Table of contents for 15-Feb-2018 in Pick Me Up!

I’d like to nominate my mother Carol Davies, 46. My wonderful mum is my absolute rock, and I just couldn’t imagine what I would ever do without her. She’s my best friend in the world. You could never find a more caring or considerate person. She always puts others and their problems before her own. After we lost my grandad, mum was there to look after my grandmother every day for eight years while she suffered from Alzheimer’s until she passed away, too. Mum is the first person I go to when I need advice, support, or even just a hug, and she’s always there without fail, waiting with open arms. She is my inspiration for her consideration and kind nature towards other people. She’s been the best mum and…

Menopause and fertility Since my husband Q left, I’ve not needed contraception – but now I’ve got a new partner. My last period was over six months ago – do I still need contraception? Miranda, Hakin A If you are younger than 50, you are potentially fertile for up to two years after your last period. If over 50, you’ll need contraception for at least a year after your last period. My fork fear Q I get irrationally angry if people clink cutlery on their plate when eating. I have ended up not able to eat near anyone else! What’s wrong with me? Dawn, London A Misophonia is a very difficult condition to live with, causing excessive distress when listening to certain sounds at any volume - even low ones.…

I loved the buzz when I stepped out, the roar of the crowd Just as a trickle of ketchup slid down my chin, the door opened. ‘Natalie, we’re ready for you,’ the man smiled. Gulping down the last of my bacon sarnie, I wiped my face and walked into the room. Four people were sitting behind a desk, X Factor style. It was terrifying! ‘I’m auditioning for the role of Anita,’ I smiled. It was June 2015, and I was part of the Maghull Musical Theatre Company. They were putting on an amateur production of West Side Story, and I was desperate to play lead character Maria’s sexy sister. Only, was I imagining it, or did their eyes flicker over me with amusement? It was probably in my head -…

Surprised with £1,000! Jill Jones, 55, Weston-super-Mare As I nattered away with my pals, I just couldn’t stop giggling. See, we’d got chatting in the chat rooms of my favourite bingo site - Pick Me Up! Bingo. Over the years I had a few small wins on the site. For me though, it was all about having fun. In July last year, I bought a few pre-buy tickets for Tiki Bingo. A day or so later I logged back in, and my account balance showed £1,000! I realised I’d won the jackpot with one of my pre-buy tickets. Incredible! I was home alone, so I did a silly dance around the kitchen. When my husband Phil, 57, got home I told him the news. ‘That’s made my day,’ he smiled.…

Glammed up, heels on, I was excited for a night out on the town. Linking arms with my sister Francesca, 18, we visited a few bars in Norwich. Ended up at a nightclub. Dancing away, we drank cocktails and chatted into the early hours of 22 April 2017. Around 1am, I spotted a familiar face. Malaki Morgan, 30. I’d met him three or four times before. He seemed a nice guy, was the quiet one in his group. This night, he sidled over to me. ‘Hey Charley, you’re looking great tonight,’ he schmoozed. Uh-oh! Though I liked Malaki, I didn’t fancy him at all. Thanking him, I quickly changed the subject. But he wasn’t bowing out that easy. Complimenting me, he moved closer, brushing my arm. ‘Malaki, I’m not interested,’…

Looking at my 6-month-old daughter Naomi in her cot, I recoiled in shock. That doesn’t look right, I thought. It was June 2011 and she’d been grumbly that afternoon. Only, I’d just put her down for a nap and now one of her arms was suddenly jutting out at a weird angle. ‘Come and look at this,’ I shouted to my husband, Andre, 41. Hearing my concerned voice, he rushed up the stairs. Naomi’s left arm was still sticking out. And when we lifted her limb up, it was completely floppy. She had no control over it. As a nurse, I tried not to panic, but that’s hard when it’s one of your own. ‘We need to get her checked out,’ I said to Andre. Worried, we grabbed our eldest…

That’s me at the back with my nieces Donna and Gail and my great-niece Rosie. Beautiful girls! Elizabeth Williams, via email Eye see you! My daughter Jadine through the looking glass… or bottle! Karen Wells, Gravesend I got a little bit wet near the Erawan Waterfall in Thailand, but loved every second of it! Reeve Coulson, Somersham Butlin's isn't just for children, but also for big kids like me and my husband Alan. We loved meeting Billy Bear! Christine Name Addr Barssam, Heanor My daughter Daphne adored the Enchanted Forest at Stockeld Park! It took us nearly 40 minutes to convince her to get out of this boot! Hannah Moreau, Shipley I nearly melted when I saw this tiny baby panda in China! He was in an incubator so his…

Smooth operator All Wilkinson Sword Quattro for Women Bikini razors (normally £11.99) are half price in Boots stores from 14 February until 14 March. This beauty tool boasts a razor with four wire-wrapped blades, designed to minimise cuts and irritation. Nice, nice, baby Piccolo is offering 50% off its baby food pouches until 20 February at Ocado. Go in store or visit ocado.co.uk  to take advantage of the offer. Vegan meal deal Boots has a new limited-edition range of vegan lunches, including a Coronation Veggies Sandwich, Samosa Style Veggies Wrap, Tandoori Style Beetroot Flatbread and Sweet Potato Falafel Grain Box. They start at £2.75 each, but can be bought with a drink and a snack for only £3.99. We’ll toast to that Whether you receive a Valentine’s card…

I was 34, had just had a baby. Could life be that cruel? I was pregnant with my second son Leo when the problems began. It was 23 December 2014 and I itched constantly, couldn’t sleep. Three days later, my wee was the colour of cola and my eyes, nails and skin were turning yellow. ‘You need to see a doctor,’ insisted my hubby Gary, 33. Tests showed my liver was functioning abnormally. Doctors thought I had intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP), a liver condition that causes itching. ‘It’ll stop after you’ve given birth,’ I was told. Little Leo arrived early at 32 weeks on 28 January 2015, but was healthy. Me, Gary, and our eldest boy Austin, then 20 months, were over the moon. I was looking forward to…

He said he’d lifted her into the air, like his wrestling idols Clearing away the dinner plates, Kathleen Grossett-Tate stifled a yawn. She was going to take a nap before starting her night shift as a State Trooper for the Florida police. First she checked on her son, 12-year-old Lionel, and her friend’s daughter, Tiffany Eunick, 6. Despite the age and size difference - Lionel already stood at nearly 6ft tall and weighed over 11½st - they were playing nicely together. She’d met Tiffany’s mother, Deweese Eunick-Paul, when she’d moved to Broward County. Both women were divorced. Lionel had only been living with his mother for a month. Before becoming a State Trooper, Kathleen had been in the Army, serving around the world, including the Middle East during the Gulf…

We were married for just three weeks before he died Tall, handsome, and funny... Any wonder that from the moment I met Gary, 38, I was head over heels? We’d been introduced in the pub and we quickly became an item. By the following summer, I was expecting our baby. Life was perfect, except for one thing. Gary was in pain, struggling to go to the loo. ‘I think it’s piles, don’t make a fuss,’ he’d blush. He refused to see a doctor. But creams and over-the-counter meds didn’t work. He lost his appetite and his weight plummeted. ‘Enough’s enough,’ I proclaimed. Finally, he made an appointment with the GP, who referred him to Royal Bolton Hospital straight away. Scans and a biopsy confirmed the worst. ‘You have bowel cancer,’…

I’ve won the bingo five times Karen Chambers, 49, West Wickham, Kent After a long day, I loved unwinding with a few games of Pick Me Up! Bingo. I’d recently been playing Bingo Lounge and loved it. Soon a winning message and confetti filled the screen. ‘I’ve won!’ I shouted. I immediately phoned my friend and told her the news. ‘What, again?’ she laughed. See, this wasn’t the first time I’d hit the jackpot. In February 2016, I’d won £1,691 playing Speed Bingo. Then in September, I won £2,908 on Session Bingo. In January 2017, I scooped £1,209 playing Bingo Lounge. Then in May 2017 I won yet again - £3,223, my fourth win! But as if that wasn’t enough, just two weeks later I decided to have a game…

‘Everyone’s cycle is different. It can also differ from month to month – the app is too risky. Condoms may not be 100 per cent effective but, at 98 per cent, I’ll take that over the chance my phone might not be right.’ Heidi Clark, Northfleet, Kent ‘I’ve got an app. So far, it’s worked for me. I’ve not had any more kids since my youngest, who’s now 11, so I think it does work.’ Amanda Seery, North London ‘Trusting an app is all well and good when it says it’s safe to have sex, but does it take into account any illnesses that might affect your fertility? Plus, such apps aren’t reliable for those who have irregular periods or women who are premenopausal.’ Debbie Hadden, Stourbridge, West Midlands ‘Technology…

Suddenly we saw flashing lights coming towards us... Uh oh! The winter sun was beaming down as we walked out of the church, newly married. ‘That was worth the wait, Mrs Laughton,’ my hubby Owen, now 25, grinned. It was 16 December last year. We’d been together almost six years, engaged for five. But, not long after our engagement, we’d discovered I was pregnant with our daughter, Evie, now 3. So wedding plans had taken a back seat. As the years passed, there always seemed a reason to put them off. First Owen became Head Baker at his parents’ bakery, then we moved house and had a son, Sebastian, now 1. But I’d finally taken the bull by the horns and booked everything for our big day. Now, we were…

On low days, when we felt poorly, we’d text each other from our beds It was just an incredible coincidence that I had the same condition Staring at the four white walls, my mind began to race. I’d been in hospital on and off for the last two years and those walls had started to drive me crazy! ‘I’m bored stiff,’ I sighed to my mum Elaine, 57. ‘Watch a bit of telly or listen to some music?’ she suggested. But I was too fed up. It was late 2014, and I’d been diagnosed with Crohn’s disease earlier that April. It’s an inflammatory bowel disease which causes severe abdominal pain, diarrhoea, fatigue, mouth ulcers and more... Sometimes my flare-ups needed hospital treatment. So, Darent Valley Hospital was now a second…

Bornholm disease 1 This causes chest pain. True False 2 Bornholm disease is easilyspread. True False 3 It only affects adults. True False 4 Antibioticscan treat it. True False 1 TRUE The main symptom is a stabbing chest pain, with episodes lasting between 15 and 30 minutes. In very severe cases, the pain can cause breathing difficulties. 2 TRUE This disease is very infectious, and is easily spread through contact with infected secretions from the nose or mouth, or contaminated food or drink. 3 FALSE Bornholm disease mainly affects children and young adults. It can be very serious for newborns or even women in the late stages of pregnancy. 4 FALSE Antibiotics won’t work, as it’s caused by a virus. Painkillers may help but the infection usually clears on its…

My naughty dog Poppie thought she could pee indoors as she didn’t like getting wet. As you can see, she wasn’t impressed with the waterproof coat I got her! Channon Rachel, Bracknell Little sweethearts Frankie and Daphne are ready for Valentine’s Day! Caroline Palin, St Helens Here’s Tilly. I recreated her natural habit in my home, and she laid eggs, which is almost unheard of in captivity! She must be thriving! Gemma Carrick, via email Meet my gorgeous Chinese water dragon Oleg. He loves climbing on his branches! Cara Redford, Birchington Feline fortuneteller Madame Ellie will read your fortune now! Charlotte Primrose, Manningtree My dog Max gets so excited when my hamster Matilda comes out that he decides to sit in the bath! Linsey Paupe, Swadlincote…

Around 3.5 million women in the UK take the Pill. Since it became available in 1961, it has revolutionised lives, allowing couples to plan when they want children - if at all. For the first time, women were free to pursue careers and education without the worry of unwanted pregnancy. But, if you’re one of the millions of women who take the Pill - or other hormonal birth control such as the implant or injection - you’ll know that these wonder drugs have downsides. Many women who rely on hormonal contraception report weight gain, nausea, tender breasts and acne. Hormonal contraception can also cause irregular bleeding, mood disorders, anxiety and reduced libido. Plus some can increase the risk of blood clots and lower bone density. A 2015 survey conducted by…

My cat Archie has always been a naughty little thing. We got him two years ago when he was just a kitten, to join our family and keep our first cat Annie company. Little did we know the trouble he’d find himself in! Archie’s always bringing in little animals he finds while roaming around outside - everything from dead birds to live mice. And he has a second home just down the road that he visits every day - he goes to see the lovely old lady and her cat who live there. So we’re used to Archie’s antics and adventures. He’s a bit of a grouch, too - definitely a moody mog! But, one day in August 2017, while I was at work at the local pub, Archie came…

Classic crepe-style pancakes Serves: 4 Prep: 5 mins Cook: 20 mins 1 Sift the flour into a large bowl, add the eggs and milk and whisk until combined. Add 75ml cold water and whisk again until you have a smooth batter. 2 Place a 20-22cm non-stick frying pan over a medium-high heat. Add 1tsp of the butter and tilt the pan to spread it over the surface. Once very hot, pour in 2-3tbsp of the batter and gently swirl it around the pan to completely coat the base. Leave for just under 1 min. Don’t be tempted to turn the pancake over until it is a rich golden colour underneath. 3 Toss or turn with a spatula and cook for a further 20-30 secs until…

ARIES 21 March–20 April Valentine’s gives you a lot of new thoughts to consider and has actually left you with more rather than less options. It’s time to start living in the here and now rather than keeping your head in the past. Anxiety levels disappear if you do! Call: 09058 170 710* TAURUS 21 April–21 May I know you’ve been through a lot of struggles, but I also know those who were bringing you down are not as strong as you are. This week, release your struggle with the help of Mars. He can help you to let go and relax. Life is waiting if you do. Call: 09058 170 711* GEMINI 22 May–21 June Children are of special significance and can actually teach you many life lessons over…