregnant by a boyfriend, but was raising Noah, then 6 months, alone. My parents helped loads, and I was a proud mum. But it was hard work, and days out with friends were rare. When we got to town, I got a text from my…

OFFER OF THE WEEK Phone Home If you’re a new or upgrading customer signing up on an eligible pay-monthly deal with Three Mobile, you can now pay half the price on your contract for the first six months. Head to three.co.uk for more information. SAVING OF THE WEEK Cool Summer Treat Pick up a tub of Kelly’s of Cornwall ice cream for £2.50 (normally £3.99) at Sainsbury’s until 16th September. Selected flavours include honeycomb crunch. Yum! Stylish Stationery Kit the kids out for the start of the new term with some cheap-aschips stationery from Home Bargains. We love this unicorn notepad – and it’s only £1.29! In It To Win It! Wall’s Pastry is offering a guaranteed prize with every promotional slice, pasty or jumbo sausage roll until the end of September.…

Dr Arabella Onslow has been a GP for 11 years and was Rosemary Conley’s Health Professional Slimmer of the Year in 2012 after losing 10st. Depressed mum Q I think my elderly mum’s depressed, and I want her to see her GP. But I’m really worried they’ll just give her even more pills. What else she can do? Harriet, Scarborough AAlthough older people aren’t often referred for psychological therapies, when they are, the results are usually very good. So this would be an excellent alternative to medication. Tricky treatment Q I have a family history of osteoporosis and may need treatment like the rest of my family. But I’ve heard horror stories about the medication causing dental problems. I’m really concerned. Isabelle, Romford A Your risk of osteoporosis can be measured and,…

What turned a talented professor into a killer? On 12 February 2010, at around 3pm, 13 professors and members of staff of the University of Alabama gathered in a third-floor conference room. It was like any other monthly faculty meeting of the Science and Technology Department at the university based in Huntsville. But, within 50 minutes of the meeting starting, neurobiologist Dr Amy Bishop took out a 9mm Ruger semi-automatic gun and fired at six of her colleagues, killing three of them. The bloodshed was over within the space of one minute. Bishop, then 42, fled the building soon after. She’d been teaching students just hours before she gunned down her co-workers. So what made a mother-of-four and talented professor with dreams of winning a Nobel Prize turn into a…

Peanut Butter Flapjacks Treat of the Week 20p per flapjack Serves: 12 Prep Time: 20 min Cook Time: 25 min ▭ 2tbsp sunflower oil, plus extra for greasing ▭ 175g crunchy peanut butter ▭ 75g light-brown soft sugar ▭ 6tbsp golden syrup ▭ 75g raisins ▭ 175g rolled (porridge) oats To decorate ▭ 100g milk chocolate chips ▭ 40g smooth peanut butter ▭ 2tbsp milk ▭ 25g lightly roasted peanuts, roughly chopped 1 Preheat oven to 180C/ Gas 4 and grease and line a shallow 20cm square tin. 2 Melt peanut butter, sugar, golden syrup and oil over a low heat, then stir in raisins and oats. 3 Turn into tin, press mixture firmly with back of a spoon and bake for 25 min until just golden at edges. 4 Remove…

I’d love to hear what those bullies have to say now! Everyone has one thing about their appearance they’d change. Well, I had two. My ears… ‘They stick out too much!’ I’d moan to my mum. They weren’t big, they just weren’t flat to my head. But I hated them. ‘You’ll grow into them,’ Mum would reassure me. But, when I started secondary school… ‘Here comes Dumbo!’ a lad shouted down the corridor. My face turned crimson as everyone sniggered. I was mortified. After that, I’d try to hide my ears under my mass of thick curly hair. I only tied it up for PE. Even then, I’d wrap a headband around my head, to pin my lugs back. Growing up, I became more self-conscious. I was paranoid that boyfriends…

Verdict: GENIUS! Say goodbye to orange peel! Indemne Big Bubble-In, £24.95, www.indemne.uk This silicone suction cup helps tackle skin affected by cellulite. Use it to ‘lift’ areas of orangepeel skin and boost circulation. Verdict: BONKERS! We’ll stick to a standard pint, thanks! skin and boost circulation. Brewmeister Snake Venom, £59.99, www.firebox.com Despite what the label suggests, this doesn’t actually contain any snake venom – but at 67.5% alcohol, it is the world’s booziest beer! Make sure you only drink it in very small quantities. Verdict: BONKERS! Be prepared for some interesting hand signals! Ride With Trump Car Sticker, £4.99, www.prezzybox.com Whether you love him or hate him, there’s no doubting that having the US President in your car will turn a few heads! Pop on a rear side window and…

American Janice Haley is raising two Bengal tigers in her garden – 400lb female Janda, aged 12, and 600lb male Sabre, 6. WOW, THANKS… NOT! These gifts are just plain creepy… Splish Splash… These mid-shower revelations are hilarious… 1 When the first person milked a cow, what did they think they were doing? 2 We eat pizza from the inside out! 3 What if dogs bring back the balls because they think we enjoy throwing them? 4 Of all the things that taste like chicken, eggs, ironically, are not one of them. 5 A group of squid should really be called a squad… HOW WELL DO YOU REMEMBER... GHOST ? 1What was Molly’s job? 2How was Sam murdered? 3How does Sam reply when Molly says, ‘I love you’? 4What is the false…

Flattering Fashion This fabulous dress ticks all of our boxes – pretty print, lovely colour, flattering cut, and we love the frilly collar! Plus it’s a brilliant, low price, too! Try this…. Fat Draining Frying Pan, £37.99, Lakeland www.lakeland.com A removable insert with drainage slits locks onto the main pan, reducing food’s contact with oil in the pan below and allowing excess fat to drain away. Brilliant! Itsu Miso Salmon ‘zero noodles’ salad, £5.99 Made with zero noodles (that’s zero carbs and zero fat), this salmon salad has a spicy sauce-andherb dressing with less than 200 cal! For your nearest store, go to: www.itsu.co.uk Get Moving! Couch to 5k (C25K), £1.27, Amazon Appstore Designed for inexperienced runners who are just beginning their exercise routine, the plan starts with a mix…

No matter what the cliche, words still hurt me... ‘You’d be prettier if you weren’t fat!’ cruel school bullies taunted me. It’d happened since I was young. I’d moved schools three times since the age of 3. Because that’s how long I’d been overweight. So much so, I had to wear clothes for girls twice my age. My parents tried everything, taking me to the doctor, cutting my portion sizes, although nothing worked. But, the more I was mocked, the more I ate. By the time I left school at 16, I weighed 14st. On bad days, I’d eat family-sized bags of crisps, chocolate and cakes. But sadly, every day felt like a bad day and I couldn’t bear to look in the mirror. When I fell pregnant in 2005,…

Puzzle 1 Ed’s Test p3 Final answer Puzzle 2 Follow It! p8 Final answer Puzzle 3 Bitesize! p23 Final answer Puzzle 4 Cross It! p28 Final answer Puzzle 5 Sudoku! p28 Final answer Puzzle 6 Crack It! p30 Final answer Puzzle 7 Strike It! p44 Final answer Puzzle 8 Number Fit! p44 Final answer GOOD LUCK TO ALL OUR READERS! Pick Me Up!, published by Time Inc. (UK) Ltd, will collect your personal information solely to process your competition entry. We will not be using this issue’s competition entries to send you special offers or to pass on to third parties. EASY TO ENTER ONLINE! 4 WAYS TO ENTER ONLINE It’s free and only takes a moment to enter from your smart phone or on your laptop. Join our Pick Me Up! comp club now and enter your…