Table of contents for 09-Aug-2018 in Pick Me Up!

Michelle and I have been friends for 18 years, ever since she started dating my cousin Brian in 2000. We were inseparable at once, almost like sisters. When they married, she was my cousin-in-law, best friend and so much more. We live just 20 minutes apart in Kent and pop in on each other to share gossip and giggles! When I found out I was pregnant in February 2014, I couldn’t wait to tell her. After taking the test she was the first person I spoke to. She couldn’t wait to be an auntie again and I couldn’t wait for our latest addition. So when I needed help on the due date, Michelle was by my side as a birthing partner. She was incredible at helping my fiance Andrew and…

Stroking my 10-month-old daughter’s soft brown hair, I pulled the duvet up under her chin. ‘Night night,’ I smiled, as her eyes began to close. I was a young, single mum, only 19. It wasn’t easy, but I was lucky. Living with Mum and Dad meant I could still study Beauty Therapy at college and have the odd night out, too. Like tonight. ‘Taxi’s here, love!’ I heard Dad call from downstairs. It was past 8pm on a cold and blustery night in January 2018, and I was already late for a night out in Leeds. A friend was celebrating her birthday with a plush apartment she’d rented out for a group of us. Just 15 minutes later, I’d arrived in the city centre. ‘I’ll jump out here,’ I told…

Wouldn’t you agree that this little munchkin is the prettiest bunny around? Gemma Parish, Easington I think my beautiful boy Harley is the tiniest and cutest pup of them all. Samantha Mckibbens, Glasgow Lunchtime for the koi carp is definitely a bit of a scramble. Karen McGuire, Cleethorpes My budgie Cheekyboy is one clever bird. He talks, sings and can even read! Brenda Smith, Sheffield My gorgeous kitty Louie loves curling up in my daughter’s bed. How sweet. Sue Sparkes, Lydney Fudge the guinea pig does her impression of a meerkat, all for a bit of celery. Rachel Cleak, Ivybridge…

I'm getting palpitations Q I have rheumatoid arthritis, which makes me anxious because I’m scared of falling over. I’ve noticed recently that I’m getting palpitations. Is this just my nerves? Rebecca, Bristol A Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory condition, associated with heart disease, including rhythm disturbances. So, while it might be anxiety, it’s worth having a checkup for an irregular heart rate. Will I get cancer? Q I’m scared about getting breast cancer, as two of my cousins have it. How likely is it? Carol, Edinburgh A Having fewer than three of any first (parent/siblings/ children) or second (cousins, grandparents/aunts/uncles) degree relatives makes you at no more risk than the general population. So, your two cousins do not pose an additional risk for you. Cutting down on salty foods Q…

Salad days Hellmann’s have launched three delicious new salad dressing flavours; Classic House, which pairs perfectly with pasta, grains and vegetables, Sesame & Soy – a great way to add fresh Asian flavours to any dish – and Coconut & Lime, – which gives a tangy Caribbean twist to seafood-based salads. They’re only £1 at Sainsbury’s (usually £1.65) until 27 August. Bargain curry The Tikka Marinated Chicken Jalfrezi by Boxed is a frozen meal like no other. This twist on a much-loved dish comes with naan dumplings that are crisp on the outside but soft in the middle. The fresh fried flavour of the sauce is so good you’d never guess it’s been frozen! It’s down to £3.50 (usually £7) at Tesco until 27 August. Wigwam bam! Wigwam Holidays is…

My £1,000 went on a new car! Donna McTigue, 50, from Glasgow, had only joined the site the month before Starting up my brand-new car, I grinned. I’d been considering putting a deposit on a shiny new car for ages. And with my Pick Me Up! Bingo win, I did just that. Back in July 2017, I won the £1,000 Full House on Sapphire Bingo. I’d only joined up the month before! After a day of chores, I sat down to play Bingo. I decided to give Sapphire Bingo a try. I normally played slots, and I’d won small amounts on spins. But I wanted to try something new. The tickets were 10p. I bought 37, and let the game roll. There were a lot of players, so I thought…

More than 60 moped or motorbike crimes are reported a day in London It was supposed to be a day filled with fun. But for Angela Ashton, 46, her trip to Manchester in November 2017 was ruined when she became the victim of a crime. ‘I had just walked my mum to Victoria train station and I was on my way to meet friends for dinner,’ Angela explains. But as she was trying to find her pals, she got lost. ‘I took a wrong turn, and ended up down a quiet side street,’ she says. ‘It was only 4pm, but being winter, it was already getting dark. But I wasn’t worried. I got out my phone and checked my maps.’ But, as she was working out a route back to…

I had my phone snatched by a man on a moped in London. I’d been to a concert and was the perfect victim – a female, alone, at 3am in the morning. I knew not to carry my phone around in the open but got it out to quickly glance at Google maps. Bam… gone! It only took a second. Becky, Settle, North Yorks It definitely worries me. I always keep my bag strapped to me, and my phone in my bag or tightly in my hand. If people get too close to me, I hold it even tighter. I always try to be aware of what’s around me, and take notice of people’s faces, so I’ll be able to identify them if anything should ever happen.…

ARIES 21 March–20 April This week is all about you finding yourself and working out what type of life you really want to lead. You should have worked out by now, who and what has been making you feel negative. Work this week on distancing yourself from bad influences, please. Call: 09058 170 710* TAURUS 21 April–21 May An inquisitive feel to your chart could well see you asking questions you’d rather not know the answers to. Decide how far is too far to go, when pushing for more in relationships. A certain someone needs time to catch up with you. Call: 09058 170 711* GEMINI 22 May–21 June There is the opportunity for you this week to catch up with those you haven’t seen for some time. This is…

Yawning and stretching as my alarm went off, I did what everyone else does first thing - a quick check on my phone for notifications. I noticed there was one from WhatsApp. Unknown number. Huh? Strange... It was September last year, and I had no time to waste getting ready for my dream job as a make-up artist, so I decided to put the message on hold and deal with it later... I’d been single for six years - and not for a lack of trying. He didn’t believe the girl in my profile picture was really me! I’d tried speed-dating, websites - even blind dates set up by my mates. But nothing had worked. It seemed that, wherever I looked, couples were snogging or holding hands and gazing into…

Gonorrhoea 1 It is a sexually transmitted infection. 2 It cannot be passed through oral sex. 3 One in 10 women don’t show symptoms. 4 Gonorrhoeacan be easily treated. 1 TRUE It is caused by a bacteria usually found in discharge from the penis or vaginal fluid. 2 FALSE It can be passed through vaginal, oral or anal sex, or though sharing sex toys. It can even be passed from a pregnant woman to her baby. 3 FALSE Almost half of women don’t show any symptoms, which can include discharge, pain and bleeding. 4 TRUE A simple swab will test whether you have it or not, then it can be treated with an antibiotic. Quick treatment is crucial, as it can develop into health problems, like infertility. 49% ...that’s the…

As my son Paul styled his spiky hair in the mirror and posed in his Manchester United football shirt, I had to laugh. ‘So when did you get so vain?’ I chuckled. ‘It’s not my fault the mirror loves me,’ he winked. Paul, 16, was a cheeky, lovable lad, who was always making me laugh with silly impressions and funny faces. A single mum to him and his little sister Charlotte, 9, I had my hands full. Especially when, in 2015, I’d been diagnosed with arthritis. But Paul had stepped up by walking our dogs Poppy and Summer, carrying my shopping, and even doing Charlotte’s hair. Paul was a diamond - but, like all kids, he had his moments. He hated washing the dishes, and spent hours hooked on his…

Scrolling through Facebook, I saw a familiar face pop up. Suggested friend... I knew Richard, then 29, all right, but never just as friends. As I looked through my ex’s snaps, my belly flipped. He’s still got it, I thought. We’d dated a year earlier, in August 2012. Hey, you, I typed now. It’s been a while... Too long, Richard chirped, minutes later. Our messages went back and forth for days, before Richard asked me to dinner. When we met, he looked as dishy as ever, in a crisp, white shirt, acid-wash jeans and Timberland boots. As we chatted, I wondered why we’d ever called time on our relationship. Three months later, we were living together. Richard treated me to fancy meals, expensive jewellery - even a car! One day,…

Don’t use your phone while you’re on the move. Take out headphones – listening to music or podcasts means you’re more likely to be caught off guard. If you have to use your phone on the street, use hands-free devices where possible. Stick to well-lit streets and routes that are more likely to be covered by CCTV. Look confident. Officers suggest people moving with purpose are less likely to be targeted. Spread out personal belongings into different bags and pockets, so if you are targeted, you don’t lose everything at once.…

Send us your stories and photos, including all names and ages, a daytime phone number and full address. E-mail pickmeup@ti-media.com CALL 020 3148 6460 WRITE TO Pick Me Up!, 161 Marsh Wall, London E14 9AP FACEBOOK facebook.com/pickmeupmag SEE OUR WEBSITE lifedeathprizes.com TI Media Limited reserves the right to reuse any submission sent to Pick Me Up! magazine, in any format or medium. Unfortunately, we can’t return photos without a stamped sae. Letters/photos must not be sent to any other publication.…

My eyes fluttered open and, slowly, six blurry faces came into view. It was 20 May 2013 and my mind raced as I tried to focus. Only, it was like wading through treacle. What the heck’s going on? And why are all these people still staring at me? Looking closer, I recognised my mum Glenda, then 58, and dad John, 63. Next to them stood two teenagers, a little boy with twinkling blue eyes, and a tall man with a kind smile. ‘How are you feeling, Mum?’ asked the teenage girl, reaching for my hand. ‘Mum’? Oh, my… It dawned on me that these strangers were my family - the bloke was my husband and those children were all mine! My mouth gaped, a million questions at the ready. But,…

When I looked at the screen during my 6-week scan, I knew something was different this time. ‘Are twins in your family?’ asked the sonographer. They were now! It was last September and I sent a photo of the ultrasound to my partner David, 39. When I got home, David, and our children, Kadie, then 19, Kacie, 18, Jodeci, 13, Kory, 9, and Ko-Dee, 3, were so excited. ‘I can’t believe I’m going to be a mum of seven!’ I beamed. And it was two boys! But five weeks later, on 4 January this year, I woke up bleeding, so I went to Hull and East Yorkshire Women and Children’s Hospital. ‘You’re 2cm dilated!’ the doctor warned me. ‘You need an emergency Caesarean,’ the nurse said. ‘But I’m only 25…

When Michelle Fournier Dekraai divorced Scott Dekraai, she thought the nightmare of their volatile marriage was behind her. For years, Dekraai had made her life a misery. Plagued by bipolar disorder, Dekraai veered between bouts of depression and mania. Michelle did her best to support him, but he struggled to control his condition with medication. As well as his poor mental health, Dekraai had a terrible temper. He would fly into fits of rage, and used Michelle as his punch bag. He once beat up his stepfather, who pressed charges and obtained a restraining order. Sometimes, Scott was even violent in front of the couple’s young son - a tragic situation. So, when the couple separated in 2007, Michelle hoped his reign of terror was finally over. Bubbly Michelle looked…

My mischievous little kitten Cleo, thinking she’s giving me a hand with the washing... What a terror! Charlene Cooper, Hull Check out Muffin, who likes to sit in strange positions while looking totally unimpressed! She brightens up my day with her funny expressions! Susan Hamilton, Bestwood Forget ‘downward dog’, my naughty Norwegian Forest cat Leo’s fave yoga pose is ‘mucky mog’ by the look of him! Ebrahim Alsinan, Wivenhoe Look at Spike accompanying Gareth, 35, at the dinner table! He’s thinking ‘Don’t worry, human, I’ll help you out with that!’. Karen Hobson, Gleadless Check out my black cat Teddy looking VERY unhappy after a bath! He’s not a fan of water, to say the least! Kelly Warner, Meppershall Bluey and Dumpling love each other so much, they often give each…

BOD Daily Tighten Tan in Light/Medium, £9.99, feelunique.com This buildable tan from BOD also has fat-busting ingredients which help reduce the appearance of cellulite. Win win! Purple Tree Grapefruit Miracle Balm, £3.99, thisisbeautymart.com A fruity balm to moisturise cuticles, soothe dry skin, keep brows in place, tame flyaways and smooth split ends. Miracles do happen. CYO Matte An Eyelid Matte Eyeshadow, £3.50 Not only can this matte shadow give a smoky eye, you can run it through your eyebrows for a fuller brow, too. Avon True Colour Pearl Shine Nail Enamel in Sheer Love, £6, avon.uk.com Looking to strengthen your nails while wearing a fab colour? Sorted! W7 Cosmetics Full Metal Lacquer 3 in 1 Makeup Pen, £6.95, w7cosmetics.co.uk Use on your…

Watermelon & lime blast Serves: 2 Prep time: 5 min ◻ 300g watermelon, deseeded and cut into chunks ◻ 1 lime ◻ 4tsp Tate & Lyle golden caster sugar ◻ 100ml vodka ◻ Ice cubes ◻ A few blueberries ◻ Watermelon slices and mint sprigs, to garnish 1 Place the watermelon chunks in a blender. Purée until smooth, then strain into 2 glasses. 2 Squeeze the juice from the lime and share this between the glasses with the golden caster sugar and vodka. Stir well and allow a few moments for the sugar to dissolve. 3 Add a few blueberries to each glass, then top up with ice cubes. Serve, decorated with watermelon slices and mint sprigs. Homemade BBQ sauce Makes: 3 x 450g jars Prep time: 15 min Cook…

Research conducted by Catch22 – a charity that works with former gang members – has found that part of the appeal for moped criminals is the money they can make in a short space of time. For just a few minutes’ ‘work’, these criminals can make around £300. And it’s believed a lot of the people involved are just teenagers. Catch22 director Beth Murray says, ‘It’s done by 14- or 15-year-olds, who are proving themselves. They stick to their own patch because they know the streets.’…

Flicking through my favourite magazine, I stopped at a picture of Naomi Campbell. ‘I wish I looked like that,’ I sighed, gazing enviously at her long, slim legs and toned body. Like so many women, I have always battled with my weight. I was so desperate to be slim, I’d starve myself all day, nibbling lettuce and sipping water. But by night time, I was so hungry and exhausted, I craved sugary, fatty food. Every night I’d wait until my kids, Jaada and Teigh were asleep. Then I gorge on chocolate fingers and packets of crisps. The following day, I’d feel so disgusted with myself, I’d starve myself all over again. It was a vicious circle. In just a few years, I ballooned from a size 8 and 8st 7lb,…