Table of contents for 07-Mar-2019 in Pick Me Up!

Crawling into bed, I waited for the dizziness to subside. It was December 2017 and it was the first time I’d felt like this in 11 years. I’d suffered with vertigo when I was 26 but had never got an official diagnosis. But this time it was knocking me for six. I struggled to get out of bed, couldn’t stand up straight. My doctor advised me not to drive. And that’s when my mum stepped in. ‘I can drive you about,’ she offered. ‘No Mum, I don’t want to bother you,’ I protested. ‘I can sort something out.’ But she gave me one of her looks and she’s been there for me ever since. Every appointment, every test and hospital visit, she came and sat by my side. Mum is…

Bargain booze Easy-drinking South African red Kumala Pinotage Shiraz is down to £5 (usually £7) at the Co-op until 12 March. It’s Fairtrade too, so with every sip money goes back to local farming communities. Our kind of charity work! Espresso yourself The dairy-free, plant-based drinks from Califia Farms are already famous in the States, and now they can be found over here. We can’t get enough of this super XX Espresso Cold Brew Coffee With Almond, reduced to £2 (usually £2.97) at Morrisons until 10 March. Wakey-wakey! Benenox Overnight Recharge is a natural bedtime supplement, which supports better quality sleep and higher energy levels the next day. It’s down to £7.50 (usually £12.50) at Sainsbury’s until 19 March. Down on the farm Do you fancy going glamping with the…

Have I caught something? Q I’m worried I might have an STI, but I’m too embarrassed to go and see my doctor. What should I do? Fiona, Manchester A Don’t be embarrassed - but remember that until you get the all-clear, it’s important to take the correct precautions. If you really don’t feel up to booking an appointment with your GP, there are advice lines such as The National Sexual Advice Helpline (0300 123 7123), or you can visit your local sexual health clinic. Kits for testing at home are available in some areas on the NHS (check out SH:24) and you can now even purchase a home test kit for HIV from Superdrug. My chest hurts Q What can I do about my awful heartburn? Elise, York A Symptoms…

Give yourself a lift Work out on a Friday That’s what’s being recommended by researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern, as they found that exercising semi-intensely just once can boost your metabolism for 48 hours. It means you could relax for an entire weekend and still be reaping the benefits of a Friday-evening exercise session! 19 % People who suffer from heart failure are this much less likely to die early if they get the flu jab every year, say researchers from the University of Copenhagen. Have you tried… Bio-Oil Dry Skin Gel? It may just be your new skincare superhero – helping heal and moisturise dry and scaly elbows, knees and heels, as well as scraggy cuticles and razor burn. Oh, and it can even be used as…

Seche Vite Dry Fast top coat, £5.70, Boots There’s a good reason more than 1 million bottles of this nail hero have been sold in the UK. The glossy formula paints smoothly over any colour without dragging, gives a plump finish to nails and is touch-dry within two minutes. Every top manicurist has this in their kit, and you should too. Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Original Skin Therapy, £3.49, Superdrug Palmer’s fragrant body care is no secret, but have you tried the product that started it all? This solid balm contains more cocoa butter than any other Palmer’s product, melts into skin at body temperature and is a hero of dry skin sufferers. Starskin 100% Camellia Nourishing & Brightening 2-Step Oil Sheet Mask, £9, Debenhams The brand that kick-started the…

My daughter was born in August 2015 - but a month later, I was feeling low. I was struggling to bond with her and had been diagnosed with postnatal depression. So when Matthew contacted me to congratulate me, I agreed to his request to meet up. I wasn’t sure if I still had feelings for him, but he was the only form of stability I’d known in years. Only, he stood me up, and when I went round to his flat to see what was happening, he seemed drunk. That’s when I realised he was never going to change. ‘It’s over, Matthew,’ I cried. All my feelings for him had completely disappeared. I knew I had to speak out, and it had to be now Not long after, I heard…

1 Carefully hold an ice pack to the area for 10-15 min at a time. Repeat regularly for two days. 2 Take painkillers, such as ibuprofen or paracetamol, to ease any discomfort. 3 On day three, apply a warm cloth to the bruised area at regular intervals. 4 Don’t take aspirin, press or rub the bruised area, or apply ice directly to the skin. But visit a GP… ...if there’s severe pain or swelling in the area, you’re having problems with your vision or eye movement, your eye is leaking blood or pus, you have a high temperature, you have a different-shaped pupil, or if you’ve had a blow to the head.…

Nasal polyps 1 Nasal polyps are soft, painless growths inside the nose. 2 Symptoms include a blocked or runny nose and the constant need to swallow. 3 There is usually no need to see a GP. 4 Steroid nose drops, spray or tablets can help shrink the polyps, depending on their size. 1 TRUE They are not usually serious, but can keep growing and block your nose if not treated. 2 TRUE Other symptoms include a reduced sense of smell or taste, nosebleeds and snoring. 3 FALSE You should see a GP if you are presenting these symptoms, or if you have difficulty breathing or notice changes in your sense of smell. 4 TRUE However, your GP may suggest surgery to remove the polyps if they have not improved within…

When you register and make your first deposit, as soon as you play £10 on any of our gamesyou’ll receive 200 FREE BINGO TICKETS to spend on most of the bingo games on our site. The tickets are worth a whopping £50* depending which games and ticket prices you choose. Whatever games you choose, there will be all the bingo entertainment and excitement you expect from a top bingo site. There are also huge progressive jackpots, Link games, value games and lively chat rooms for you to enjoy.…

I think any parent who doesn’t pay for their children should face prison time. I also think that, while in prison, they should be made to help out in orphanages and children’s homes. It might make them re-evaluate and reflect on what they should and shouldn’t be doing. Louise Clamp, Swadlincote How awful for a child to feel that they’re not worth the upkeep payment. It’s an absolute disgrace that parents should get away with this. Jackie Wilson, Basingstoke For anybody struggling in these circumstances, I think you have to remember that if you have your family, you are the winner – as they’re more important than money. Michelle Auckland, Grantham…

Widening her eyes in front of the mirror, my daughter Megan, 17, applied a thick layer of black mascara, followed by a slick of red lipstick. I smiled fondly as I watched, hypnotised by her skill. She had recently developed a thing for make-up, spent ages playing around with it. ‘You look really pretty, love,’ I told her truthfully. Megan screwed up her face. ‘Don’t be daft, Mum, I’m not pretty at all,’ she replied. If only she could see what I could see... But then, Megan had never had much self-confidence. She’d been diagnosed with autism at 10. It meant that she struggled in social situations, preferred staying at home in Gainsborough with me and her dad Simon, 51. But she was a gentle soul, loved spending time with…

WEST MIDLANDS Michael Gaffey, 28 Two police officers were injured after a high-speed chase that ended in a driver reversing twice into their car. The officers spotted Michael Gaffey doing speeds of up to 80mph in Shirley, West Midlands, just after 11.15pm on 25 July last year. After reversing into the unmarked car, causing the officers to suffer  back and slight burn injuries from their airbags, Gaffey fled. He was later arrested. Appearing at Birmingham Crown Court, Gaffey, of no fixed address, was found guilty of dangerous driving, having no insurance, and assault. He was jailed for three years on 24 January and banned from driving for five and a half years. MANCHESTER Monika Osinska, 33 Foul-mouthed Monika Osinska made hundreds of racist 999 calls and has now been jailed.…

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There was a split second of silence. Then the room exploded with whoops and cheers. It was April last year, and me and my husband Michael, 40, were telling our kids some news. ‘Mummy’s got a baby in her belly,’ I beamed. Eight excited faces grinned back at me. Yes, this was my ninth baby! I was already mum to Connor, 17, Kian, 15 , Evie, 14, Callum, 11, Tayla, 10, Louie, 8, Lottie, 5, and 11-month-old Bonnie. Michael, a service engineer for a fire-alarm company, was dad to the younger five, and a fab stepdad to my older three from a previous relationship. Our five-bedroomed house was chaotic but full of love and laughter. When we went anywhere as a family, people would gasp - ‘How do you cope?’…

Before it all happened, I’d never really thought much about my boobs. A pair of normal-looking C cups, under my shirt. They’d helped me feed my three boys. But that was years back. Now my breasts were just...there. Then, in April 2013, I found a lump. Worried, I visited my GP and was referred for a mammogram. ‘It’s probably just a cyst,’ I said to my husband James, 45, that night. Even so, my mate Lu, 45, offered to come along to my appointment three days later. She sat outside as I stripped to the waist for the mammogram. It was over quite quickly and I walked out feeling fine. Then they called me into a room. The lump in my left breast was benign. ‘But we found a mass…

Reeling from the impact, I came to my senses on the ground, as crowds gathered around me. It was September 1995, I was 12, and I’d just been hit by a car as I crossed the road on my way home from school. In the hospital, the doctors told my mum Naomi, 43, that my left leg was broken. In surgery, a metal plate and eight pins were put into my leg. Recovery was a struggle, and I ended up celebrating my 13th birthday in hospital. Having lost my dad that year, things were even more difficult. After four long months, I was discharged, but I still had to be home-schooled for six months while I learned to walk again. I loved dancing and horse riding, but had to give…

Pulling back the net curtains, I frowned. ‘When will Andy be here?’ I grizzled impatiently to my dad Gary, 36. ‘He’ll be here soon,’ Dad soothed. ‘Grumpy chops!’ He was right. I was grumpy. Because I couldn’t wait to see my best friend Andy. He and his family were driving from Birmingham to stay at our house in Cambridge for a week. It’s going to be brilliant! I thought happily. It was July 1994, the summer holidays and, aged 7, I was itching for Andy, 9, to get here so we could go exploring, build dens and have fun. The minute I heard their car pull up, I was outside in a flash The minute I heard their car pull up, I was outside like a flash. ‘Want to go…

When you are as cute as Rolo, you are allowed to eat cheeseburgers, even pretend ones. Pia Ainsworth, Wythenshawe ‘What are you looking at?’ says Teddy the tortoise. Allison Squires, Plymouth Look at my little beast. He might be a creepy-crawly but Webster the Chilean rose tarantula is actually a big softie. Lyndsey Maurice, Cleethorpes My moggy Molly needs to work on her camouflage just a little bit more... Charlotte Primrose, Lawford Just like their namesakes, my guinea pigs Bubble and Squeak are the perfect pair. Tina Fisher, Frome My pretty polly Rocky is always ready to strike a pose for the camera. Caroline Flowers, Coventry…

Chicken with gremolata & sweetpotato Serves 1 Prep: 10 min Cook: 15 min ◻ 1 skinless chicken breast ◻ 1tbsp olive oil ◻ A few small thyme sprigs ◻ 1 small sweet potato (about 90g), unpeeled or peeled, thinly sliced ◻ 100g Tenderstem broccoli and mixed green beans For the gremolata sauce: ◻ 1 small garlic clove, peeled and finely chopped ◻ 1tsp fresh thyme leaves ◻ 1tbsp fresh chopped parsley ◻ Zest and juice of a lemon ◻ 1tbsp good olive oil or large knob of soft butter 1 Put the chicken breast, skinned side down, on a large piece of cling film and slash it a couple of times to open it out. Put another piece of film on top, then bash it out to a thickness of…

ARIES 21 March–20 April If a negative thought comes your way in the week ahead, be sure to argue against it. You of all signs should have learnt by now that only by doing what you know is right in your heart will you find the answers you need and the path you should take. Call: 09058 170 710* TAURUS 21 April–21 May Friends could be so much more for many of your sign. Think about it, Taurus. What you have needed and what you still want is a partner who can be your best friend and lover rolled into one. Someone who’s on your side no matter what and who loves the real you. Accept nothing less. Call: 09058 170 711* GEMINI 22 May–21 June It may well feel…