Pick Me Up!の 03-May-2018 の目次

I would really like to nominate my husband. He has been so much more than that to me throughout our 46 years of marriage. He has always been such a kind, loyal, hard-working and cheerful person. We are so much more than husband and wife. Peter is my best friend and rock to lean on. We met back when I was aged just 16 and he was only 22, and, since then, we’ve always been blissfully happy together. There are actually a million reasons why I’d like to say thank you to him for all he does for me. But they all come down to one thing - his strength. When I developed bad depression and severe claustrophobia, which left me housebound, Peter was totally there for me and he…

The drive to Kyle’s felt like the longest 10 minutes of my life My four boys certainly kept me and hubby Chris, 45, on our toes. We were either ferrying them around to rugby matches or struggling to keep our cupboards stocked with food. Kallum, 21, Kyle, 19, Connor, 11, and Findlay, 6, all loved their sports. But Kyle was probably the most energetic. He was obsessed with motorbikes, a big Tottenham Hotspur fan, and was always on the go. ‘Where are you off to?’ I cried in February 2017, as he raced off out. ‘Told you, Mum,’ he called back. ‘I’m going to look at that flat.’ Kyle had just been promoted to warehouse manager at the local supermarket. He’d been on about moving out for a while and…

I ran down the corridor to Mum’s room, heart pounding As the kids tucked into their cereal, I relished the moment of peace. It was January 2015, and just the usual manic Monday morning at our house. I’d been rushing around, getting breakfast ready for the boys - Riley, 3, and Spencer, 1 - while my partner Jamie, 32, dozed in bed. When they’d finished eating, it’d be teeth brushed and clothes on before I took the kids out, and got Riley’s uniform and school bag ready. His first day in Reception class was the next day. Or that was what was supposed to have happened... Instead, at 9am the phone rang. It was my sister Poppy, 23. ‘Come quickly,’ she said. ‘It’s Mum.’ Poppy sounded out of breath, her…

Feeding my newborn son Tristan in March last year, I noticed his older sister Tazmin, then 1, toppling over. ‘Clumsy thing,’ I smiled, helping her up. Her legs were covered in bruises, but I put it down to her constantly falling over. But by May, the bruising was worse, nearly covering her legs and bottom. She’d also developed a rash of red, blistery spots and would sweat a lot while she slept. Despite this, she seemed well, was always running about. And I knew rashes in little ones are often harmless. So me and my partner Chris, 33, thought no more of it. Until 5 July - when I was scrolling through Facebook... Someone had shared a story of a teenage boy who’d passed away from leukaemia a week after…

A tiny corn snake had given me the heebiejeebies at first! Walking up the street, I did wonder what on earth I’d let myself in for. Let’s get this over with, I thought, scanning the two-bed house before me. It was August 2009 and I’d been set up by a mate who insisted this Dan Holmes would be perfect for me. However, I really hated set-ups, was embarrassed. Still, I went over to his house for a coffee, anyway, and was surprised by the handsome man who opened the door. Dan, then 27, was pretty hot! As well as good-looking, I found that Dan was also funny. A single dad to Harvey, then 3, he seemed like a good bloke. Before long , we were chatting like old friends. ‘I’ve…

 When Andrea Hamilton, 44, from Hartlepool, won, her family got spoilt rotten – even the dogs! Everyone at work thought I’d buy another dog It was November 2017 and as usual, the house was chaos. Being a mum of two kids, Charlotte, 13, and Harry, 10, was madness. And I had just as many dogs. So you can imagine the days I have! I use any me-time I get to chill out and relax. One of the things I like to do is play Pick Me Up! Bingo. I’d been a member for over three years and had some small wins. A win in November 2016 playing 90-ball Bingo in the Emerald Bingo room went to buy my West Highland terrier pup, Charlie. This time, I’d bought 38 10p tickets…

Knight & Wilson Style Freedom Rejuvenating Vitamin Oil, £7.99, Superdrug Ideal for dry tresses, this oil adds a hefty dose of moisture. Smooth over lengths and ends to add hydration, tame frizz and protect against future damage. St. Moriz Golden Glow Tanning Moisturiser, £4.99, Superdrug Perfect for tanning newbies, this lotion builds up a natural-looking glow over a few days, so you don’t have to worry about streaks or patches. It contains hydrating aloe vera and vitamin E, to leave your skin silky soft. Nivea Firming Q10 + Vitamin C Body Lotion, £8.49, Superdrug By upping the amount of collagen (the protein that keeps you looking young) your skin makes, vitamin C works miracles when it comes to firming your skin. Smooth all over your body every night for softer…

Lemon drizzle cake  Serves: 8 Prep: 15 mins Cook: 45 mins FOR THE ICING: 1 Preheat the oven to 180C/ Gas 4. Beat together the butter and sugar until light and creamy, then beat in 1 egg at a time. 2 Sieve in the flour and bicarbonate of soda, and stir in the yogurt, lemon zest and juice. Pour into a greased and floured 18cm cake tin and bake for 45 mins until well risen and golden brown. 3 To make the icing, stir the lemon juice into the icing sugar. Remove the cake from the oven and tin, prick the surface of the cake and pour over the icing. Scatter zest on top of the icing. Roasted red pepper risotto…

Out of the blue, his words appeared in my head The doctor’s words to me were blunt. ‘If you carry on like this, you might not make it,’ he said. I was 14. Three months earlier, I’d been a normal teenager. Busy, I’d often forget to eat. Then I noticed, when my stomach growled, it took my mind off stressful things like school. So I didn’t eat much more than a mouse, convinced my family I’d already eaten. Eventually, I started having heart palpitations. My mum and dad, Tony and Lisa, took me to A&E. I’d lost 3st in a short space of time. Now, 5ft 5in and weighing below 5st, I was dangerously underweight. I was diagnosed with anorexia, and kept in hospital for the next three months. But…

All my bunnies snuggled together. Always remember, some-bunny loves you… Danielle Seago, Romford A daily occurrence in our house. They think our bed is theirs. We always have to roll over. Typical… Tanya Woods, Banham As you can see, Polly, our Siamese cat, takes her guard duties very seriously! She’s always protecting our three little guinea pigs, Eeny, Meeny and Mo. Bea Wilkinson, Clyst Hydon My Chihuahua Linus loves being tickled. If you tickle his tummy, his tongue pops out. Rebecca Key, Liverpool Naughty Patch! I caught him sitting statue-still while keeping an eye on the bird table. Bad pussy… Susan Angus, Penn, Wolverhampton My cockatiel, Nicky, is a right smiley bird, and loves the camera and spotlight. Melanie North, via e-mail…

Say cheese! We had a legend-dairy day at CheeseFest in Manchester. It was Gouda this world… Caitlin O’Riordan, Preston We visited the Kitty Café in Leeds, and this cheeky mog tried to sneak home with us. Vanessa Clough, Leeds What big eyes you have… My granddaughter Billi dressed as Little Red Riding Hood for World Book Day. Patricia Coron, Cheltenham We had a sneaky squirrel stealing food from the dog’s bowl! Margaret Anderson, Sunderland Can she fix it? Yes, she can! My daughter Pixie getting ready to help out with some DIY. Francesca Mowles, Felixstowe We can’t wait for BBQ season to start – let’s hope it’s warmer than last time… Karen Wells, Gravesend My husband pulled this cringeworthy face when all I wanted was a romantic kiss… Awkward! Amy…

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Breast lump QI had a mammogram about three months ago, which was normal. Now I think I can feel a lump. Do I need to worry? Susan, Newport A It may be benign, but still needs checking. Your GP can examine you and, if necessary, refer you for an ultrasound or needle biopsy. Am I a freak? QI have hair on my nipples and I’m so embarrassed. I’ll never get a boyfriend now – they’ll think I’m a freak. What’s wrong with me? Chrissy, Leighton A Nothing, many girls have nipple hair. You’re clearly young, and it’s usual to feel self-conscious at your age. Talk to someone about how you feel if you’re distressed. You can cut or shave the hairs, but avoid plucking in this sensitive area. Cycle of…

He chose some of his victims for making eye contact with him No-one could say that Jeff Weise was dealt a good hand in life. He was the only child of single mother Joanne, and spent his early years living in a run-down mobile home in a remote part of Minneapolis. Occasionally, he’d see his dad Daryl Lussier Jr - a decent enough father, when he wasn’t drunk. He wasn’t the ideal role model, but Jeff loved and looked up to him all the same. Then, when Jeff was 7, his dad blasted himself in the head with a shotgun and died. As if that wasn’t traumatic enough, two years later, his mum was left brain-damaged after a car accident. She could no longer take care of Jeff, and he…

Crashing down into the sofa I sighed, feeling exhausted. Much as I loved them, having three kids aged 5 and under was a real handful! And, 4 months pregnant, I knew I was going to have even more on my plate soon. But my partner Alex, 35, and I were almost ready for our newest arrival. I had Amelia, 5, and Teddy, 4, from a previous relationship. Ellie-Mae, 18 months, was mine and Alex’s first together. This time we were having a boy, making it two of each. All that was left for us to do was to pick a name. ‘So, what about Sam or Matt?’ I said to Alex. ‘I really like Frankie,’ he said. Actually, me, too... ‘Maybe we’ll make our minds up for good, after we…

He’d been the most attentive boyfriend I’d ever had Leading me into the bedroom with his hands over my eyes, my boyfriend Josh Barnes, 26, suddenly brought me to a halt. ‘Now you can look!’ he said. I opened my eyes to see the most stunning bouquet of flowers on my pillow. ‘They’re gorgeous!’ I squealed, scooping them up. ‘But what’s the occasion?’ Josh shrugged. ‘I just wanted to see you smile,’ he grinned. It was last November and, in the three years we’d been together, he’d been the most attentive boyfriend I’d ever had. We’d met after a mutual pal introduced us on a boozy night out. Since then, he was always buying me gifts, taking me to dinner or on romantic weekends away. We were inseparable, even had…

1 These are open sores that develop on the lining ofthe stomach. 2 They don’t produce any symptoms . 3 They’recaused bydamage to the stomach lining. 4 Stomachulcers only affect adults. 1 TRUE And they can also occur in part of the intestine just beyond the stomach. 2 FALSE The most common symptom is a burning pain in the centre of the abdomen. Ulcers can also cause indigestion, heartburn and nausea. 3 TRUE The stomach lining is protected from gastric acids by a mucus layer. If this breaks down, the lining can be damaged and an ulcer will form. 4 FALSE They can affect adults or children but are most commonly found in men over 60.…

HoMedics SoundSpa Rejuvenate Sleep Aid Machine, £29.99, Boots Block out noise when trying to sleep with this machine that fills the room with soothing sounds. You can set it to turn off automatically after 15, 30 or 60 minutes. Verdict: GENIUS! Also improves concentration when awake! Party Bulb, £11.99, thefowndry.com Go all out for your next party by switching your usual central ceiling bulb for this one. It starts spinning as soon as you flick the switch, transforming your living room into a funky disco. Verdict: BONKERS! Psychedelic, man! But not for every day. Nintendo Labo Variety Kit, £60, Tesco If you’ve got a Nintendo Switch, listen up. This kit lets you bring your device to life, turning it into a car, fishing rod, house, motorbike and piano…

The police had no suspects – and the case went cold... Waving goodbye to friends, I made my way to the taxi rank. It was May 1983, and I’d just been to a rock’n’roll club. A single mum to Russell, then 3, nights out were rare. I’d left him with a babysitter and made the most of having a night off. I’d only had a couple of drinks and, just before 2am, decided to call it a night. It was only a short walk in Gateshead to get a cab home, and I knew the area like the back of my hand. As I walked along the dimly-lit road, I saw a man coming towards me. But when he passed me, he suddenly grabbed me from behind, pressing something against…

‘APPY EVER AFTER Win a new Smartphone! We’ve got 5 amazing Smartphones to be won when you play on the App! Go to the Pick Me Up! Bingo App, opt in and play £30 or more on the App between 26 April-1 May to enter the Grand Prize Draw. 18+, UK only. Opt in required. Wagering requirements apply. T&Cs apply. WONDERS NEVER CEASE £50 cash prizes to be won! There’s £500 up for grabs each day. Opt in and play £10 or more on our new Wonder Woman Bullets & Bracelets slot game, on any day between 1-6 May to enter the Grand Prize for a chance to win. WONDER WOMAN and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and © DC Comics. (s18) © 2018 Scientific Games. 18+,…

I check what sites my kids have been on and also ask them what they're up to. I trust my children – and so far, so good. Chrissy Russell, Warwick I refuse to let my daughter, 11, have Facebook like her friends do. I don’t want her creating an account where her date of birth makes her look older than she is. Debbie Hadden, Wordsley, West Midlands My daughter, 14, has opened a Facebook account on the condition I have her password so I can check if needed. I tell her online bullying is unacceptable and she needs to tell me if she gets any nasty messages. Michelle Underwood, Woking, Surrey…

Now he’s a world champ, what else will he achieve? Waiting in the hospital corridor, I squeezed my partner Aneka’s hand. It was March 2012. Aneka was 20 weeks pregnant with our first child and today we were going to find out if we were having a boy or a girl. I didn’t mind as long as they were healthy. ‘And they like football,’ I grinned, already imagining me and the littl’un having a kickabout in years to come. Minutes later, a sonographer scanned Aneka’s tummy. ‘It’s a boy,’ she said. I was chuffed. Only then there seemed to be a problem. A doctor was sent for. ‘Your baby’s left leg is significantly shorter than the right,’ the doctor explained. My head spiralled into worry... Our little lad – will…

ARIES 21 March–20 April For far too long you have been living the life others told you to lead and it’s time to take control. Remember you are an Aries, my friend, and you are the master of your own destiny. Put yourself in the driving seat – there are places and experiences waiting for you. Call: 09058 170 710* TAURUS 21 April–21 May You start to see what needs to be done to bring balance and harmony back into your life. Venus, planet of love, forces you to wear your heart on your sleeve, and it will prove impossible not to say anything but the truth to those who ask you personal questions in the days ahead. Call: 09058 170 711* GEMINI 22 May–21 June Don’t look upon what’s…