Table of contents for 12-Nov-2020 in Pick Me Up!

When Mum opened her door and saw the state of me, she burst into tears. ‘What has he done to you?’ she cried, knowing immediately it was Luke who had caused the damage. Walking in, Ella, now 16, took one look at me and burst into tears. ‘Oh, Mum,’ she sobbed, wrapping her arms tight around me. She and Mum spent ages gently wiping my face with baby wipes, desperate to help me in any way they could. ‘You need to call the police,’ Mum said. I knew she was right, and as she held my hand, I bravely dialled 999 and told an officer everything Luke had done to me. ‘I’m so proud of you,’ Mum said to me once it was all over. ‘You’ve done the right thing.’…

This week, our tip of the week will receive a great product from Addis! The Stack and Store range is the ultimate space saving design. The canisters can be stacked on top of one another or stored on the worktop as separates. Their airtight lids have a screw lock mechanism, they’re space saving, and easy to dispense! For more ways to make your life easier, visit addis.co.uk Non-stick rice Adding a quick squeeze of lemon juice when boiling rice to prevent it from sticking to the pan. Sian Salsbury, Cradley Heath Painting problems For quick paint touch ups use a cotton bud instead of a paintbrush – to save having to wash out the paint brush. Rose Janes, Monmouth T-shirt trick If you need a peg bag, use a t-shirt…

My husband Lewis, 39, has always had an optimistic outlook on life. He is a really upbeat and positive person. When Lewis faced a lifechanging diagnosis, he stayed true to himself. ‘There’s no point in crying and getting upset,’ he told me. ‘We’ve got this!’ Seeing my husband go from strong to the weakest he’s ever been was incredibly hard. And yet he’s still smiled through it! Laughter truly is the best medicine, and Lewis’ joyful attitude is so contagious. At the start of this year, Lewis began suffering with terrible headaches. He had a skull injury when he was 14 years old, so we suspected the headaches could be related to that. But all the GP told him was: ‘You need to lose weight and quit smoking!’ As the…

Find your perfect match Fed up with having a VPL or a constant wedgie in your ill-fitting underwear? Stop right there! Nudea’s contemporary range of knickers embrace a modern, body-positive attitude to help you feel comfortable and beautiful in your underwear. No matter what your favourite style, Nudea have you covered… THE HUGGER – Features coverage on both tummy and bottom and gives good waist definition. This style is ideal for those wanting tummy coverage. THE THONG – Has less coverage on the bottom but still features midcoverage on the tummy. THE HIPSTER AND THE BIKINI – Both youthful styles with a lower rise which works well for those who are happy to have some tummy exposed. THE CHEEKY BRAZILIAN – Off ers the best of both worlds with less bottom…

Pulling into the drive, I switched the car off and put my hand to my head. Rubbing my temples, I groaned to myself. It was 2011, I was 21, and training to become a nurse. I adored my job, loved being able to help others, but now, after a long day, I had a splitting headache. ‘What do you want for your tea, love?’ my mum Pat, now 59, called as I plonked my handbag next to the front door. ‘I’m not really hungry, Mum,’ I sighed, walking into the kitchen to meet her. But as soon as I walked into the room, a rush of pain hit me in the head. The worried face of my mum became blurry in front of me, and I suddenly felt nauseous. ‘Charlotte,…

We’re loving this! A firm favourite with us since her appearance on The Great British Bake Off, Kim-Joy is here to make our festive season extra special with her latest cookbook, titled Christmas with Kim-Joy. There is plenty of seasonally edible cuteness packed into the beautifully illustrated pages. Find Christmas favours, as well as non-traditional recipes, for baking novices and seasonal bakers alike. You’ll spot marshmallow seals and mice living in stollen, arctic foxes and choux snowmen. Each creation is full of fun, magic and personality – just like Kim-Joy herself. Christmas with Kim-Joy, available for £10.99 on Amazon, would make a great gift or a perfect addition to your festive coffee table! Good deed of the week With worries of a wave of homelessness on the horizon, Tesco Mobile…

Complete the grid then read down the shaded squares to reveal the hidden answer. Clue: liqueur. ACROSS 1 Alex _, reprises his role as Bill S Preston in 20 Down (6) 4 Fraudster (8) 10 American state (9) 11 Jack in a pack of cards (5) 12 Moderate coldness (5) 13 Romantic meeting with a stranger (5,4) 14 Believer in pragmatism (7) 16 Great delight (4) 19 Treble _, musical symbol (4) 21 Sweet sauce (7) 24 Type of vehicle (6,3) 25 See 20 Down (5) 26 Major artery (5) 27 Discuss (4,5) 28 Allergy to pollen, dust, etc. (3,5) 29 Washed out (6) DOWN 1 Player given a free entry to a competition (4,4) 2 Of sailors or navigation (8) 3 Artist’s stand (5) 5 Samara _, Australian actor…

Growing up, I’ve always lived in a house of acne sufferers. My siblings suffered with the skin condition, so it was no surprise that at the age of 11, I started to develop it, too. At such a young age, I was the only one in my school who had acne, or even spots. ‘What are they?’ kids in my primary school would ask. At that age, no one was being mean, most of the kids were just curious. However, by the time I’d moved into secondary school, it turned into cruel taunting and jibes. ‘Hey Fodzilla,’ the kids would shout. At first, I thought it was because of my large forehead, but it turned out, it was because of my spots. I mostly suffered with them on my forehead…

The wedding day – one of the most important days in a couple’s life. Saying ‘I do’ in front of their family and friends, followed by an evening dinner and reception to dance the night away. According to the 2019 National Wedding Survey by Hitched Magazine, the average wedding costs L31,974 with a total of 103 guests attending. With an average of 20 months planning, weddings are a big occasion for couples, and one that doesn’t come cheap. However, this year, weddings have been forced to look slightly different due to the Coronavirus. ‘Micro weddings’ have become part of our everyday vocabulary. In 2019, the average wedding cost £31,974 With many being cancelled and postponed, it’s been a damaging year for the wedding industry – not to mention for the…

Helping my mum get my eight younger brothers and sisters ready for school, I barely had time to sort myself out. ‘That’ll do,’ I said to myself, as I ran a brush quickly through my hair. Aged 15, my mornings were always busy helping out with everyone else in the family. With my parents separated and three more siblings on my dad’s side, I was one of 12 and my childhood was pretty hectic. I was the one they’d turn to when they needed a shoulder to cry on or had a problem they couldn’t tell Mum and Dad. But I didn’t mind. That’s what big sisters are for and I loved taking care of the little ones. Spending my days with them, it was no surprise that I couldn’t…

Peering in the mirror, I looked for any signs that I was ageing. ‘I can’t believe I’m 30,’ I laughed to my daughter Ella, then 12. ‘You don’t look it, Mum!’ she smiled back at me. ‘Everyone says so.’ Shortly after my celebratory night out, I got a Facebook message from someone called Luke Patrice, now 32. I didn’t know Luke very well, but I’d seen him a few times before in the pub He was confident and always the centre of attention – with everyone laughing at his jokes and wanting to be around him. Do you fancy going on a date with me? he asked. I did find him charming and attractive, so I agreed to meet him for a drink. The following evening, he met me at…

Breathing is the greatest pleasure in life. One that many of us take for granted. For over a decade, I was unable to take a healthy, deep breath, and feel the fresh air on my lungs. I have suffered with short breath my entire life. In 2009, at 30 years old, I was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension as a result of a gene mutation. The condition causes high pressure in the blood’s vessels connecting the heart and lungs, which puts increased strain on the organs. I have severe breathlessness, palpitations and fatigue. And overtime, my symptoms worsened. ‘Feel this,’ I said to my husband Malcom, 47. My heart was working so hard that you could feel it beating under my armpit. Doctors said my heart had grown four times the…

Plonking her school bag on the floor in January this year, my then 14-year-old daughter Amelia, slumped herself onto the sofa. ‘I’m so tired,’ she sighed. ‘Probably all that dancing,’ I smiled, picking her bag up and tidying up around her. Amelia loved to dance and was forever pirouetting her way around the living room, but tonight she seemed wiped out. ‘You’ll feel better for an early night,’ I told her, heading off to the kitchen to get dinner ready for her and my youngest, Isabella, 10. ‘I’ve got a load more bruises too, Mum,’ she said, following me into the kitchen Lifting up her trousers, she showed me a dozen or so new bruises over her legs. Suddenly, there was a knock at the door ‘How’ve you managed that?’…

As the sonographer squirted cold gel across my tummy, I took a deep breath. ‘Would you like to find out the sex today?’ she smiled at me. ‘I’m desperate to know!’ I beamed back. I was at my 20 week scan and had been itching to find out whether I was having a little boy or girl for weeks now. While I didn’t really mind what I was having, a tiny part of me hoped it was a girl. But boy or girl, just to be at the scan was a miracle in itself. For years, I thought I might never be able to have children, after being diagnosed with polycystic ovaries in my teens. But after finding out I was expecting in January this year, I was thrilled ‘I…

Lee Kum Kee is sharing how to inject the tasty secrets of Asian cooking into our meals with help from their range of signature sauces. The Hong Kong based company is working with former MasterChef finalist, Sandy Tang, and author of Chinatown Kitchen, Lizzie Mabbott, to show food lovers how Chinese store cupboard essentials can transform your mealtimes. The recipe collection features Lee Kum Kee’s store cupboard hero, Premium Oyster Sauce, and essential Asian ingredients Premium Light Soy Sauce and Premium Dark Soy Sauce. Sandy Tang’s Korean bulgogi beef bowl Serves: 2 Sandy says: ‘My Korean bulgogi beef bowl is full of goodness and makes a great protein-packed dinner. Save the leftovers and enjoy for lunch the next day.’ □ 300g Rib eye steak, sliced and marinated with: □ 2 tbsp…

Geeta’s Indian chutneys, £1.69, Asda. No curry should be without an authentic Indian chutney, and Geeta’s award winning chutney range is exactly what you need to liven up your ‘fakeaway’. PG Tips Plus range, £2.50 per box, Asda, Co-op, Waitrose, Ocado and Amazon. PG Tips have created a cuppa that delivers the same great taste Brits know and love, with added benefits. Whether swapping out a morning coffee, or simply looking for a boost, the new launch is the UK’s first black tea range with added vitamins! Harvest Hells Lager, single cans £1.99, 4 packs £7.49, Wholefoods. A rich, robust take on the allweather Hells Lager, Harvest Hells is a red lager that’s full of flavour - perfect for cosying up with on a rainy Sunday afternoon. Fray Bentos new…