Table of contents for October 22, 2015 in Pick Me Up!

189 Cinderella’s castle in Disney World is 189ft tall – that’s 100ft taller than the castle in Disneyland and 22ft taller than Sleeping Beauty’s castle in Disneyland Paris. And, yes, I’ve been to them all! What A Winner! My music quiz team has been unbeaten since we started going a month ago. I didn’t know we were that clever! What A Treat! Some of my friends and I went to see the all-time classic Back To The Future in the local open-air cinema. Luckily, it didn’t rain on us! What A Puzzler! I’ve become obsessed with emoji quizzes! To test yourself, go to www. lifedeathprizes. com  and search ‘emoji quiz’. What A Pup! We have a new member of our…

A terrible stomach ache wrenched me from sleep. It was 3am, and something was really wrong. Panicking, I woke my mum, Lorraine, 44. ‘It could be appendicitis,’ she said to me. Worried, my dad, William, 46, raced me to Monklands Hospital and there, in A&E, doctors examined me. “So many questions zoomed through my mind” In labour ‘It’s not appendicitis, you’re in labour,’ one said. The news hit me like a truck. ‘What? How?’ I gasped. My son, Jack, was only a year old - I knew what being pregnant felt like. I’d suffered terrible morning sickness and cravings, I’d had a big bump, swollen ankles. This time, the baby hadn’t given me a single clue. But there was no time for questions. With no Maternity ward at the hospital,…

After my baby Charlie was born on 26 May this year, he was making a strangled, high-pitched noise. The doctor assured us everything was normal, but gave him antibiotics just in case. So my hubby Scott, 31, and I were allowed to bring Charlie home three days after. But, a few days later, my mate, Sophie, came round to meet him...and saw straightaway that something wasn’t right. ‘See that dip under his ribs?’ she said. ‘It looks like he’s struggling to breathe.’ We took Charlie to A&E. They said he was fine, and sent us home. A week later, Charlie’s squeak had deepened. His lips were blue. We took him to the hospital. This time, Charlie was given a heart monitor, then transferred to a London hospital. There, he was…

1 60,000 people die from rabies each year. True False 2 Rabies isn’t a medical emergency. True False 3 The only animal in the UK that carries rabies is a type of bat. True False 4 There is no vaccine. True False 1 TRUE Most cases occur in the developing world. Rabies has only been contracted once in the UK since 1902, when a bat-handler died in 2002. 2 FALSE Rabies is almost always fatal. But this can be prevented if treatment is given promptly after exposure, so always seek a doctor if you have been scratched or bitten by an animal you suspect is capable of carrying rabies. 3 TRUE The UK’s quarantine laws regarding the transportation of animals means it’s been rabies-free since the start of the 20th…

Polishing off the last roast potato on my plate, I smiled at my parents. ‘That was a great dinner, thanks,’ I said. But, inside, my stomach was churning. The meal had been lovely, but all I felt now was an overwhelming pressure to get it out of my body. It felt almost like an alien that had to go. The first chance I got, I was racing up the stairs, two at a time, to the bathroom. I was so used to this routine that I no longer even needed to stick my fingers down my throat to make myself sick. I could drink water, then use it to bring up the food by simply tightening my stomach muscles. Feeling light and clean, I went back downstairs, to find Mum…

PAROLED TO MURDER: USA It was back in 1990 and Arthur J Bomar had just been released on parole from a Nevada prison. Bomar had served 11 years for killing a man after an argument over a parking space in Las Vegas. But Bomar just couldn’t seem to stay out of trouble.... That same year, he was arrested after allegedly pulling a woman from a car and assaulting her. Just three years later, Bomar was convicted of assault in a fight outside a bar. Both arrests should have triggered revocation of his Nevada parole. Sadly, that didn’t happen. Instead, Arthur J Bomar was left to roam free and commit a second murder. In 1996, Aimee Willard was 22 years old and a star lacrosse player at George Mason University. The…

Food Swaps Save 95 cal Swap SMALL CAN OF TOMATO SOUP… 160CAL For SMALL TIN OF CARROT SOUP… 65CAL 17 …that’s how many hours a week us women spend thinking about food! Yes, that’s a whopping two-and-a-half hours a day, talking or thinking about what we’re going to eat, how hungry we are, planning and cooking meals. On top of that, we also say we feel hungry four times every day. 100-Calorie Gallery 2 medium chopped tomatoes + 2tbsp Feta, squeeze of lemon juice 8 large olives 12 baby carrots + 2tbsp hummus Flattering Fashion JEANS GENIUS Forget tight leggings – invest in dark indigo, straight-leg jeans. They’ll make your pins look amazingly long and slim! In sizes 8-22. Pick Me Up! FOR LESS THE SECRET OF MY…

With one son, Lex, 3, and a girl on the way, my hubby, Jerome, 33, and I geared up for my due date, 25 May this year. Lex would stay with Yasmine, a neighbour, while Jerome would drive to Queen Alexandra Hospital in our Nissan Micra. On 21 May, Lex had been to pre-school and I cooked our dinner as normal, but at 6pm, I felt a trickle while I was on the loo, then my contractions began, around 15 minutes apart. My labour with Lex had taken over 16 hours, so I stayed calm. ‘We’ve lots of time,’ I insisted. Dropping Lex at Yasmine’s, as arranged, we thought we were in for a long night. At 9pm, I climbed the stairs to bed when my contractions went into overdrive.…

Some people are just born performers. My daughter, Tash, was, that’s for sure. As a little girl, she loved singing, dancing, acting and putting on shows for me and her stepdad, Mike, and brother, Daniel. She dreamed of being on the West End stage. As she reached her teens, Tash and I were closer than ever. She often turned to me for advice. Like in February 2013... ‘I want to try using tampons,’ Tash, then 14, confided. She’d started her periods at 12, and wanted something discreet for her dancing and swimming. ‘No problem,’ I said. ‘Just make sure you read the leaflet carefully.’ When I was in my 20s, there’d been a major public-awareness campaign about toxic shock syndrome - a rare, but life-threatening bacterial infection caused by tampon…

If you have spare window tension rods, use them to dry washing – they can be fixed up high so the wet clothes are out of the way! Ann Johnson, Runcorn Find those easy-open tin lids exactly the opposite? Use a wooden spoon for more leverage. Barbara Holton, Harlow When your kids have outgrown their football shirts, sew them up and stuff with fabric to make fun cushions. Kirsty Dawson, Barrow-in-Furness When painting stairs, paint every other tread and allow those to dry before tackling the rest – that way you’ll still be able to climb them. Helpful if the bathroom is upstairs! Kimmy Yessen, Papworth Everard By attaching a small bottle brush to a flexible plastic tube, you have a handy gadget to clean dust and cobwebs from behind…

Head Lice Head lice are tiny insects more commonly found in the hair of children aged 4 to 11, and are thought to affect one in three kids in the UK. An infestation isn’t caused by dirty hair or poor hygiene, but by head-to-head contact. They can cause itching, but can be treated by combing with a fine-tooth comb and specially designed lotions and sprays. Give Yourself A Lift Go to bed! Keep the same bedtime. A 30-minute difference in sleep on weekdays to weekends raises the risk of being obese by 17%. www.gofundme.com/z5n7ta2s  Words Shelley Marsden Photos (What’s Normal What’s Not/Give Yourself A Lift posed by models) Rex Features/iStockphoto…

The birth of my son Ben on 2 June 2004 had been a difficult one, so my hubby Gary, 31, and I were overjoyed when we could finally bring him home. But Ben wasn’t hitting his milestones like he should. I fretted to my health visitor. She agreed he was a bit behind, but said he’d soon catch up. Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. A mother’s instinct. Finally, a year on, when Ben still wasn’t able to grip things between his legs, roll over and didn’t even attempt to crawl, he was referred to North Staffordshire Hospital for tests. There, I couldn’t believe what I was told. ‘Ben has spastic diplegia cerebral palsy,’ the doctor said. It meant his muscles were weak and stiff, and…

Strawberry & Orange Polenta Cake Serves: 10 Prep Time: 25 min Cook Time: 55 min 1 Preheat oven to 180C/Gas 4, and line base and sides of 20cm springform tin. 2 Put orange juice and 6tbsp conserve in pan with 150ml water. Bring to boil, stirring, until conserve has melted. Add orange slices and simmer for 10-15 min. Lift slices from pan and use to line base and sides of tin. Reserve poaching liquid. 3 Beat butter with sugar until creamy. In a separate bowl, mix flour, almonds, polenta and baking powder. 4 Beat eggs into butter and sugar, adding a spoonful of dry ingredients. Fold in remaining dry ingredients with orange zest, juice, vanilla…

Reading the latest issue of Pick Me Up! I couldn’t put it down. I loved nothing more than settling on the sofa with a brew and my favourite mag. Then, one day in 2008, an advert for Pick Me Up! Bingo caught my eye. I’d always loved playing at the bingo halls with my friends. But working full-time at a local games arcade, I rarely had time to go any more. I liked the idea of being able to play at home, though. So, later that night, I signed up. Welcome, people in the chat rooms messaged me. The other members - or roomies as we call them - were a friendly bunch. I soon got chatting to a few and made some new mates. Trying a few of the…

By 1998, John Leslie Coombes had already been convicted of murder twice. Coombes committed murder in 1984, when he killed Henry Desmond Kells in a row over a woman. He’d stabbed Henry repeatedly. Coombes stood trial a year later and said he couldn’t remember the attack, blamed another man. His ploy failed and the judge sentenced Coombes to life with a minimum of 11 years, accepting he’d lost control due to a psychiatric condition, made worse by drugs and alcohol. In 1998, Coombes was also convicted of a murder committed nine months before he’d killed Henry. Coombes had attacked Michael Speirani on a fishing trip, thrown him overboard, then run over him with the boat’s propellers. Coombes was sentenced to 15 years, to serve a minimum of 10. But in…

‘I typed out messages with a soppy grin on my face. Bet you can’t chat all night, Steven Howarth, 20, had written. Bet I can, I replied. Steven was right, though. I nodded off - but not until about 4.30am! We’d met a few days earlier on a dating website, and it’d been non-stop chatting ever since. I loved how open and honest Steven was. Even about difficult topics. ‘I’m going blind,’ he’d told me, explaining he’d been born with a disorder of the retina called Leber’s congenital amaurosis. It meant he had poor vision, couldn’t see in the dark. And was likely to go blind before he turned 30. But brave Steven faced it head-on. And, if it didn’t matter to him, then it didn’t matter to me, either.…

I studied Animal Care at college, and since May this year, I’ve worked in the entertainments team at Brighton’s Sea Life Centre. I love being hands-on with animals. So, rather than rest on Sundays, I volunteer at Drusillas Park, East Sussex. I help out in the Lemurland enclosure. There I fell instantly in love with Scar. As his name suggests, he has war wounds, so isn’t the prettiest. At 14, he’s the oldest of 13 lemurs, and is often left out by the others. Bless him! So I spend extra time feeding him and offering my company. Wild, they can’t be petted, but Scar seems to like me being there. Each lemur has its own personality, and Scar’s an absolute sweetheart. He never shows anger - probably why he’s been…

LIBRA 24 Sept–23 Oct Many of you Librans will be thinking of putting money into your home – to rent, to buy or even just to decorate! Independence is calling and no-one can stop you. Unless, of course, they’re willing to make you an offer you can’t refuse! Call: 09058 170 716* AQUARIUS 21 Jan–19 Feb You’re intent on following a new lifestyle that’s slowly, but surely taken hold of your heart. This comes with a price, of course – an exciting new venture needs finance. Expect criticism from Cancerians, but don’t take it to heart. Call: 09058 170 720* GEMINI 22 May–21 June You’re keen to be more independent at work, but it’s to your advantage to work as part of a team now. Money can be made, and…

Four Way Pan, £19.95, www. houseofbath.co.uk Cooking for one often creates as much washing up as cooking for four! This pan with removable four-way dividers saves space and time, as you can cook a tasty meal for one in a single pan! Emily Fruit Crisps in Crunchy Pineapple, £1.79, Holland & Barrett If you fancy something sweet that isn’t high in calories, try these delicious crunchy fruit crisps. The packaging is really pretty, too! Kitty Laptop, £19.95, www.prezzybox.com Is your moggy jealous when you surf the Net instead of paying them attention? Now they can get even with their own laptop! The scratchy ‘keyboard’ will keep them entertained and you can put your own pic on screen.…

The dance floor was packed, the music loud. It was a Saturday night in October 2010, and I was on my usual evening out with my friends. We’d spent the evening swigging cocktails before heading off to a local nightclub for a boogie. We were having a great time on the dancefloor, but, as I popped a move, I suddenly slipped over. ‘Owww!’ I groaned, as my back hit the floor. ‘Are you OK?’ my mates asked, helping me up. ‘Yeah,’ I said. ‘Just shaken.’ And embarrassed! But after a few more drinks, I didn’t think much more about it. The next morning, though, I was in agony, couldn’t sit down. Over the next few days, it got more and more painful, with the ache radiating down my left leg.…

When Richard Pollard, 24, walked into the hairdresser’s where I worked in July 2010, I was hooked. I was studying my apprenticeship and Richard joined to train as a barber. A confident charmer, he’d chat to all the girls. Then 17, I had a fella at the time, but secretly had a crush. A year later, newly single, I got my chance with Richard. Our workmates arranged after-work drinks but everyone dropped out at the last minute. Just me and Richard... ‘What you drinking?’ he said. We had a great laugh. As the night ended, we had a fumbled kiss and hug goodbye. A week later, he texted, asking me out to a local club. After that, we were an item. I was living with my mum, Gill, 56. ‘He’s…

Grief hits people in different ways. After losing my baby boy, Thomas, I didn’t think I’d ever smile or feel happy again. He was just 3 months old when he died, in March 2010. His death put down to Sudden Unexplained Death in Infancy. Already a mum to Zarah, 14, and Coral-Rose, 8, I had to keep going. But, apart from my girls, everything else seemed pointless. My marriage had ended, and I’d quit my job as a publicist. A year on, I had another son, Phoenix. Yet something was still missing. Thomas had taught me life was precious, and I owed it to him not to waste mine. In December last year, Coral-Rose was watching Pirates of the Caribbean on DVD. At a loose end, I watched it with…

Child exercise Q Should children do the same amount of exercise recommended to adults, ie, 30 minutes a day, five times a week? Lizzie, Southampton A They actually need much more! Children under 5 need to do three hours of activity per day, of mixed intensity. This means you should limit the amount of time they spend in a pushchair or watching TV each day. Miscarriage and menstrual cycle Q Sadly, I recently had a miscarriage. It’s been three weeks, but my period hasn’t come back. How long is it supposed to take? Rebecca, Newcastle upon Tyne A It can take four to six weeks before a period returns after a miscarriage. It may take longer to establish a regular cycle and, of course, you still need to use contraception…

Built on a narrow strip of land, surrounded on three sides by the shark-infested Tasman Sea, Port Arthur once housed Australia’s most dangerous, violent criminals. That was over 150 years ago. These days, Port Arthur Historic Site is a museum. Tourists come from miles around to learn about its dark history. And it was here that 35 people were shot dead in a coldblooded killing spree that shocked the world. Among the dead were 3-year old, Madeline Mikac, her big sister, Alannah, 6, and their mum, Nanette, 36. All of them were shot in the head at point-blank range, leaving Walter Mikac without his wife and family, on the day before his 34th birthday. The date was 28 April 1996, and the gunman was Martin Bryant, a man with a…

1 Rice Pudding by Sainsbury’s, 400g A really good, thick pudding, with loads of rice and not overly sweet. Serve hot with stewed plums or apples for a lovely, filling pud. 2 Tesco Creamed Rice Pudding, 400g Almost our favourite, because it’s rather like a bowl of porridge – perfect with a generous dollop of jam stirred through! 3 Lidl Salco Creamed Rice Pudding, 624g This great-value tin serves four and has a super, creamy flavour. Plus it’s equally tasty hot or cold! PLUS How to whip up your own at home! Make it yourself... Serves: 4 Prep Time: 5 min Cook Time: 18 min 1 Put all ingedients into a pan, and heat to a simmer. Cook for 16-18 min, until rice is tender…

There’s an argument that rehabilitation works for some criminals in prison, but not all. And what happens if some barbaric offenders are released – sometimes early – after serving time? Will they be changed people? Or will they reoffend? Here are some horrific cases of murderers from around the world who’ve been released and went on to commit more cruel, jawdropping crimes… 'AN EVIL, VICIOUS MAN’: UK In 1979, Paul Brumfitt, then 24, and his 16-year-old girlfriend had been arguing. It sparked in Brumfitt an eight-day spree of terror... In July that year, he beat a 59-year-old shopkeeper to death in Tilbury, Essex and went on the run in Denmark. There, he strangled bus driver Teddy Laustrup, 40. By 1980, at the Old Bailey in London, Brumfitt pleaded guilty to…

TRIED & TESTED This week: Fake-lash effect mascara 1 Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara, £3.30, Wilko This lengthened my lashes without making them look clumpy. I liked that the end result was noticeable but not too fake looking. 2 Maybelline The Falsies Volum’ Express Mascara, £7.99, Superdrug The big brush helped to lift and separate every one of my lashes, making them look much more defined. 3 Avon Big & False Lash Volume Mascara, £8.50, avonshop.co.uk The almond-shaped brush let me get to the root of my lashes and followed the curve of my eye, so I could coat every lash for high-impact results. Want the perfect... HANDCREAM? Try one of these… Smells good: Palmer’s Coconut Oil Hand Cream Coconut oil is known for its naturally…

From a young age, I knew I was different. I loved girly things like My Little Pony, glitter and hair clips. Problem was, I was a boy. I’m not normal, I’d think, confused. I was embarrassed to tell anyone, but as I got older, it was harder to ignore. Aged 13, I’d buy make-up with my pocket money, spend hours applying lippy. It became my little secret. As a release, I kept a diary. I wrote about my love of make-up and clothes. But, aged 15, my secret was rumbled... ‘We found your diary,’ my mum and dad said. Embarrassed, I wasn’t angry. They’d been worried about me, so had a sneaky peek. They were shocked, confused, yet agreed to support me. Seeing how upset they were made me feel…

As a baby, my girl, Roseanna, would watch me play the drums, mesmerized. When she was 2, I popped her on the stool and, for fun, I made two small sticks from old ones. A natural, by 6, she played in her primary-school concerts. When I’m not gigging, I tutor rock and jazz drummers and, last October, a lad had left his Grade 8 book behind and Roseanna flicked through it. ‘Want to play it?’ I asked. She leapt on the kit and, with perfect technique, was able to sight-read the sheet music. ‘That was quite easy,’ she said. From then on, every night, she’d practice Grade 8 pieces - usually tough for sixth formers! ‘Do you want to take the exam?’ I asked, tentatively. ‘Why not!’ she declared. Eight…

Relationships are always a focus of concern in our lives. Are you seeking a romantic partner? Are you experiencing difficulties in your current relationship? Are you both compatible? Our team of specially selected love psychics can help you find the answers you’re looking for on all matters of the heart. Using the ancient art of the tarot, your psychic reader will provide revealing answers. LIVEPSYCHICS & MEDIUM! Call our live Psychics and Mediums now! Pay by your phone bill… Love Psychics 0906 174 1693 (£1.50/min)** Live Mediums 0906 174 1777 (£1.50/min)** Call Freephone 0800 063 0687 Book your reading with our friendly advisors Enjoy your consultation Or simply text LOVET (Space) plus your question to 86655 (Texts £1.50 per msg x 2)***…

It hit me like a ton of bricks. ‘I’m afraid Scott’s got a rare blood disorder,’ a doctor said. My little boy, then 6, hadn’t been feeling like himself for a few days. A speckled rash had crept across his body. He was covered in bruises, too. ‘I don’t know how they got there,’ he told me. Concerned, I’d taken him to the Royal Victoria Infirmary for some blood tests. Then came the earth-shattering blow... ‘He’s got aplastic anaemia,’ the doctor continued. It meant his bone marrow had stopped working and he was susceptible to infections. He had no immune system, so the slightest bug could kill him. The doctor explained it’s not genetic, the cause is unknown. ‘There must be something you can do,’ I begged, devastated. But Scott’s…

I work as a mental-health nursing lecturer and live with my partner, John. I signed up for Quidco two-and-a-half years ago, after hearing about it from a friend. I thought it seemed like such a good idea. It’d certainly help me out, and let me have some extra treats along the way, too. I’ve always been a big online shopper. I find that it’s so much more convenient for me, and also means that I don’t have to trawl round town every weekend. So, why not get some extra pennies in the process by signing up to Quidco? I started noticing the benefits of using Quidco straightaway, especially when I had to pay for things like utilities and insurance. The biggest amount I earned in one go was £120 cashback…