Table of contents for 09-Jul-2020 in Pick Me Up!

Back in 2000, myself and Tony, made the decision to foster. Working at play groups, I’ve always loved caring for people and as a couple, we knew it was something we wanted to do. So, we fostered our first girl, who age wise, slotted between our own daughters. From the very beginning, we made sure our two girls were involved – we didn’t want them to ever feel left out. Fostering was a family affair and we all pitched in. We had our first girl for nearly seven years and after that, there was no going back. We even had an extension fitted on our house to fit more of us in. Over the years, we mostly looked after young or teenage girls, but we just wanted to help in…

Sitting in front of my laptop, I carefully scanned the investigative database. ‘Gotcha,’ I thought, as I discovered the true identity of my latest suspect. As a private investigator specialising in romance fraud, I was determined to put a stop to online catfishing. I set up my company, Private Investigations Limited and Rogue Daters, in 2018, after years of wanting to. You see, it all started back in November 2003, after splitting with my husband of six years and finding myself in the world of online dating. However, my very first date showed me the lies that are often behind a profile picture. I’d been talking to a guy named Jason for nearly a week. His profile said he was 5ft 11ins and a marketing manager – in his pictures,…

Bustling down the stairs, my then three-year-old daughter, Laila, was holding a wet wipe over her face. ‘What have you got there,’ I laughed, before noticing that there was a patch of foundation on the wipe. ‘I hate it Mummy,’ she cried, pointing to the birthmark that was sagging down her face. She’d clearly gone into my bedroom and taken my makeup from my desk, in the hopes to cover it up. ‘You’re beautiful darling,’ I soothed, but she was miserable. I first noticed the birthmark when she was two-weeks old. At first it was tiny – barely the size of a pen tip – but as she’d got older, the birthmark had grown with her. It was only 1cm in diameter, but on a three-year-old, it looked large on…

Forget diamonds – handbags really are a girl’s best friend. Not only are they a stylish fashion accessory, but they’re an investment, too. My passion for fashion goes beyond what most people would deem normal. At 21 years old, I’m the ultimate bag lady of Britain. People may look at me and think I’m a dumb blonde, but I’m not. I am savvy with my money, precious with my handbags, and incredibly successful at what I do. I collect, buy and sell designer handbags. My personal collection is worth over £20,000 – enough for a house deposit. Whilst that might seem crazy to some, many financial experts actually support my handbag collection. In several ways, designer handbags are a better investment than the stock market or gold. Trends always come…

Making of a MONSTER The former police tried to cover officer to cover up his wife's murder Judy suffered a head injury The festive season had got Judy Orr Baldwin feeling all nostalgic – in early December 2016, she posted a picture of herself with her husband James ‘Jamie’ Baldwin, reminiscing about their first Christmas together five years earlier. love you more than you could imagine, she wrote. I love you more, Jamie had replied. In 2011, Judy, 53, had become a widow after losing her first husband Todd in a motorcycle accident. They’d been married 20 years, with two sons, Chris and Josh, and Judy was heartbroken. She belonged to the Caroline Thunder Christian Motorcycle Club, and that’s where she met Jamie, a former police officer for the York…

Recreating your favourite cocktails at home has never been easier, thanks to bottlegreen drinks who’ve teamed up with cocktail expert Pritesh Mody. They’ve added a few twists to classic recipes to create some delicious summer serves… Elderflower and Earl Grey Collins WHAT YOU’LL NEED: ⃞ 50ml Gin (Tanqueray 10 or Caorunn works well as they both have fresh notes)⃞ 35ml bottlegreen Elderflower Cordial⃞ 25ml Lemon Juice⃞ 75ml Soda or Sparkling Water⃞ Twinings Earl Grey Tea Bag METHOD: 1 Pour all ingredients except the soda water into an ice-filled shaker and shake before pouring into an ice-filled glass. 2 Top with the soda water and then place the tea bag into the glass. Stir the tea bag round 5 times so you can see the tea infusing with the cocktail. Top…

YOU’VE GOTTA LAUGH! Pulling pints, I chatted to customers behind the bar. It was May 2016, and I was working as a barman in Manchester. Spotting a gorgeous blonde girl waiting for a drink, I reached across and said: ‘What can I get for you, love?’ As I poured her a gin, we started chatting. ‘I’m Hayley,’ she smiled. Soon, we’d hit it off, and I asked her on a date. Before I knew it, we were boyfriend and girlfriend, and I was smitten. Fast forward four years, and Hayley and I are living together, and engaged! I work as a customer service representative, and Hayley works as a network marketer. In April this year, I started thinking about Hayley’s big 30th birthday. It looked like we were going to…

Treat yourself After being given the opportunity to get more creative in the kitchen, we’ve seen a huge rise of homemade Dalgona coffees. As a tasty blend of milk and whipped coffee, it’s super easy to create so you can indulge in Insta-worthy deliciousness. Using any one of the Lavazza Prontissimo! or their Carte Noire Classique instant ranges, you can create this easily! ⃞ 2 tbsp of Prontissimo! instant coffee⃞ 2 tbsp sugar⃞ 2 tbsp of hot water⃞ 400ml milk 1 Add the instant coffee, sugar and hot water to a medium mixing bowl. Using an electric hand-held mixer, whip the coffee mixture until it is light brown, fluffy and holds stiff peaks when the whisk is removed. 2 Heat the milk, if desired, and divide between two heatproof glasses.…

Complete the grid then read down the shaded squares to reveal the hidden answer. Clue: Girl’s name. Answer on page 47. ACROSS 7 Coffee (5) 8 Revive (9) 10 The Irishman actor, Robert _ (2,4) 11 Suave and refined (8) 12 A peer (8) 13 Poems (4) 15 Competitor (7) 17 Superficial or slight (7) 20 Exhibit (4) 22 Of late (8) 25 Vodka martini ingredient (8) 26 Late Brokeback Mountain actor, Heath _ (6) 27 Illegal importers (9) 28 Gamut (5) DOWN 1 Forget how many (4,5) 2 Exciting book or film (8) 3 Marriage ceremony (7) 4 Lotion to protect the skin (8) 5 Ariana _, pop star (6) 6 Pungent (5) 9 Period of great prosperity (4) 14 Dare (9) 16 Recently constructed house (3,5) 18 Without…

As I looked down at my gorgeous little dog, Phoebe, I knew I had a heartbreaking decision to make. At 14-years-old, my once excitable little Maltese could barely muster up the energy for a walk. ‘I think it’s time,’ I said to my husband, Terry, 56. ‘Only if you’re sure,’ he soothed. But I knew I was making the right decision. Today would be the day we’d say goodbye to our four-legged friend. Phoebe had been struggling for a while now and earlier that year, in May 2019, we found out she had cancer. But not showing any signs of pain, the vet told us she still had a few more months. ‘Come back when you think she’s ready,’ he advised us. And for a while, Phoebe was doing well…

We’re feeling Grecian vibes with the new-in range at F&F Clothing. Bring Greece to your back garden this summer, and wear gorgeous, floaty pieces. Dress in broderie, shades of blue and fresh white. All that’s missing is beach waves in your hair, and a refreshing cocktail in your hand! Top tip Dress with a brown woven bag. Top tip Layer shell jewellery for a beach look. Top tip Perfect for a BBQ or picnic! Sunny Seville If you’re feeling fruity this summer, the Seville collection from Figleaves is the perfect addition to your swim wardrobe. Shop at Figleaves.com…

DON’T MI SS Alex Brooker: Disability And Me, BBC Two In this extremely honest documentary, comedian Alex Brooker confronts what disability really means in Britain today. Alex revisits his own past and asks tough questions about his disability and the impact it had on himself and his family growing up. He catches up with his childhood friend Andy who has spina bifida and visits a bespoke disability helpline to talk to other disabled Brits to find out more about the challenges other people face. By the end, Alex has a new perspective on being a disabled person and what impact it will have on the rest of his life. The Good Place, Channel 4 If you haven’t watched this fantastic series, then binge watch the first three seasons and jump…

Make the most out of your food! Celebrate the left over carrot that didn’t quite make it into the roasting tin, or the tomato that’s fast approaching its best-before date. Each year, households generate 6.5 million tonnes of food waste, of which 69% is edible. So, to encourage Brits to get creative in the kitchen, hummus brand ChicP, wants to get the nation to ‘Blend It’; rescuing food and turning it into delicious sauces, snacks and of course, dips. The ‘Blend it’ challenge is set to inspire Brits to rethink their food consumption habits and beat the global food waste crisis. Here’s ChicP’s top five tips for minimising food waste: • Freeze food – place any fresh items you might not eat in time into the freezer, and use it…

Covering my eyes with one hand, I was too scared to look. ‘Please, please, please,’ I willed, holding the pregnancy test with my other hand. Peeking through my fingers, I gasped as I saw two blue lines. Creeping downstairs, I found my partner Jose, 50, sat watching the telly. ‘I have a surprise for you,’ I smiled to him. ‘Close your eyes.’ He did as he was told, as I placed the positive pregnancy test on the coffee table. ‘Open!’ I said. ‘You’re pregnant!’ he cried, jumping up from the sofa and taking me into his arms. We were over the moon. Soon it was time for my 16-week scan, which revealed my due date – 1 April 2012. April Fool’s Day! ‘Let’s hope this baby isn’t a joker,’ I…

Welcome home! PET NEWS Jessica May, UK lead vet at FirstVet.com, shares her advice on preparing for giving a kitten a new home… Bringing a kitten into your home is a very exciting experience. For new cat owners, it is important to be well prepared for your kitten. A good place to start is making sure you have all the equipment. Cats prefer shallow dishes so that their whiskers don’t brush against the bowl. Glass or ceramic is best, as plastic can absorb odours, whilst metal can be noisy. Litter trays are an essential item to have for the new arrival. As a rule, you should have more litter trays than you have cats, and the litter trays should be big enough for a cat to turn around in. Another step…

HOT TOPIC Since the late 1900s, doctors and health officials have been using BMI to track patient’s health. By dividing an adult’s weight by the square of their height, BMI tells us whether someone is over, under or at a healthy weight. It was first created in the 1800s by Belgian mathematician Adolphe Quetele, and by the late 1900s, it was being used across the globe. By using just two measures of weight and height, health officials were drawn to its simplicity. And in May of this year, there were calls for the government to consider BMI when distinguishing who falls into the vulnerable category in relation to the Coronavirus. In a study of UK Intensive Units, it found that 34.5% of patients were overweight and a further 31.5% were…

Staring at my phone, an empty feeling in my stomach crept in as my bank balance glared back at me. £30, I thought. That’s all I have. It was New Year’s Eve 2009, and I was sat in a council house with two young children and no furniture, wondering how on earth I’d ended up here. Just 12 months earlier, I’d been a senior executive in retail, had a lovely big house, flashy cars, and a happy family. Now, my life had been turned upside down, and I guess you could say it all started with a deer. That March, as a pair of startled eyes stared at me, I knew disaster was coming. It all happened in a matter of seconds – driving home from work, the deer jumping…

Skippy Peanut Butter is a deliciously smooth and creamy American style peanut butter packed with peanutty goodness. They use sweeter American style peanuts to provide a finer and creamier texture – and it can be used to create some delicious dishes! Treat of the week For more recipes visit: peanutbutter.uk.com Peanut butter BBQ ribs Serves 6 FOR BRINE: ⃞ 2 litres water⃞ 250 ml rice vinegar⃞ 4 tablespoons soy sauce⃞ 4 tablespoons caster sugar⃞ 4 tablespoons salt⃞ 2 teaspoons Chinese Five Spice⃞ 2 racks pork back ribs, 1kg each FOR SAUCE: ⃞ 4 tablespoons ketchup⃞ 3 teaspoons soy sauce⃞ 3 teaspoons Skippy Smooth Peanut Butter⃞ 2 teaspoons rice vinegar⃞ 2 teaspoons honey⃞ 1 teaspoon Chinese chilli sauce FOR GARNISH: ⃞ Thinly sliced spring onion⃞ Crushed unsalted peanuts 1 Combine the…