Table of contents for 21-Sep-2017 in Pick Me Up!

WIN PUZZLE 1 £25 Can you unscramble this 10-letter word to reveal somebody Cher thinks she’s turning into? Enter on page 49. EDIZLALRIB What A Bonus! My brother Luke and his girlfriend bought a house just over the road from us. It’s fun having him so local – and handy, too, when we’re in need of a last-minute dogsitter..! 15 …apparently that’s how many handbags, on average, every woman owns. I’m guilty of owning at least double that! How about you? What A Trick! My dog Jess made the most of the last rays of summer sun. I caught her soaking them up in the back garden. And she didn’t budge all day. Talk about lady of leisure! What A Birthday! My big sister, Samantha, recently turned 30. I can still remember…

Johnathan Smyth, 25, Cookstown As soon as I saw Jolene, I knew. I was 18, she was 16, and in my sister Louise’s class in college. I spotted her one afternoon when I met Louise for our lift home. ‘Who’s your friend?’ I badgered in the car. I found Jolene on Facebook and nervously sent her a message. Hi, I’m Louise’s brother… We got chatting, then we started meeting during lunchbreaks at college. We had our first kiss in the corridor between lessons. I was head over heels. Jolene was gorgeous, bubbly and so much fun. On Christmas Day 2011, I got down on one knee at her mum’s house. ‘You’re the love of my life,’ I told her. ‘Will you be my wife?’ ‘Yes!’ she sobbed, putting her hands over…

Dawn North, 45, Blythe Bridge, Staffs Settling on the sunbed, I sipped my cocktail. This is the life! ‘Cheers!’ my boyfriend Dave said. This March, we were visiting Khao Lak, Thailand. My kids, Lewis, 16, Joel, 14, and Maddie, 13, were with their dad back home, so I was enjoying the peace and quiet. It was the trip of a lifetime. Off to the beach We soaked up the sun, visited markets, and tried the local delicacies. I spent hours snorkelling, exploring rock pools with mini crabs and millions of fish. ‘Let’s go for a swim before dinner,’ I said to Dave, on our penultimate day. Pulling on my bikini, I headed to our usual spot on the beach. Dave dived in and swam off. I left my flip-flops by…

Guillain-Barre Syndrome 1 This condition affects the nerves. □ True □ False 2 Vision loss is a common symptom. □ True □ False 3 Surgery is the only treatment. □ True □ False 4It can cause damaging long-term effects. □ True □ False 1 TRUE Guillain-Barre syndrome is a rare condition affecting the nerves, thought to be caused by a problem with the immune system. 2 FALSE symptoms are mostly confined to the feet, hands, arms and legs, and include numbness, muscle weakness and pain. 3 FALSE The main treatments are intravenous immunoglobulin and plasmapheresis, which stops the immune system attacking the nerves. 4 TRUE Most sufferers make a full recovery, but some can be left with fatigue, co-ordination issues, and being unable to walk unassisted. Next Week CHRONIC MYELOID LEUKAEMIA…

Ruth Bicknell, 28, Belfast Ordering myself a drink at the bar, I felt a presence beside me. ‘Alright there,’ the stranger grinned. ‘Hello,’ I smiled back. We got chatting. Chris, then 29, told me he worked nearby as a chef. Immediately drawn to his bubbly personality, when he asked for my number I said yes. As a full-time mum to my son Jamie, then 4, it was hard to find time for dates. But after being single for three years, I was ready for some romance. First date The following day, a text came through to my phone. When are you going to let me take you out? We carried on messaging for a couple of weeks, and eventually agreed to meet up. Sitting opposite Chris in a local restaurant,…

Ashleigh Bailey, 20, Bury St Edmunds I was pregnant, in an on-andoff relationship. And only 16 years old. ‘You could consider a termination,’ the nurse said when I went for an early checkup. ‘I’m keeping this baby,’ I replied. A new path It was the same when I told my mum, Louise, 43. I’d grown up in foster care because Mum had struggled to cope. We were still really close, but life had been tough. I’d played up at school and started hanging about with a bad crowd. This pregnancy wasn’t planned, but it was a chance for me to take a different path. I didn’t feel scared, even when I broke up with my boyfriend. It’d be me and my baby against the world. Then, at my 12-week scan,…

38p each Pork Farms Branston Pickle Topped Pork Pies, pack of four, £1.50, Asda, Tesco Here’s a clever and tangy twist on the traditional pork pie – now they come topped with a tasty and generous layer of fruity Branston pickle. What’s not to love? 70p each Bonne Maman Blackcurrant Mousse, 70g each, pack of two, £1.40, Tesco Juicy blackcurrants, whipped together with cream and milk makes this delish fruity, light dessert. And, with blackcurrants high in antioxidants and containing four times more vitamin C than oranges, it’s good for you too – tuck in!…

Deanne’s brother Tom Cassidy told Press, ‘Kim never adjusted to the new house and the divorce.’ New rules, new home, new school. It all proved too much for the traumatised teen. Then, one day in 1986, Kimberly told her mum she was leaving for good, warned her not to look for her. That was the last Deanne heard from Kimberly, though she tried everything to find her girl. Only, Kimberly had ensured she’d never trace her. ‘For the life of me, we can’t figure why,’ Tom added.…

Joanne Broome, 45, Newbiggin-bythe- sea My Daniel, 11, was always so chatty and full of life. He wanted to be a basketball player when he was older and loved football and being outdoors. And he had the biggest, brightest grin. But on 18 November last year, Dan walked out of the school gates and I suddenly felt faint. My boy looked like he’d had a stroke. His face was all lopsided. ‘Are you OK?’ I asked, putting my arm around him. He nodded his head, but my motherly instinct told me that something was up. ‘Dan, can you smile?’ I asked. He couldn’t. Something was wrong. We drove off to pick his sister Charlotte, 14, up from school. But I couldn’t help but peer at Dan in the rear-view mirror.…

Jodie Akers, 25, Leeds Another month, another stomach bug. Since a nasty bout of glandular fever when I was 7, I seemed to catch a new illness every few weeks. In my early teens, I started suffering dreadful fatigue, and was constantly in pain. Worse, I had terrible seizures. I’d lost count of the number of times I’d been to the doctor, but I still had no diagnosis. By 2011, it’d got so bad that I had to give up my Animal Care course at college. That same year, I suddenly woke up in the middle of the night, vomiting and in agony. ‘I woke up in the night, vomiting and in agony’ I was rushed to hospital, where doctors found that my bowel was twisted, and operated immediately. ‘This…

Gemma Smart, 31, Littleport My first pregnancy went really well. All my scans were fine, and on 23 August last year, my hubby Rob, 33, and I welcomed baby Drew into the world. And that was where the plain sailing ended. Drew took his first feed but, that afternoon, he refused another. He also hadn’t had a poo at all. At 1am, I awoke to hear Drew being sick. His vomit was black, so I hurried to the nurses’ station. ‘Help!’ I cried. Drew continued vomiting, and a nurse noticed that the vomit had turned green. ‘Green means infection,’ she said. Terrifying. ‘Drew has colonic atresia,’ the surgeon explained. The rare condition meant Drew’s colon was incorrectly formed, causing a severe obstruction in his bowel. ‘His waste reaches the blockage…

Karen Carder, 45, Woking This April, it was just after 10pm and I’d agreed to pick up our daughter, 17, from her chip-shop job. I still had a bit of time before I had to leave, so I opened up my laptop. I’ll have a few games of Pick Me Up! Bingo, I thought. ‘Winning was nice but, for me, it was all about having fun’ I’d been a member for a few years. I’ve always loved bingo and the site has so many great games to choose from. My favourite was Tiki, a 90-ball bingo game. I also enjoyed Diamond Bingo. I’d even had a big win on it back in February 2015. My husband, 47, had been out playing darts with mates and wanting to have some ‘me…

We put some truly original products to the test… Stikbox, £30, stikbox.com Get the perfect photo every single time with this clever phone case with a built-in, pull-out selfie stick. You’ll never have to ask anyone to take your photo ever again! Verdict: GENIUS! We’ll definitely ‘snap’ up one of these! Verdict: BONKERS! Purrfectly ridiculous – but fun! 97 Ways To Make a Cat Like You, £6.99, prezzybox.com If you and your moggie haven’t been getting on too well lately, you might need to get a copy of this book! It’s packed with (some very silly) tips and hints to help you and your cat be the best of pals. Verdict: BONKERS! Let’s face it, this is really creepy! Fresh Face Personalised Air Freshener, £12.99, firebox.com Firebox let you pick…

Want the perfect… PRODUCT TO KEEP HAIR STRONG? Dove Nourishing Secrets Strengthening Ritual Shampoo, £3, Wilko Avocados aren’t just a tasty superfood – they’re also brilliant for treating damaged hair and bringing it back to life. Choose a gentle, moisture-boosting shampoo like this one to repair hair and prevent further damage. Maui Moisture Strength & Anti-Breakage Agave Hair Mask, £8.99, Boots Dry hair’s more prone to breakage, so make sure you give thirsty locks a good hit of moisture. This creamy mask’s silicone-free and made with aloe juice to strengthen and revitalise hair. Lee Stafford CoCo LoCo Coconut Heat Protection Mist, £5.99, Boots One of the main causes of weak, fragile tresses is too much heat styling. This spray shields hair from temperatures of up to 220C. Use before blow-drying,…

Geraldine Marshall, 28, Consett My cheeks ached from laughing so much My boyfriend Grant Beattie, 27, had me in stitches, telling me a funny story. ‘You’ve really cheered me up,’ I giggled, wiping away tears. If I’d had a bad day, Grant would always put a smile back on my face. It was his sense of humour that’d attracted me. We’d been introduced by his mum early last year. I knew her, and she’d set us up on a date. We’d hit it off straightaway and were soon in a relationship. Grant was always taking me out, making me feel special. He’d even come out with me and my friends. Sweet, I thought, flattered. But I soon started to find his clinginess irritating. He’d ring me when I was out.…

Kirstie Searle, 44, Northamptonshire Yes, you read that right – I’m selling up for £2. And I’m not crazy! Early this year, I came across a man from Lancashire raffling his home for £2 a ticket. ‘It gives a family the chance to get on the property ladder,’ I told my hubby Matthew, 45. We’ve lived in Lang Farm, Northamptonshire, for six years, along with my elderly father Derek, 80, our twins Bailey and Hallam, 19, and Max, 15, and Amelie, 12. I love our five-bedroom home. We’ve made so many great memories here – the kids starting high school, new jobs, passing driving tests. But we’ve outgrown it now. Looking into buying a bigger place, I researched setting up a competition to win our home. It turned out we’d need…

ARIES 21 March–20 April No-one can drive us crazy unless we give them the keys! Take control of your life, and realise what and who you want. This week offers you the chance to make more headway than you have all year, so make sure you speak and act from the heart. Call: 09058 170 710* TAURUS 21 April–21 May Venus helps you to feel more confident about what you want from your future. You’ll start to see what’s not working in your life, too, and take steps to distance yourself from those who only ever seem to bring you down. Be brave and take control. Call: 09058 170 711* GEMINI 22 May–21 June Many of the signs are talking for the sake of it, so take any dramatic gossip with a pinch…

PickMeUp! BIG STORY • Vicious beatings started within months • Terrorised with insects and a snake • Plagued by over 3,700 phone calls Chloe Fowler, 23, Galston, Ayrshire I was the luckiest girl in the world… It was summer 2013, I was 19, and I’d got together with Stuart McEwan, 22, who I’d met through friends. Stuart was an electrical power linesman, and worked away during the week, but he’d be back on Fridays and whisk me off for romantic weekends. ‘Every moment is exciting,’ I beamed. My mum, Mattie, 43, wasn’t keen, but I thought she was just being protective. Only, Stuart did become controlling. As he worked away a lot, I thought he was lonely and just missed me. But he began to chip away at my self-esteem. ‘You look…

SAVING OF THE WEEK Stress-free Holiday Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn UK have a Park Stay & Go offer. Running until the end of the year, the deal offers a one-night stay and up to 15 nights’ parking at an airport hotel from £115. Visit www.lhmuk.com for more information. Quick fix Get an extra half an hour in bed by using dry shampoo! All four products in Phil Smith’s brand-new dry shampoo range are now just £1.50 (normally £2.50) until 20 September at Sainsbury’s. OFFER OF THE WEEK Clean Queen Perfect for mopping up spills, Marigold has just launched Oops Away – a roll of 40 superabsorbent cloths. Even better, they’re only £2.25 (normally £3) at Asda until 20 September. OUR TOP TIP Bargain Bedding We love nothing more than a duvet…

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 Intrusive thoughts Q I’m so upset – I’ve just had a baby daughter and I love her with all my heart, but keep imagining terrible things happening to her. Why am I having these thoughts? Jasmine, Great Dunmow A Fifty per cent of new parents have intrusive, alarming thoughts just after they have a new baby. But if they’re causing you significant distress or are associated with depression, anxiety or OCD, speak to your GP for support. Pink eye Q My daughter’s in nursery and the other kids seem to get a lot of pink eye.…

Ruiz claimed he was framed by detectives ‘He was known locally as a wealthy drug dealer’ Sofia Trinidad Alvarado and her sister Maria Jose were all dressed up for the party of Sofia’s boyfriend Plutarco Antonio Ruiz. His birthday party, being thrown at a fancy spa resort in Santa Barbara, Honduras, was the talk of the town. The two young women were among scores of guests who showed up in November 2014. Ruiz was known locally as a wealthy drug dealer who could be dangerous – not someone you’d risk offending by turning down an invitation. In fact, it’s said his family ran a powerful drugs mob – that his own father and brother were murdered by rival gangs. Despite all this, there was something about Ruiz that Sofia was…

Start your quest to uncover the riches of Tiki Tem ple now! The new Tiki Te mple features an extra-free-spin symbol and a quicker pick bonus, the coin sizes are now variable and three reels can now be turned wild as opposed to one. The Progressive Jackpot can be won in the Temple Bonus. You can also win up to 20 free spins in the Free Spins Bonus. The randomly occurring Wild Reels could bring you big cash wins. Try this fantastic game and you could walk away as a winner – so give it a spin today!…

46p per serving Treat of the Week Lemon Meringue Pie Serves:6 Prep Time: 20 min + chilling Cook Time: 45 min □ 175g plain flour □ ¼tsp salt □ 75g Trex □ 1tbsp caster sugar □ 2 large egg yolks, lightly beaten □ Filling: □ 397g can condensed milk □ 2 lemons, finely grated zest and juice of both □ 2 large eggs, separated □ 50g caster sugar 1 Preheat oven to 220C/ Gas 7. For pastry, sift flour and salt into a large bowl, and rub in Trex until mixture resembles breadcrumbs. 2 Stir in sugar and egg yolks, and mix together to form a dough. Knead lightly, wrap and chill for 15 min. 3 Put ball of dough into middle of a 20cm flan dish or pie plate and…

PickMeUp! FOR LESS £1.19 (normally £1.79) at Superdrug until 19/9/17 Food Swap For 500ml RIBENA BLACKCURRANT REALLY LIGHT …26 CAL Swap 500ml COKE… 210 CAL Take 3… Custard Pots Save…184 cal Get Moving! 5 ways to burn off a 95- calorie glass of Champagne! • Iron for 27 min. Put the radio on or set up in front of TV and watch your favourite soaps! • Vacuum for 23 min. You’ll shift some weight, tone up and have a clean home afterwards! • Front crawl for 10 min. Any swimming is great for keeping your joints mobile while burning fat. • Work out to a fitness video for 12 min. Choose an energetic one! • Walk for 20 min. Put on some sensible shoes and go out during your lunch break. £29.99…