Table of contents for 25-Mar-2021 in Pick Me Up!

Since the age of just 18, I have dedicated my career to helping others. Working in the NHS for 40 years, I loved my job, but at the age of 61, I embraced retirement. However, as my husband Nick, now 71, was in the RAF for 30 years, I couldn’t refuse when I was asked to count money for the Poppy Appeal. ‘Have you thought about doing any volunteering now you’re retired?’ the chap counting next to me asked. To be honest – I had. Whilst Nick was stationed in Germany, The Armed Forces Charity SSAFA had helped me a lot when giving birth to my daughter in 1976. Since then, I’d always considered volunteering for them, but I hadn’t had the time. Only, later that very day, I received…

THE BIG READ Flicking my shoes off, I flopped onto the sofa after a long day at work at the fairground. Living in Frankfurt, it was a tourist hotspot, so it was always busy. Now home, in May 2012, I flicked on the TV and grabbed my phone. Flicking through my Pink Cupid dating app, I noticed I had a message. I wonder who it could be, I thought, as I loaded up the chat. It was from a woman named Ilana, now 52, who lived over 900 miles away in Wales, UK! I’d liked her picture a few days earlier, but as I hadn’t paid for the app, I was unable to message her. Hello, how are you? she had asked me. Browsing through her profile, I felt drawn…

Watching my two-year-old son play on the nearby slides, I was so happy. I was on a family holiday with my son Alfie, fiancé Aaron, 36, and his daughter Sophie, 10. Soaking up the Spanish sun, we were having the holiday of a lifetime in June 2018. We had such an amazing getaway, but by the time we arrived back home, we were in the swing of family life. Aaron went back to work and Sophie back to school. Just me and Alfie at home, we fell back into our routine. He would happily play with his favourite Slinky Dog toy whilst watching one of the Toy Story movies. He was obsessed with the films, and Slinky Dog was his favourite character. One day, around a month after we arrived…

Let’s talk about it! Post-lockd own lovin’ It’s time to take a stand against the taboos and talk openly about sexually transmitted infections. The more open we are, the less likely undetected infections there will be – which is soon to be more important than ever. It is predicted by medical professionals that there will be an STI boom as lockdown restrictions are eased. Phil Day, superintendent pharmacist at Pharmacy2U warns that ‘despite the stigma associated with sexually transmitted diseases, they should be treated just as seriously as other conditions that are discussed more openly. ‘Often, the symptoms of an STI may not appear obvious or even at all,’ Phil says. ‘With a rise in cases of gonorrhoea and syphilis prior to the pandemic, it is recommended that if you…

Moving boxes all around me, I grabbed a can of paint and cracked it open. ‘No time like the present,’ I said to myself as I grabbed a roller and started dousing the walls in a beautiful shade of my favourite colour – pink! It was September 2019 and I’d only moved into my new home a matter of hours earlier. There may have been boxes still to unpack and furniture to put up, but that wasn’t going to stop me painting. Layering shades of pink across my brand-new home office walls, I was so excited to finally be decorating. With my husband Kyle, 28 and my daughter from a previous relationship Grace, 11, in tow, I couldn’t wait to make my house look exactly how I wanted it. And…

Colman’sBigNight InRecipeMixes, 80p, Tesco. Making ‘fake-away’ meals has never been easier with the release of these new recipe mixes from Colman’s. Choose from six flavours including Sweet and Sour and the Ultimate Burger. Bahlsenbiscuits,£1.79,allmajorretailers. Bahlsen, the much-loved family biscuit company behind the nation’s favourite Choco Leibniz, is back with a brand new look. The fresh new design will be on shelves at all major retailers from spring. Lemonmeringue-a-tangBiscake, ChocChip off the old block Biscake and Cherry cake well Biscake,£ 2.50 for pack of 2, M&S. Is it a cake? Is it a biscuit? Well actually, it’s both! The Biscake is the brand new bakery hybrid to hit shelves in M&S. OreoCone,£3.50 (boxof4),Asda. A scoop of vanilla ice cream smothered in an Oreo biscuit coating on top of a crunchy cone,…

Do you have secret family recipes? What a great idea! Mum’s lasagne, Dad’s roast ham, those obscenely delicious gooey brownies your nan bakes – do you ever wish you had your own recipe book to properly document these culinary masterpieces? Now you can make your own! With Firebox’s My Family Cookbook, you can finally archive generations of secret recipes and keep your favourite dishes in the family tree. This clever cookbook is a blank canvas featuring 80 template pages, each one with plenty of room for ingredient lists and long-winded, superstitious methods and tips. There’s even space for a couple of photos of the finished dish and the master chef who created it. Take a pinch of nostalgia. Time to beg your family to part with their trade secrets! Prices start at £40. • My…

As soon as I arrived, the other woman started hurling abuse at me. It was the same woman who had sent me nasty messages. ‘You’re a terrible wife!’ ‘You’re a bad person!’ And Brandon just sat there, not saying anything. Deciding enough was enough, I got in the car to go. ‘I need to be on my own and get myself together,’ Brandon sighed on the journey home. ‘Yes, you do,’ I snapped. The rest of the drive was filled with silent rage. I couldn’t bring myself to say anything. Brandon didn’t need to tell me he was having an affair. I knew. After everything – how could he do this to me? I’d supported him in his decision to transition and had always been there for him. After that,…

Be a winner! This week, our tip of the week will receive a great product from Addis! When only a quick clean will do, the Addis spray mop is all you need. No need for a separate mop pail and wringer, as the mop comes complete with a refillable bottle so the mop is always ready to use. For more ways to make your life easier, visit addis.co.uk Summer sides Over chop homemade coleslaw but don’t mix in the mayo until you want to eat it – plain mix keeps much better in the fridge. Amanda Hadley, Cradley Heath Watch your step If your slippers become slippery, a coat of hairspray on the soles will make them much safer. Valerie Crossley, Sussex Tip of the week Queen of clean Use…

Walking to the end of our street, I turned back and saw that my partner Grant, 49, was lagging behind. ‘Are you ok?’ I shouted over. ‘I’m fine,’ he said, huffing and puffing. We’d barely walked a few hundred yards and Grant was fighting for breath. It was the summer of 2019 and both of us were overweight, but Grant dangerously so. Weighing over 30 stone and wearing size 7XL clothing, I knew Grant was desperate to do something about his size. And as we walked along the street together, it was clear he needed to get control of his weight soon. ‘I need to go on a diet,’ he told me one afternoon. ‘In fact, I think I’m going to do it.’ I’m not sure what it was that…

When I was 13 years old, I had my whole life mapped out. I was in the Royal Air Force Air Cadets, and I hoped to join the RAF fulltime after finishing my GCSEs. ‘I’m going to be a medic!’ I told my parents. I pictured myself, dressed in camouflage, responding to medical emergencies and working as part of a crucial team to save lives. But sadly, like many other aspirations, my dream of working for the RAF was crushed by my physical health. Ever since I was born, I’ve had many health problems. My mum Sarah, 54, and dad Richard, 53, noticed that I was late hitting most of my developmental milestones. As a baby, I would often vomit after a feed, and I suffered with hypermobility. Throughout my…

Annabelle Minerals products are 100% natural and based on only four mineral ingredients. These cosmetics are high-quality, natural and suit the needs of every skin type, from oily to dry and sensitive. The beautiful range is also suitable for vegetarians and vegans. Annabelle Minerals allows you to create perfect, natural looking makeup without any ‘caked face’ effect. The power of mineral cosmetics comes from their ingredients, that not only beautify your skin but also help it to maintain good health. This is makeup that looks after your complexion while also giving you a gorgeous glow – what’s not to love? The foundations come in 22 shades and three formulas: radiant, matte and coverage. Such a multitude of colours guarantees everyone can find their perfect shade. And the three kinds of…

EXTREME CRIME On the afternoon of November 2, 2018, a distressed teenager made an emergency 911 call from his home in DeBary, Florida. Gregory Ramos, then 15, said that he’d returned home from school and had found the house ransacked. He said that there were signs that there had been a break in and most worryingly, his mum, Gail Cleavenger, 46, was missing. With his stepdad, Daniel, out of town, Gregory was on his own and the young boy sounded shaken. Officers rushed to the scene. When they arrived, they found the house upturned and valuable items were missing as though there had been a violent burglary. And Gregory’s mum Gail had vanished. Her unlocked Toyota was parked on the driveway and the engine was running. When police checked with…

Follow it! pg 90 in king Hot Trend! Do your bit! Ethical and sustainable products from Sourced By Oxfam! Supporting the livelihoods of artisans from across the globe. www.onlineshop.oxfam.org.uk…

JUST FOR FUN Complete the grid then read down the shaded squares to reveal the hidden answer. Clue: Biscuit. Fill it! pg 13 Macaroon ACROSS 1 Mental or physical condition (6) 4 Second-rate (8) 10 Large ape (7) 11 For the reason that (7) 12 2020 animated Pixar film starring 26 Across, 29 Across, 9 Down & 22 Down (4) 13 Loiter or vacillate (5-5) 15 Set upon (6) 16 Prevailing tone or central theme (7) 20 Act of pressing clothes (7) 21 Macaw, say (6) 24 Reward or remuneration (10) 26 _ Fey, comedian who starred as Liz Lemon in 30 Rock (4) 28 Short back and sides, say (7) 29 _ Ayoade, actor and director who played Moss on TV sitcom The IT Crowd (7) 30 People who…

Top tip Wrap tops are a flattering fit. Top tip An extra cosy layer on the days you need it Top tip Wear with any outfit!…

Sitting with a glass of wine, I was so content. ‘How did we get this so right?’ I asked my husband, Graham, 63. We had two beautiful children who were smart, kind and had bright futures ahead. Our daughter Pippa, then 21, was at university and our son Tom, then 22, had recently graduated and was working in the city as a property surveyor. Growing up, the two of them followed in our footsteps and were incredibly active. We all played hockey and loved sports. Tom played for a local team and he’d won awards on a national level. He had big dreams for his career and his company had even offered to pay for his masters. Life was good and in early December 2015, we had the whole gang…

Every subscription box is 100% cruelty free Tingle feeling! With the motto, ‘every day is a self-care day’, Tingle is all about helping women to feel good. The Tingle subscription box can help you discover new, holy-grail products while enjoying the surprise of opening the box each and every month. In this box of goodies, subscribers will receive between five and six deluxe and full-sized products, ranging from makeup and skincare to aromatherapy. For just £10 a month, Tingle is made for women from 19 to 69 and is the perfect self-care treat. As a smaller, independent brand, each product is carefully handpicked to give you the best self-care experience possible. • www.tingle-box.com Instant lash lift Catrice Lift Up Volume & Lift Mascara, £4.99, Just my Look Volume meets curl!…

An act of kindness can make someone’s day. 52 Lives is a charity that uses kindness to change people’s lives every week. The charity, in partnership with GalaBingo.com, has seen an increase in donations following the lockdowns, enabling them to help more people across the country. 52 Lives shares seven acts of kindness… Praise a key worker If you do get out and see a supermarket worker, healthcare staff, or any other key worker, tell them they are doing a good job. These are essential people who are putting themselves at potential harm to keep the country going - the ultimate display of kindness. It could make their day to tell them how grateful you Call a friend One of the key things that 52 Lives is doing right now…

LOVE! GOTTA YOU’VE Hopping on the ride on lawnmower with my daughter Jessica, four, it was time to get to work on our new lawn. It was July 2020, and me and my partner Paul, 40, had just moved to our new plot of land in January ready to start building the house of our dreams – a converted barn. With the sun beaming down, it was the perfect day to get out and work on the stretch of grass at the top of the driveway. Riding along for a couple of minutes, Jessica was having a whale of a time. But when we had to stop every couple of yards to pick up the litter, which had been thrown out of a passing car, Jessica frowned. ‘Whose stuff is…