Indice dei contenuti per 28-Feb-2019 in Pick Me Up!

Meeting my son’s new stepmum for the first time was a bit nerveracking. Though I was on good terms with my ex, if she was going to be spending time with my son, I wanted to know he was in good hands. I needn’t have worried. Howling over cocktails, giggling at my ex’s expense, we had a great time. We became such good friends, I even moved in next door to her and my ex! Kelly and I were so close, she flew to my side when I lost my dad a few years into our friendship. Then five weeks later she did the same again when my mum unexpectedly passed away. ‘Oh love I’m so sorry,’ she said, hugging me. She has been my rock and, despite having her…

Out of Africa You may never have heard of moin moin, but it is a steamed savoury dish consisting of black-eyed beans, peppers and spices and is popular in West Africa. All you need to do is add water to this premade Love Moin Moin mix and you’ve got a simple, tasty and nutritious dish that can be served with rice and a sauce for a quick meal. It’s down to £2.40 (usually £2.50) at Asda until 3 March. Spicy spuds Oozing with cheese and with a spicy kick, these Cheese and Jalapeno Potato Skins from Bannisters are a great accompaniment to a cold beer. They’re only £1 (usually £1.39) at Morrisons until 26 February. Chill-out zone Just because it’s cold outside doesn’t mean you stop craving ice cream! Kelly’s…

Blood pressure Q Since I’ve become menopausal, my blood pressure has risen. I don’t want to start medication, so what can I do that might help? Eve, Glasgow A A recent study shows that climbing stairs can help both blood pressure and osteoporosis, which also worsens with the menopause. Aim for around 190 steps, four times a week, for the benefits without having to take medication. Energy drinks Q My young daughter spends lots of time on her sports training, and she’s aware of the need to keep well hydrated. So she drinks loads...but she tends to drink sports drinks. Are they worth the money? Gill, York A Absolutely not for children. Energy drinks should be avoided when it comes to children and adolescents, at all costs. The best hydration…

What’s normal, what’s not? Tummy ache Most stomach aches aren’t serious and just go away by themselves, caused by wind, indigestion, constipation or diarrhoea. Visit your GP immediately if the pain is severe, recurring or gets worse quickly, you’re losing weight, urinating more or less than usual, or you have pain in or bleed from your bottom or vagina. HEALTH TIP Have you tried… Flyte drinks? A double shot of organic, unprocessed caffeine, maca root (high in antioxidants, vitamin C, copper and iron, to aid focus and concentration) and schizandra (a super berry that helps reduce muscle aches and pains and overcome fatigue). Wow! And less than 40 calories, too. £2.50 a bottle, flytedrink.com. 80% ...of women who are at high risk of breast cancer won’t take the drug tamoxifen,…

‘If someone’s after a quick fix and desperate, they’ll look for the cheapest and fastest alternative to buying something officially. You can’t blame people, as things are expensive, compared to the living wage. And, for some folk, it’s their only choice.’ Sarah Jauch, Fishguard ‘I hear all the time of people who want to buy counterfeit booze and cigarettes, especially on social media. Why would you want to take something uncontrolled and unregulated? The risks far outweigh the savings. You could literally be poisoning yourself for the sake of saving a few pounds. People who sell these items should be ashamed. I’ve already educated my 6-year-old about this and I’d hope, when she’s older, she won’t touch these items with a bargepole.’ Jackie Wilson, Basingstoke ‘I don’t see the appeal,…

Flicking through the TV channels, I couldn’t find anything to watch. So I clicked the TV off. ‘I’m not in the mood for telly,’ I told my husband Paul, 38. ‘No, me neither,’ he agreed. As the game played out, I was on the edge of my seat With our three children in bed, we had a whole night ahead of us. Bliss. ‘What about a game on Pick Me Up! Bingo?’ I said, taking out my phone. I’d signed up earlier that day, after a friend told me how much fun the games were. I chose to play Bingo Royale. The rules were simple. There were 90 balls in the game, which are called until players win cash prizes for one line, two lines or a Full House. Once…

Coconut and lime crepes Serves 4 Prep: 10 min Cook: 10 min ◻ 125g plain flour ◻ Pinch of salt ◻ 2tsp caster sugar ◻ 2 eggs ◻ 300ml coconut milk (from a tin) ◻ 1-2tsp sunflower oil, for cooking To serve: ◻ 1 lime, cut into wedges ◻ 2tbsp caster sugar ◻ 2tbsp toasted coconut flakes 1 To make the batter, sift the dry ingredients into a large bowl, then make a well and add the eggs and 100ml of the coconut milk. Beat together until thick and creamy then stir in the rest of the coconut milk. 2 Heat a 16cm frying pan and brush a little oil over the base. Pour in a thin stream of batter to coat the base evenly, but not too thickly. Cook…

ARIES 21 March–20 April Try, this week, to get involved in anything which involves having an experience with others rather than it being materially orientated. It’s how you will begin to feel like you again. Time spent on phone calls you’ve been avoiding works a miracle. Call: 09058 170 710* TAURUS 21 April–21 May Something that you thought you were getting a ‘No’ to could actually turn into a ‘Yes’ if you would take the opportunity. I do love you Taurus, but the sooner you get off that high horse, the sooner you will see that others are giving as much as they can right now. Call: 09058 170 711* GEMINI 22 May–21 June Try to put more effort into your work in the days ahead, as there is so…

My girls Olivia, 12, and Lucy, 10, getting ready to be spun upside down at Alton Towers, holding on for dear life! Lisa Marshall, West Wickham A memory to treasure – my daughter Grace, 5, meeting Snow White in Disneyland Paris on her birthday. Rachel O’Connor, Stone Cross Here I am beaming after winning Miss UK Rose Role Model. My first ever pageant and I won! It was an amazing feeling. Clare Hurst, via e-mail This is me with my new best mate having a smooch in Mexico on my honeymoon. Don’t tell my husband... Sian Salsbury, Halesowen We got a new furry addition to the family and Poppie is totally adorable! But I think this pic of her and my daughter Georgia is beyond cute! J Harden, via e-mail…

One of the officers said, ‘We’ve reason to believe Philip killed your mum.’ I felt numb, not really processing what I was being told. Apparently, Philip had attacked Mum and strangled her to death. But it didn’t make any sense. ‘Philip loved my mum, why would he hurt her?’ I sobbed. I was in pieces, didn’t sleep at all over the next few nights. Days later, Chris and I went to the morgue to identify Mum’s body. When the sheet was lifted, we both fell to the floor in floods of tears. Her face was so bruised, we could barely recognise her, and we had to identify her from the rose tattoo on her left arm. She’d suffered multiple stab wounds from a screwdriver, but had died from compression to…

1 Sleep tight Late nights can lead to snacking and weight gain – so prioritise your kip. ‘Stay phone- and electronics-free before bed, and maintain a regular sleep pattern,’ says Dr Rupert. ‘Also, the room temperature should be 60-67F for optimal sleep.’ 2 Don’t overeat In winter, it’s tempting to indulge in comfort food. ‘Overeating can make you feel lethargic and increases the risk of piling on the pounds,’ explains Dr Rupert. ‘Eat produce that’s in season, and be mindful of hot beverages, which can be over 500 calories.’ 3 Stay active It’s all too easy to curl up in front of the TV on cold nights, but that isn’t going to shift that muffin top... ‘Just 30 minutes of brisk exercise a day reduces blood pressure,’ says Dr Rupert.…

Migraines 1 A migraine is usually a moderate or severe headache, felt as a throbbing pain on one side of the head. ■ True ■ False 2 Apart from the terrible headache, there are no other symptoms. ■ True ■ False 3 Migraine sufferers usually experience them a couple of times a day. ■ True ■ False 4 The exact cause is unknown, but could be due to changes in chemicals, nerves and bloodvessels in the brain. ■ True ■ False 1 TRUE It is a common health condition that affects around one in every five women. 2 FALSE Many people also experience nausea, vomiting and increased sensitivity to light and sound. 3 FALSE Some have migraines daily or weekly, but others only get migraines as infrequently as once a…

Janger The Ultimate Holiday Hanger, £4.50 for pack of 20, shop.thejanger.com Ideal for holidays and at home – clip your clothes onto these lightweight hangers to save space. Made with less plastic than the average hanger, so good for the environment too. Verdict: GENIUS! A brilliant idea. Red Carpet Manicure Color Dip, £40 for starter kit, redcarpetmanicure.co.uk Longer lasting than your average gel mani, this uses powder instead of liquid polish to help it stay put for up to 21 days. It’s easy to do yourself at home too with no need for a UV lamp. Verdict: GENIUS! It sets quickly too. Personalised Heat Change Mug, £12.99, firebox.com Perfect for annoying a mate who’s had enough of you, get your mug printed all over…

Staring with apprehension at the dry ski slope, my stomach twisted with excitement and nerves. What have I let myself in for? I thought, gulping. It was February 2014, and my boyfriend of six years John, 22, was an avid snowboarder. He had been since his teens, and loved to hit the slopes with his mates in his spare time. But winter sports weren’t really my thing. A teacher, I was more into curling up on the sofa with a book. On the slope, my nerves quickly turned to excitement And I felt far more comfortable watching from the sidelines as he zoomed down the slopes. But, a week earlier, John had come back from a session buzzing. ‘You should give it a go, Shona,’ he’d said, for the umpteenth…

As I squeezed the hand of my girl Katie, 4, I smiled down at her. ‘Almost home!’ I said encouragingly. We’d nipped out for some groceries and were heading back to the house - a few minutes walk away. But being 35 weeks pregnant, I was exhausted, and ready to get back on the sofa with a brew. The pregnancy had been easy enough, apart from a few minor bleeds that doctors had assured me was normal. But now, with just over a month to go before I gave birth, I was starting to feel tired. As I strolled down the hill, wondering if we’d any biscuits left to go with my cuppa, I felt a sudden rushing of water. ‘Oh no, my waters have broken!’ I shrieked, frantically grabbing…

When I first laid eyes on Benny, in 2015, it was love. A Staffy-German shepherd cross, with a hint of Jack Russell, the 6-week-old puppy was sweet, playful and oozing with character. ‘He’s the one for me,’ I smiled. He wagged his tail and looked at me as if to say, ‘Look what I did!’ I trained him well. He knew not to go past my garden gate if it was open, and always responded to my calls while out on walks. Benny was loving and affectionate, too. Loved rolling on to his back for a good belly rub, as well as snuggling up with me on the sofa for a cuddle. He’d even try to get under my duvet! We moved into a new house in March 2017, and…

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Walking into the kitchen one morning in July 2008, my jaw dropped. On the table, where I’d left a newly-bought chocolate cake the night before, only crumbs and an empty box remained. ‘Anna!’ I called. ‘That was for later!’ ‘Sorry, Mum. I was hungry,’ my little girl Anna, 5, muttered. She’d scoffed the lot. Anna was always hungry, whether it was first thing in the morning or last thing at night. Keeping calm, I reminded myself not to be cross with her. After all, it wasn’t Anna’s fault. When she was born in November 2002, she was underweight, weighing 5lb 12oz. Her limbs flopped around with no control, and she had wrinkles all over her skinny body. On a ventilator, unable to breathe alone, she looked nothing like the chubby…

As my son Sebastian, 2, toddled out of the playroom, I waved. It was October 2016, and I was picking him up from preschool when a teacher came up to me. ‘We’re worried about Sebastian,’ she said. His motor skills weren’t as developed as the other kids, she explained. Me and husband James, 37, had had concerns, too. At 18 months, Sebastian had struggled to find his feet. ‘A late developer,’ the doc said. But when our boy had finally got the hang of walking at 2, in May 2016, he was still very wobbly and fell over a lot. We kept telling ourselves he’d get there in the end... There were other things on my mind - I was 34 weeks pregnant. But the preschool’s concern got me thinking.…

It was recently my cat Zuko’s birthday; we couldn’t let it pass without a party! Sarah Whitehead, Wigan ‘You’re hogging the seat!’ say my guineas to one another! They’re always fighting over my daughter Eden’s lap. Ellie Smith, Southampton This is one of my favourite pictures of my Shetland pony Blacky. A very proud day when he attended last year’s Remembrance parade. Heather Morris, Shropshire Looks like Zafi had one too many milks last night! She’s fallen out of bed… hic. Esther Newton, Newbury I caught my bearded dragon Sapphire just before she tried to make her great escape! Amy Gibson, Chesterton Larry was giving me the eye… I think he wanted carrots not lettuce for lunch. Lisa Rule, via e-mail…

Umberto Giannini 60 Second Smooth Pre-Shampoo Treatment, £8.50 If you’re up for adding an extra step into your hair-care routine to reduce frizz, this treatment is for you. Apply to wet hair before shampooing, covering the mid-lengths and ends, then leave on for a good minute. Coconut and jojoba oils nourish to increase flexibility, add shine and reduce fuzz. Toni &Guy Flyaway Taming Wand, £9.99 Great for hair that is prone to static, or for neatening up super-sleek styles. Simply use the wand to smooth down those hairs that refuse to cooperate. It’s as dinky as hair care can get so keep in your handbag for on-the-go touch-ups. Philip Kingsley Weatherproof Hairspray, £10 If yours is the sort of hair that poofs up at the merest hint of dampness or…

CHESHIRE Liam Martin, 25 A predatory paedophile who used a girl for ‘his own sexual gratification’ has been jailed for four years by a Chester Crown Court judge. Liam Martin, 25, of Winsford, admitted five counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child under 16 in 2011 and making indecent images of children. In a separate incident, officers checking Martin’s mobile phone as part of bail conditions for a previous conviction of a child-sex offence, found 271 Category C images of children – images are graded in severity from A to C. Detective Constable Dave Walton praised the victim, saying, ‘Her bravery in coming forward means that Martin is now behind bars.’ MANCHESTER Daniels Kurmelovs, 18 Strangling a man to death wasn’t enough for killer Daniels Kurmelovs. The 18-year-old,…