Table of contents for 13-Sep-2018 in Pick Me Up!

Doubled over in pain, I clenched my belly. It was September last year and I’d been diagnosed with a perforated bowel. I’d need emergency surgery, which was going to knock me off my feet for months. I’d require 24-hour care and that’s when Nan stepped in. Busy working as a business support officer, I only saw her about twice a year. But when I needed her, she was there. She sat by my bedside every day throughout my month in hospital and would bring me juice, treats and magazines. Even when I was discharged from hospital, she never stopped looking after me. It’d be 8am and I’d hear the familiar rattle of keys. ‘I’m here!’ she’d holler from the bottom of the stairs. And, before I even knew it, she’d…

Clutching a picture frame of medals, Wayne Domeney’s voice boomed around the living room. ‘Look at these!’ Wayne, 44, said proudly. It was August 2010 and, after just four months of dating my mum Cath, 42, Wayne had moved in. An ex-paratrooper, he’d been in the Army for 23 years, and loved talking about it. ‘I had tea with the Queen at Buckingham Palace and I met Prince Charles,’ he boasted, pointing at a photo of him shaking the Prince’s hand. Although I’d been upset when Mum and Dad had split the year before, I didn’t mind my new stepdad. And everybody else loved Wayne, especially Mum. ‘He’s a war hero,’ Mum would grin proudly. Wayne had retired,but Mum worked shifts as a warehouse operative. He’d often babysit, treating me…

1 Kidney stones can develop in one or both kidneys,usually in people aged 30 to 60. 2 Small kidney stones may be undetected and pass through urine. 3 Drinking too much fluid can cause kidney stones. 4 All kidney stones can be treated at home. 1 TRUE They’re quite common with around three in 20 men and two in 20 women developing them during their lives. 2 TRUE But a stone can block part of the urinary system and cause severe abdominal or groin pain, or even a UTI. 3 FALSE It’s actually more likely to occur if you don’t drink enough fluids, or if you’re taking certain medications. 4 FALSE Smaller ones can, but larger ones may need breaking up or to be removed through keyhole surgery.…

Simelane: he killed women for ‘revenge’… David Thabo Simelane seemed like a perfectly ordinary little boy. Raised by his aunt on her farm in a remote area of Swaziland, he’d help out herding cattle and harvesting crops. In return, his aunt paid his school fees. It was a good investment. She was impressed by her nephew’s academic abilities, as he quickly surpassed his fellow pupils, despite starting school much later than them. But after the 10th grade, something changed in Simelane. He stopped going to school and, instead, started spending his nights in the dark Swazi forests, stealing food grown in fields belonging to strangers. A worker stumbled upon three corpses in the woods Whenever he did return to the farm, he slept in the animal pen. His aunt couldn’t…

When I asked who ruled the roost in our house, my hen Clucky gave me this very unimpressed look. I think the answer is, she does! Emma Pattinson, Blaydonon-Tyne My daughter’s hamster Toby might only have three legs but he still gets up to lots of mischief – even if he looks like butter wouldn’t melt! Michelle Underwood, Woking Jezza the guinea pig has three loves in his life: food, sleep and bath time. Here he is enjoying the latter. Amanda Hadley, Hayseech Peter Rabbit is ready for the summer and a little fiesta. Don’t you think he looks muy caliente in his sombrero? Vanessa Lealan, Studley 'Turn that light off!’ yells my cat GG. He wasn’t impressed when I disturbed his snooze. Oops! Sharon Greggains, Luton My dog Marley…

Scrolling down my Facebook feed, I spotted a post that made my heart melt. Free to anyone that will take them, a woman had written beside a photo of two little kittens. She’d said how they were the last two males of a big litter, but she hadn’t found homes for these two brothers. As I looked closer at the advert, I realised why. ‘They were born without back legs!’ I cried to my friend, Heather Prescott, 34. It was May 2018 and, since we’d opened the Rescue Me Animal Sanctuary in Liverpool in 2013, we’d had a steady flow of abused and abandoned cats come to us for help. We were now re-homing around 500 cats a year but, this time, I wasn’t sure if we could help. ‘They…

Leaning over the basin in his boxers, my boyfriend Marshall, 19, scrubbed his teeth while I wittered away. ‘I’ve got that doctor’s appointment today about my tummy pains,’ I told him. ‘Don’t worry,’ I said, giving his bum a pinch. ‘I’ll let you know how it goes.’ Laughing, Marshall kept cleaning his teeth. It was the same every morning, since we’d moved into our first place together earlier that month. It was an exciting time, setting up home, after two years together. Next was kids, maybe marriage... Our future was looking bright. My tummy troubles were the only thing stopping life from being perfect. I’d been having stomach cramps and feeling trapped nerves in my legs for two years. ‘It won’t be anything serious,’ Marshall said, as he headed off…

I woke with a start , as my daughter Lillie-Anne, 18 months, started screaming. It was May 2017, and I tried to soothe her, but she was in pain. She’d rubbed the left side of her head until it was raw, her hair stripped away. I’d been taking Lillie to the GP for months but, each time, I’d been told it was a virus or an ear infection. Lillie vomited after every meal and was constantly exhausted. In August 2017, Lillie began bobbing her head like a pigeon. Then her left eye began to bulge. ‘This isn’t right!’ gasped my partner Ben, 22. Years earlier, a friend had shown the same symptoms, and it’d turned out to be a brain tumour. I needed to get answers for Lillie right now.…

Bath Time My 5-month-old daughter, Azra, looks a bit shocked after having her bath. She’s squeaky clean and adorable. Kayleigh Erturk, Sunderland Choccy Chops Arlo, 6 months, is looking very pleased with himself after trying chocolate for the first time. Or could it just be a sugar rush? Kim Coopey, Cardiff Hands Up! ‘Hands up if you’re the cutest baby on the planet?’ says Arielle, 5 months. I can’t argue with that little face. Gemma Carrick, via email…

My best mate divvied up the chips and I poured our cheap plonk into plastic cups. Settling down for an afternoon of gossip in the summer of 2014, I knew we were in for a treat. ‘I can’t believe she’s forgiven him!’ Laura, 34, shrieked, flipping the page. ‘Must be bonkers!’ I said, dissolving into giggles. We’d regularly escape to our local beach armed with a pile of celebrity magazines. Poking fun at flash-in-the-pan romances and catching up, I loved these moments together. But I tried not to think about the fact my best mate might not have long left. It was so hard to believe. To accept. Laura had been my rock, since I’d left behind my life in London in 2005 and moved in with my boyfriend Toby,…

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ARIES 21 March–20 April Can you imagine the impossible? Luckily for you, the influence who has been taking away your freedom of speech is slowly, but surely leaving your life. This is a good thing my friend, as the weekend’s events are about to confirm. Call: 09058 170 710* TAURUS 21 April–21 May You think your close ones don’t know what’s been going on, but you’re wrong. Time you take to talk to those you love this week can help you find some middle ground. Telling half truths will drive you further from those whose support you know you need. Call: 09058 170 711* GEMINI 22 May–21 June You cross paths this week with like-minded people who understand what you want from life and are willing to help you if…

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Salad days Merchant Gourmet Ready to Eat Pulses and Grains are a great way to bulk up salads or throw together a quick and easy midweek meal. The range includes flavours from lots of different cuisines, so whether it’s fuss- free French lentils or speedy Spanish rice you’re after, these gems will do the job. They’re only £1.35 at Tesco (usually £2) until 25 September. It’s wine o’clock! Brancott Estate is a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc with fruity and floral flavours. It’s a good match for seafood, but for something a bit different, try pairing it with spicy Thai dishes! It’s currently down to £7 at Co-op (usually £10) until 9 October. The eyes have it If you’re a Superdrug Health & Beautycard member, then you can say bye-bye to…

Another way? Q I’m going to have to make the difficult decision to terminate a pregnancy, but I’m really terrified of surgery. Is there an alternative? Amanda, Wigan A If you’re early in your pregnancy, there are drugs that can induce a miscarriage and don’t involve instruments or needles. Speak to your GP about your decision and the options available to you. Social isolation Q I’m younger than my husband and, until recently, that’s not mattered – but now he’s stopped going out. He likes to be at home, which is so unlike him. What can I do? Catherine, London A This might indicate a slight decline in his mental capacity or a mood disorder that makes dealing with new environments very stressful. Suggest a check-up with a GP for…

Smelly urine Strong smelling wee can be caused by relatively normal things, such as dehydration, eating asparagus, drinking coffee or consuming vitamin B6 supplements. Drinking lots of water can help dilute your urine, but see a GP if you need to wee urgently and often, experience pain or discomfort during urination, find blood in your urine, have stomach pain or feel unwell, tired and confused.…

Life with a 9-month-old baby was never boring and could also be pretty noisy! Seems that my little girl knew how to use her voice already! It was December 2017, and I’d finally got her to sleep when me and my partner Ian, now 30, eventually managed to get some precious alone time together on the sofa. ‘Fancy putting a tenner on the bingo?’ Ian suggested. It was so out of the blue! We hardly played bingo. I’d played it in halls before now but never online. ‘Why not.’ I laughed. I decided to join Pick Me Up! Bingo having seen the ads. It was fun sitting together and looking over all the different games on the site. I tried my first game of bingo, and although I didn’t win,…

Why not? They do it with kids’ clothes! I’m a larger girl and I don’t mind paying more. You get charged for larger food portions and bigger drinks – the more you have, the more it costs and that goes for everything. Beck Bradford, Coalville Why should someone who is a size-8/10 pay the same price as someone who is plus-size? They’re using much more material! If it’s discrimination against bigger people if they pay extra, those who are in the smaller sizes could say it’s discrimination getting made to pay the same price as someone wearing triple the material! Karen Robinson, Glasgow I feel that it’s unfair. Clothes should be fairly priced for all. Some plus-size shops are so expensive. And plus-size clothes never seem to turn up in…