Table of contents for 23-Feb-2017 in Pick Me Up!

What A Ride! I recently went on the ArcelorMittal Orbit slide at London’s Olympic Park with my friends. It’s the world’s tallest and longest tunnel slide. We had so much fun – and, apparently, reached speeds of 15mph! 94 That’s what I scored on the EastEnders quiz. To see how you fare, go to www. lifedeath  prizes.com and search ‘EastEnders’. What A Quacker! My dog Jess hates baths. But how adorable is she in her new, fluffy duck bathrobe? She doesn’t look too impressed, mind… What A Beano! When I went out with the girls for a bottomless, boozy brunch, I made sure I got my money’s worth of bellini cocktails! And I wasn’t even hungover the next day…honest! What A Walkover! My…

‘Each time we touched him, he would cry in pain’ My little boy Rhys took his first few tottering steps across the living room and I burst into applause. ‘Well done!’ I beamed. But next minute, his smile vanished as he tripped over. Instinctively, I reached out to grab his arm, to steady him. But to my horror, a handful of his skin came off in my hand. Poor Rhys screamed out and I felt dreadful. ‘I’m sorry, darling,’ I said. He was in so much pain. And yet I couldn’t even comfort him with a cuddle. See, after Rhys was born in September 2005, he was diagnosed with a severe case of a rare skin condition called epidermolysis bullosa (EB), which means his skin literally falls off at the…

1 TRUE Orf is caused by a parapoxvirus, which affects animals like goats and sheep, as well as humans. 2 FALSE In fact, orf can only be spread from an infected animal to a person through direct, close contact. It’s never transmitted from one human to another. 3 FALSE The initial symptom of orf is the development of red, itchy and painful lesions on the hands, arms or face after an incubation period of three to five days. Other symptoms include general tiredness, mild fever and enlarged lymph glands. 4 TRUE Orf is a self-limiting disease, meaning it’ll clear up on its own, usually within 3-6 weeks. Covering lesions with hygienic dressings can ease discomfort in the meantime. Next Week KAPOSI’S SARCOMA…

SCRAPPY DOO BREED: Chihuahua mix AGE: 13 DISABILITY: No bottom jaw or teeth LIKES: Bossing the other dogs around DISLIKES: Losing his ball PEG BREED: Mixed AGE: 4 DISABILITY: Has one eye and only three legs LIKES: Ozzy – they’re the best of friends DISLIKES: People creeping up on her OZZY BREED: Podenco cross AGE: 5 DISABILITY: Anxiety – he’s frightened of everything LIKES: Cuddles with his soft toys DISLIKES: Loud noises and busy places SPOOKY BOO BREED: Lurcher AGE: 5½ DISABILITY: Deaf and had a spinal injury in 2015, so she now needs mobility wheels on her back legs LIKES: Racing with her wheels on DISLIKES: Drama – she’s very cool, calm and laid back…

1 Mr Kipling 6 Viennese Whirls A super short biscuit that melts as you bite into it. The soft cream centre with a splodge of jam makes it very sweet, but perfect with a cuppa. 2 Border Light & Chocolatey Viennese Whirls Light, crumbly biscuit, but with the added bonus of a good, thick layer of chocolate – a tasty change. 3 Lidl Rowan Hill Bakery Viennese Whirls It’s the generous amount of cream and jam filling that makes these buttery-tasting biscuits our first choice. Absolutely delicious! Make it yourself... Makes: 12 Prep Time: 20 min Cook Time: 20 min Filling: 1 Heat oven to 190C/Gas 5 and line 2 sheets with baking paper. 2 Mix butter, icing sugar, plain…

Waterproof Floating Bluetooth Speaker, £24.99, www. prezzybox. com Listen to tunes in the tub without risking your phone. It doesn’t need any wires, works with smartphones and tablets, and the battery lasts up to four hours. Verdict: GENIUS! Love that you can use it to change the song, too! Heston Charcoal Bagel with Tea Smoked Salmon, £3.60, Waitrose Yep, you read that right! Not only is this bagel made from charcoal, but the salmon inside has been smoked with lapsang souchong tea! Our Jess tried it out and thought it was pretty yummy – like a normal salmon bagel, but with a lighter texture. Verdict: BONKERS! But delicious! Knit Your Own Unicorn Trophy, £39.99, www.firebox.com We’ve seen plenty of stag heads hanging…

I started playing bingo online back in the noughties after my daughter Anna, 29, and my son Jamie, 27, showed me how to get online. Pick Me Up! Bingo had looked like fun, so I’d signed up. Over the years, I’d had a few wins, and I once scooped more than £3,000 in just one week! Last May, I won a few quid on a slot game. So I pre-bought tickets for Emerald bingo, then logged out. Your numbers are automatically marked off. Later, I checked and You’ve won £1,000 flashed up. It must’ve happened earlier! I put the winnings towards doing up the house. The kids helped and it looks fab. I bought clothes and also got the kids some bits and bobs. So, thanks, Pick Me Up! Bingo…

Try this…. Courgette Lasagne Sheets, £1.50, Sainsbury’s An easy way to replace the carb component of your meal, just layer up with these thin cut slices of veg in place of pasta. Genius! Asda Slimzone, £2.50 each This range of frozen meals is ‘free’ if you’re on Slimming World’s Extra Easy Plan. There are 12 in the range, including Thai Green Chicken Curry. 100- Calorie Gallery Get Moving! Say goodbye to bingo wings with a simple dip exercise. Position your hands shoulder-width apart on the bed, placing your feet on the floor in a squat position. Straighten your arms and slowly bend them to lower your body, before lifting your body back up. Repeat 20 times, take a break of no more than 20 seconds, then do two more…

Darren Crandon, 32, first scored with me at an Irish bar in my home town of Brighton, in March 2014. Welsh, he was on a lads’ night out. We swapped numbers, and our long-distance romance began. Only, a month later, I’d work booked as a holiday rep in Greece. We hated being apart. So, when my contract ended, I flew straight to Cardiff to live with Darren. Then, in November 2015... ‘Fancy a trip to Paris...’ he started, and I’d a rush of excitement - but then, ‘...to the UEFA Championships?’. Footie! His other great love. Not quite the romantic trip I’d imagined, but it’d be fun. In Paris on 11 June with friends, we’d entered the sunny Champ de Mars, a huge, green stretch with a big screen, when…

Relationships are always a focus of concern in our lives. Are you seeking a romantic partner? Are you experiencing difficulties in your current relationship? Are you both compatible? Our team of specially selected love psychics can help you find the answers you’re looking for on all matters of the heart. Using the ancient art of the tarot, your psychic reader will provide revealing answers. LIVE PSYCHICS & MEDIUMS! Call our live Psychics and Mediums now! Pay by your phone bill… Love Psychics 0906 174 1693 (£1.50/min)** Live Mediums 0906 174 1777 (£1.50/min)** Call Freephone 0800 063 0687 Book your reading with our friendly advisors Enjoy your consultation Or simply text LOVET (Space) plus your question to 82229 (Texts £1.50 per msg x 2)***…

1 Visit The Cinema Most Cineworlds have movies for juniors in the mornings, where you only have to pay £2 per child on selected films. 2 Have A Day In Have a duvet day. Use a website such as Flubit.com  to buy movies at a fraction of the price. 3 Be A Tourist Buy a National Rail Travelcard and you qualify for 2-for-1 vouchers on many London attractions. 4 Free Attractions There are lots of free activities to enjoy the UK. Some of the free-entry places to try are London’s Natural History Museum and The Science Museum, and the National Museum in Cardiff. Not only will the children enjoy an educational, fun day out, but it won’t…

Most people hope for hot summers with plenty of sun. Me, I’m always holding out for damp days with overcast skies. You see, my girl Matilda, 7, has a corneal dystrophy. It means if her eyes get too dry, she’s in so much pain, she’s unable to open them for long. It all started when she was just 18 months old. Though she was clearly awake, she’d spend days on end with her eyes shut, and, at night, she’d scream. She just wouldn’t open her eyes, even if I tried to bribe her. My husband Julian, 42, and I took her to the doctor, but no-one knew what was wrong. Months later, our poor little girl was still clearly in pain, and, shortly before her 2nd birthday, we took her…

The year was 1219. And the people of Almaty, Kazakhstan, were in fear. Genghis Khan was coming to conquer them. They were right to be scared. Because although Genghis Khan had built one of the biggest empires the world has ever seen, his people called him merciless. If they disobeyed him, he’d have them squashed to death under huge boulders and stones, or he’d pour molten lead into their eyes and ears. Now, 800 years later, in December 2015, the people of Almaty were in fear once again. This time, by a descendant of Genghis Khan. Or, at least, a man claiming to be. He’d escaped the high-security psychiatric facility where he was kept prisoner and was stalking the streets, hunting for human flesh. His name was Nikolai Dzhumagaliev. Rapist.…

FABULOUS, DAAAHLING! Here Are Our Top Fave -Artist Names.... 1. Panti Lyner 2. Angie O’Gram 3. Auntie Bacterial 4. Ginny Tonic 5. Sue Pository 6. Carmen Gettit Hava Celebic, 80, from Bosnia, claims to be the only person who can heal people by licking their eyeballs (after first sterilising her mouth with alcohol) – and she only charges 10 euros… Can You Guess The Missing Film Prop?…

 It was a Sunday last October. After running the vacuum over the carpet, I got my duster out. 'I could play Pick Me Up! Bingo at home in my slippers' I’d had a busy week working in a school kitchen, and I was catching up on chores. Later, when I’d finished, I settled on the sofa with a brew and my laptop. ‘I’ll have a few games of bingo,’ I told my hubby Richard, 46. I used to go to bingo halls. But, after having the kids, I didn’t have time, so I joined Pick Me Up! Bingo in 2012. I loved that I could play Pick Me Up! Bingo at home. That same week, I’d won tickets while playing bingo in the Sapphire room on the Playoff Palace qualifying…

'I could feel the flames licking at my skin, up my arms…' The answer was a firm no. ‘Henry, you’re not getting one and that’s the end of it,’ I said to him. It was October last year. And, from the look on his face, it seemed the world had ended for our son Henry, 10. He wanted a hoverboard, but me and his dad David, 47, weren’t giving in. A hoverboard’s a sort of electronic balancing board with wheels. You stand on it and scoot around. Henry had seen them on a website. ‘We don’t know anything about that site,’ I said to Henry. ‘Are hoverboards even safe?’ But then, a week later... ‘Mum! Mum! Look!’ Henry cried, pulling at my arm. Out shopping, Henry had seen the boards…

‘Powerless, I tried to pull away as Justin gripped my arm...’ ‘I was lucky I didn’t overdose or become an addict’ My stomach churned as my boyfriend, Justin Mustafa, confessed his deepest secret. ‘I’m due in court soon,’ he admitted to me. An ex-girlfriend had accused him of filming them having sex without her consent. ‘Well, did you?’ I gasped, horrified. It was January 2012, and we’d only been together four months - but I’d already fallen head over heels in love. ‘No, I did not!’ Justin cried. He claimed they’d filmed a private sex tape together but, angry when they’d broken up, she’d gone to police with a made-up story. I’d known Justin from school and got back in touch with him when his photo popped up on Facebook.…

Expecting a girl, my fiance Colin Landry, 29, and I had chosen the name Amelia. On my due date, 9 March last year, at around 1.30pm, I started feeling familiar twinges. Staying calm, I took a bath, as Colin, who works as a panel beater, didn’t finish until 5pm. I can hold on , I thought. Getting out, I rang my mum Jacqui, 51, who rushed over with my brother James, 21. Mum rubbed my back, while James kept track of the frequency of my contractions. ‘They’re getting closer,’ I said. Two minutes apart by 2.30pm, I rang Colin. ‘Come home now!’ I told him, and he raced home in his BMW, arriving minutes later. I clambered into the back, with Mum beside me, as Colin drove the 30-minute…

‘Peter was such a kind, caring boyfriend’ ‘I worried nobody would believe me if I told them’ My knight in shining armour... That was my boyfriend Peter Cotterill down to a T. We’d started dating in 2012, when I was 19. I’d known him for years through friends, but we’d lost touch. Then I’d bumped into him on a night out and he’d proved what a gent he was... I suffer from asthma and started having an attack outside a bar. When I spotted Peter near the door, I grabbed his arm. He held me and kept me calm until an ambulance arrived. It was an unexpected reunion, but it set off a spark between us. Peter was such a kind, caring boyfriend - I was smitten. When I was…

1 Good Grip Wrap an elastic band around a stubborn bottle lid to make it easier to open. Cassandr a Driscoll, Inverness 2 Page-turner Rubber bands make great bookmark s if you wrap them around the cover – they don’t fall out! Sophie C oulson, Hereford 3 Chop Chop If your chopping board slips when you slice, wrap a band around it to help it stay in place on the counter. Hayley Vick, Tamworth 4 Flower power Keep your flower display tightly packed by wrapping a clear elastic band ar ound the stems before you put them in water. Jean Hill, Dartford * Remember, these are YOUR tips – we haven’t tried them ourselves…

‘Strong laxatives and an enema did nothing to help me’ Standing in the supermarket queue, my stomach was suddenly gripped by crippling cramps. The searing pains were so bad, my knuckles turned white as I gripped the trolley. ‘Quick! I need to get home right away,’ I whispered urgently to my mum Mary, 58. We rushed to the car with my son DJ, who was then just a few months old. Back home, I headed straight for the toilet. And only when I went did the pain start to fade. It wasn’t the first time I’d experienced agony like that. Since having a Caesarean with DJ, I’d been getting frequent pains in my stomach. And, rather than getting flatter after he was born, my tummy was getting rounder and rounder.…

Foetal movements Q I’m 16 weeks pregnant with my first baby. I’ve had an easy pregnancy so far, but I’m anxious I can’t feel my baby moving yet. Is everything OK? Carmen, Mold A More than likely, yes. In your first pregnancy, your baby’s movements can come later, and they feel more like flutters than pronounced movements. If, by 25 weeks, you’ve still felt nothing, talk to your midwife, who’ll check on your baby. Eat to avoid diabetes Q There’s a very strong history of diabetes in my family. Everyone seems to get type 2 as they get older. What’s the best way of reducing my chances of developing the disease? Lynn, Hereford A Adopting a Mediterranean diet, which is rich in colourful fruit and veg, and also includes modest…

'With no bottom jaw, his big tongue hung out at all times' It was love at first sight. As soon as I saw the tiny ball of fluff, I was head-over-heels. ‘We have to adopt him,’ I said to my hubby Eddy, 51. I was on Facebook and had come across a post about an abandoned pooch in Romania. He belonged to an elderly man who’d been made homeless. Nobody wanted him The old man was given a place to stay by neighbours. But the poor little mutt had been left to fend for himself. Yet, despite the rescue charity’s best efforts, nobody seemed to want him. I thought he was utterly adorable. But others probably thought he was ugly. Because, well, he looked a bit different. This little pooch…

Banana Pancakes With Honey Bananas Serves: 2 Prep Time: 10 min Cook Time: 7 min 1 In a blender, blitz together 2 bananas with the eggs, oats, baking powder and salt until combined, but not smooth. 2 Heat a little oil in a frying pan, then add 2 separate ladles of batter into pan, making two pancakes. Fry on one side until golden-brown and bubbles start to appear on surface, then flip over and cook on other side until golden. 3 Cut remaining 2 bananas in half long ways. In another frying pan, add butter and fry bananas cut-side down for 2 min. Add honey and walnuts and allow it to warm through. Serve with pancakes. QUICK & EASY RECIPE Cheesy…

'There was a spark but, at first, we were just mates' 'Gary dropped to one knee and asked me to marry him' It was a fight to the death. Clicking frantically on my controller, I threw grenades, used my weaponry of guns and knives, took out the enemy one by one. It was November 2011, I was 17, and I was playing my favourite online game, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, on my Xbox. Suddenly, I got a message from another gamer called ‘It’s Gazza’. Please don’t kill me, he begged, followed by a smiley emoji. Yeah, right, I thought. We were playing in Deathmatch mode - where two teams are pitted against each other. It was kill or be killed! So I carried on blowing up his character…

ASK JESS QI have to dye my grey roots every two weeks and it’s getting really expensive! What can I do? Marie Waters, 47, Kettering A Try Everpro Beauty Zero Grey Root Touch-up Magnetic Powder, £12.99, Superdrug. The powder binds to each strand of hair like a magnet, is easy to apply and stays put all day. Jess’Beauty Hero If, like me, you love super-sweet scents, you’ll love Patisserie De Bain Sweet as Cherry Pie Hand Cream, £3.99. It really does smell good enough to eat! READER’STIP If you struggle to apply lipstick neatly, tidy up the edges with a dab of concealer on a cotton bud. Sophie Hone, 32, Cheshunt TRIED & TESTED This week: Body lotions 1 Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula, £5.69, Superdrug People seem to either love…

‘Gradually, I gave up the search, just hoping he hadn’t suffered’ Ta-da!’ said my mum Andrea, 56, placing a bundle of fluff in my arms. It was an 8-week-old Jack Russell puppy! Delighted, I named him Foster. He was an affectionate and loyal dog. Clever, too, he even learned to give you a paw if you asked to shake hands. Then, one morning in May 2007, Foster, 4, was with me as usual as I tended horses on my parents’ farm. Dashing to run an errand, I left Foster locked in a barn... Only, when I came back 40 minutes later, Foster had vanished. My heart sank when I spotted two motorbikes and a strimmer were missing, too. We’d had thieves! Frantic, we hunted all over town, handed out flyers...…

ARIES 21 March–20 April Try to keep a sense of humour to the fore this week, or you could end up falling out with the very people with whom you've just made up. The written word’s important now, and signing forms sets you on a path to happiness and freedom. Call: 09058 170 710* TAURUS 21 April–21 May I can see that family haven’t been easy to deal with of late, but I can also see that you haven’t been making life easy for yourself, either. Try not to argue with folk with whom you know you can’t win. Move on, and don’t look back! Call: 09058 170 711* GEMINI 22 May–21 June Do your best to say constructive things to younger people, as they’re already feeling life’s getting out…

Can You Guess The Song From The Food And Drink Pics? DOUBLE TROUBLE THE BEST THINGS ABOUT BEING A TWIN ARE… • Fooling teachers by switching around… • Getting your twin to try on stuff to see if it’d suit the real you (not mirror-image you!) • Symmetry in photos. • Can’t be bothered to go out? Send your twin instead. • The attention! IT MEANS WHAT?! Ever uttered a word not knowing what it means? ’s a few that folk get wrong more than right… Plethora  What you think it means: A wide variety of things. What it actually means: An amount that is far greater than what’s actually needed. Travesty  What you think it means: Something shocking or upsetting, a tragedy. What it actually means: A mockery or…

‘The bite got worse, a bumpy rash creeping up her arm’ ‘Pest control went to the flat and found it infested’ A shrill scream rang out and then my daughter Abbie, 8, raced into my bedroom. ‘A spider fell on me,’ she cried. Following her back to the bathroom, I saw what I thought was a house spider on the floor. ‘It’s OK, it’s gone now,’ I said, squashing it with a mop. It was October 2016, and the eight-legged bug had dropped from the bathroom ceiling, on to Abbie’s dress. She was shaken, so I gave her a big cuddle. But a few hours later she complained her hand was hurting and a little black dot had appeared. ‘It’s itchy,’ Abbie said. Spider bite, I thought. I realised it…