Table of contents for 29-Apr-2021 in Pick Me Up!

Growing up, I always knew I was different. I struggled with social connections and I took everything quite literally. No one ever questioned if there was an underlying cause to this, so I just carried on. However, it was only when my own daughter began showing similar traits that I started to question it. Researching online, that’s when autism came up. I’d never really thought about it before, but as my then four-year-old underwent an assessment, everything began to add up. And after raising concerns with my doctor, in 2015, at the age of 27, I was diagnosed with autism myself. Doctors said they’d need to assess my daughter over the years to determine whether she had it as well, but for me, it was a huge relief. I’d gone…

Hot Trend! IKEA’s new collection IKEA have announced its sixth Art Event collection, designed by five contemporary artists from around the world! The ten unique pieces aim to make art more accessible and affordable for the many and are in IKEA stores from May.…

Unpacking the last of my clothes, I was so glad to be back at university. Now in my final year at Royal Holloway University, I knew it was going to be tough. Studying psychology, I wanted to do as well as I possibly could in the hopes of securing a job in the field. ‘But first, we party!’ I said to my housemates as we arrived back from the summer break. And so, for that first week, we partied away, without a single care in the world. ‘I need a night off,’ I laughed on the Thursday in September 2019. I’d definitely learnt over the years not to overdo it Only, the next day, I woke up with a roaring headache. I hoped it would pass, but on Saturday, I…

ACROSS 7 Former capital of Nigeria (5) 8 Done without conscious thought (9) 10 & 13Ac. 2021 heist comedy film starring 15 Across, 20 Across, 6 Down & 19 Down (6,4) 11 Lather (8) 12 Decorative object (8) 13 See 10 Across 15 Ben _, director and star of 2008 comedy film Tropic Thunder (7) 17 Line of hereditary rulers (7) 20 _ Hathaway, actor whose debut film role was 2001’s The Princess Diaries (4) 22 Dealer in gems (8) 25 Spanish dance (8) 26 Takes up again (6) 27 Range or assortment (9) 28 Perceive (5) DOWN 1 Most liked (9) 2 Mixed alcoholic drink (8) 3 Throb (7) 4 Lily-livered (8) 5 Poland’s capital (6) 6 _ Kaling, comedian who starred in the US remake of The Office…

Care for guinea pigs Dr Jessica May, UK lead vet at the video vet service FirstVet (firstvet.com/uk) gives her advice for new guinea pig pet parents. FOOD: Most of a guinea pig’s diet should be made up of hay, with a small amount of guinea pig mix and fresh vegetables. This will give them the right healthy balance of fibre and vitamin C. Muesli and nuts should be avoided due to their high sugar and fat content. EQUIPMENT: The most important item to buy is a spacious hutch. For a pair of guinea pigs, the hutch should be at least 5ft x 2ft x 2ft. It must have an enclosed area. Another essential is a water bottle with a spout to clip to the side of the hutch. ENVIRONMENT: The floor…

Lounging around the pool, I was having the time of my life. ‘Another drink, Love?’ my husband, James, 41, asked. ‘Oh, go on then,’ I smiled, barely lifting my head to answer. We were on a one-week all-inclusive holiday in Lanzarote and for the first time in over 20 years, it was just the two of us. Usually, our son Daniel comes with us, but now 21, we decided to leave him at home. We spent the first few days soaking up the sun, eating and drinking together. Wandering around the town of Costa Teguise, we were having a wonderful time away. Then, on the third day, we had a little walk along the seafront to look at all the market stalls. ‘Oh, nice,’ I smiled, eyeing up all of…

Turning on the tap, I let the water run. Filling the bath, I was ready for some me time. Only, once again, my trip to the tub left me more frustrated than calm. Weighing in at 19st 5lb, I didn’t exactly fit in there easily. Instead, I squeezed in until eventually, I’d had enough. Hoisting myself out, I took a 10-minute breather. Every time, I sighed. In the end, I just gave up and stopped having baths. Only, this wasn’t the only area of my life that my weight was badly affecting. Working in a nursery, the demands of the job would leave me absolutely exhausted. By the time I got home to my husband Dave, 40, and son Frank, six, I’d have no energy. Most of the time, I’d…

SUPPORT A SMALL BUSINESS Here are some fun new crafting kits to see you on some craft-ventures into spring! Cute pastel tones, fun makes and lovely haberdashery by The Make Arcade – a small business passionate about sewing, crafting and making. The Make Arcade want to make life more creative by passing on the practical skills needed to make things by hand and provide inspiration to make and create. They create little kits of DIY loveliness with a modern touch using lots of different sewing techniques and materials. The crafting kits are designed with beginners in mind with lots of photographed instructions and all the materials and supplies included. Everything from The Make Arcade is designed and manufactured in their cosy studio in Salisbury, by a team fuelled on doughnuts and…

There’s nothing quite like the bond between sisters. I have two, Ebony 38, and Ellsie, 24, and I absolutely adore them. Growing up, I loved having sisters and I always wanted girls of my own so they could experience that special bond. The older we got, the closer we all became. In 2016 however, Ebony and I took it to a new level. You see, I’d been born with a combination of heart problems – a hole in the heart, pulmonary atresia and MAPCAs – and they had consumed most of my life. The issues only came to light when I was eight-years-old, but I needed four operations and I’ve had yearly check-ups ever since. However, in 2013, whilst attending a check-up with my fiancé Michael, 39, I received some…

This week, our tip of the week will receive a great product from Addis! The crystal-clear bathroom collection with a strong, non-marking INVISIFIX mount simply secures onto smooth surfaces. The easily lifted, re-locate and shatterproof acrylic caddy holds up to 5kg. For more ways to make your life easier, visit addis.co.uk Don’t trip! After buying a new rug, if the corners are curling up, place a few heavy books on it and leave for two days to flatten it out. Julie Surtees, Tyne and Wear Woven woes After struggling with tangles, trying to turn a skein of yarn into a ball of yarn, I pushed a wooden skewer through the middle and put each end into a croc. In no time, I had a perfect ball. Anne-Marie Hunter, Kent Plentiful…

Making my way into the dance studio, I was wracked with nerves. you must be Rebecca,’ the instructor smiled, introducing herself. ‘Nice to meet you,’ I replied. Sat nervously in the corner, I was at my first ever wheelchair dance group - something I had been wanting to do for a long time. After being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis aged 22, my life completely changed. The condition – which affects the brain and spinal cord and can cause problems with movement and vision – was having a huge impact on my life. I’d started having symptoms in my late teens. Episodes of losing all sensation from the chest down, that were becoming more and more frequent. But doctors couldn’t find anything wrong. It wasn’t until I was diagnosed in 2006,…

Four miniature plant pot royal gardeners, £12.99, Firebox.com Give your house plants the royal seal of approval with these mini mascots. Verdict: BONKERS! Perfect for green-fingered fans! Prosecco pong, £12.99, Prezzybox.com Add a touch of fun and fizz to your garden party. Includes 12 glasses and three ping pong balls. Verdict: GENIUS! Make your party pop! Sock paperweight, £7.90, RedCandy.co.uk Put your foot down with unruly papers. This sock brings character to any desk. Verdict: BONKERS! Feet off the table!…

As we slowly start to move out of lockdown, WW (Weightwatchers reimagined) want to celebrate happiness by urging people to commit just 30-minutes a day to their wellbeing. To join the Happiness Challenge visit ww.com And here are some delicious recipes that can be rustled up in just half an hour! Lamb koftas with Turkish salad Serves: 4 □ 2 medium wholemeal pitta bread□ 400g lamb mince 10% fat, raw□ 1 level teaspoon ground cumin□ 1 level teaspoon ground dried coriander□ ¼ level teaspoon ground cinnamon□ 2 cloves crushed garlic□ 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley □ 4 sprays calorie controlled cooking spray□ 2 individual Little Gem lettuce, shredded□ 150g quartered cherry tomatoes□ 50g crumbled light feta cheese□ ¾ level teaspoons sumac□ 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice 1 Preheat the oven…

Turning to Michael, I showed him the messages. I’d expected apprehension, but he was fully on board. As long as Ebony is happy,’ he smiled. I was upset that I’d never carry my own baby, but who better to be our surrogate than my sister? Ebony already had two children of her own, Tegan, 12, and Sonny, nine, with her partner Gavin, 44. She’s always said she had ‘textbook pregnancies’ and followed all the advice. I knew I could trust her and so, a few days later, we met up. ‘Is there anything you want to go over?’ Michael asked. ‘Nothing at all,’ she smiled. ‘I want to do this for you.’ After that, the ball got rolling fairly quick. There were a lot of appointments and things to discuss,…

Packing my bag, I couldn’t get out of the house quick enough. Are you ready?’ my partner Matthew, 36, asked me. Ready,’ I smiled. We were heading to the hospital to find out the gender of our baby. Matthew and I have been together since we were teenagers, and we’d been trying for a baby for over a year. So, lying back in the hospital bed, neither of us cared which way it would go. As long as they were happy and healthy. ‘You’re having a girl,’ the sonographer smiled. It was perfect and we were both over the moon. We were so excited, but then at 35-weeks, we had some worrying news. ‘She’s not growing as fast as we’d like, so we’re going to send you for some blood…

Top tip Dresses are great transitional pieces. Top tip Next day delivery available online. New at Snag Fashion brand Snag originally launched in 2018 and are best known for their game-changing tights ‘that actually fit’ and sell-out chub rub shorts. Their new sustainable clothing range will initially include quality opaque high-waisted leggings (with pockets!) and unique graphic design T-shirts, before expanding to other clothing items. The new collection will be available in sizes 4-38, using the brand's unique sizing matrix that takes into account the wearers height and body shape, as well as their clothing size. Go to snagtights.com to shop the range! Find out more about our commitment to REAL woman womanandhome.com/real…

ART DECO For those of you who can’t pass up a geometric pattern, art deco can bring all the glamour of the roaring 20s to a 21st-century space. Characterised by rich colours, bold geometry and decadent detail work, art deco is a modernist style of visual arts that first emerged in France in the leadup to WW1. At the height of its popularity, art deco combined modern styles with fine craftsmanship and rich materials. During its heyday, it represented luxury, glamour, exuberance and faith in social and technological progress. Famously represented in The Great Gatsby, it’s a style that oozes everything about the Speak Easy generation. TRANSITIONAL Transitional is a very popular style right now due to the fact it borrows from both traditional and modern design to create a…

A family BBQ turned into an awful tragedy… Soulmates who were going to make a difference in the world. That was how loved ones described teen couple Lukasz Klosowski and his girlfriend Chelsea Ireland, both 19. They were best friends who had fallen in love, and everyone was certain they had an amazing future ahead. The pair had been dating for a couple of years, and they were now both in their first year of university. Lukasz, who was known for his warmth and humour, was studying journalism at the University of South Australia. He was also working in KFC. Chelsea was studying mechanical engineering at Adelaide University, and was working at a bakery store. She was passionate about environmental issues and volunteered at a charity for children. Chelsea was…

Catch Claire live on Facebook www.clairepetulengro.tv ARIES 21 March–20 April Mars, your ruling planet, enters Cancer. You don’t think you can sort out any problems, you know you can. You realise you stopped communicating in love. If you’re being honest you’ll admit that you were the one who first put up the walls. Write down how you really feel. It’s the first step towards getting back what you had and making it better than it was before. Call: 09058 170 710* LEO 24 July–23 Aug Talk is cheap this week. Believe nothing of what you hear and only half of what you see. Don’t let those you hold professional links with bully you into taking on a responsibility that will make you miserable. You have rights, Leo. Making the time…