Table of contents for 5-Sep-2024 in Pick Me Up!

Pushing the buggy, my sights were on the finish line. Completing a 5k park run on 1 January this year, it was a cause very close to my heart. It was the first of 50 challenges to raise money for Parkinson’s UK. With 45 park runs to complete – as well as five harder challenges – my daughter Sophie, three, would be joining me in her buggy for many of the runs, while my wife Grace, 31, cheered from the sidelines. ‘We did it,’ I grinned as we crossed the line. ‘44 to go.’ Along with triathlons and marathons, this challenge would be tough. But it was important. Because in 2022, my dad Chris, 72, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease As a family, we’d suspected something was wrong for a…

Riley loved the bird car, area Miz. at Colchester for the Zoo well-cared for, the whole zoo was really well looked after. Rebecca Key, Norwich STAR LETTER Here is Portchester Castle on a great sunny Sunday when I went for a walk. I’m lucky to have this on my doorstep. Jodie Bishop, Hampshire Douglas, the one-year-old Cockapoo, prefers to wear his frisbee rather than play with it. Sally Leigh, Manchester I spotted this in Whitby – looks like this seagull forgot his disabled badge! Dawn Humphrey, Scarborough If your letter makes Star Letter of the week, you will receive some beautiful blooms from Flying Flowers. With over 30 years’ experience of helping celebrate life’s special moments and FREE delivery by post, a gorgeous bouquet by Flying Flowers is a lovely way…

Hearing my train chugging into the station, there were butterflies in my tummy. This is it, I thought to myself, stepping aboard. That morning back in January 2016, I was going to meet a bloke called Vince for the very first time. Matching on Tinder a week earlier, I really liked him – but still, the idea of meeting him in person was nerve-wracking. A single mum to Libby, now 19, and Spencer, 16, this was my first date in over five years, and the first time I’d met someone on a dating app. I lived in Godalming, Surrey, and Vince lived in Wokingham, Berkshire – neither of us drove, so we’d agreed to meet in Reading, as it was easy for us both to get to on the train.…

Jackie Rogers is a BACP accredited counsellor who works with adults and children on an array of issues including trauma, bereavements, anxiety and depression. To find out more about Jackie and counselling, visit: serenitycounselling.co and bacp.co.uk I’m the problem Q My paranoia is driving a wedge in my relationship. I can’t help but bring up my boyfriend’s past and I believe he is cheating when he isn’t. Am I the problem? Alison, Pontypool A Have you spoken to your boyfriend about this? Do you know what is setting off these insecurities? How we form relationships stems back to early childhood. If we feel we have been let down by our early caregivers, we can project our insecurities on people closest to us as we expect them to let us down,…

Running a pretty frantic and chaotic household, it was no surprise that Azuradee France struggled to keep up. Living in downtown Detroit, US, with her six children, Azuradee, 33, was always on her toes. Especially as her three-year-old son Chayce Allen needed extra special care. In 2021, completely out of the blue, he’d suffered sight loss. He was registered blind. Although his family said that didn’t stop him. He still remained ‘sweet, shy and soft-spoken’. However, around the house, it was a lot for Azuradee to take in. Even before Chayce’s change in health, there were incidents when the police and CPS had to step in. They’d visited the France household 13 times in total. And on the last time, at the start of 2022, Chayce had burned himself. However,…

Bitesize! ACROSS 1 Toboggan (4) 5 Single currency (4) 6 Dutch cheese (4) 7 Sit for an artist (4) DOWN 1 Ooze (4) 2 Board game (4) 3 Taylor Swift tour (4) 4 Curved roof (4) Read down the shaded squares for the answer. Answer on page 44. Follow it! 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 44. Spot it! Can you spot the 10 differences in the two images below? Answer on page 44. Fill it! Complete the grid then read down the shaded squares to reveal the hidden answer. Clue: Type of scholar. Answer on page 44. ACROSS 1 1986 aerial action film starring…

Thanks to fresh air specialists Neutradol, the UK’s biggest Carpet Deodorizer brand, you could find yourself surrounded by lush gardens, olive groves and a gorgeous backdrop of pine-clad mountains for a week in the sun. You and a guest will be staying at the Litsa Studios & Apartments in scenic Alykanas on the Greek island of Zante with the resort centre and beach just a short stroll away. Ice cream in hand, sink your toes into fine golden sands while watching windsurfers and banana boats then head back to your freshwater pool to feel fully refreshed. When you get back, you’ll want your home and carpets to have that holiday freshness. And since COVID, we all want our homes to feel fresh, clean and free from bacteria. To get rid…

NEW IN Apply your retinol in the evening No 7 Radiance+ Foundation, £16.95, Boots Get a luminous complexion all day long. Available in 15 shades, this gives a medium coverage which blurs the skin for a soft-focus finish. With vitamin C and niacinamide, it conceals uneven skin tones for a your skin but better look. Bondi Sands Face Retinol Serum, £12.99, Superdrug Get baby-soft skin without breaking the bank with Bondi Sands' new Baby Face retinol serum. Enriched with 0.5% retinol and squalene, this works to gently smooth your complexion for a bright, bouncy base. Suitable for sensitive skin, start by using once a week and build the frequency for a hydrated and youthful complexion. Golden goddess Tanning lovers will be pleased to hear that the American tanning range, Tanologist,…

What’s trending We’re obsessed with these new launches from Fabulosa in their popular Lush Pomegranate scent. With wax melts, candles, in-wash boosts and tumble dryer sheets, the sweet scent will take over your whole home. Dreamy! • From £1, available in B&M stores Home sweet smelling home! What’s your favourite tipple? We’re loving You don’t need to go out to a fancy bar for a top-notch cocktail – bring the party back home with the new Cocktail Collection created by Diageo expert mixologists. Try an Old Fashioned from Johnnie Walker, with fruity orange flavours and a hint of bitters. Maybe you’re more of a Tanqueray Negroni fan, with its herbal, fruity vermouth flavour. Or why not try a classic Cosmopolitan from Cîroc for a hit of delicious cranberry, orange and…

This week, our tip of the week will receive a great prize from Addis. Keep your floors clean with this spin mop. Including a bucket that is ideal to make your floors shine, there’s an additional refill, too. With a microfibre mop head, a lock clip mechanism, you can spin dry the mop using either the foot pedal or the handle. For more ways to make your life easier, visit: addis.co.uk Be a winner! That’s my bag! There’s nothing worse than picking up a suitcase that looks the same as yours at the airport and it belongs to someone else. To make your suitcase stand out, tie a scarf or scrunchie on the handle. Angela Garvin, Rayleigh TIP-TASTIC Hang in there A shoe holder can be used on the back…

Currently, there is no cure for Parkinson’s. But the charity Parkinson’s UK work to fund research into treatments, with the aim of one day discovering a cure. And you can help them carry out this incredible work. This summer, Parkinson’s UK invites you to pull on your walking boots and start striding for their Walk for Parkinson’s series. At 15 different locations across the UK until October, you can join a community walk around some of the country’s best landmarks, from Marbury Country Park in Cheshire to London’s Battersea Park and even the Titanic Museum in Belfast. Sign up and get sponsored to raise awareness of Parkinson’s and help change lives with every step you take. • Sign-up fee £12, under 18s free. For more info and to sign up,…

INSTANT appointment With Melanie King, senior pharmacist at Pharmacy2U. Please visit: pharmacy2u.co.uk Stinky feet Q My athlete’s foot keeps coming back! I’ve used lots of different sprays to try and treat it, but it always returns – what can I do? Harriet, Ayr A Once you’ve had athlete’s foot, unfortunately it is prone to coming back. You’ve been doing the right thing using antifungal sprays, but certain types of spray can be used continuously, so they can be a preventative measure, too. By introducing the sprays into your daily routine, it may reduce the chance of a flare-up. There are other lifestyle factors that can help – like keeping your feet clean and dry as much as possible, preventing the risk of spreading the infection to other parts of your…

USB Rechargeable Batteries, £6, Flying Tiger Going to watch TV, the remote is out of batteries – and tearing the house up, it’s always a pain looking for two new double As. The USB rechargeable battery means you no longer need to worry about disposables. Next time your batteries are running low, you don’t have to go looking for new ones – simply charge them up! It’s never been easier to keep your devices running without the need for pesky disposable batteries. Verdict: GENIUS! Bright spark! When life gives you lemons… When you think of electricity, you might think of batteries, lighting or cables. The last thing on your mind is lemons! Well, Saiful Islam and the Royal Society of Chemistry set the Guinness World Record for the highest voltage from…

Want to level up your next picnic? Look no further, Grace Mortimer’s got your back. With just five ingredients, these tasty snacks are easy to make and will go down a treat with the whole family. • My Family Meals by Grace Mortimer, £20, available from Waterstones While we try to ensure all recipes work, we cannot take responsibility for their success. My Family Meals: Fuss-free flavour with only 5 ingredients by Grace Mortimer (HQ, HarperCollins). Treat of the week Spanakopita YOU WILL NEED: ☐ 250g spinach leaves☐ 100g feta cheese, crumbled☐ 1 egg☐ A pinch of grated nutmeg ☐ 6–8 sheets of ready-made filo pastry FOR BRUSHING: ☐ Sunflower oil 1 Preheat the oven to 200°C. Wilt the spinachfor a couple of minutes in a lidded saucepan with 2 tablespoons…

Bitesize! pg 3 Sums Strike it! pg 13 Balloons (Cross out: 10, 19, 24, 35, 39, 43, 67, 71, 74, 89) Crack it! pg 23 Gooseberry Fill it! pg 13 Academic Sudoku pg 36 8,4,2 Cross it! pg 36 Wardrobe Number fit! pg 13 4835 Spot it! pg 10 Follow it! pg 8 Blackboard Guess who? pg 28 Paddy McGuinness – Michelle Keegan – Jamie Laing – Prince Edward – Gabby Logan PLEASE NOTE Pick Me Up! will still be bringing you great puzzles to pit your wits against, but will no longer be offering prizes. Don’t forget, you can do puzzles for big cash prizes every weekin our sister magazine, Chat.…

Catch Claire live on Facebook ARIES 21 March–20 April You’ve certainly been living life lately. Whether or not you can live with a close one’s mistake is something only you can decide. Dwelling on what you’ve both done wrong is a recipe for disaster – talking and finding out if you want the same things going forward is essential to working out if you have a good enough base to build from. Sunday brings answers by coincidence. Call: 09058 170 710* TAURUS 21 April–21 May Those you meet now are crossing your path for a reason. There is a really nostalgic air about your chart, which will see certain places evoking memories of who you last went there with. You realise with clarity who you don’t want to be a…