Pick Me Up!の October 29, 2015 の目次

What a puzzle..! Why do they call those teeny tiny little chocolate bars ‘fun size’? Personally, I think it’s far more fun to eat a HUGE one! What a geek! My cat, Yoda, enjoying a ‘laptop scratch pad’, from Prezzybox. Check out stuff you learn to expect when you have cats. Go to www.lifedeathprizes.com and search ‘whenyou-have-cats’. What a treat! Had a proper, best-china, big Sunday afternoon tea, with home- made scones and jam. No soggy bottom for me! What a fail! Got coffee at a caff with my son at a big London station before his train, and this ‘hawk’ – put there to scare off pigeons – made us both jump! Course, the pigeons totally ignored it… What a way to go! Had a…

My 3-month-old, Drew, was sleeping soundly in his cot, my husband, Scott, 35, was working away as a marine engineer. And I felt a headache coming on. I took some paracetamol, then had an early night. The next day, in August 2013, I was woken by Drew crying for his morning feed. ‘Mummy’s coming,’ I said groggily. The headache from the night before was still lingering. I yawned sleepily - and felt something pop. I thought it was just my ears but, suddenly, my head started pounding. It felt as if it was being squeezed in a vice. My mum, Sheila, 62, lived around the corner, so I phoned and asked her to come over. ‘I don’t feel well and Drew won’t stop crying,’ I said. Within minutes, my mum…

When I held my baby boy, Charlie, for the first time, I felt such love and happiness. But I also felt sadness. He had six fingers on each hand, an extra toe on his right foot, and some of his fingers were fused together. I knew what this meant. A childhood of operation after painful operation. Because Charlie had syndactyly, which caused the fusing. Just like me. He also had a related condition called polydactyly, which caused the extra fingers. ‘Not my Charlie!’ I sobbed to my hubby, Jason, 25. Growing up with syndactyly had been tough. I’d endured torment about my hands at school, and needed 10 operations to make my hands more usable. I now had three fingers and a thumb on each hand. I worried about my…

1 In 2013, seven out of 10 people with chlamydia were under 25. True False 2 Chlamydia is spread in the air. True False 3 Chlamydia is untreatable. True False 4 Around 70-80% of women show no symptoms. True False 1 TRUE Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted disease, which is particularly common in sexually active teenagers and young adults. 2 FALSE It’s spread through sex, contact with infected genital fluids or genital contact. No penetration or ejaculation is required to pass on the condition. 3 FALSE It can be treated with antibiotics, and infected people shouldn’t have sexual intercourse until they’ve finished treatment. 4 TRUE Also, 50% of men show no symptoms. Symptoms can include a burning sensation while urinating, or a yellow/green genital discharge. Next Week SLIPPED DISC…

There were three of us in our relationship. Me - and my two men. One’s blond with glasses. The other’s dark with impressive facial hair. I loved them both to pieces. I first met my blond, Aidan Barnes-Mathews, in 2011. We were both taking A-Level History at college. We got talking and agreed we’d help each other with our essays. I was delighted - Aidan was gorgeous! Somehow, we managed to get our essays in, finish the course...and fall in love, too. We lived with my parents so we could save up for a place of our own. And, while Aidan watched his motorsports on telly, I’d read about my other love - animals. I’d always loved them - especially sea creatures. Sea lions, whales, dolphins... And it was through…

As thunder and lightning lit up the sky outside, I drew the curtains and lay on my bed. It was July this year, and I was feeling under the weather. My husband, Tony, 52, a design engineer, was at work, so I had the place to myself. Duvet day for me, I decided. It was pouring with rain, and the thunder was loud. But, watching a film on TV, I found myself getting sleepy. Then, suddenly... BOOM! A deafening explosion made me jump out of bed. ‘What the.?!’ I spluttered, panicking. All the lights went off, and the telly started crackling. I could still hear the storm raging. The house must’ve been struck by lightning, I realised. Next, I heard people hammering on the front door. Making my way quickly…

Kimberly spent her winnings on a honeymoon Kimberly Anderson, 32, Southampton Flicking through Pick Me Up! magazine, there was a picture of a woman holding a cheque for £5,000. She’d only spent £1 on bingo tickets and won the jackpot. That got me thinking... You’ve got to be in it, to win it. With my hubby, Dale, 37, at work, after putting my kids, Chloe, 7, and Connor, 6, to bed, I decided to have some me time. I sat down to my laptop and signed up to Pick Me Up! Bingo. I quickly got the hang of it, though, and soon I was playing games in different bingo rooms. I had so much fun playing the slot game Rainbow Riches. I loved seeing a winning line. Soon I came…

ASK JESS Q My 15-year-old daughter has asked for a perfume for her birthday – I don’t want to get her anything too expensive, but not too babyish, either. Lucy Summerfield, 40, Loughborough AI’d recommend Ghost Girl Eau de Toilette, £25, Boots. It has a lovely floral scent that’s not too overpowering and the packaging is fun, too! Jess’Beauty Hero These limited edition Halloween Eylure false eyelashes in Catface, £6.95, www.eylure.co.uk , are simply spook-tacular! READER’S TIP Massage your face when applying moisturiser to help fight ageing. Hattie Morris, 35, Canvey Island Want the perfect... HALLOWEEN NAILS Try one of these… Elegant Touch Limited Edition Nails in Vampire Kiss The perfect finishing touch to any vampire or zombie outfit, these pointy talons are really fun! House of…

Cradling my newborn baby girl, Anabelle, in my arms, I couldn’t stop smiling. ‘She’s just perfect,’ I gushed to my boyfriend, Paul, 24. It was April 2008 and, in that moment, I was so happy. I had an admin job I enjoyed, a loving partner - and now I was a mum to this little bundle of gorgeousness. Like all mums-to-be, I’d been worried about the birth, but, apart from a little tear to my perineum, it’d gone well. I’d needed stitches and, when I left hospital the next day, I was given co-codamol painkillers to take for the pain. Dependency A couple of days later, the pills ran out, so I went to my GP, who prescribed more. After two weeks, the pain was gone, but when I stopped…

Meeting my hubby, Chris, 23, for the first time – on a night out back in July 2011 – I discovered he had an unusual career. ‘I’m an undertaker,’ he smiled. I was fascinated. On our first date two weeks later, Chris talked about how he’d lost his grandma, Joyce, as a boy. Frustrated by the funeral process, he’d disliked the impersonal service. ‘Nothing showed Gran’s personality,’ he added. So, for work experience at 15, he’d applied to a funeral parlour. There, families could tailor the service, such as having a football team’s logo on the coffin. Chris loved helping make coffins and dressing the deceased. After leaving school, he joined full-time, and, at 19, held his first funeral. We married in July 2013, and our daughter, Orlaith, now 16…

Here’s a cool way to decorate the house at Halloween – get the kids to draw scary faces and stick them on photos of the family! Anna-Maria May, Portland Fancy-up a plain pair of pumps by clipping on a flower hair accessory. Gemma Davies, Tuffley I cut a pumpkin shape out of a red Leicester cheese slice and melt over white cheese-on-toast for a spooky treat! Kim Hochkins, Birmingham Cut faces out of orange peel and use them as holders for straws in your fright-night party drinks. Matt Read, Rainham With scrunched-up kitchen towels, pipe cleaners to secure the heads and felt-tip pens to draw spooky faces, it’s easy for children to make these fun ghost decorations. Patricia Lowther, Durham Use ham instead of bread wraps for a low-carb snack!…

Vertigo Not the fear of heights as is often thought – vertigo is a sensation that you, or the environment, is moving when it isn’t. Symptoms include loss of balance, dizziness and feeling sick. It’s commonly caused by problems in the inner ear, for example a virus called labyrinthitis. If you suffer from persistent signs of vertigo, you should contact your GP. Give Yourself A Lift Eating dark chocolate is good for your skin. It contains high levels of antioxidants called flavonoids, which make skin more luminous.…

Most kids love to start their day with a big bowl of sugary cereal. Well, my son, Tommy, 8, has more grownup tastes. He prefers to wake up to a giant plate of sushi! Salmon sashimi, California rolls, tuna nigiri - he can’t get enough of it. And for dinner? It’s a 10oz steak, with chips and a chocolate pud to finish! Tommy eats 3,000 calories a day, more than a regular adult bloke is meant to. But he’s the same size as an average lad his age. His supersize diet is on doctor’s orders, as he suffers from Duchenne muscular dystrophy, as well as an associated heart condition called cardiomyopathy. It means his heart is enlarged and has to work extra hard, burning up loads of his energy. Without…

Black Cherry Gateau Serves: 8 Prep Time: 40 min Cook Time: 8-9 min 1 Preheat oven to 220C/Gas 7 and grease and base-line two 18cm sandwich tins. 2 Whisk eggs and sugar 3 until very pale and light. Sift flour and cocoa into mixture and fold in. Divide between tins, and level tops. Bake 8-9 min. 4 Remove from oven and turn out. Cover with a clean, damp tea towel and leave until cold. 5 Remove lining paper, then, using a bread knife, slice through cakes (you only need three of the layers). 6 Reserve › of cream and spread rest over two cakes. 7 Reserve 8 cherries and put rest of filling into sieve to remove some of sauce, then spoon…

Debbie lived in fear for her life after her violent ex’s threats My new fella Michael Parks placed the plate of steak in front of me. ‘Enjoy!’ he said. A single mum to Romany, 6, I wasn’t used to being looked after - but I could get used to it! I’d met Michael, 33, through mutual friends on Facebook in November 2014. We’d gone out for the first time a few days earlier. And, despite his muscly, tattooed, tough-guy image, Michael quickly put me at ease. Now I’d found he was a cracking cook, too! But, hanging out with my mate and her boyfriend a week later, Michael started showing off about how much I liked him. ‘I’ve got Debbie wrapped round my little finger,’ he bragged. ‘I don’t think…

Have You Tried? Yoga & Pilates with yoga teacher Maddy What is it? Fantastic for toning and strengthening, these exercises improve posture and target specific muscle groups. There’s a section of more challenging yoga postures, followed by a wind-down. Is it for me? These easy-to-follow exercises with photographs are perfect for beginners. Find out more: DVD and book £12, www. thegreatgiftcompany.co.uk Food Swaps 21% …of people stick to diets for less than a week! Research by DW Fitness Clubs found almost half give up due to lack of willpower. While reaching a goal is enough motivation for almost a quarter, for nearly half, buying new clothes is the best reward. Flattering Fashion Flowing from a high, beaded neck, this glamorous number is the perfect party dress!…

Age 13, I was at a sleepover at my friend Sarah’s. Her mum, Pauline, was a medium, and she showed me how to ‘open up the door to my spirit guide’. I received images of a rose and an elderly lady. I later found out my spirit guide is a woman called Rose! Keen to explore my spiritual gift further, in July 2008, my mum, Sheena, 63, and I went on a ghost-hunting night at Sheffield’s National Emergency Services Museum. Mediums used ouija boards to communicate with the dead, did tarot card readings - and I experienced ‘table tipping’. It’s a type of seance where tables rotate, powered by spirits. That night, a former prisoner, Eric, communicated with me. Hooked, I signed up to more spiritual evenings, and made contacts…

Growing up, I’d always looked up to my stepdad, Gareth Harding. He’d moved in with Mum and I when I was 2, and I’d called him Dad for as long as I could remember. He’d watch Rugratsand Tweenies with me on telly, read me bedtime stories. And he was great with my siblings when they came along. I always felt safe and comfortable with him around. Mum worked long hours in a factory, so when I had a problem, it was Gareth I’d go to. As I got older, I struggled with being bullied at school. ‘I’ll go in and speak to your teachers,’ Gareth reassured me, when I confided in him. What would I do without him? I wondered gratefully. He was fun, lively and he and Mum seemed…

Strolling along the beach in Turkey, me and my boyfriend, Ed Cusick, spotted a cafe up ahead. ‘Let’s sit there and watch the sunset,’ I suggested. It was so romantic and Ed, 38, must’ve thought so, too, because suddenly he pulled out an engagement ring. ‘Will you marry me?’ he asked. ‘Yes! Of course I will,’ I squealed, throwing my arms around him. We’d met through friends a year earlier and fallen in love. Within months, we’d moved in together and then, a month before our holiday, I’d found I was pregnant. It was a surprise - but a happy one. Getting engaged made everything complete. Back home, all our friends and family were thrilled at the news. We decided to wait until after our baby was born to plan…

Calf pain QI get a funny pain in my calves when I walk uphill, which makes me stop, but then it settles and I can carry on. At first, I was worried it might be a clot, but the pain comes and goes. Sharon, Paddock Wood A This could be claudication - ‘angina of the legs’ - when the blood vessels to the muscles are narrowed by smoking, high blood pressure or cholesterol and can’t provide enough blood for exertion. See your GP. Breast bother QI have large breasts and they get sore underneath. I dry well and use talc, but it doesn’t help. Alison, Whitley Bay A It sounds like you have a candidal fungal infection, so use anti-fungal cream. Don’t over-wash because that can reduce the protective oily…

1 Morrisons Bramley Apple Pies, 87p, for 6 The pastry is short and very crumbly, and there’s lots of juicy apply filling in these great-value pies. Try serving them warmed with ice cream for an almost-instant pud. 2 Tesco Bramley Apple Pies, £1 for 6 Almost our favourite, thanks to plenty of not-overly-sweet apple filling, and really good shortcrust pastry. 3 Mr Kipling Bramley Apple Pies, £1.45 for 6 A bit more expensive than the others, but worth it, as the fresh apple-flavoured filling is SO good! Just as tasty hot or cold. Make it yourself... Serves: 6 Prep Time: 20 min Cook Time: 45 min 1 Preheat oven to 200C/Gas 6. 2 Peel and core apples and then cut into thick…

Misfortune Cookies, £11.95 for a box of 13, www.prezzybox.com If you’re after a little pick-me-up, then these aren’t for you! These black fortune cookies may taste like regular ones, but be warned – the messages inside are nothing short of mean! Verdict: BONKERS! But great for Halloween parties! My Buddy Box, £14.99, www.mybuddy-box.com Now you have to pay for carrier bags across the UK, it’s time to think of alternative ways to carry your shopping! This storage box is lightweight but really sturdy, and folds down into a handy ‘briefcase’, so you can store it easily when it’s not in use. Verdict: GENIUS! It’ll last for ages! Nanogen Thickening Hair Fibres, £19.99 for one month’s supply, Boots Designed to disguise thinning hair, simply shake this onto…

SCORPIO 24 Oct–22 Nov Your ruling planet Mars makes it easy for you to see through any lies, but it may come as a surprise when you find out who has been talking about you. News of a birth or pregnancy gives closure on a dramatic chapter of several lives. Call: 09058 170 717* SAGITTARIUS 23 Nov–21 Dec The need to blow off some steam is clear from your chart but you may have to tell some white lies to get out of commitments you’ve already made. Younger faces bring good news, which makes you feel you no longer have to act as nursemaid. Call: 09058 170 718* CAPRICORN 22 Dec–20 Jan You are entering a new and exciting phase of your life and the planets will give you all…

Me and my identical twin sister, Cathryn, have always had a dark side. We’ve always loved reading twisted tales like Roald Dahl’s The Witches. And, growing up, we’d watch horror movies like Wes Craven’s A Nightmare on Elm Street. Far from scared, we craved more and more gore. Age 12, we wrote our own story about people getting chopped up. ‘It’s funny!’ laughed our mum, Lynette, now 58. Our elder sister, Sarah, now 35, was our opposite and hated horror. ‘Weirdos!’ she’d tease - but she loved us, really! As teens, our ‘goth’ fashion sense developed - anything black or PVC with studs. Both wearing size-8, we’d buy one outfit and share. Our creative flair led us to write spooky short stories, and self-publish them online. We’re always finishing each…

It was December 2007, and I’d a funny feeling in my tummy. ‘I’m pregnant,’ I told my mum, Lesley, 59. I hadn’t taken a test, but remembered the same sensation when I’d had my son, Alex, 11. My partner and I had been trying, and a test confirmed it. With no morning sickness, pregnancy seemed a breeze. During a scan at 28 weeks, I was delighted to learn I was expecting a girl. I’d secretly hoped to buy dozens of pretty dresses. Only, my daydreams were stopped in their tracks. Examining the scan, the doctor frowned. ‘She has spina bifida and hydrocephalus - water on the brain,’ she explained. Shock rippled through me. I’d heard of spina bifida. It’s caused by a fault in the development of the spine during…