Indice dei contenuti per 24-Aug-2023 in Pick Me Up!

Getting a bucket of freezing cold water, I knew that we’d all be left in stitches, capturing the moment on camera. As waiting in the garden were my grandchildren John, 13, Lacey, 11, and my daughter Terri, 35, ready to complete the ice bucket challenge that was going viral. As an ordinary family, we’d always find ourselves getting up to silly things together – and with Lacey obsessed with TikTok, she’d give me and my husband Raymond, now 61, buckets of sunshine. John was such a kind, caring and considerate boy for his age, too. Their smiles, affection and love was something that they certainly got from Terri. My only child, me and Terri had a great relationship. Loving all things dance and horse riding when she was small, she…

Coming towards the end of my shift, my feet were in agony. Working in retail in February last year, I was used to being on my feet all day, dealing with customers. But as time went by, my feet were hurting more and more. Then waking up one morning, two months later, the knuckle and index finger on my right hand was really swollen. Oh God, I must have slept on it funny, I thought. ‘You should get it looked at,’ my parents Julie, 63, and Stephan, 62, said. And after going to the doctors with Mum, I was sent for an X-ray. ‘It’s solid tissue swelling,’ I was told and sent home. I thought it was strange but accepted the explanation. But I wasn’t improving. My heels still ached…

Patchwork, granny squares and plenty of wool – that can only mean one thing… crochet! Trending this summer, with Granny Square Day annually celebrated in August, don your finest crochet number – perhaps you can even turn your hand to something new, creating your own, too! TRY IT YOURSELF… Whether you’re a beginner or you know a thing or two about crochet, you could try a new hobby, making bags, cardigans and even a dress in the future. With step by step guides available for free and crochet patterns available to purchase for as little as £2 via Hobbycraft, what are you waiting for? Send us your completed designs via hello@pickmeupmag.co.uk – we can’t wait to see them! • Check out Hobbycraft.co.uk for more information!…

Checking my appearance in the mirror, I twisted the bottom of my favourite red lippy and touched up my lipstick. ‘Mwah!’ I said as I puckered my lips. Smiling at my reflection, I felt confident and ready for a night out with my friends. Since turning 40 I’d felt sexier than ever – and whenever I went out, I was never short of male attention. When I was younger, I went for older men – but since getting older myself, I’d found myself attracting toy boys. My curvy figure and huge 38J boobs captivated the blokes around me – whether it was social media messages, muscly hunks working out in the gym or wolf whistling in the streets, they were drawn to me like magnets. Men my age can’t keep…

The Hidden World of Hospitality with Tom Kerridge, BBC Two Tom Kerridge reveals more secrets from behind the scenes of the UK’s hospitality industry. In this episode Tom meets trailblazing operators who are risking everything to redefine the British pub, all while trying to navigate the cost of living crisis in the meantime. In rural Somerset, a former Michelin-starred pub owned by Josh and Holly Eggleton, has been closed for over two years. During the pandemic siblings Josh and Holly decided on a major refurbishment of The Pony Chew Valley, with a bold plan to operate as a restaurant, cookery school, wedding venue as well as creating a garden. Running Wild With Bear Grylls: The Challenge, Disney Plus Famed survivalist Bear Grylls is taking it up a level. This time,…

Catch Claire live on Facebook 7 days of hope & happiness with Claire Petulengro www.clairepetulengro.tv ARIES 21 March–20 April The need to know what is going on in other people’s lives is prominent in your chart. Trust has become an issue you’re determined to solve. Money you are expecting to get may come later than you’d thought, so check with those paying out before you end up adding stress to what can be a productive week. Returning phone calls reveals a new admirer. Call: 09058 170 710* LEO 24 July–23 Aug The new moon gave you great ideas to move things forward, but third parties you’re sharing your thoughts with are giving you advice based on what’s best for them, rather than what would be to your greater benefit. That tired…

We’re loving British summertime has been a bit of a washout, but Zoflora have got your back – with three brand-new fragrances to transport you to sunnier climes. Coastal Waves, available from Amazon, is a blend of sea salt and refreshing citrus notes, giving Mediterranean coastal vibes. Sweet Orchard, available from ASDA, will make you think you’re wandering among blossoming pear trees – with a sweet blend of apple and pear alongside soft floral notes. And Tropical Palms, available from B&M, is an exotic mix of mango, pineapple and creamy coconut, which will make you feel like you’re relaxing on a white sandy beach with a cocktail in hand. Cleaning has never smelt so good! Which one will you go for? • Please visit: zoflora.co.uk Have you heard? Have you…

Always sporting the most brilliant red hair and dressing like a tomboy, I couldn’t believe it when I saw Terri in a pair of shorts for the first time ever – even dying her hair brown. Her dress sense changed dramatically and whenever I tried to speak to Terri on her own via a call or FaceTime, Damien had to be there. ‘You can’t be on your own, Terri,’ I hushed one day when I managed to get her for all of a few minutes. ‘Is there something going on?’ ‘It’s not like that, Mum,’ Terri insisted. Only, Terri didn’t need to say anything – I knew deep down that he must have been controlling her – I’d never seen her in shorts before. And that’s when, after turning on…

Loading up a hot dog, it was just another night that we had planned with our friends. After meeting my partner Dan*, in 2009, spending three years together before getting engaged, planning our wedding was on the top of our to-do list. Yet in our spare time, we’d often meet with Dan’s best mate Mark, now 52, his wife and his children Matthew, now 22, and Harriet, now 21 – whether it was popping around for a brew, a BBQ or a dinner party. With Mark a builder, running his own business, doing quite a lot of work for my family over the years, he was always sort of around. And running my own business, too, I’d often come round baring gifts, making Matthew and Harriet their own bean bags…

Being diagnosed with arthritis while young can be daunting and scary – the assumption is the condition only affects old people, right? But don’t worry, Versus Arthritis have put together some helpful tips for an early arthritis diagnosis. Please visit: versusarthritis.org • Don’t be afraid of asking questions during healthcare appointments. No question will ever be too big or too small and will never be stupid. • If you’re studying or starting out in your career, talking to your lecturers/manager about what you might need to assist you is important. You may discuss how arthritis can affect you differently each day – if you’re in pain, feeling lethargic or how the medication may impact you. People with arthritis can often find it hard to exercise regularly, but research shows that…

Five questions with… Birdland Park & Gardens’ Head Keeper Alistair Keen With over 500 birds to look after at Birdland, it can sure be a challenge! But Alistair Keen is an expert when it comes to welcoming Birdland’s new penguin and baby flamingo arrivals. 1. What does your day-to-day routine look like when caring for penguins and flamingos? At 7.30am, we do a head count of all the animals in the park to make sure everyone is fit and well. Before we open to the public at 10am, we make sure that the enclosures are clean and tidy. For the penguins, that involves pressure washing the enclosure to get rid of droppings and sweeping the pool for any leaves. There are two penguin feeds and talks a day at 11am…

Leak-proof Swimwear, from £28, Modibodi.co.uk Swimming when you’re on your period is a nightmare, right? You’re worried about leaks or the dreaded tampon string hanging out. That’s where Modibodi comes in. Designing a leak-free swim collection, you can make a splash without worrying about leaks, stains or strings. The fitted gusset locks in leaks even when wet – which means you can swim with your family this summer without having to worry. What a brilliant idea! Verdict: GENIUS! Beach ready! Opal Vibrancy Adult Swim Goggles, £24.99, Bling2O.co.uk If you want to swim comfortably, opening your eyes under water, swim googles are your go-to. But they can be pretty unattractive can’t they? That’s where you are wrong… Bling2O have created a gorgeous line of swim googles that will have heads turning…

Called out to investigate a single vehicle car crash, police officers in Brantley County, Georgia, didn’t expect to find anything out of the ordinary. But on September 15 2019, they discovered something truly horrific. As they approached the van and began talking to the driver, they could smell a foul, rotting odour. ‘You may want to put me in handcuffs,’ Michael Wayne Jones Jr. told them. ‘Because there is a dead body inside of the vehicle.’ Then he shocked officers by confessing to the killing of his wife Casei Jones, 32, whose decomposing remains were stuffed in a tote bag in the back of his minivan. But that wasn’t all. He also admitted to killing four children – his two stepsons and his two biological daughters – before leading officers…

Rushing through the front door, my son Ben, 11, scrambled into the living room. Clutching at the TV remote, he flicked the channel to his favourite after-school show, Horrible Histories. Ben was completely obsessed with history – it was his favourite subject at school. Known for its deep dive into historical figures – kings, queens and even Hollywood celebrities – Horrible Histories enthrals him. As I started cooking dinner, I looked back at the TV. Ben’s eyes were glued to the screen. More accurately, they were glued to Elvis. Swaying and crooning, the episode was demystifying rumours about Elvis being arrested for his sexy dancing. And Ben was fascinated. Once the show finished, Ben ran upstairs to his bedroom. I heard the door slam shut. What could he be doing…

This is my 15-month-old granddaughter Mia enjoying a ride on a little tractor at a local farm. As you can see, she’s having lots of fun! Mary Hadley, Cradley Heath This is me and my lovely nine-year-old dog Lucy enjoying the sea views in Scarborough where we live! Dawn Humphrey, Scarborough I found the perfect spot to read my favourite magazine whilst on holiday in Singer Island, Florida. The pelican kept trying to peep over my shoulder! Sarah Alcraft, Leicester Our tortoise Timmy thought he had found a long-lost relative when he came across a new ornament in the garden recently. Katie Gooding, Tidworth If your letter makes Star Letter of the week, you will receive some beautiful blooms from Flying Flowers. With over 30 years’ experience of helping celebrate life’s special moments…

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Shoe setback Q I was recently gifted a new pair of trainers that I’m absolutely in love with. However, I’ve noticed that I’m getting blisters on my toes. How can I wear my new pair without having to deal with the blistering consequences? Tilly, Blackpool A It sounds like the shoes may be too short for you and your toes are pushing on the end of the shoe and causing blisters to form. Unfortunately, this is common and people often try shoes on when they are sitting down and don’t walk in them. As we stand up, our foot changes shape as the weight of our body is moving through our legs and feet. The best time to try on shoes is the afternoon as they tend to swell a…

Snake plant Snake plants can survive in most light conditions – just don’t keep them in complete darkness or extreme direct sunlight. Watering a snake plant is very easy. Allow the soil to dry out completely before watering. If you’re someone who often forgets to water plants, don’t worry – snake plants are quite forgiving! Devil’s envy This is one of the most popular houseplants among people wanting to bring a bit of greenery into their homes. This plant is tolerant of all lighting conditions, so it’s perfect for an indoor plant – it makes a great climbing or hanging plant. You can easily tell when it needs a drink as the leaves will begin to curl. Silver vine The silver vine is a brilliant climbing or hanging plant for…