Table of contents for 08-Oct-2020 in Pick Me Up!

Performing in front of a crowd, I loved sharing my work with people. As a singer songwriter, I loved showing fans what I could do. At the time, I always thought it was the performing I loved, but when I stopped, it was the writing that I missed. With a love of reading and writing, I wanted to pass that down to my two children, Nathaniel, eight, and Ellie-Rose, seven. I made sure to read to them every night and me and my husband had even created rhyming days in the house. For the entire day, absolutely everything we said, had to be done in rhyme. And when the children were old enough to start arguing back, we had them write down their feelings to tell us why they thought…

Tearing into the wrapping paper, my partner Mark, 48, had presented me with a big box. ‘You got me roller skates!’ I squealed, giving him a big hug. It had been years since I strapped on a pair of wheels – I couldn’t wait to try them out. ‘I thought you could bring them on holiday,’ he suggested sweetly. In January 2018, the pair of us jetted off to one of our favourite holiday destinations – Abu Dhabi. The day after we arrived, I pulled out my skates to take them for a test run. ‘You’ll need to hold my hand,’ I told Mark, feeling unsteady on my feet. But a few laps around the flat path and it all came back to me. My legs landed in an ‘L’…

The British Heart Foundation is urging people to give their unwanted items to charity. Here’s five tips to safely donate… 1. FREEPOST - Request a label at BHF.org.uk and post your goods for free. 2. NOT JUST CLOTHES - BHF accepts books, furniture, TVs, musical instruments, cameras and even cars. 3. DROP OFF - There are new contact-free donation points at the entrance of shops to keep you safe. 4. COLLECTION - Book a free furniture collection online and BHF will come to you for free. No need to even leave the house! 5. TAKE YOUR TIME - If you’re planning to donate large amounts, consider staggering donations or ring the shop ahead.…

Sitting by my little boy as he lay in a hospital bed, I felt exhausted. Oscar was just three years old and for the past five months, he’d been fighting for his life. ‘How’s he been doing today?’ my fiancé, Alan, 56, asked over the phone. ‘No change really,’ I said, feeling deflated. By now, Oscar had been in intensive care in Southampton Hospital for five months. I hoped for progress, but as the weeks went on things weren’t looking good. ‘They’ve tried reducing his meds again,’ I told Alan. ‘But it didn’t go well.’ And as I looked at my little boy, covered in wires and hooked up to machines, I couldn’t believe that this had all stemmed from a cold. Back in August 2016, as Alan and I…

First Dates, Channel 4 Filmed before lockdown, Maître d’ Fred Sirieix and his team of cupids welcome a brand-new crop of singletons who are looking for love. First in is 24-year-old party animal Nikita, from Swansea, who’s hunting for someone just as wild. Enter Rhys, an engineer from the Welsh valleys, known for his controversial antics. Fitness instructor and disco dancer Selvin meets Donna, who’s looking for a man who can make her laugh. Former Playboy bunny Kelly-Ann is a model who’s dated some A-list stars in her time and wants ‘a daring man’ to keep her feeling alive. Will motorbike daredevil Stephen and his many tattoos tickle Kelly Ann’s fancy? Finally, ex-RAF driver Aaron and his date Jessie ‘touched base a little’ just a few years back. But what…

Waiting for my nails to dry, I’d observed the colour. Only, not an hour after painting them, I noticed a small chip. ‘Damn it,’ I cursed. At 16-years-old, a chipped nail was the only thing I had to really worry about. But later that afternoon, all of that changed. Sitting in the passenger seat of a convertible MG, the driver lost control of the car and swerved into a lay-by, causing it to fly into the air. All I remember is the back of my hand scraping along the tarmac as I watched through the windscreen. The car was being dragged across the road on its roof. It was July 2005 and with blood pouring over me, I didn’t know if I’d make it. This is it, I kept thinking.…

violife Creamy Original Flavour is a creamy spread that can be added to bagels for a scrumptious snack, or stirred into pasta dishes for a delicious dairy-free dinner. What’s more, if you’re a keen baker, it’s perfect for making creamy icing for cakes or filling for vegan cheesecake. Violife’s range of delicious dairy-free alternatives to cheese are fortified with vitamin B12, free from preservatives and GMOs as well as all common allergens, including dairy, lactose, gluten, soy and nuts. They can be enjoyed by everyone! Available at all major supermarkets (RRP £2.50) violifefoods.com Chocolate cake Serves 8 □ 260g flour□ 65g coconut sugar□ 50g cocoa powder□ 2 tsp baking powder□ ½ tsp baking soda□ ½ tsp sea salt□ 375ml oat milk□ 125ml olive oil□ 1 tsp pure vanilla extract□ 1…

Lizi’s Super Muesli, £4 (400g pack), Waitrose and Ocado. Delicious and good for you, the latest muesli range from Lizi’s is packed full of added vitamins and minerals to help give you a boost for the day ahead. Ella’s Kitchen Finger Foods range, from £2, supermarkets nationwide and shop: ellaskitchen.co.uk Munchy Fingers, Mini Puffs and Puff Pops are the latest additions to the existing Finger Foods line-up, which includes Melty Puffs, Rice Cakes, Melty Hoops, Baby Biscuits and the bestselling Melty Sticks. Peperami Smokin’ Chicken, £1.29 per 50g pack, Tesco. New from Peperami, these juicy Smokin’ Chicken Bites have a delicious smokey flavour made with 100% chicken breast pieces, which are oven baked for a protein-packed snack. Raspberry Mojito Rum, £14.99, Aldi. This new raspberry mojito rum offers a delicious…

Get involved Crafting has taken the world by storm this year. From upcycling furniture to giving a well-loved t-shirt an overhaul – we love getting creative with fashion. That’s why, this month, the British Heart Foundation have launched The Big Stitch, which encourages shoppers to pop to their nearest charity shop, buy an item and use their skills and creativity to give it a new look. With 550 clothes shops nationwide, BHF shops are full with amazing pre-loved items that are packed with potential. From fraying and tasselling to adding decorative items, there are endless options. Every look shared on Instagram or Twitter with a ‘before’ and ‘after’ image, tagging @BHF and using #TheBigStitch hashtag will be entered into a competition to win a prize. Running from 1st-31st October, not only…

Wrapping up the show I’d been performing on in May 2009, I was eager to celebrate with the cast. As a classical opera singer, I loved being up on stage and when a show came to an end, there was nothing better than cheering it off with a drink. Only, when all the cast decided to call it a night instead, I had to think of an alternative plan. Pulling out my phone, I dialled the number of the guy I’d been chatting to. ‘Hi, do you fancy going for a drink tonight?’ I awkwardly asked the voicemail when he didn’t pick up. Only, not minutes later, my phone buzzed. ‘It’s Jay, I was in the bath,’ he explained. ‘Yes, let’s do it.’ Despite talking for a number of weeks,…

Complete the grid then read down the shaded squares to reveal the hidden answer. Clue: Primate. ACROSS 6 Tree with smooth grey bark (5) 7 Extra material at the end of a book (8) 10 Enjoying continued success (2,1,4) 11 Wool fat (7) 12 Relating to or caused by motion (7) 13 Domed building (7) 14 Extremely small (11) 19 Complains whiningly, informally (7) 21 Vehicle with two wheels (7) 23 Undo or untangle (7) 25 Kitchen device (7) 26 In the open air (8) 27 Matt _, former Doctor Who star who played Prince Philip in The Crown (5) DOWN 1 For each year (3,5) 2 Front part of the neck (6) 3 Form of motor sport (10) 4 Gemstone (4) 5 Karen _, actor who played Amy Pond,…

Curvissa Sport Look and feel fabulous whilst working out in Curvissa’s latest sportswear collection. Trend-led curve clothing, accessories, trainers and supportive sports bras. Available in sizes 14-32 at curvissa.co.uk…

If you really want something in life, you can achieve it, right? Growing up, we’re always told that we can be anything we want to be. Whether that's from songs, films or even just from our loved ones, we're told to reach for the stars. As we become adults, our needs and wants may change, but the principle remains the same – if you want it, go out and get it. Whether that’s a job, partner, friendship or money. Really, the majority of us have been manifesting our entire lives, without even realising it. Although manifestation is considered something from the spiritual world, every one of us can put it into practice. ‘Manifestation is where you focus on what you want on an emotional and spiritual level and then you…

During the 1980’s, Sydney was shaken by a series of violent crimes. They struck fear in the Australian city for five long years. Someone was using guns and bombs to target members of the judicial service and even a church congregation. The campaign of terror left three dead, many injured and scores more mentally scarred for life. Incredibly, it all began with a row over a party. In October 1974, firefighter and ex-service man, Leonard John Warwick, married Andrea Blanchard. They had a daughter together and settled down in the heart of Sydney. But within six months of marriage, Leonard became abusive towards his wife. He kept her isolated, didn’t let her have house keys and refused to let her learn how to drive. Andrea knew her husband owned guns,…

We all know someone who likes to put their skills to the test in the kitchen. Whether they’re any good or not is another question, but we praise them all the same. So, whether it’s for their birthday, anniversary or maybe just a nice surprise, give them a greeting card like no other. Using a unique system of individual lino cut ingredient prints, each Kate Guy Regional Recipe Card contains cooking instructions on the back. These are the perfect gift for a cooking lover! www.kateguy.co.uk…

This week, our tip of the week will receive a great product from Addis! This caddy is a great storage solution for all manner of items around the home. Here this is shown with the Lynsey Queen of Clean pack of 5 supersponges. Great for a colour coded cleaning system around the home. For more ways to make your life easier, visit addis.co.uk Tomato trick Use a big dollop of ketchup to remove burn stains on your pans. Let it sit for a while then scrub it off and wipe clean. Lisa Adams, Midlands Small space We don’t have the space for a swing in our garden, so we used a beam and clipped a baby swing on for a short-term fix! Amanda Hadley, Hayseech Feeling hot If you’re heating…

Wrapping a towel around himself, my son Vinny plonked down on the sand next to me. ‘I don’t know how you manage in that water,’ I laughed. ‘It’s freezing!’ It was October 2015, and we were on holiday in North Wales. While my husband Mark, now 51, and I enjoyed relaxing on the beach, Vinny, then 14, had spent hours bodyboarding in the sea. We were having a great time away, but by 8pm that night, back in our caravan, Vinny started looking peaky. ‘Must be that icy water,’ I said. ‘Best you have an early night tonight.’ Vinny fell asleep right away, but by the next morning, he was throwing up non-stop, and I knew something was very wrong. All of a sudden, Vinny was taking short shallow breaths,…

Taking a seat, I quickly tucked into my canteen lunch. ‘Is that nice?’ I asked my granddaughter, Tiara, now 15. ‘Lovely, thanks Granny,’ she smiled back at me. Living in Georgia, Atlanta, I would regularly go for lunch at her high school. When she was a junior, she would run up to me and give me a huge hug. As she got older, she didn’t do that as much, but we still enjoyed our lunch dates every month. Or at least, that’s what I thought, until one day, that all came crashing down. ‘Granny, I don’t think you should come for lunch today,’ she told me quietly down the phone. ‘I don’t want to get into a row with the other kids.’ Her peers would call me names once I…

There’s really nothing better than receiving a surprise delivery of fresh flowers through the post, just trust us! That is why we’re giving you the chance to brighten someone’s day this week with an exclusive 20% discount off a beautiful bouquet of seasonal flowers, delivered to their door, from Eflorist.co.uk. Eflorist have been delivering flowers since 1947 and offer a lovely range of bouquets available to order online, that are the perfect gift for any occasion. Whether you’re looking for an anniversary gift, a birthday present or just a little something to show you’re thinking of them. With same day and next day delivery available on beautiful bouquets of flowers, there is also a collection of fabulous add-ons including mini bottles of Prosecco, red wine or gin, indulgent chocolates, mouthwatering…

Scrolling through my database, I search for the perfect match for my client. Blond, young, career-driven and based in the city – a compatible partner! YouÕll love him, I message her. Matchmaking couples has been my job for 15 years and I love what I do. I’m a relationship coach and marriage and family therapist. I guess you can call me cupid! I own a boutique matchmaking consultancy that serves the greater New York City area, and use my database, network and creative strategy to successfully pair relationships together. But whilst all my clients are getting married and starting families, I’m yet to find my own Mr Right. That’s not to say I haven’t tried, though… My dating history is colourful, to say the least! I’ve been in love three…

www.theastrologyroom.com ARIES 21 March–20 April Act as if what you do this week makes a difference, because it does! You start to see better ways of living, and if that means having to distance yourself from those who drag you down, then that is what you’re going to have to do, my friend. New friends on the scene show you how good life can actually be when you’re around those who enable your good points. Call: 09058 170 710* TAURUS 21 April–21 May I can see that you and a close one have not been communicating well as of late. You’re scared to know where you’ve been going wrong lately, but you realise with hindsight, that you may want different things in life after all. I would worry if you…

Clutching hold of my bag, I posed for a selfie before I made my way out the house. ‘Let’s get drunk,’ I quickly typed away on my phone, posting the picture to my Snapchat. It was August 2019 and I was off out for the night to celebrate with my big sister, Danielle, for her 30th birthday. I’d planned a Prosecco brunch and couldn’t wait for a night of partying and drinking with our family. But as I made my way to the bar, my phone wouldn’t stop pinging with messages. ‘OMG! Are you pregnant?’ one of my friends asked in reply to the photo I’d sent earlier. ‘You are joking?!’ I replied to her. ‘It looks like you’re holding a baby scan,’ she typed back. And as I looked…