Table of contents for 06-May-2021 in Pick Me Up!

I’ve been a chef for 25 years, and I absolutely love it. As a creative person, I’ve always enjoyed cooking and getting my hands dirty. For the past 10 years, I have been working for Grosvenor Casino in Blackpool as a commis-chef, and it’s been an absolute privilege. However, when the coronavirus struck, like many in the hospitality sector, I sadly had to stop working. As someone who always needs to be busy, I struggled mentally and physically. So, in October last year, when I was asked back into the kitchen to provide free meals for the community, I didn’t think twice. Dishing up to 250 meals a day, Monday to Friday, I put my chef hat on and got to work. Most of the time, it was just me…

Sitting at home, a notification popped up on my phone. It was a message on my dating app from a guy named Martin McCrea. Hi there. How are you? his message read. Flicking through his profile, he looked nice. Handsome and friendly, I decided to reply. It was 2016, and although I was single and in my 30s, I wasn’t really looking for love or a relationship. I mostly just used dating apps to pass the time. Sat at home alone, it was nice chatting to people. Hey, I’m good thanks. How are you? I replied, hitting send. We began exchanging messages and I found it really easy to chat with him. It turned out, despite him being 11 years older than me, neither of us were after anything romantic,…

This week, our tip of the week will receive a great product from Addis! Ultra-convenient and stylish, these Stack & Store canisters can be stacked on top of one another or stored as separates. Their airtight lids with a screw lock mechanism make them easy to dispense. For more ways to make your life easier, visit addis.co.uk Potato facial I wear a pair of exfoliating gloves to easily scrub the skin, and clean the dirt off my spuds. Colleen Brunton, Enfield Lettuce help you Leave a sponge in your salad drawer to absorb any excess moisture. It keeps your leaves crisp for longer. Angela Garvin, Essex Never bin a problem Our landfill rubbish is only collected once a fortnight. So, instead of having one dustbin per trash bag, I invested…

Sue Tappenden is a Coach and People Expert who helps her clients improve their relationship with themselves and others. (www.headspacefor change.com) Struggling to move on Q How can I move on from my boyfriend’s affair? I made the decision to forgive him, but I think about it day and night. Can some people forgive and forget? Maybe I can’t. Selina, Chichester A Healthy relationships are based on honesty and trust. By cheating on you, it’s no surprise if your trust in your boyfriend has been broken. It’s a big thing. Only you know if you can build that trust again. Whether or not other people are able to ‘forgive and forget’ is not something that should concern you. No relationship is comparable to another. Just worry about your own. You…

Posting another video to TikTok, I watched as the comments came flooding in. ‘I love watching your videos,’ one user posted. ‘Your Grandma’s so cute,’ another chimed in. With over 250,000 followers and 7.1 million likes on the social media platform, I was used to a flurry of comments after every post. And it was all down to my wonderful Grandma. When the pandemic hit in March last year, my grandma Agnes, now 86, was living on her own. Having been diagnosed with dementia two years before, the whole family was incredibly worried about Grandma living alone. And with my second year studying film at Southampton University set to be finished at home, I thought I had the perfect answer to our problem. ‘I’ll move in with Grandma,’ I said…

1 It affects your vocal cords ■ True ■ False 2 You can lose your voice ■ True ■ False 3 Avoid air conditioning ■ True ■ False 4 You shouldn’t take ibuprofen ■ True ■ False 5 It may be caused by an infection ■ True ■ False 1 TRUE Laryngitis is when your voice box or vocal cords, which are located at the back of your throat, become irritated or swollen. It usually heals by itself and goes away within a week or two. 2 TRUE It can cause you to completely lose your voice. Other symptoms include a croaky voice, feeling the need to continually clear your throat, a sore throat and an irritating cough that doesn’t go away. 3 TRUE Central heating and air conditioning make…

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Violence, gore and death. These three things most of us would find hard to cope with if they were to rear their ugly heads into our personal lives. Death, especially as a result of murder, is something the majority of us fear. We grieve and struggle to process the realities of losses in our lives. So why do so many of us law-abiding, everyday folk love to watch programmes about serial killers? Netflix sensations like Mindhunter, Dexter, The Ted Bundy Tapes and Night Stalker have had millions of viewers sitting on the edge of their seats, eagerly watching as brutal murders are uncovered. Fictional series You grabbed the attention of 40 million in its first four weeks of being aired in 2018! One reason for this is because we’re fascinated…

It was Valentine’s Day in 2019, and John McGuire had bought steak, potatoes, and a delicious bottle of wine. They were all the ingredients he needed to cook a nice meal for his girlfriend, Amanda McClure, 31. Usually, they would have been celebrating back at their home in Owatonna, Indiana, but they were away visiting Amanda’s dad in Skygusty, West Virginia. Amanda and her sister Anna Choudhary, 32, who lived in North Carolina, had grown up with adoptive families and were estranged from their dad, Larry, 55. Larry had spent time in prison for sexual offences. He’d been convicted when Amanda and Anna were just children. Larry had been in prison for over 17 years after being convicted of first-degree sexual assault for violently abusing a young family member. But…

Running the comb through my little girl’s hair, I was being extra gentle. ‘You OK?’ I asked Shilah, now 10. ‘Yes, Mummy,’ she replied, staying super still. Unfortunately, when my husband Mike, 45, or I take a comb to her head, we have to be so careful. With Uncombable Hair Syndrome, she has extra fine tresses which break easily, and her scalp is super sensitive. We first noticed Shilah’s hair was different when she was just three-months-old. Up until then, she had perfectly normal locks – soft and brown just like her older brother’s. However, by the time she was three-months-old, her baby hair was falling out and was being replaced by bright blonde fuzz that was growing straight up. ‘That’s odd,’ Mike and I said, trying to make sense…

WE’RE LOVING THIS! You must have heard about them by now! Little Moons – the delicious mochi ice cream balls making headlines this year, are fast becoming the ultimate food trend on everyone’s lips. Each mochi ball is made by wrapping bite-sized balls of creamy artisan gelato in a layer of soft and chewy mochi dough. The answer to all our ice cream cravings, Little Moons mochi balls are available in a variety of mouth-watering flavours, including vegan Belgian Chocolate, Italian Roasted Hazelnut, Himalayan Salted Caramel, Summer Strawberries & Cream, Madagascan Vanilla and Tropical Passionfruit & Mango. There’s something for every sweet connoisseur to sink their teeth into. Each ice cream mochi ball is gluten free and free from artificial flavourings, colourings and preservatives. ● Little Moons are available to purchase…

Martin would be out at all hours and drank a lot. He’d been like it a bit before we got married, but he’d promised me he was ready to settle down. Only now, it was worse than ever before. Within a matter of weeks, the honeymoon phase was over. Martin would go out all weekend with his mates and switch off his phone. Considering he was in his 40’s, I thought it was childish. ‘You can’t do that!’ I would shout at him when he’d finally return home. ‘I’ll do what I want,’ he spat. Things had completely changed between us and I didn’t recognise the man in front of me. This wasn’t the Martin I loved. The Martin I was best friends with. My Papa Bear… Who is he?…

Experts from The WealthiHer Network offer their handy tips on dusting off your money matters. 1. KNOW YOUR BUDGET Be certain of what comes in and what goes out of your bank each month. From there you can set realistic goals. 2. PERSONAL TIMELINE Think about money priorities, both immediate and longer-term. Align your financial plans to both of them. 3. SHORT TO LONG-TERM GOALS If you figure out how much money you need to save long-term, you can work backwards to figure out what you need to save. 4. TAX ALLOWANCES Look into ways of saving to reduce as much tax as possible. Look into things such as ISA’s and pensions. 5. PROTECT WHAT MATTERS Ensure your will is up to date, and you have adequate life insurance, to keep your…

Growing up, I was always feminine. I loved makeup, my favourite colour was pink and I dreamed of being an actress on the West End. Then one day, when I was 17, someone said to me: ‘You’d never survive the Army. You’re far too girly.’ I had never even considered the Army before – but that comment pushed a button I didn’t know I had. ‘Well, why not?’ I said, annoyed by the judgement. I can do anything I want! I thought to myself. And so, I decided to prove them wrong. ‘I’m starting Military training this summer,’ I told my friends. They just laughed. ‘You can’t do that!’ they agreed. It made me even more determined to complete it. On my first day of training, I turned up in…

It’s National Gardening Week and founder of online garden centre GardeningExpress.co.uk, Chris Bonnett, answers your questions! Q I have a small patio and I want to grow vegetables. Will anything grow easily, and successfully in pots? Hayley, Leeds A Loads of vegetables will grow in pots and trays, some of the easiest tend to be potatoes, tomatoes, aubergines and chillies. Buy the biggest possible pots that will fit in your space and plant crops that like living in the same conditions together, to save on space. Q There are dead spots all over my lawn and I can’t get rid of them. Help! Karen, Warminster A After a cold winter, it is not unusual for small patches of lawn to become brown, but well looked after lawns should bounce back…

Blowing bubbles into the air, I watch my little girl try to pop them all. ‘Bubble, bubble, bubble, POP!’ I smile at her. Then Freya, four, lets out the sweetest giggle and my heart feels full. It’s the kind of belly laugh that lights up any room. ‘POP!’ I say. A giggle goes such a long way with Freya. Due to her rare syndrome, she cannot smile or talk. But when I hear her chuckle, I know she is happy. And that is all I want for my daughter – pure happiness. In 2016, my partner Michael, then 20, and I found out that we were expecting a baby. At our 12-week scan, doctors discovered a defect. ‘Your baby’s bowels are on the outside of their body, not the inside,’…

Conversations With a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes California born Ted Bundy, the murderer, rapist and necrophiliac, confessed to killing 36 young women across several different states in the 1970s. The notorious cold-blooded killer was known for his charming personality, physical appeal to many and intelligence. Netflix’s documentary gives a fascinating insight into his psyche through tapes from over 100 hours of interviews and archival footage of him. It also includes interviews with his friends, family, surviving victims and the law enforcement members who worked on his case. The Fall This fictional but gripping crime drama available on BBC iPlayer, follows detective superintendent Stella Gibson, played by Gillian Anderson on the hunt for a man who discovered he has a taste for murder. She battles her own demons while trying…

Through the pandemic, the majority of us have been less active. However, research has found disabled people have been hit the hardest. That’s why, sport inclusion charity Access Sport is continuing its vital work to bring communities together and make sport accessible to all. Reflective of this mission, the build of a new bike track is underway at Salford, Greater Manchester, designed to utilise the power of sport to create positive change for the community, including its vulnerable young people. With the support of Access Sport, The London Marathon Charitable trust, Places to Ride, Salford City Council and Little Hulton Big Local, the project aims to get the community moving again! Launching a fundraising appeal, with a goal of raising £15,750, Access Sport is calling on the nation to help…

Throwing another pregnancy test in the bin, I felt deflated. ‘Negative… again,’ I said, turning to my husband Inars, 27. ‘We can keep trying,’ he reassured me. I was desperate to be a mum, and after two miscarriages, every negative test hurt that little bit more. ‘I’m going to have to see the doctor,’ I said to Inars. Having not had my period for the last couple of months, I couldn’t work out what was going on. Only, no matter how many tests I took, they all came back saying the same thing. Negative. But as I sat in the doctor’s office, it was soon clear my luck was changing. ‘I think they could be false negatives,’ the doctor explained to me. Getting me to take a test there and…

ACROSS 6 1994 action film set mostly on a bus, starring 21 Across, 4 Down, 5 Down & 20 Down (5) 7 The _ Hotel, setting for classic horror film The Shining (8) 10 Anger that clouds one’s judgment (3,4) 11 Person given to fussing (7) 12 Tableland (7) 13 Before (5,2) 14 Cause to run away (3,2,6) 19 Eavesdrops, informally (7) 21 Sandra _, star of films such as Gravity and The Blind Side (7) 23 End of a relationship (5-2) 25 Calm or pacify (7) 26 Reaction (8) 27 Requires (5) DOWN 1 Headlight (8) 2 Respect highly (6) 3 Occurring after death (10) 4 _ Daniels, starred as anchor Will McAvoy in TV’s The Newsroom (4) 5 Dennis _, director and star of the 1969 counterculture film…

Sitting my fluffy teddy bear in the sand, I began to position him so he sat just right. On the famous Jumeirah beach in Dubai, the iconic beachside hotel loomed behind us. And as I looked into my camera, I’d captured another great shot. ‘Perfect’, I said to myself, as I scooped my fluffy friend out of the sand. While I could see that passersby were looking on in bemusement, taking snaps of a teddy bear had become a regular occurrence for me. Teddy, the aptly named cuddly bear, had been travelling with me since 2014. I’d always loved to travel and had been a keen photographer since I was a child. I loved taking shots of beautiful landscapes and exotic locations around the world. But with my wife never…

The Great Garden Revolution, Channel 4 This series will feature an array of inspiring makeovers for gardens of any size or shape, and all tailored to the season. Each episode comes from a different domestic garden around the UK where a team of experts – designer Joel Bird, ecological gardener Poppy Okotcha and craftsman Bruce Kenneth – will harness their expertise to transform that week’s garden. Along the way they’ll give viewers a variety of tips, builds and ideas they can put into action straight away, with the team also encouraging viewers to send pictures and videos into the show, to be featured in the following week’s episode. There is a celebrity guest each week who will show off their own garden and demonstrate their bespoke hacks. Home Truths, BBC…

Wiggling my hips, I looked down at the whirling, weighted hula hoop around my waist. I found my rhythm as I flicked through Netflix to find something to watch during my lunch break. It’s my daily routine while working from home. Just 10 minutes of hooping a day had given me the toned tum I’d always dreamed of. In 2014 I began my new career as an admin assistant. It was a huge change from my previous job at Next, working on the shop floor. Going from seven-hour shifts on my feet to sitting down all day at a desk, made a huge impact on my life. The busy workdays flew by. Taking the time to make a decent, healthy meal was never at the top of my agenda. Breakfast…

Mash Direct is an independent company started by Martin and Tracy Hamilton at their family-run farm in Comber, in 2004. Today, using a small factory on their farm, Mash Direct brings you convenient and healthy side dishes. Perfect for BBQ season! ● Mash Direct is available in multiple retailers. More information can be found at www.mashdirect.com Serves: 5-6 BBQ chicken lollipops ■ 3kg - approx 24 chicken drumsticks■ 1 packet of Mash Direct Beer Battered Onion Rings■ 1 packet of Mash Direct Beer Battered Chips FOR THE TOPPING: ■ 2 tbsp sea salt■ 4 tsp black pepper■ 4 tsp garlic granules■ 4 tsp onion granules■ 4 tsp paprika■ 4 tsp dried thyme■ 2 tsp celery salt■ 2 tsp soft brown sugar■ ½ tsp chipotle chilli 1 At the base of…

Rekorderlig Pink Lemon Cider, £7.99 for 4 x 500ml bottles, Morrisons. Bottling the taste of summer, Rekorderlig have launched a new lemon flavoured cider. The pale pink drink is best served over ice, topped with raspberries and a squeeze of lemon. Aqua Libra Raspberry & Blackcurrant, £1, Ocado, Sainsbury’s and Amazon. Using only nature’s finest ingredients, this new drink from Aqua Libra is sugar-free, calorie free and contains no sweeteners or anything artificial! belVita Baked Bars, £2.79, Tesco, Asda and Morrisons. Perfect for a mid-afternoon snack, belVita Baked Bars combine delicious fruit and nut ingredients with a unique crunchy and soft new texture. Choose from two flavours; Cranberry & Hazelnut and Dark Chocolate & Hazelnut. Butterkist Popcorn Ice Cream Cones and Tubs, £3, Iceland and The Food Warehouse. Available in…

29 April – 5 May www.clairepetulengro.tv ARIES 21 March–20 April Air signs, which are Geminis, Librans and Aquarians help you find the answers, solutions and success you need this week. You find yourself reflecting on the past far more than usual at the weekend. Don’t worry, aspects indicate you are tying up old issues, rather than dragging them up. You’re going in the right direction! Family must come first this weekend. Call: 09058 170 710* TAURUS 21 April–21 May You thought it was a case of better the devil you know. But during this week you realise it is not the case. You want to make progress. But, unless you slow your pace, and take more care, you’re going to undo the good work you have so far done. A…