Pick Me Up! 19-Jul-2018

Ever since we were little, Cassie has been more than just my cousin. She’s been my best friend. I have countless memories of us spending long summer days together, just playing and laughing. We spent our summer mostly around at my gran’s and it was always magical. I relied on Grandma Kitty for everything. She was my shoulder to cry on, someone to confide in and make me laugh. When she passed away in July 2016, aged 77, I felt lost. I was pregnant and in the midst of a separation, too. The whole world felt like it was crumbling in on me. But lovely Cassie made everything better. She stepped into the role of Gran and looked after me. She took me into her house, and helped look after…

The view from the hotel pool was stunning on our father-daughter birthday trip to Thailand. Sian Cowley, Sutton Coldfield Here I am preparing for my audition for The X Factor. Despite my nerves I did myself proud – I’m keeping my fingers crossed now! Elisha Graham, Brigg My wife got to meet Coronation Streetactor Richard Hawley at a gig, how cool is that? Roy Standard, Burgess Hill, West Sussex This sign did make me laugh, but I also thought how true it is. Maybe all men should have one! Mrs Griffin, Warmley These two cheeky girls were supposed to be in bed, instead they decided to give one another a facial. Anna Claton, Llansamlet My friend’s tea towels are just brilliant – now I want a set, too! Karen Aitkins,…

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Getting ready to do my daily cleaning chores, I turned the TV to a dance-music channel to give me some motivation. I heard an excited squeal and looked round to see my 18-month-old daughter Connie Rose tapping her feet and waving her chubby arms to the music. ‘Looks like I’ve got a little raver on my hands,’ I chuckled. It was March this year and Connie Rose was just getting to that lovely stage where she was no longer a baby but was becoming a toddler, developing her own personality. Always flashing a cheeky grin, she was confident and outgoing, chatting away and waving at strangers in the street. I lived for Connie and her older sister Dior, 5. I’d split from Connie’s dad when I was pregnant. But not…

We’d row, then cuddle, it was a love-hate relationship I was just 16, hanging around outside the sunbed shop when a bloke approached me. Broad-shouldered, he swaggered over with a smirk on his face. ‘Hey, what’s your name?’ he asked me. My heart thumping, I hesitated, fiddling with my school uniform. ‘Chelsea,’ I stammered. Laughing, he shook my hand and we started chatting. ‘I’m Dean,’ he said. Funny, confident and charming, he seemed to be a good bloke. I sort of fancied him, but he was eight years older than me. He worked with his dad’s property developing business - I was still at school... Exchanging numbers, I couldn’t wait to tell my mates. I thought about him all the time. Sending flirty text messages back and forth, we really…

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