Table of contents for 31-Aug-2023 in Pick Me Up!

Seeing the players progress in the Football Association (FA) talent pathway, I had a bittersweet feeling. As their football coach, I felt so proud knowing that despite their disabilities, some of them could end up playing for England. But knowing that there were so many others who were missing out was frustrating. And seeing only a few players from my cerebral palsy (CP) team for 12 to 16-year-olds progress left me feeling heartbroken. I’d grown so close to them and I just wanted to see them succeed. ‘Why can’t there be a bigger program?’ I asked my fellow coaches. There was such a high demand for it, too. We put our players at the forefront And so we set up Cerebral Palsy United FC in 2014. Putting our players at…

Warning signs There are around 100 different subtypes of sarcoma, with several main symptoms to be aware of. Dr Sorrel Bickley explains the main symptoms of sarcoma. • Visit: sarcoma.org.uk A lump which is growing or changing, or bigger than golf ball The most common symptom to look out for is a lump, which could be anywhere on the body including your arm or leg. Most lumps aren’t harmful and a lump that isn’t getting bigger, isn’t causing any pain, or that has been there for a long time isn’t likely to be anything to worry about. But if it’s growing quicky or measures more than 5cm – about the size of a golf ball – then you should get it checked by your GP. Swelling, tenderness or pain in…

Carrying another load of dirty plates back to the kitchen, I sighed. This wasn’t the life I wanted. At 19, I was working as a waitress, doing long shifts for a measly £6 an hour. The evening work meant I didn’t have much of a social life and didn’t get to see my friends as often as I would have liked. I loved travelling but the poor pay and lack of holiday stopped me going on trips. And by summer 2020, I’d had enough. But what could I do instead? Scrolling through articles on my phone, I kept noticing women who had made a fortune on OnlyFans. These girls were making thousands, working when they wanted to. I knew of a few girls in my area who had joined the…

Murder Trial: The Disappearance of Renee and Andrew MacRae, BBC Two This compelling two-part documentary series details the astonishing account of a missing mother and her three-year-old – one of the biggest unsolved murder cases in Scottish legal history. On trial in Inverness High Court is 80-year-old William MacDowell, who stands accused of killing his former lover and her son, disposing of their bodies and concealing the murders for 45 years. Filmed over several years with unprecedented access to the legal teams, police and the victims’ family, this series takes viewers inside the courtroom of one of the country’s most high-profile murder trials. DON’T MISS Islands, Sri Lanka, Sky Nature Off the southern coast of India lies the island of Sri Lanka – an abundant oasis in a tropical ocean.…

Bitesize! pg 3 Peat Strike it! pg 13 Spaniels (Cross out: 1, 19, 20, 23, 35, 42, 59, 67, 82) Cross it! pg 45 Mornings Fill it! pg 13 Android Movie links! pg 28 (Answer: Margot Robbie – BARBIE - Ryan Gosling – THE NOTEBOOK – Rachel McAdams – MEAN GIRLS – Lindsay Lohan – THE PARENT TRAP – Dennis Quaid) Crack it! pg 38 Everything Number fit! pg 13 2402 Sudoku pg 45 1,4,1 Follow it! pg 6 Farmyard 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.…

Bitesize! ACROSS 1 Sprites (4) 5 Humble (4) 6 Against (4) 7 Is obliged to (4) DOWN 1 Mosque prayer leader (4) 2 List of dishes (4) 3 Household animals (4) 4 Parody (4) Read down the shaded squares for the answer. Answer on page 47. 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 47. Fill it! Complete the grid then read down the shaded squares to reveal the hidden answer. Clue: Type of robot. Answer on page 47. ACROSS 1 See 16 Across 4 Wealthy (8) 10 Michaela Jaé __, star of film Saturday Church and TV series Pose (9) 11 See 16…

Choosing a dress for the evening, I knew I had a night of celebrations ahead of me. With everything planned for quite a while, going to a friend’s house for their birthday, before heading to Revolution and then seeing where the night would go, I’d been added into a group chat on Facebook with 30 people. If you want to come and drink at mine, you can, my friend Joel* messaged – inviting me to pre-drinks in December 2019. Knowing roughly half of the group, the party was in full swing with plenty of drinking games. Only, there was a certain person in particular who didn’t fit in with the group. ‘Hey Kayleigh, how’s it going?’ Craig, a familiar voice, said as I poured another drink. Having spoken to Craig…

We’ve been binge-watching Is It Cake, Too? on Netflix, and it’s left us wondering how we can attempt our own realistic bakes at home. Fear not – baking expert and Candy’s Cupcakes founder, Candice Bannister, is here with her top five tips… Please visit: candyscupcakes.co.uk • Invest in an airbrush machine If you’re serious about creating a hyper-realistic cake at home, then I’d definitely recommend investing in an airbrush machine that’s suitable for cake decorating. These machines are key when it comes to creating the correct blend of colours and a flawless finish. They are fairly inexpensive and also great fun to use. • Use ganache Ganache is a whipped icing or filling made out of chocolate and cream. When making hyper-realistic cakes you should cover the whole cake with…

NEW BRAND ALERT With luscious designs and the cutest accessories, shop these latest items from Fable England. • To see more please visit: fableengland.com These hand painted jewellery items make a perfect gift for nature lovers and fashion icons alike! Mixing ditsy print is something to try, not something to shy away from. More is more in our eyes!…

Glass Rimmer for Cocktails, £13.99, Amazon Some drinks just don’t taste the same without a salty, fiery or sweet rim on the glass – that’s what makes your homemade drinks taste like you’ve got them at a bar, right? This simple kitchen gadget means that you can achieve that without making a mess. Pour your lime juice into one section and salt in the other – twist your glass into each division for that perfect rim every time! Verdict: GENIUS! It’s Margarita time! Say cheese to that! An Espresso Martini is a drink that a lot of us may appreciate – the bitter buzz of coffee, mixed with sweet vanilla and vodka. But what about adding some Parmesan shavings on top as well as some coffee beans? Sorry, what?! This quirky…

Less than 600 calories! ONLY AVAILABLE UNTIL 3 SEPT! OUR MUST TRY Lemon & Raspberry Shortbread Bites YOU’LL NEED… For the biscuits: ☐ 65g unsalted butter, room temperature☐ 25g caster sugar☐ 90g plain flour For the topping: ☐ 4 tbsps crème fraîche☐ 4 tbsps Bonne Maman Lemon Curd☐ 12 large fresh raspberries☐ Icing sugar, to dust SERVES: 12 METHOD: 1) Preheat the oven to 190°C. Line a baking sheet with baking parchment. Beat the butter and the sugar together until smooth then stir in the flour to form a smooth paste. 2) Then put the paste between two sheets of lightly floured baking parchment and gently roll out until the paste is about 1cm thick. 3) Stamp out small, bite-sized rounds and place on the baking sheet. Re-roll the trimmings…

We’re loving Who said you couldn’t combine chilli and coffee?! Spice up your life and get your tastebuds tingling with this sizzlin’ latte. The new Chilli Vanilly Latte from Creams Café is your classic iced latte, blended with yummy vanilla syrup – and a dash of hot chilli – before being topped with whipped cream and a sprinkling of chilli powder. With three heat levels – British Summer (mild), Heatwave (medium) and Scorcher (hot) – there’s something for every palette. Can you handle the heat? • From £4.45, available until 10 October • Visit: creamscafe.com It’s an odd combo – but it works! GET IN TOUCH Send us your stories and photos, including all names and ages, a daytime phone number and full address. E-mail hello@pickmeupmag.co.uk WRITE TO Pick Me Up!…

Coming to a close, the end of the summer holidays is often a rollercoaster ride of emotions for both children and parents alike. Getting the last little bits ready for school, stocking the fridge with lunch essentials and the dreaded thought of homework – oh my! Only, have you realised that your child may be more upset than usual about the idea of heading back to the playground? Is there a chance that something more is going on under the surface? With 60% of young people admitting to being bullied during the last 12 months, according to the Ditch the Label Anti-bullying Survey, it seems that there could be a greater problem at hand. Perhaps the anxiety of going back to the playground isn’t just the back to school blues,…

HANDBAG MUST-HAVES LIP DRENCH ULTRA-GLAZE COLOUR BALM, £4 Lip balms are a must this time of year and these Ultra-Glaze colours are just the ticket. Packed with colour and bursting with skin-loving ingredients, these moisturising balms will give you a gorgeous pout. With five shades to choose from and rave reviews, these aren’t ones to miss. FLAWLESS COLOUR CORRECTING PALETTE, £5.95 Conceal, colour and correct with this all-in-one palette. A handbag must-have, it contains six cream colour-correcting formulas and one pressed powder to help you hide, brighten, lift and correct no matter where you are. Available from W7 cosmetics LUXE FOR LESS Sanctuary Spa are well-known and loved for their indulgent self-care products. And the new Golden Sandalwood Natural Oils collection is no exception. A clever twist of sandalwood with…

Wookey Hole Caves, Somerset These famous caves make the perfect adventure for all the family. Heading through eight chambers of beautiful, limestone caves, you’ll see a new world. Each chamber has its own story to tell, from the famous Wookey Hole cheese to the ancient Celtic burial grounds. Watch out for the Wookey Hole Witch, too – she likes to make an appearance during school holidays! See if you can spot her stone dog! Don’t worry, she’s not as scary as she looks! The caves have existed for millions of years and have been home to cave hyenas, Neanderthals, witches and Celts. The Romans even built a spa on the grounds, worshiping the natural spring that flowed through the caves. After you’ve explored the depths of the caves, come above…

YOU’VE GOTTA NEIGH! Strolling around as my students flicked brushes over canvas, I looked over the bright colours. ‘Looking good,’ I smiled. But these weren’t your average bunch of amateur artists. These were very special therapy donkeys! At Miniature Donkeys for Wellbeing, a not-for-profit social enterprise in South Norfolk, I was putting the mule through their paces as they all created their own masterpieces. The adorable miniature donkeys visit care homes, hospices, schools, hospitals and even prisons, to help improve people’s wellbeing and bring a smile. I joined the group after I retired and haven’t looked back since. It’s so rewarding – being around the sweet little donkeys gave me a boost, too. And while painting was great for the donkeys’ enrichment, it wasn’t just for fun – the mare-brained…