Table of contents for 16-May-2019 in Pick Me Up!

In 2005, we had a heartbreaking bereavement hit our family. It was tough for all of us, especially for my little girl Michelle or Coco as we call her. For a long time she struggled, but then in 2015 a little miracle came our way. ‘Dad I’m pregnant,’ Michelle, then 36, said to me. ‘That’s wonderful!’ I beamed. I knew it wouldn’t be easy for her, but as soon as her little boy Alfie was born our whole world turned around. Suddenly Michelle was smiling again. And when I was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2014, she rallied around me. ‘Don’t worry, Dad, you can beat this,’ she smiled. In truth, I’m still fighting it. But the best medicine for me is seeing Michelle back to her old self. She…

As I ushered my brother and sister into their coats, I kept my voice low. ‘Come on, you don’t want to be late,’ I told my sister Catherine, 4, and 3-year-old brother. It was almost time for school - but, as usual, Mum was asleep in bed. With no dad around, at just 14, I’d become like a second parent to both my siblings. I’d cook, clean and do the laundry, while our mum, 31, would go out drinking. There was a large bloodstain on the cream carpet Although she was a hospital care assistant, we had no money. The house was filthy. My little brother would scurry out early in the morning and steal milk from doorsteps. I’d take soap from the school toilets to wash our clothes. I…

Slice and easy Breakfast just became a lot tastier and quicker, with Warburtons pre-sliced bagels in either plain or cinnamon and raisin. We love the plain ones toasted with bacon and avocado. Now £1 (usually £1.60) at Iceland until 23 June. Stepping out Superdrug has a whole range of fantastic offers to help you put a spring into your step! Pamper your feet with their buy one, get the second half-price deal on selected items until 21 May. Fab feet Get smooth, soft feet by using the Foot Pedi. This gadget is rechargeable and has a gentle and effective roller wheel which removes rough, hard, calloused skin, leaving your feet feeling fabulous. Now £9.99 (RRP £34.99) from Lloyds Pharmacy until 18 May. Chill out with the family Perfect for parents…

Migraine misery Q What can I do to stop my migraines coming on? Jacquie, London A Around one in five women are affected by migraines and they can disrupt daily life. As well as a headache or throbbing pain, many people also have nausea and increased sensitivity to light or sound. Painkillers such as ibuprofen and aspirin can be effective, but speak to your GP if you have severe migraine symptoms or if you have them frequently, as he or she may recommend further preventative treatment. PCOS & pregnant? Q I’ve been diagnosed with polycystic ovaries. Will I still be able to get pregnant? Laura, Edinburgh A Although there isn’t a specific cure for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), many of the symptoms can be treated. If you’re trying to get…

Give yourself a lift Eat more protein A study published in the US National Library of Medicine found increasing protein intake to 25 per cent of your calories reduces cravings by 60 per cent and cuts the desire to snack at night in half. A similar study found increasing protein intake made overweight women eat 441 fewer calories a day. 41% …of children below 17 missed their NHS dental appointment last year. Children are at risk of dental work at a young age because parents haven’t taken them to the dentist soon or often enough. Have you tried... Lizi’s NEW Adventurers Granola Crispies? HEALTH TIP Rich in fibre and low in sugar, this contains zero artificial colours, flavours or preservatives and is full of oats, rice, cereal and coconut clusters…

A idan Zellmer, 15, seemed just like any other teenage boy. He liked SpongeBob  SquarePants, enjoyed superhero films like Deadpool. And like many kids his age, his parents had split up - with Aidan and his brother staying with their mum. Despite this, Aidan seemed to be coping well. With his baby face, he was known to be a sweet, good-natured boy. Soon, Aidan’s mother Katie started dating Jacoby Campbell, who had a girl, Kiaya. After a while, the two families moved in together in a house in Thornton, Colorado. Aged 10, Kiaya was the baby of the house. And like many little girls, she loved singing and dancing, even having her own YouTube channel. She was treasured by her family. So nothing could’ve prepared them for the tragedy that…

Wasn’t the expression ‘Watch the birdie’ when it was picture time? I think my birds, Max the cockatiel, and Harry and Ricki the parrots, missed the memo. Arlene O’Doherty, Portstewart Feeding time at our zoo means that my four giant African land snails Shelly, Shelldon, Ashelly and Shellby, are racing for dinner. Michaela Dobson, Blacon There’s no better champion of musical statues than my Uromastyx lizard Zippy. She looks practically frozen. Jemma Park, Bonhill When it’s time for a rest you’ll find our Westie Millie in the same place as always – napping with her favourite cuddly moose. Alison Veasey, Peel After a long hard day of video-gaming, I was exhausted. But Brian had the right idea… time for a catnap. David Jackson, Todmorden I always feel nervous when I…

Holding my tiny newborn in the palm of my hand, I gently splashed his neck and chest with water. ‘Bath time, littl’un,’ I said, smiling. I’d only just been allowed to take my baby son Hamish home from hospital, a month after he’d been born five weeks premature. Still only weighing 3lb 3oz, he could fit into my hand. But doctors said he was healthy, and he’d soon catch up. I was overjoyed with my beautiful boy. I’d been a career woman for most of my 20s and 30s, working as an English lecturer, and when I fell pregnant at 38, after a short romance with Hamish’s father, I couldn’t have been happier. And from the moment he was born in May 2008, so vulnerable and tiny, I knew I’d…

Here is my best friend Andre’s reaction to one of your stories. He is now hooked on the magazine. Georgina Burton, via e-mail ‘And 1,000...’ says my son Brodie, 3. Just like his daddy – I can tell he’s going to be a real sporty boy. Danielle Hopkins, Heaviley My son Isaac, 5, wants to be a rock ’n’ roll star – I’d say that he’s halfway there… Hayley Thompson, York I won best mask at a charity masquerade ball I attended. I only used make-up to make it! Ruby Smith, Clayton-Le-Woods For Millie’s 2nd birthday, we treated her to a day at the Butterfly House in Whipsnade Zoo. She was really hoping for a tropical butterfly to come and sit on her hand. Punteha van Terheyden, Hemel Hempstead We…

After I got to the police station, I was interviewed for 14 hours over two days. Then... ‘We’re arresting you on suspicion of murder,’ one officer told me. My jaw dropped. I’d been trying to help. And yet now I was a suspect. At the police station, I was told Mum and my brother, then 27, who’d been set to move in with her, had been arrested, also on suspicion of murder. I was terrified. ‘Do you know what police found?’ I asked my solicitor when he arrived. I’d thought there might be one body. But three..? ‘Three babies,’ he replied. One was in the red bin. Two were wrapped in bags in Mum’s bedroom. I broke down in tears. I’d thought there might be one body. But three? Life…

1 KEEP CLEAN Brush teeth and gums at least twice a day for two minutes, gently clean your tongue once a day, and use interdental brushes. 2 STOP SMOKING Also avoid sugary food and drinks, strong-smelling food and drink, and crash dieting. 3 RIGHT TOOTHPASTE Choose one with fluoride to prevent tooth decay, or an antibacterial mouthwash/toothpaste. 4 AFTER BRUSHING Don’t rinse your mouth straightaway, or brush so hard that your gums or tongue bleed. 5 REGULAR DENTAL CHECKUPS This usually depends on how healthy your teeth and gums are. Your dentist will tell you when to return – it can range from three months to two years. MAKE AN EMERGENCY DENTAL APPOINTMENT IF… ...you still have bad breath after treating it yourself for a few weeks, you have painful,…

Bipolar disorder 1 Bipolar disorder is a condition that affects your moods, which can swing from one extreme to another. ■ True ■ False 2 Bipolar disorder is caused by head trauma in childhood. ■ True ■ False 3 Bipolar disorder is quite rare and affects one in every 5,000 Brits. ■ True ■ False 4 Medication can help to prevent episodes and stabilise moods. ■ True ■ False 1 TRUE Sufferers will experience episodes of depression where they feel overwhelmingly low and mania where they feel very overactive. 2 FALSE The exact cause is unknown, although it is believed to be down to genetic/chemical factors and extreme stress. 3 FALSE It is actually fairly common, and one in every 100 adults will be diagnosed – generally between ages 15…

A Full House for my big day Sarah Clive, 27, from Wales, couldn’t believe her eyes! Who doesn’t enjoy a day off? I love deciding on how to spend mine! It was last September, and while my fiance Richard, 33, was heading to work, I had the day to myself. Normally I’d be at my job as a beauty therapist. But after a snooze I spent the morning making plans for mine and Richard’s wedding. Together 11 years, we’d been engaged almost as long! Later, taking a break from wedding planning, I decided to treat myself to a game of bingo. I’d signed up to Pick Me Up! Bingo a few months before after a friend recommended it. I love how easy and fun the site is, and like the…

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Hats Off To Hue, £7, morrisons.com A powder blue might not be your first choice when it comes to nail polish, but this shade is so pretty it’s sure to change your mind. The icy tones are the perfect way to emphasise a tan, and whether worn on your fingers or toes this is a real eye-catcher. Mavala Mini Colour Nail Polish in 978 Jodhpur, £5.20 Hop onto one of the big nail trends this season with this shade of cobalt blue from Mavala’s Solaris Collection. If you are looking to try something a bit different, but nothing too crazy, this is great. The bottle is super dinky too, so you can pop it in the smallest of handbags. Essie Nail Colour in Peach…

LONDON Packiam Ramanathan, 73 A wife killed her ‘control freak’ husband by beating him with a wooden pole last September. Packiam Ramanathan told a relative who had dropped round to check on the couple, ‘I have hit him, beaten him, he died.’ Upon searching the house, police found a long, blood-stained wooden pole in the entrance-hall cupboard, which was the weapon used in the assault. At the Old Bailey, Ramanathan, of East Ham, admitted manslaughter on the grounds of loss of control after being found not guilty of murder. The judge said she had been subjected to ‘coercive and controlling behaviour’ as she was jailed for two years and four months. MANCHESTER Lee Hodgins, 45 Paedophile Lee Hodgins is starting an 11-year sentence in prison after being convicted of sexually…

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Snuggled in front of the telly, I got lost in the magic of my favourite movie. Toto, the Scarecrow, Tin Man, Cowardly Lion and Dorothy in her ruby slippers.... It was 2000 - and, aged 8, I’d watched The Wizard of Oz hundreds of times on DVD. I loved seeing Dorothy escape from her home in dull, grey Kansas and arrive in the Land of Oz - a bright, colourful world full of people who understood her. It gave me hope. Maybe I could escape my dull, grey world, too? Be the real me. As long as I could remember, I’d longed to be different. Born a boy - Lucas - in July 1991, I was often mistaken for a little girl because of my big eyes, petite build and…

As I stood in the kitchen, making dinner on a winter evening in 2009, I winced in agony. I’d been suffering excruciating pain in my hip for a few weeks, and I was fed up. I’d always prided myself on being busy and independent. But as a school special-needs assistant, the pain was seriously hindering my ability to stay on the go. ‘I’m booking a doctor’s appointment,’ I told my husband John, 50. My GP sent me for an X-ray at East Surrey Hospital, and I returned a week later for the results. ‘You have osteoarthritis in your hip,’ the consultant revealed. I began to struggle with little things, like making a cup of tea An incurable, long-term condition, osteoarthritis caused stiffness and pain as a result of fluid around…

My fifth win had my family jumping for joy Sarah Curnow, 30, from Camborne, was amazed when she won £1,221 Stretching, I glanced up at the clock. It had just gone 9.30pm. ‘I think I‘ll play a round of bingo,’ I grinned at my husband Jason, 45. Logging in on my phone, I spent £2 and bought tickets for a Bingo Lounge game. It was one of my favourite bingo games on Pick Me Up! Bingo. I could see the game had a £100 Full House and was about to start, but it gave me time for a quick gossip in the chatrooms. Chatting to the bingo girls was one of the highlights of the game for me. I’d first signed up to Pick Me Up! Bingo in March 2014,…

‘It’s awful that, in 2019, this kind of thing still happens. There is more understanding and awareness of disabilities these days, yet there are still so many cruel bullies who pick on others. Cyber bullying is “easy”  because the bullies can hide behind a keyboard or a fake profile.’ Levi Hetherington-Scott, Isle of Wight ‘It’s disgusting. People think nothing of using someone’s disability against them. I grew up with jokes about being  deaf and I’m now incredibly sensitive about it. I just won’t tolerate them at all. They make me sick.’ Heidi Clark, Northfleet ‘It’s happening because trolls have no life and the only way for them to communicate is by being a keyboard warrior and getting pleasure by hurting people. It’s pathetic and makes me question the rise of…

ARIES 21 March–20 April I know you are bored and frustrated, but I also see that you have failed to ask those who love you for help – and this is one of your biggest foibles, my friend. Change what you don’t like and do it quickly (before Friday), and success is yours. Call: 09058 170 710* TAURUS 21 April–21 May The chance to see different places – to mix with different characters – may seem like too much of a challenge for you but it’s actually the best opportunity that has come your way for at least two years. Don’t be a stick-in-the-mud – break free and be open to exciting new experiences. Call: 09058 170 711* GEMINI 22 May–21 June Others are trusting you with their greatest wishes…