Table of contents for 16-Mar-2023 in Pick Me Up!

Busting out dance moves to Janet Jackson in the mirror, I felt energy pump through my entire body. That’s the way love goes… Dancing made me feel alive. I’d been doing it since I was 12 years old, and walking into my very first dance class, I felt as if I’d been born for the very first time. ‘This is it,’ I remember telling my mum that evening. ‘I want to do this for the rest of my life.’ For me, dancing was an escape. Having grown up seeing my mum in a violent relationship, I soon realised that dancing was a powerful way to heal trauma – physically releasing emotions. Moving my body to music allowed me to free up my pain. Dancing allowed me to free up my…

Waiting at the school gates, it wasn’t long before I saw a certain someone running towards me. ‘Mum, look what one of the girls has given me today,’ my son Oliver gleamed, showing off a shiny £1 coin in his hand. And it wasn’t the first time that I’d caught Oliver having a secret admirer. In fact, I’d constantly find notes and pictures in his school bag from people in his class – he was extremely popular with the girls, that was for sure! And it was pretty clear as to why… That’s something me and my husband Mark, now 60, had realised from the moment that he was born. With Emmerdale playing in the background as I gave birth on 21 January 1999, our boy Oliver came out weighing…

Helen Birch is a sex therapist and hypnotherapist, helping people with all kinds of sexual and relationship issues. (hypnosisinyorkshire.com) I’m keeping a secret… Q I’ve been with my partner for four years, however I’m keeping a secret from him. He’s never fulfilled me during our sex life. I’m starting to think that it’s never going to happen – is there something wrong with me or is it him? Rebecca, Stockport A The key to having better sex is talking about it. A healthy sexual relationship requires you to communicate – keeping your mouth shut, crossing your fingers and hoping it gets better isn't going to get you anywhere. Also your partner is not a mind reader, he can't know what you want sexually unless you tell him. Additionally, if you…

Mother’s Day can be a challenging time for those who have lost a child, and is likely to bring up extremely difficult emotions. Seeing families celebrating on social media or supermarkets filled with flowers and cards can remind us of those we have lost. Feelings of avoidance, doubt and guilt are all normal emotions for those grieving a child in the lead-up to Mother’s Day – it’s important to acknowledge and accept this. ‘You may find yourself questioning what you thought you knew about the world around you or reliving what you did or didn’t do in the lead-up to your child’s death,’ explains Bianca Neumann, Head of Bereavement at charity Sue Ryder. ‘These thoughts can cause people to blame themselves or their partners, or feel angry with healthcare professionals…

If there’s one thing us Brits love, it’s the humble potato. Chips, roasties, mash, the list is endless. Mash Direct are the connoisseurs of the potato world – and this mouthwatering recipe is sure to impress any spud fan. MINI LOADED POTATOES SERVES: 2 YOU’LL NEED… ◻ 1 pack of Mash Direct Chilli Baby Bakes (alternatively you can use Salt & Chilli Wedges) ◻ 100g of diced chorizo◻ 150g of sour cream◻ 4-6 chives, chopped This easy yet impressive dish is the perfect sharing starter for your next dinner party! METHOD: 1) Preheat the oven to 190°C. Cook Mash Direct Chilli Baby Bakes as per the packet instructions. 2) While the potatoes are cooking, heat a heavy based pan over a medium to high heat and add your diced chorizo.…

Buy of the week This Mother’s Day, why not treat your mum to something really special? In collaboration with Burt’s Bees and the Bee Friendly Trust, jewellery brand Wild Fawn have released a limited-edition sterling silver charm necklace, featuring an adorable little nestling honeybee inside a traditional skep beehive. You can also pick up an iconic new look Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm Tin for £4.99 from your nearest Boots store, too. Spoil your mum and help out the bees – it’s a win win! • £96, available from wildfawnjewellery.com We’re loving Who doesn’t love a sweet treat? If your mum’s got a sweet tooth, surprise her with a gift from Cutter & Squidge. Based in Soho, London, and delivering nationwide, these dreamy cakes, ‘biskies’, afternoon tea and hampers are…

So, in April 2011, that’s exactly what he did. ‘Please don’t say that he is in a better place now, as there is no better place for him to be than in our arms,’ Mark admitted to the priest. For it was true, and there was no such thing as holding a perfect funeral – but we wanted to make it special as that’s what Oliver was to us. Mr Special – a nickname we had coined for him. Giving a brilliant eulogy, Mark stood in front of family, friends, Oliver’s classmates, teachers and fellow members of his sporting teams. With images of Oliver playing on the screen, as well as all of his achievements, it was true that in the 12 years that our boy was with us, he…

Complete the grid then read down the shaded squares to reveal the hidden answer. Clue: Type of science. ACROSS 1 __: The Way of Water, 2022 sci-fi sequel starring 16 Across, 21 Across, 20 Down, and 23 Down (6) 4 Facial hairs (8) 10 Plateau (9) 11 Measuring stick (5) 12 Rotates (5) 13 Skin condition (9) 14 Determined (4,3) 16 __ Winslet, star of films Titanic and The Reader (4) 19 Swiss mountains (4) 21 __ Lang, star of films Old Man and Mid-Century (7) 24 Swimming, cycling, and running contest (9) 25 __ Michelle Gellar, star of TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel (5) 26 Defence plea (5) 27 __ Armstrong, host of Pointless and lead voice actor in Danger Mouse (9) 28 Parking space (8)…

Making a fool of myself in front of the camera, I moved my body in every direction imaginable in time with the sound of the photographer’s shutter. Something I had been used to doing since graduating from high school in Atlanta, US, at just 16. Being on the fashion teen board for my local department store, I jumped at the chance to pose in front of the lens, with my photos advertised in fashion magazines quickly after. And after that moment I caught the modelling bug – what woman could say no to getting their hair and makeup done on a daily basis? From catalogue shoots, magazines, high-end fashion, editorial work – every job I booked was an opportunity for me to get creative, thinking outside of the box. There…

Sue Ryder is creating a national movement of kindness around grief, which promotes open conversations about bereavement. • To find out more please visit: sueryder.org/griefkind Visit our Online Bereavement Community Sue Ryder’s Online Community is a safe place for people who are dealing with the death of someone close to them. It’s free to use, open to anyone over the age of 18 and available at any time of the day or night. You don’t have to sign up to read what others are saying, but you will need an account if you’d like to share your own experience. Try our Online Bereavement Counselling Service If you’re struggling with grief, you might want to speak to one of Sue Ryder’s professional bereavement counsellors. The online service is free to use,…

Weather Storm Glass, £18, Prezzybox Invented by the Captain of Darwin’s HMS Beagle, this little device is sure to be a winner. This barometer is a simple way to forecast the weather, meaning you can be prepared for a downpour, gale-force winds and even sunny spells even before looking out of the window. Using crystals to determine the air pressure, we can’t be sure exactly how it works – you’ll have to find that out for yourself! Verdict: GENIUS! Predict a riot! The Phone Umbrella, £9.99, Thumbsup.com Sometimes we just have to do a task in hand, come rain or shine – that’s something this gadget has taken into consideration that’s for sure! Keeping your phone screen protected from both rain and sunshine, you can stay connected without glare or rain…

See me roar! This is my favourite picture of my little Phoebe- she’s adorable. Lisa Adams, Halesowen This is Ryan and me on my 60th birthday – we had a lovely Chinese with family and friends. Debb Hunt, Nottingham This appeared in the sky just as I was thinking of my late mum, who sadly passed away recently. I think it’s Mum watching over us, sending a kiss. Dawn Humphrey, Scarborough I no longer have my mum, but I want to shout-out my mother-in-law of 16 years, Pauline, who has been like a mum to me for a lot of my life. Cheryl Harvey, Kent I’ve just found the perfect biscuit to go with my cup of tea as I read my favourite Pick Me Up! Fiona Deans, Beith If your letter makes Star…

Plating up the final roast dinner, I turned my gaze to the empty place mat next to me. My partner Des, 37, wasn’t having a typical Christmas lunch this year – he was having a doner kebab. ‘Are you sure you’re going to be OK with that?’ I asked, pouring the gravy on our steaming dinners as my two boys Lewis, 16, and Ryan, 13, came running through excitedly. ‘Yep, don’t worry about me,’ he replied, licking his lips. ‘I’m more than happy with my doner and chilli sauce.’ Des was absolutely obsessed with kebabs. Ever since I had met him five years ago, him and kebabs had come as a package deal. I’m not a big foodie, but after a few months of dating Des, I’d learned to come…

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Peeling back layers of greasy paper, I couldn’t wait to get to the warm chips inside. Plating up three portions of fish and chips, I was ready for a nice girly evening with my mum Helen, 70 and nan May, 86. We’d been her carers for years. As May got older, she needed a little extra support, and mine and Mum’s diet went out the window. Nan hated us cooking for her and making a fuss, so she would insist on a takeaway. Quick, easy and tasty – how could we say no? Soon the pounds piled on. I had always been active, kickboxing in my spare time, but looking after Nan meant I didn’t have time to stay healthy. And Mum had always been a bigger lady, too. Having…

Between the Covers, BBC Two Sara Cox is back for the sixth series of this entertainment show, which celebrates the joy of books and reading. This week, Sara is joined by broadcaster Angela Scanlon, DJ Spoony, barrister turner author Rob Rinder, and presenter Cerys Matthews. Crufts 2023, Channel 4 The world’s largest dog show is back at the NEC in Birmingham this year. Clare Balding and Sophie Morgan guide us through the action, including the intense semi finals of the all-action Flyball competition. Resident vet, Dr Paul Manktelow examines the proliferation of pet food banks during the cost of living crisis and Radzi Chinyanganya is in the main arena, as the Young Kennel Club guide their dogs through the Agility course. Not to mention, The Kennel Club’s Hero Dog for…

Gifts that keep on giving Mother’s Day is fast approaching and there’s no better time to show how much you care. Whether you’re buying for the mum in your life, a sister, friend or just someone special – don’t forget yourself – then the No 7 Beauty Company have gifts that are sure to brighten their day. It may not be enough to show your gratitude, but it’s a lovely start! Available from Boots. Soak your troubles away As a mum, time to yourself is probably few and far between. Whether you’re in need of a little TLC or know someone who is, a relaxing bath will help you unwind. The Mother’s Day collection from Lush will wash away your worries. BEAUTY NEWS Giovanna Fletcher is the new face of IT Cosmetics Do…

Lugging the plates across the garden as I heard trails of conversation behind me, I couldn’t help but wonder if there was a way to make all of this any easier. We regularly had guests over in the garden during summertime, and I felt as if I barely got to spend any time with them, with all the back and forth to the kitchen! Then, scrolling on Pinterest that evening, I had an idea. What if I could build an outdoor kitchen? A pizza oven, a barbeque, and a hot tub – I wanted the whole hog. ‘What do you think?’ I asked my husband, David, 43, a few days later in 2020. ‘I think it’s a waste of time and a waste of space,’ he said, forever logical-minded. ‘What…