Table of contents for 23-Jun-2022 in Pick Me Up!

Struggling out of bed, I screamed in horror. The whole room was spinning, and I collapsed to the floor. I had no idea what was going on, and as I stared at the heater on the ceiling, it looked as if it was moving. My husband, Omar, 41, rushed to my side. As he helped me down the stairs, I felt like I was drunk – but I hadn’t touched a drop of alcohol for days. It was a miracle I was able to then get to the doctor’s office. He explained I had benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), which is caused by certain head movements. I’d always had terrible allergies, and hay fever was the very worst. It was spring 2017, and the pollen was out in full force.…

WORTH £9.99! In Injustice: Wrongly Convicted, discover the nightmarish true tales of people falsely accused of crimes they didn’t commit. Delve into the details of slovenly police work, corruption, fake witnesses and other flaws in the criminal justice system that have landed these people in prison, or even on death row. Amongst those locked up and left to rot for crimes they didn’t commit are these men. On 21 November 1974, two bombs exploded in pubs across Birmingham. It was a tragedy that claimed the lives of 21 and injured hundreds more. But for six innocent Irishmen, it was the start of an ordeal that lasted almost two decades. Accused of planting the bombs, the men were imprisoned, vilified by police and reviled in the media. To get your free…

With summer fashion truly in full swing, here is a round-up of our trendy must-haves that are in stores now… PEACOCKS Top tip Wear shorts under dresses to help out with chub rub! FAT FACE Top tip Add a white tee under a playsuit for an extra layer PRIMARK Top tip Don’t forget a hat or a pair of glasses to protect yourself from the sun! MARKS & SPENCER…

Do you struggle with reading, writing and spelling? Maybe you confuse the order of letters in words? Once upon a time, you may have been led to believe that this was because you were someone of lower intellect – far from it! It is estimated that one in 10 people struggle with some form of dyslexia and they may not even know it. Despite initial stereotypes, dyslexia has nothing to do with intelligence at all. According to the British Dyslexia Association, although the condition primarily affects reading and writing, it’s not that simple at all. Dyslexia is about processing information and those with it may have difficulty remembering information they see and hear, which can affect learning. It may also impact their organisational skills. While the exact cause of the…

Getting beach body ready this summer is all about how you feel – confidence is key! Have a ‘Strong Girl Summer’ with these tips from personal trainer Jenny Hutchins, who’s on a mission to help women fall in love with their bodies. Focus on consistent progress In order for you to become stronger and fitter, you need to not only lift heavy weights, but also practice progressive overload. This is where you gradually increase the weight, frequency or number of repetitions or sets in your training, to continually progress and get stronger. Feed your mind with positivity Being physically strong is cool, but you know what’s even cooler? Becoming mentally strong as well. You can start by implementing mindset work into your daily routine with simple mindfulness exercises – like…

We’re all tightening our belts at the moment – so these money-saving tips from personal finance expert Iona Bain have come at the perfect time! She’s teamed up with Iceland to make your money go further. 1 Switch to free delivery services By shopping for your groceries online with free delivery, you can save up to as much as £115.87 per year on the cost of fuel. 2 Create a ‘capsule kitchen’ Ensure you have versatile ingredients in your cupboards. My kitchen heroes are tinned tomatoes, stock, beans, fish and veggies (tinned and frozen work well), as well as herbs and spices. 3 Invest in a cook pot Slow cooking pots are a great timesaver, as you can pop your dinner in the pot in the morning and leave it to…

Popping our food in the oven, I headed in to the living room to join the rest of my family. Chatting away and glued to the TV, I completely lost track of time. ‘What’s that smell?’ my husband Jason, 50, asked. ‘Oh God,’ I panicked, realising I’d forgotten all about our dinner. However, this wasn’t exactly a rare occurrence. Everyone joked that I was the forgetful one in the family. I’d forget my own head if it weren’t attached to me! As a nurse for South Central Ambulance Service and a mum of three – Luke, now 19, Emily, now 12, and Aimee, now 22 – I was so busy. Who could blame me for being a little forgetful? Only, at the beginning of 2019, things started to get a…

Sue Tappenden is a coach and people expert who helps her clients improve their relationship with themselves and others. (www.headspaceforchange.com) Keeping quiet Q I had a wild time in my past and slept with more people than I've admitted to my current partner, who has only slept with one other person. Do I need to tell him even though I'm lying? Emily, London A Everyone’s sexual history is personal and your past shouldn’t be compared to anyone else’s. Sleeping with more people than your partner doesn’t make you a better or worse person than him. All healthy and happy relationships are based on trust and it’s honesty that builds trust! How would you feel if you discovered he had lied to you? If, and when you feel ready, tell him…

Shingle shame Q I’ve had shingles five times in two years. Why does it keep coming back, and is there anything I can do to stop it? Andrea, Porthcawl A Shingles is a viral illness, which is caused by the reactivation of the chickenpox virus that you were exposed to when you were a child. Its classic symptom is a blistering rash that can occur anywhere on the body, but only on one side. Shingles can make you feel generally unwell, often with high temperature. Although it can occur at any age, there is a greater risk with increasing age, being immunocompromised or having low immunity. People often associate shingles with being rundown or stressed. It can be treated with antiviral medication if caught in the early stages, so do…

Stepping my tanned and freshly manicured feet into a slinky dress, I ripped the white price tag off. Size 10, TK Maxx, £19. Gazing into the mirror, I stared at my reflection, feeling a little anxious. It was 2010, and coming out of a negative relationship, I needed to finally concentrate on myself. Getting glam, fixing my hair, and wearing a pretty dress, helped me to do exactly that. Rebuilding the relationship I had with my self-confidence. Deep down, I always had a burning interest in pageant events that took place across America, catching sight of them on TV shows. Only, when I found out there was a group near me that had started to organise the same events, my heart skipped a beat with excitement. ‘Sign me up!’ I…

As the nation faces rising food prices, WW has teamed up with Miguel Barclay, the chef known for his moneysaving £1 meals. Miguel is passionate about creating delicious recipes, that are easy to make. All the ingredients that Miguel uses can be found in any supermarket and all his cooking techniques are simple and quick – which fits perfectly with the WW programme. Gnocchi soup Dumplings are a great addition to soups, so why not gnocchi? I know it sounds strange, but it really does work brilliantly. If you don’t want to blend the soup, just chop the onion extra small and make a chunkier, more rustic version. □ ½ onion, diced□ 1 garlic clove, diced□ 200g chopped tomatoes (from a 400g tin)□ 200ml water□ ½ vegetable stock cube□ Handful…

Jude’s Strawberry Coulis, £2.50, Sainsbury’s Jazz up desserts and ice cream with this tangy strawberry coulis – with real pieces of fresh fruit, for a quintessentially English taste. Gordon’s Premium Pink 0.0% Alcohol Free Spirit, £15, Morrisons If you’re off the booze but still fancy a tipple, pour yourself a glass of Gordon’s alcohol-free pink ‘gin’ – just like the original, but without the hangover! JJ Whitley Raspberry Vodka, £17, Asda The fruity and fresh taste of sweet raspberries gives vodka a summery twist! Swizzels Ice Lollies, £2.25, Iceland Be like a kid in a frozen sweet shop with an icy take on iconic childhood candies! Grab three for £5 – mix and match Parma Violets, Drumstick Squashies and Love Hearts lollies. Stock up to save on expensive trips to…

www.clairepetulengro.tv 16 – 23 June Catch Claire live on Facebook ARIES 21 March–20 April Don’t let Saturn’s retrograde motion slow your pace. Instead use it as a chance to tie up loose ends. Make the effort to be on time, as important faces will be judging you. This weekend sees you making contact with someone you thought had forgotten about you. You’re about to find out, they haven’t stopped talking about you, Aries! Life gets interesting now. Call: 09058 170 710* TAURUS 21 April–21 May Positive mind, positive vibes, leads to a positive life. You’ve learnt so far this month, that the shell must break, before the bird can fly. There’s a more psychic feel to your chart, where it will pay for you to trust in your instincts. Money…

This week, our tip of the week will receive a great product from Addis! This storage shelf is ideal for use both in and out the house. With four levels the shelf storage unit is perfect for storing all manner of items from office equipment through to garden tools. For more ways to make your life easier, visit addis.co.uk Fresh food I save the plastic bags from cereal boxes to keep meat products fresh in the fridge. They last ages! Gloria Wilding, Merseyside Easy peeler If you struggle opening bananas, stick the point of a sharp knife through the stalk and the skin will then peel off easily. David Anderson, Sunderland Push your pennies The money saving experts at Tesco Bank share their advice on how to budget easily and…

Happy holiday Jetting off can be daunting if you suffer with your veins, but fear not – UK Vein Clinic are here to help. TRAVEL CHECKLIST Compression socks should be at the top of your list for a long journey. Beach towels to elevate your legs, just bundle them up for extra support while you lounge by the pool. Baggy clothing even down to your knickers! Your legs will thank you for choosing comfort over style. Water bottle to stay hydrated – it thins your blood, making it easier to get to the right places. Sun cream isn’t just for burns – the rays break down the collagen under your skin, which causes spider veins. Have you tried? Nutrigums, £6.99, Superdrug The UK’s leading vegan gummy brand have just the…