Table of contents for 12-Oct-2023 in Pick Me Up!

Looking at my son trying on his first pair of boxing gloves, I could see the determination on his face. Teon was a very hyperactive child, and I wanted a sport to keep him entertained. ‘Can I try boxing, Mum?’ he’d asked me. And it was clear from his first session that Teon was a complete natural. You see, Teon dreamed of becoming a heavyweight boxing champion, looking up to boxing heroes such as Anthony Joshua. And aged 16, Teon was still just as determined to reach his goals as he was as a boy. Alongside boxing, we were a very tight knit family along with my second son, Dwight, now 14. Going on lots of days out, I remember our last holiday to Turkey before Covid. Quad biking, horse…

Sick and sore Q My 10-year-old son has recently had a cold. The skin around his nose is now red, sore and flaking away because of blowing his nose. What can I do to reduce the pain and his dry skin? Charlotte, Tewkesbury A Vigorous rubbing, contact with mucus, and friction from tissue use all disrupt the skin barrier. Applying moisture to the skin around the nose can help with the discomfort caused by sore skin. For dryness that occurs inside the nose, a saline spray can also assist with reducing this effect in children. Your son might need some support and supervision to use these though. When there is less moisture in the air, it’s easier for the nose to get dryer quicker. A humidifier can help to keep the…

Toast ‘n’ Egg ‘n’ Beans Two Slice Toaster, £55, Argos There’s nothing better than juicy, steaming beans on buttery toast with a sprinkling of cheese on top. A comfort meal that takes a few minutes to make – but what if it could be easier? With this kitchen must-have, it can be! A two-slice toaster, with a warming caddy attached, that can warm half a can of beans or poach an egg as your bread toasts perfectly. It’s bean-tastic! Verdict: GENIUS! A kitchen must-have! Get ya mouth round that… Sometimes you want a whole load of sandwich filling, but the bread just isn’t big enough – well think again… Sandwich Sandwich, a supreme lunchtime stop in Bristol, doesn’t have that problem. Layering their sarnies with the extreme fillings, you have to…

Browsing the selection of odd bits and bobs, I couldn’t help but fantasise about the previous lives these unwanted items once led. Who knew where they came from or who they once belonged to? Picking up antique trinkets at local car boot sales, I searched for the quirkiest items – I gave them a new lease of life in my childhood bedroom. And I just knew my love for collecting vintage items would stick with me for life, too. Meeting my husband Mark, 42, in 1999, I was surprised to learn that he was a car boot enthusiast like me. Instantly, we bonded over our shared love for studying history in school and finding out the hidden meanings behind the relics and artefacts. We bonded over our love for car…

Ultimate Burger YOU WILL NEED: For the burger: □ 500g beef mince□ ½ medium white onion□ 15g Dijon mustard□ 40g tomato ketchup□ Pinch of salt For the slaw: □ 1 red onion□ 1 carrot□ ¼ sweetheart or white cabbage□ ¼ red cabbage□ 50g mayonnaise, Greek yoghurt or crème fraîche□ black pepper For the pickled red onion: □ 2 red onions□ 100ml water□ 100ml cider vinegar□ 50g sugar For the toppings: □ mature Cheddar cheese□ 4 bacon rashers□ 2 tomatoes□ 1 gem lettuce□ 4 brioche buns□ mayonnaise□ ketchup 1 Finely dice the white onion and gently sauté in a little oil until softened for five minutes. Then allow to cool. In a bowl, mix the mince, mustard, ketchup, cooked onions and salt. 2 Form the mix into four even balls and…

ARIES 21 March–20 April Answers you could not get last week are now yours in abundance and in some cases, with more details than you would have liked. It’s time to decide who you want to be and realise that what recent dramas have taught you is that we all have the right to live the life we want, as long as we are not hurting others. In fact, this belief could soon change everything, Aries. Call: 09058 170 710* LEO 24 July–23 Aug With a new moon in Libra square to Pluto, you’re not afraid of what’s next. Instead, you’re ready to embrace the unexpected. You’re also ready to go solo on something which others did not show you support in, but which you now realise you need no…

Arthritis and exercise With World Arthritis Day around the corner, it’s time we all understand the condition better. Verus Arthritis are campaigning to show the benefits of exercise for those who are living with arthritis. One in six people in the UK have arthritis, which causes painful, stiff and restricted joints. People with arthritis can often find it hard to keep going with regular physical activity and exercise, but building activity into your daily routine can improve pain and decrease symptoms. Using your joints builds muscle strength and improves blood supply, all of which can ease your symptoms and keep your joints in better shape for longer. It’s important to remember that arthritis affects everyone differently, so try out different types of activities to see what works best for you.…

Walking through the door after work, I was searching for my furry friend, excited to see him after a long day. ‘I’m home! Where are you?’ I called out. Looking around, Sox was sat upon his cat tree and I could see the little white sock-like markings on his paws - which is where he got his name from. He jumped down and ran straight to me. As he meowed at my feet, I grabbed his lead and took him for a walk. We lived in a seventh floor flat, so it’s lucky Sox preferred being indoors – I still liked to make sure he got his exercise though. My daughter Sarah, now 37, found Sox online after someone couldn’t cope with him anymore. And it was perfect timing as…

In the dimness of my living room, I settled down to watch a film with my husband and son. ‘Interstellar again?’ I smiled at my son Luke, 15. ‘Yes please,’ he replied. And settling down next to my husband Jeff, 47, I switched on the TV. But this wasn’t a normal movie night. This wasn’t settling on the sofa on a Friday night like other families would. You see, Luke had been poorly for almost seven years. Spending much of that time in pain and sensitive to the light and sound, watching movies was one of the few pleasures in his life – he escaped his struggles in all his favourite films. Back in April 2016, when Luke was eight, he contracted strep throat and scarlet fever. The infection had…

Stuck for what to do? Write to Pick Me Up! for some good advice International Executive Coach of the Year and confidence & human behaviour expert, Jo Emerson, answers your questions. Jo’s email course can help you build your confidence – please visit: jo-emerson.com. Grab her book, Flying for Beginners on Amazon. Follow @jo_emerson_ on Instagram for more. She isn't my daughter… Q My stepdaughter is so foul-mouthed, I find her behaviour rude. She’s crude, loud and overbearing. However, I can’t say anything as she isn’t mine and my husband just ignores everything I say to him. How do I step in before I say something out of character? Jodie, Barnsley A I disagree that you can’t say anything. Just because she’s not biologically ‘yours’ it doesn’t preclude you from being…

Destined for greatness, Kara Nichols was a teen full of personality, ambition and like many others her age, a hint of rebellion, too. Showing an interest in the arts since a young age, in her Colorado, US, family home, Kara’s parents Julia and Paul Nichols were used to the kitchen table ladened with supplies – with Kara completing a range of arts and crafts projects. Also, with Kara and her mum volunteering at the local humane society in their free time, it was known that Kara used to beg the supervisors to let her pet the puppies before going home. Which of course led to the family eventually ending up with a furry friend, Goldie. Things were looking up for Kara With such a golden personality and heart herself, this…

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 to celebrate sharing smiles and happiness. See flyingflowers.co.uk for more details.…

Lying down on the bed, the lights dimmed and I was at peace. Me and my partner Chris, 36, held hands as the nurse spread the cold gel across my belly and we waited to see our baby. So far, my pregnancy was smooth – and so going in for our 20-week scan at Frimley Park Hospital, we weren’t at all worried. Watching as our tiny baby appeared on the screen, I was overjoyed. It only made me more excited for when we’d finally meet our little boy or girl. Only, as I looked closer at the screen and noticed the sonographer frowning, my reality came crashing down. ‘I can’t see…’ she muttered. ‘I just can’t see…’ ‘What’s wrong?’ I interrupted her. Chris held my hand even tighter than before.…

Gas Safe Register is the official list of gas businesses which are registered to work safely and legally on boilers, cookers, fires and all other gas appliances. • To find a Gas Safe registered engineer visit GasSafeRegister.co.uk or call 0800 408 5500. 1. How did you get into engineering? I moved to York in 2001 and was looking for a change. I applied to a local firm where I learnt plumbing and completely fell in love with it. From then, I decided to apply for an apprenticeship at British Gas which I completed in 2007. I’ve been a qualified Gas Safe registered engineer for over 15 years now and never looked back! 2. Have you faced difficultly as a woman in the industry? When I first started out there weren’t…

EASY PEASY STEPS 1.HAIR PROUD CLEAN & STRONG PRE-WASH HAIR MASK, £9.95, IAMPROUD.COM Have you ever thought of adding a pre-treatment mask to your hair wash routine? Well, now you’re going to want to. This haircare hero helps to remove unwanted product build-up and helps to protect each and every strand for healthier looking hair and scalp. Simply apply to dry hair for five to 10 minutes and then rinse before shampooing. 2.NOUGTY HOWDY CURLS SPRING BACK GEL CRÈME, £9.99, LOVENOUGHTY.CO.UK Curly hair gals, it’s time to wave hello to your newest friend. This new crème from Noughty helps to nourish locks and define your curls for a bouncy and voluminous look. With hair-loving ingredients such as sea kelp, all you have to do is apply a pea size amount…

Following the estate agent around the house, I was excited. Having been with my partner Martyn, 48, for seven years, in 2015, we were buying a house together. We’d always known of each other but had never been single at the same time. Meeting by chance in 2008, it became clear we wanted the same things in life – to settle down and have a family. And by August 2015 we’d found the perfect property for us – I couldn’t wait to move in, in the autumn. When I met Martyn back in 2008, he was a bit of an action man, he played cricket at a high level and he enjoyed football. Working as foreman, he was physically fit, too. At the time, I was working in London and…