Indice dei contenuti per 15-Oct-2020 in Pick Me Up!

In an excluded room, I put my pen to paper. Despite suffering with severe dyslexia, I absolutely loved writing. However, my teachers in school often dismissed me as lazy and I was placed in a room by myself. I loved English, and all I wanted was to learn how to read and write, but I wasn’t wired that way. However, unleashing my creative side, I would spend my days writing short gothic stories, each reflecting my own inner thoughts. As I couldn’t write in full sentences, I would instead use symbols and codes that only I could understand. From the age of 14 until my early 20s, I spent my days writing stories. I loved it, but I always kept them to myself. Although they were fictional, they reflected my…

As I got to work washing the dirty dishes, I heard the jingling of keys and looked up. My son Tom Bell, 21, was grabbing them off the kitchen table on his way out. ‘Where are you off to?’ I asked him. ‘Just down to the Maple Tree for the pub quiz,’ he said, before kissing me on the cheek and heading out the front door. Tom had many friends and was always out and about with them – it was hard to keep track of all his plans. He still lived at home, and he and I were very close. Ever since he was a little boy, Tom would have done anything for his family, including helping me take care of his siblings. My daughter Charity, 18, still lived…

This week, our tip of the week will receive a great product from Addis! Laundry items you don’t mind hanging around. This gorgeous hummingbird design will instantly inspire, help take care of your laundry and look gorgeous. For more ways to make your life easier, visit addis.co.uk Plant power To help stop my pots draining completely, I put a little tray in the bottom so there is a little reservoir of water. Amanda Hadley, Hayseech Works a treat Amazon Prime bags are multi-purpose and durable. Great for storing my magazines to keep them fresh, tidy and easy to find. Marion Aldred, London Fixed it I was fed up of my doors squeaking so I put some Vaseline on the hinges. It stopped making the noise! Rose Janes, Monmouth Fancy a…

Pouring steaming gravy over crispy roast potatoes, my mouth watered. ‘This looks delicious,’ I smiled to my girlfriend Amy, 23. It was November 2017, and Amy had been slaving away in the kitchen, whipping up a spectacular Sunday roast. ‘So how was the game?’ she asked, plunging her fork into a carrot. ‘Really good,’ I smiled. That morning, I’d been at rugby practice. A group of us lads would get together twice a week for a game, and it was a great way to blow off some steam and take a break from my job as a scaffolder. With an active job and the rugby, a big roast dinner was just what I needed. In fact, I was always eating huge meals – I had to sustain myself after all!…

Looking for something new and on-trend? River Island’s collection of women’s new arrivals will have everyone asking you where you got your latest look from! Whether you’re on the hunt for a stylish blouse, smart trouser or statement handbag, you’ll find it in this autumn/winter edit. Shop the hottest trends at River Island… Getting active Boux Avenue have launched their new affordable activewear range this autumn with a powerful campaign ‘This Is Us’. The bold and strong message empowers Boux Avenue’s customers to bring the workout to their own individual, unique lifestyles in a way that truly works for them. The new collection is fit for purpose and is made with a 4-way stretch, seamless construction that has just the right amount of stretch to move with you – whether…

Why do women fall for men behind bars? Charm, intelligence, and a solid career are all things women typically look for in a partner. Serving life in prison isn’t something most women set as a filter on their dating apps – in fact, the mere idea that someone has been in prison is the worst-case scenario to expect on a first date. For some women, however, it’s not a deterrent at all, and is perhaps even the very thing that attracts them. In 2000, a German waitress called Dagmar Polzin fell in love with a murderer after seeing his photo on an antideath penalty poster. North Carolina man Bobby Lee Harris was on death row for stabbing his boss to death during a robbery on a shrimp boat back in…

After Amy and Todd Mullis married in 2004, they settled on Todd’s pig farm in Earlville, Iowa. They had three children and although she was a registered nurse, Amy, 39, chose to give that up to be a stay-at-home mum and to help out on her husband’s lucrative farm. Amy loved the countryside. She enjoyed fishing, hunting and camping – and above all else, she adored her children. But Amy was unhappy. Over the years, Todd had grown controlling. In the August of 2018, Amy confessed to her brother that she wanted to end her marriage. She said that she’d wait until all their crops had been harvested that year, and then she’d leave and file for divorce. Amy would be entitled to half of the farm and $2million in…

As the investigation continued, police weren’t able to determine whether Scott or Joseph had shot Tom, as the weapon hadn’t been found. But during the trial at Sheffield Crown Court last July – during which both men pleaded not guilty to his murder – Joseph revealed that the gun was in the woods next to the local cemetery. DNA tests then revealed that it was Scott who fired the shot that killed my son. He had hated my son for a while, and I know they had arguments in the past, but why did that mean he had to take my boy away from me? For nine weeks, I attended the trial, and when I faced Scott and Joseph, I could see evil in their eyes. DNA tests revealed Scott…

Lucy Askew from www.Hillarys.co.uk shares her top tips for keeping spiders at bay this autumn. 1. CONKERS IN CORNERS Many people swear by popping conkers in the corner of rooms to keep spiders out of the house. 2. DIY DETERRENTS Place slices of fresh lemon or lime across your window sills and doors as a natural bug repellent. 3. SEAL CRACKS Fill any holes you might have that a spider could squeeze themselves through. 4. CLOSE WINDOWS Shut your windows during the night and you’re less likely to have extra inhabitants. 5. KEEP CLEANING Spiders look for bugs. Stay up to date on dusting and hoovering to keep them away from the home.…

As I gently placed a carrier box on the kitchen floor, I heard a tiny creature scurry. ‘Welcome to your new home,’ I said, opening the cage door. Slowly but surely, a little pink nose appeared, followed by a furry white face, four tiny paws, and a fluffy tail. ‘Hello Pacco,’ I smiled, offering my hand out for a sniff. While many people have had the great experience of bringing a new pet home, Pacco was no dog or cat – he’s a ferret! I’d always been fascinated by the little creatures, loved their playful, mischievous nature and it was my dream to have one of my own. So when I found a ferret breeder online in July last year, I jumped at the chance. I’d travelled 2,000km from my…

The Kennet and Avon Canal An early morning walk along the towpath of the Kennet and Avon Canal makes for a refreshing and invigorating start to the day. Especially on an atmospheric Autumnal morning, with mist hanging above the water and mingling with woodsmoke from the moored canal boats. The Kennet and Avon Canal crosses Wiltshire from East to West, off ering many opportunities for walking along its length. Depending on how much time you have, there are many walks for you to choose from along this route – each as beautiful as the next. Cotswold Water Park Serene lakes and woodland shores make Cotswold Water Park a stunning location for a walk throughout the year. In the Autumn, you’re also likely to see lots of wildlife, as many passage…

Catch Claire live on Facebook ARIES 21 March–20 April Life is meant to be lived, Aries! You certainly learnt that this year. You don’t want to waste another moment on those who don’t believe in you. You also make up for lost time in a family matter, which once you take control of, can be turned around for all concerned. Someone you had placed hope in has let you down. Don’t bother hanging around to hear why. Call: 09058 170 710* LEO 24 July–23 Aug Do a little more than you think you can this week, Leo. You may not realise it right now, but those with the power do actually want to help you. This is the time to ask for the things you were previously turned down for.…

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is often associated with victims of horrendous crimes or soldiers returning from war. It is not a topic associated with expectant parents. And yet, one in ten mums experience PTSD following their childbirth. I never thought that my newborn son’s traumatic entrance into the world would haunt me for weeks. Or that it would leave me needing professional help. Now I know there are hundreds of other mums that have suffered the same as me. I want to help them, and others with mental health issues – by raising awareness, vital funds and starting my own non-profit service. In 2019, I fell pregnant with my third baby. I already had Faith, now 12, and my partner Nathan, 31, and I had Rose, now four. We were…

ACROSS 1 Owen _, the voice of Lightning McQueen in the Cars film franchise (6) 4 Serenely joyful or glad (8) 10 Essential or animating force (9) 11 Picture within another (5) 12 _ cards, used in fortune telling (5) 13 Long-running quiz show presented by Alexander Armstrong (9) 14 Rebellious (7) 16 Supply (4) 19 Minute particle (4) 21 Reception room (7) 24 In high spirits (9) 25 Plumbing (5) 26 _ Vaughn, played Norman Bates in the 1998 remake of Psycho (5) 27 Legally allow (9) 28 Dessert type (8) 29 Niche or alcove (6) DOWN 1 Moderately wealthy (4-2-2) 2 Small boat for emergencies (4,4) 3 Planet’s path (5) 5 Temporary residence (7) 6 Flooded (5,4) 7 Isla _, actor whose TV credits include Arrested Development and…

Grabbing some breakfast, I rushed upstairs to quickly get myself ready for the day ahead. ‘Will you watch Lily-Mai?’ I said to my eldest daughter, Chloe, then 16. ‘Course,’ she replied, scooping Lily-Mai up in her arms and heading off to the bathroom to do her makeup. Lily-Mai, then three, loved watching her big sister get glammed up, her eyes fixed on what Chloe was doing. Between Chloe and her younger brother, Blake, then 11, they were always on hand to help out with their little sister when I needed it. And as Lily-Mai needed lots of specialist care, I was grateful for the help. While doctors didn’t have a diagnosis, Lily-Mai was just a few weeks old when we discovered something wasn’t quite right. She wasn’t putting weight on,…

Lying in bed, I could barely sleep. ‘For God sake,’ I cursed – tossing and turning, trying not to wake my fiancé, Nicola, 40. I’d had a trapped nerve in my right leg for a few weeks, but the medication my doctor had prescribed wasn’t working. Sciatica – a fairly common nerve issue – runs in my family, so I tried to put it to one side and carry on like normal. Working nights as a doorman six days a week, seeing my son Kai, 10, every weekend and taking him to football, as well as looking after the lot at home! With Nicola’s two children from a previous relationship, Nathan, 22, and Poppy, 11, living with us, life was busy. I rarely got a spare five minutes to even…

DON’T MISS Between The Covers, BBC Two This brand new seven-part series, hosted by Sara Cox, is designed to bring the nation together through sharing the enjoyment of reading. Fridays on BBC Two will become book club night, as Sara and her four celebrity panellists talk about their favourite books of all time and share their opinions on the specially selected book of the week. In the first episode, Sara’s celebrity guest ‘book group’ are Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Phil Wang, Tom Allen and Sara Pascoe, who will all give their thoughts on the book of the week – The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. Matt explains his book in a short film made for the series. All the books featured in the series are available in libraries, stores and online, and…

With more than 132 years of heritage, you can rely on the Chinese sauce brand Lee Kum Kee, to help you deliver the authentic taste of China. Better still, they’ve just launched two new sauces; a fragrant Sweet Hoisin Sauce and a flavoursome Seasoned Rice Vinegar. Lee Kum Kee have partnered with the author of Chinatown Kitchen, Lizzie Mabbott, and former MasterChef finalist, Sandy Tang, to create recipes that will take your taste buds on an adventure! Lizzie’s sweet hoisin cauliflower and lettuce cups Serves: 4 Lizzie says: ‘A riff on the traditional Cantonese dish, Sang Choi Bao, these vegetarian lettuce wraps are so easy to make and are great for sharing with friends, or a DIY dinner with the family. Light and refreshing, add pickled red chillis if you…

Munchy Seeds, from 80p, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Ocado and The Co-op. Great for boosting your body’s natural immunity, Munchy Seeds are available in six delicious sweet and savoury flavours, including Mild Chilli and Salted Caramel. Porter’s Gin Orchard, £38, portersgin.co.uk. To imitate the taste of champagne, the Porter’s Gin team cold-distilled green apples and pears into their classic juniper base, giving gin lovers a Champagne infused gin! Fresh pickles, £4.50, M&S. M&S are introducing a range of three new fresh raw pickles, designed to add that extra layer of plant-based magic to any dish. M&S Microwavable meals, from £4. M&S Food is introducing six fresh and vibrant new meals in cardboard bowls which can be microwaved in under 3.5 minutes, including Chicken Katsu and Roasted Butternut Pasta Bake. Jason’s Craft Beer…

Scrolling through a news story online, I couldn’t believe what I was reading. A woman had bought a box of duck eggs from the supermarket, only to have three ducklings hatch out! ‘Have you seen this?!’ I said to my fiancé, letting him read the story for himself. ‘I might try it,’ I went on. The woman in the story had popped a bunch of eggs into an incubator and after 28 days she had three little ducklings running around at her feet! I’d always wanted pet ducks, but my fiancé wasn’t so keen. But with pretty slim odds that this would even be successful, I decided to give it a go. While shop bought eggs are supposed to be unfertilised, it’s been known for some fertilised eggs to slip…