Table of contents for 18-Jun-2020 in Pick Me Up!

Returning to the UK after five years of travelling, I found myself concerned for many of my male friends. Many of them had fallen into depression, addiction and distraction. So, I rallied nearly a dozen of them into my living room, determined for them to get to the cause of their problems. ‘I don’t know what a men’s group is, but I’m setting one up now,’ I told them. Soon, they opened up. Sharing the news with their friends, the group soon outgrew my living room. That was nearly 20 years ago and since then, my MenSpeak men’s groups, have only continued to grow. I have a 12-point basic outline, which allows men of all backgrounds, ages and cultures to come together and talk. The aim is to get men…

Solve the puzzle to spell out a term related to the picture. The arrows show you where to put your answers. The answer is spelled in the yellow squares. Answers on page 47. Hot Trend! Elephants! A symbol of good luck!…

Spot check Most moles are harmless. However, malignant melanoma is a dangerous and potentially deadly form of skin cancer, so it is absolutely vital to be aware of the warning signs of a ‘suspicious’ mole. We’ve enlisted the help of Dr Ross Perry, medical director of skin clinics chain Cosmedics (www.cosmedics.co.uk), to help us understand what to look out for… Everybody should regularly check the skin for new or changing moles, bearing in mind the ‘ABCDE’ signs of melanoma, which highlight the common warning signs: • Asymmetry: These moles look a bit lop-sided. They are different shapes and/or sizes from left to right. • Borders: Check the edges of moles. If they are uneven, scalloped or notched rather than smooth, then this might indicate an early melanoma. • Colour: Moles…

SELF-WORTH Returning home after five years working on cruise ships, it felt good to get back to my old life. And falling in love with a charming older man, I felt like all my stars had aligned. However, it was a rollercoaster of a romance. Moving in together after just three short months, it was all or nothing. And when things got rough and he showed his true colours, I turned to food for comfort. During our year-and-a-half relationship, I put on nearly two stone. Gorging on bread, chocolate, cake and biscuits, my weight shot up to 17st. I knew the relationship was toxic, but I was madly in love. So, when it came to an end in May 2018, I was heartbroken. At 33, I was forced to move…

1 in 7 pet owners have difficulty relaxing their pet. PET NEWS How to de-stress your pet Worried your pet is getting stressed indoors? Follow these tips from Canabiotics and Edinburgh Holistic Dogs to relax your pup during this stressful time… 1. Make dinner time interesting – Present food in an activity box or scatter in your garden or hallway. 2. Playtime – Grab your dog’s favourite toy and have a wrestle. 3. Parkour at home – Create your own obstacle course using furniture and tire them out. 4. Massage – Help release tension and bond together. 5. Dual workout – Get your dog involved in your daily cardio, and build up duration over time. 6. Chew time – Great for teeth, entertainment and concentration. 7. Bach Rescue Remedy –…

Dear George, The first time I met you, I thought you were a right plonker. Walking into a boardroom full of suited up executives, I was shaking with nerves. It was 2006, and at 23, I was at my first day of a sales graduate training programme at Mars Chocolate in Slough. Just then, you came up to me with a huge grin. ‘Hi, I’m George,’ you said, oozing confidence. ‘Nice to meet you, sir,’ I replied politely. I figured you were someone important and tried to make a good impression. Later, I was called into room with the other trainees – and there you were, sat at the front – you were a trainee just like me! You’d acted like you’d owned the place! Who is this guy?! I thought.…

CHAFING SEASON IS HERE Smoovall spray, £14.99, www.smoovall.com We all love summer – the sun is shining, and we get to wear cute dresses and skirts. But for most women, that does mean one unpleasant thing – chafing. It’s perfectly normal, but it’s painful and uncomfortable. Only, it doesn’t have to be. As an alternative to talc, Smoovall is a spray which prevents irritation and soreness caused by skin friction. Forming an invisible barrier on your skin, it will protect you all day long. So, put on that summer dress or skirt you’ve been shying away from, and walk around comfortable and free. Don't let chafing ruin your summer! Intimate skin care Meet the new line-up from dermatologically and gynaecologically tested, intimate skincare brand, Fem Fresh. Available from Asda. 1.…

Will Joe Exotic be the next president? We’re loving this! Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard of Tiger King. All over the world, people have become fascinated with Joe Exotic – the man so wild about big cats, he’s earned himself a high ranking title. Considering this, digital marketing agency Glass Digital have analysed data to identify just how popular he is! According to their research, mullets are back in style, with online searches tripling, and his song ‘I Saw a Tiger’ reaching over 600,000 streams on Spotify since its release. It’s clear to say, there’s genuine interest in Joe becoming president now! Thanks to the documentary, there is now a global mission to solve Carole Baskin’s ex-husband’s disappearance, too! It’s clear that the Tiger King has…

Evergreen Garden Care, owner of leading garden brands such as Miracle-Gro® and Roundup, has some gardening advice for beginners, so you can start creating your own green oasis at home! Use what you have at home! Create stylish planters 1 Scour your garden and house for suitable containers that you could transform into stylish planters. Make sure they are frost-proof. You don’t need to have acres of space or buy brand new pots. Search your shed or garage for old watering cans, tins or buckets. 2 Ensure there is a drainage hole in the bottom - if necessary, make one that’s at least 1cm wide. Fill the bottom with a layer of ‘crocks’ (broken pots or stones) to prevent the drainage holes becoming blocked. 3 Containers are prone to drying…

Fill it! Complete the grid then read down the shaded squares to reveal the hidden answer. Clue: Type of gun. Answer on page 47. ACROSS 6 Canal boat (5) 7 Journalist (8) 10 Empty (7) 11 Football term (7) 12 Not very (4,3) 13 Bob _, Who Framed Roger Rabbit actor (7) 14 Angry or dissatisfied (11) 19 Proof of purchase (7) 21 Trust implicitly (5,2) 23 Moved to sympathy or emotion (7) 25 Remove completely (4,3) 26 _ Ford, Blade Runner actor (8) 27 Helmet part (5) DOWN 1 Scorpion, say (8) 2 Rebellion (6) 3 A noble (10) 4 As far as (2,2) 5 Zodiac sign (6) 6 Of cattle (6) 8 Rejection (7) 9 Stop (5) 13 Gymnastic feat (10) 15 Move like a snake (7) 16…

HE’S SO CUTE! Eating my breakfast in the kitchen, I noticed our family cat, Baby, was running frantically around the garden. She’s probably just chasing a bird, I thought to myself. Only on a closer inspection, I noticed that it was actually a tiny squirrel chasing her! Stepping out into the garden, the little squirrel stopped dead in its tracks. Walking closer towards it, I realised it was a baby – probably only a few weeks old! There was no sign of any parent squirrel, so not too sure what to do, I grabbed a towel from inside. Placing it on the grass, the squirrel quickly made himself at home. Stretching out onto his tummy, he kicked out his legs at the back like a little frog. I’d never been…

DON’T MISS What We Do in the Shadows, BBC Two Vampire sitcom What We Do in the Shadows is returning for a second series. Created as a spin-off from the film of the same name, the surprise hit follows a nest of vampires living in Staten Island, New York, whose spine-chilling reputations are somewhat undermined by their petty squabbles and gaffes. Born in different eras, self-appointed leader of the group Nandor The Relentless (Kayvan Novak), mischievous vampire Laszlo (Matt Berry) and temptress Nadja (Natasia Demetriou) continue to try and adapt to modern times. The new series promises more laughs and more blood! Guest stars this series include The Sixth Sense’s Haley Joel Osment and Star Wars legend Mark Hamill. The Salisbury Poisonings, BBC One In March 2018, Salisbury became the…

HOT TOPIC In 2015, hit TV show Orange Is The New Black screened a storyline with prison inmates running a panty-wearing business. During the show, the inmates would smuggle out their used underwear to buyers on the outside. The storyline was comical, and it saw a surge in Google searches for ‘used underwear.’ As a result, Pantydeal.com – one of the largest used knickers selling sites – saw daily sign-ups increase by six times the amount. And it wasn’t just underwear that became a popular online selling trade. Socks, shoes, snot tissues and the likes were suddenly being sold online. From Facebook Marketplace to private online fetish sites, personal belongings were popping up all over the place. In 2019, it was even reported that strapped for cash EasyJet crew were…

My unique services were in demand Switching off the electric clippers, I carefully made my finishing touches with a comb and smiled. ‘All done,’ I said. It was 2016, and my latest customer was the last in my training to qualify as a barber. I’d always enjoyed cutting hair, found it rather relaxing. But being a barber had never been my original plan. As a teen, I’d joined the Army cadets, headed off to do my A-levels at a defence school up in Leicestershire. But the strict rules of an Army boarding school clashed with my boisterous personality, and I struggled. After that, the Army paid for me to study engineering at Birmingham University, while also training as an Army reservist. The idea was for me to one day join…

Scribbling my name down, I felt proud. ‘Welcome to the Army,’ the recruiter smiled, reaching out to shake my hand. It was 1985, and at 17 years old, I’d always been interested in the Military. Both my grandfathers had served during WWII, one in the Royal Artillery and the other in the RAF. It wasn’t long before I was enlisted into the Royal Regiment Of Fusiliers, an infantry regiment, and my parents were so proud. Joining the Army must have been the most masculine path I could have taken – but while I was excited about my future, I was also hiding a secret, denying who I really was… During the day, I’d be wearing combats and camouflage, but deep inside, I really wanted to be wearing silky tops, flowing…

Gently, the nurse placed my baby boy Vinnie on my chest. Weighing a little over 2lb, I was terrified of breaking him. It had taken me so long to get to this moment, but I was frozen with relief – and guilt. You see, before falling pregnant with Vinnie, me and my fiancé, Jonathan, 28, had been trying for nearly six years. Sadly, I’d been diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and told I’d struggle to fall pregnant. But I’d need to lose three stone before I could have IVF. So, determined to have our own child, I threw myself into weight loss and six months later, I’d dropped 2st 7lb. But then suddenly, something amazing happened. I was pregnant! Due to my PCOS and having irregular periods, I had…

Staring nervously at the monitor, I waited for good news. My husband Alistair, now 56, and I had found out we were expecting a little boy, and just wanted him to be healthy. Then, the doctor frowned. ‘I’m sorry, but your baby has a cleft palate,’ he said. It was a split in the roof of the mouth caused by tissue not fusing together properly while in the womb. It was a complete shock – the pregnancy had been completely normal. There was nothing doctors could do until our baby was born, and Alistair and I were sent home. ‘He’ll be OK, won’t he?’ I asked, tears in my eyes. ‘Of course he will,’ Alistair replied. A few weeks later, a 3D scan revealed that our boy only had a…

Top tip Embrace your curves in colour! Top tip Woven material promises a comfortable feel. Top tip Available in sizes 14-32.…

Making of MONSTERS Christine hatched elaborate scheme an become a mother… Samantha was given a cocktail of medication The drinks flowing, guest of honour Samantha Kelly didn’t have to lift a finger – when her glass emptied, it was whisked away and returned full. She was being thoroughly spoilt by her hosts. Samantha, 39, lived in a bungalow in the backyard of a home in Kangaroo Flat, Victoria, Australia, that belonged to Christine Lyons. Christine, 47, had invited Samantha around for drinks with her boyfriend, Peter Arthur, and their housemate, Ronald Lyons. Ronald and Christine had once been related through marriage – they’d also dated in the past. But now Christine was with Peter, and the trio lived happily together. As Samantha chatted and drank her drink, she started to…

YOU’VE GOT LOVE! TA Scrolling through photos, I was looking at the dogs at a shelter in California. But one four-legged friend stood out straight away. He was called Jaws and it soon became clear why he’d been given his name. Just looking at the photos, you could see he had a wonky jaw, with his nose pushed to the right and his overbite pushed to the left. ‘Poor thing,’ I said to myself. Picasso found his forever home! As I read on, I could see that he’d been abandoned two days before Christmas in 2016 and was now due to be euthanised. Having instantly fallen in love with his crooked little smile, there was no way I was going to let that happen. Besides, my life has been dedicated…