Table of contents for 30-Nov-2017 in Pick Me Up!

Claire Bitmead, Picture Researcher What a genie-us idea I can’t wait to go to this Aladdin-themed afternoon tea at Cutter & Squidge with friends. It’s decorated like the genie’s cave! What a gig Earlier this year, some friends and I saw Scouting For Girls at a festival. This week we went to see them live at the London Palladium. What a cracker The countdown to Christmas has begun, so each week I have decided to watch a Christmas film, starting with Home Alone. What a load of cuties It’s taken a good few years, but I finally have a picture of my dogs all together. What a wonderland Off to Hyde Park Winter Wonderland to enjoy some festive fun and drink mulled wine. ‘Tis the season! 15… is the number of…

DCI Dave Whellams of the Metropolitan Police told Press, ‘Jonathan’s family have been left completely devastated by the circumstances which led to his death. His two young daughters have been deprived of their father, and now will never get the chance to know him and enjoy all the things that a normal family would experience. ‘Our investigation to bring his killers to justice continues. We know there were a lot of people in Upper Street at the time of the murder, we know people would have seen what was going on, even if they were not aware of the serious nature of the incident at the time. I want anyone who saw anything on that night to come forward and speak with police.’ If you have any info, call Crimestoppers…

OUR TOP TIP Downsize Your Bills First Utility is rewarding loyal customers who fix their energy prices for one, two or three years with huge discounts on the price of their broadband. Head to first-utility.com today to see how much you could save. Fabulous Fizz Perfect for pressies or enjoying with dinner, Tesco is selling Mionetto Luxury Prosecco for £8 a bottle, down from £10.75, until 11 December. Like we need an excuse to pop a cork or two… OFFER OF THE WEEK Out On The Tiles There’s never been a better time to spruce up your kitchen! Tile Giant has slashed the price of plenty of products by up to 50% in its autumn sale – including these gorgeous Kandy Ash Hexagon Mosaic tiles! But there’s no time to waste –…

Anna Boxall, 38, Whitley Bay Every scan, every kick, told me my baby was perfect. Until a check-up at 31 weeks… My blood pressure was sky-high, and doctors found protein in my urine. Me and my hubby Mark, 39, had been so excited. Now that turned to fear. Diagnosed with preeclampsia, I was admitted to Wansbeck General Hospital. Though I’d no other symptoms, such as swollen hands and feet, or vomiting, I was kept in for monitoring. Good job, too, because, a few days later I suffered a seizure. Life-threatening for me and the baby, I needed an emergency Caesarean. So, on 14 January, Charlie was born, weighing only 2lb 6oz. He was moved to Royal Victoria Infirmary’s Special Care Baby Unit, and Mark and I followed the next day.…

Kerry Collins, 25, Thatcham When I got together with my partner Jack in March 2012, it was clear we were a perfect match. People said we were a good couple, as we were completely inseparable and never argued. Only, Jack, 26, was born with bilateral renal hypoplasia, meaning both his kidneys were extremely underdeveloped while he was in the womb. He’d had a transplant aged 7, but knew the donor kidney wouldn’t last forever. ‘I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it,’ he’d smiled when he told me, early on. Bowled over by his positive attitude, I wasn’t worried, either. Jack led a normal life. I already had Kacie, now 6, and Jack and I went on to have Jayden, 4, and Bentley, 1. Jack was an amazing dad.…

£2 1 Tesco Southern Fried Breaded Chicken Goujons, 270g, £2 We found the meat a little processed in these goujons, but liked the flavour of the coating, making them a preferred choice over other more processed options. £1.25 2 Roosters Southern Fried Chicken Goujons, 350g, £1.25, Aldi The flavourful coating made these really stand out. We also liked the substantial size of these goujons. £2.50 3 Co-op 12 Breaded Chicken Goujons, 227g, £2.50 These were definitely our favourites. A crispy coating, nice flavour and a good texture to the chicken.…

Children need a variety of different nutrients while they are growing. Eliminating any from their diet can result in them suffering. Sandra Bowfield, Glasgow Let kids eat what’s healthy. Let them eat meat, cheese, eggs – it’s all protein and essential. Let them decide when they are older how they chose to live. Hannah Marie Burke, Cannock It’s up to the parents to provide a healthy and balanced diet. As long as they do that, it shouldn’t matter what products they’re providing! Why not follow a vegan diet? Jackie Wilson, Basingstoke…

Bridget Egan, 26, Dublin For as long as I can remember, I’ve struggled with my weight. I was one of seven kids, and we were showered with love. And sweeties… Whatever I wanted, I got. And what I wanted was a lot of chocolate and fast-food treats. It was no wonder that, by the time I was 13, I was big. And when I say big, I mean I was wearing a size-24 school uniform. Amazingly, I was never bullied. I was bubbly and confident. ‘Take me as I am’ was my motto - so people did. I guess that’s why my weight didn’t bother me. I was popular and got to eat all my favourite foods. It wasn’t until I had my first son Robert, at the age of…

£15 Primark Flattering fashion If you feel uncomfortable showing off your arms and upper body this Christmas, keep the focus off them. Instead, draw attention to your legs by wearing a pair of eye-catching trousers. Try this…. Weight Watchers from Heinz Meatball Penne in Spicy Tomato Sauce, £2.79, Asda Ready to eat from frozen in under 5 minutes, each microwavable pack contains 443 cal. Chocolate Yazoo No Added Sugar, £1.60 for four, Sainsbury’s Reformulated with no added sugar and containing just 92 cal, this drink has got to be the perfect post-workout treat. Take 3… Tesco Italian Kitchen Spaghetti Carbonara… 525 cal Tesco Italian Kitchen Macaroni Cheese Pasta… 743 Tesco Italian Kitchen Chicken & Bacon Pasta Bake… 643 cal Get Moving! Five ways to burn calories preparing for Christmas… •…

Amiah’s controlling boyfriend was always watching… Amiah Sudano, 19, Beds I was only 15 and still at school when I met Rick Pritchard through friends. Twice my age, Rick was a bricklayer with his own flat. He was a bad boy, a joker, and well-known in Bedfordshire where I lived. I was flattered he was interested in me. And young, naive and impressionable, I loved hanging out at his flat after school. I knew my mum wouldn’t approve, so I told her I was at a friend’s house. And I kept our friendship a secret from her. When I left school, Rich grew protective, preferred me to invite my friends round to his place, rather than go out with them. On the rare occasions I did meet mates for dinner,…

Sue Hopkins, 46, London When our cat Hermione went missing, I was truly heartbroken. We’d had her less than two years, but she and our other cat Snowy hadn’t made friends. Snowy bullied Hermione – her claws always out – and the stress made Hermione ill. So, when a friend offered to take her for a week while she recovered, I’d thought it was a great idea. But, a few days later, she told me Hermione had gone walkabout. I was beside myself with worry. We’d had her microchipped, but it made no difference – she wasn’t found. Even so, I didn’t want to give up on our mog. We moved house four times over the next 12 years, and, each time, I updated our address on her microchip records. And, in…

Verdict: GENIUS! We know a few people who could do with this! We put some truly original products to the test… Good Night Anti-Snoring Ring, £29.99, Boots If your partner snores, we’ve got just the thing. This ring focuses on two pressure points on your little finger, helping to open up the nasal passages for easier breathing while you snooze. Verdict: GENIUS! Fantastic idea! Every parent will want one of these. TalkTalk TV Kids Remote, £5, talktalk.co.uk Designed for kids, this clever TV remote takes you inside TalkTalk Kids Zone filled exclusively with child-friendly shows. Parents can control the shows their little ’uns watch and even set bedtime reminders. Verdict: BONKERS! But great at getting rid of smells from the loo. Airwick V.I.Poo Spray, £8, Wilko Make your ‘number twos’…

Issue 48, 30 Nov 2017 Closing date for all entries: 6 Dec 2017 (three working days later for postal entries) Puzzle 1 Ed’s Test p3 Final answer Puzzle 2 Follow It! p8 Final answer Puzzle 3 Bitesize! p23 Final answer Puzzle 4 Cross It! p28 Final answer Puzzle 5 Sudoku! p28 Final answer Puzzle 6 Strike It! p44 Final answer Puzzle 7 Number Fit! p44 Final answer Puzzle 8 Crack It! p46 Final answer GOOD LUCK TO ALL OUR READERS! Pick Me Up!, published by Time Inc. (UK) Ltd, will collect your personal information solely to process your competition entry. We will not be using this issue’s competition entries to send you special offers or to pass on to third parties. 4 WAYS TO ENTER EASY TO ENTER ONLINE! ONLINE It’s free and only takes a moment to…

Pick Me Up! Sarah C won £1,454 on Emerald Playing my Emerald tickets, I only had a couple of games left, so was pleased when I won £4.50 on two lines. Then out came my numbers for the house. I won the Emerald Progressive Jackpot of £1,454. I couldn’t believe it! My mum won £8,888 a few weeks earlier on the Round The Clock game. I’ve done up my house, treated my family to days out and bought my children bunk beds. The rest will go on more of my home and on a deposit towards a holiday. Janette L won £39,588 on Sapphire My amazing progressive jackpot win was in the Sapphire Room and I saw my balance change to over £39K! The money will be used for a…

Little STAR Doesn’t look like my daughter Keira, 18 months, was too happy to find out she had a little brother or sister on the way! Lauren Kenway, Hertford Heath Off her head! This is a photo of me at the Glasgow Science Centre. My husband said that I was head and shoulders above the rest! Fiona Deans, Beith, North Ayrshire A beautiful friendship I love this photo of my daughter’s cat George and bunny Barney having a nice, friendly chat through the bars of the rabbit run. Melanie Horler, via e-mail Potter cake Me and my kids Keron and Paris love Harry Potter so much. We had such great fun making these magical cakes! Stacey Hill, Torquay Shark attack Help! My hubby’s being eaten by a shark! On second thoughts…you can have him! Donna…

Tammy Peel, 39, Southend Rolling myself across the kitchen floor in my wheelchair, I reached for the biscuits. Even stretching up to grab the packet was an effort. My arms sank back into the seat, and I went back to the living room, which had recently become my bedroom. I was too fat and in too much pain to climb the stairs. Back agony I’d been trim and active until I’d had my third child Molly-May in November 2004. I thought that after a few days’ recovery, I’d be back on my feet, running round after my boys Ashley, then 9, and Charlie, 7, and tending to my new baby. Instead, my husband Simon, then 29, took over parenting duties, as I struggled even to get out of bed. My…

1 Make a list… (…and check it twice) to keep you on track and on budget. 2 Switch bank accounts Some banks offer a reward for switching to them – and it can be as much as £150. Check out if it applies to you. 3 Give IOUs Instead of paying full price for your gifts, hand out IOUs and snap up cut-price pressies on Boxing Day. 4 Don’t be a snob We all want the best at Christmas, but there’s not much difference between some top-end and own-brand goods. Buy what’s right for you and your family. 5 Pare back on pressies See if friends, family or colleagues would mind not exchanging gifts, or giving Secret Santa presents instead.…

Post-baby blues Q I gave birth recently and had the baby blues for a week. Things got better, but I’m not my old self. I don’t feel depressed, and don’t want medication. What can I do? Michelle, Swindon A Tell your health visitor, who’ll check you don’t have postnatal depression. Some new mums don’t recognise it in themselves, but it needs treatment to prevent it escalating. Meanwhile, regular aerobic exercise can significantly lift your mood. New seizures Q I have fits, and have recently been diagnosed with non-epileptic seizures – but I still don’t really understand what they are. Can you help? Lottie, Ilkeston ANon-epileptic seizures mean that there’s no change in electrical brain activity during the seizures. They are caused by something else, so different medication from anti-epileptic drugs may be…

‘In a rage, Gelman grabbed a large knife from the kitchen’ Maksim Gelman had every opportunity to make something of his life. He arrived in the United States from the Ukraine when he was a young child. His hard-working parents made a home for him in Brooklyn, New York, and he went to a good local high school. But Gelman was always an outsider and was known for having a nasty streak, even as a child. Neighbours and school friends recalled how he used to enjoy being mean to them. ‘When I was little, he kind of did bully me. He used to take my water guns and put in hot sauce and soap,’ a 14-yearold neighbour said. As a teenager, Gelman loved skateboarding and started getting into graffiti. His…

Myra Ali, 29, Solihull When I was born, in October 1987, the doctors at City Hospital in Birmingham immediately noticed something was wrong. There was virtually no skin on my feet. After carrying out a skin biopsy, they made a diagnosis. ‘Myra’s got epidermolysis bullosa, or EB,’ they explained. It was a total shock to my mum Naila, who’d had no indication of any problems during the pregnancy. Doctors warned my parents that the extremely rare condition meant even holding me could cause terrible damage to my skin. And I’d suffer painful blistering on my hands and feet. ‘But, with the right support, she could lead a normal life,’ they were told. I remained in hospital as my parents learned how to pick me up on a cushion, so as…

Cardine Whitmore, 22, Leicester There’s nothing like that moment when you first cradle your baby in your arms. ‘Hello, Aiyana,’ I cooed as the midwife handed my daughter over to me. I was overjoyed, but exhausted after a tough labour. My dream of a home birth hadn’t gone to plan. I’d been rushed into hospital with high blood pressure, and needed gas and air to help with the terrible pain. But, almost 14 hours later, here she was. ‘Do you want to hold her now?’ I asked my partner Tariq, 23, handing over our little bundle of joy. He’d been with me all day, along with my mum Joanne, 39. Just then, I spotted a pile of greasy, scrunched-up paper bags lying on the hospital trolley in my room. ‘What’s…

Pick Me Up! BIG STORY • A good Samaritan fatally stabbed • His killer still walks the streets • A grieving mum’s fight for justice Michelle McPhillips, 52, London It was us against the world – just me and my son Jonathan. That’s how it’d always been. When he was born, in May 1988, the love I felt was unconditional. Unfortunately, things didn’t work out with his dad. But Jonathan and I were a team. On his first day at school, aged 5, I choked back tears as I said goodbye. I just couldn’t bear to be apart from him. But Jonathan was such a popular lad, and made so many friends. He just seemed to get along with everyone. Passionate about motorbikes, when he turned 16, he left school…

Lucy Nagle, 30, Uxbridge Out shopping or walking with Roy, 60, I’m often approached by strangers. ‘Is that your dad?’ they ask. My response sends them shuffling off, awkwardly. ‘No, he’s my husband!’ I smile. And you should see the gawps whenever Roy and I kiss or hold hands in public. But the 30-year age gap doesn’t bother us – even if Roy is older than my dad! We met four years ago, when we were both working as bus drivers. I’d just come out of a five-year relationship, so I wasn’t looking for love at the time. Nor was Roy, who’d not long separated from his wife. The first thing I remember noticing were his big blue eyes. They had a cheeky twinkle that was so attractive, I found…

Kwashiorkor 1 Kwashiorkor is a form of malnutrition. ⌍ True ⌍ False 2 Headache is the main symptom. ⌍ True ⌍ False 3 A diagnosis can be made based on appearance. ⌍ True ⌍ False 4It’s usually treated with surgery. ⌍ True ⌍ False 1 TRUE Kwashiorkor is a particularly severe kind of malnutrition most common in developing countries with limited food supplies, poor hygiene, and a lack of education on diets for children and babies. 2 FALSE The main sign is oedema, or fluid retention, that causes swelling under the skin. Other symptoms include loss of muscle, an enlarged tummy, regular infections, inflamed patches of skin and fatigue. 3 TRUE It can often be detected by appearance, as well as an exploration of diet. Blood and urine tests may…

Treat of the Week Chocolate & Almond Banana Bread Serves 10 slices Prep Time: 15 min Cook Time: 55 min ⌍ 100g melted butter, slightly cooled, plus extra for greasing ⌍ 2 eggs, beaten ⌍ 160g soft light brown sugar, plus 1tbsp ⌍ 120g almond butter, such as Pip & Nut ⌍ 250g ripe bananas (peeled weight), mashed with a fork ⌍ 180g plain flour ⌍ 2½tsp baking powder ⌍ 1tsp salt ⌍ 100g dark chocolate, roughly chopped 1 Preheat the oven to 160°C, Gas 3. Butter a 450g loaf tin, then line with baking parchment. 2 Put the melted butter in a mixing bowl and add the eggs and sugar. Mix together to a smooth paste, then beat in the almond butter and mashed bananas. 3 Sift the flour,…

Is a vegan diet healthy for our growing kids or not? As well as filling our socialmedia threads along with our supermarket shelves, it now has its very own section on some restaurant menus… Move over old-school vegetarianism, veganism is definitely on the rise. In fact, the number of vegans in the UK has grown by 360 per cent in the past 10 years. And it’s not just adults swapping their chicken for chickpeas, there are a growing number of parents bringing up their kids as vegan, too. Vitamins The NHS advises taking care when giving children a vegan diet, which can be bulky and high in fibre. The reasoning behind its advice is that this type of diet can lead to children feeling full and satisfied before they have…

DEPOSIT £10, PLAY WITH £35* How to claim: 1 Visit pickmeupbingo.com 2 Join entering promo c ode PMUJ48 3 Deposit £10 and we’ll top it up to £35* Lots of fun! *New customers only. Registration required. 18+. UK only. Offer in this issue ends 31 December 2017. Minimum £10 deposit. You must accept the welcome bonus and join using promo code PMUJ48 when you deposit £10 to receive £25 welcome bonus to play. 250% welcome bonus – max £250 bonus. Welcome bonus must be wagered four times before withdrawals (including, but not limited to, any cash winnings or deposits related to the applicable bonus) from your member account. Wagering requirements apply. The welcome bonus will expire within 30 days if not used in its entirety. Cash-out restrictions apply. See full…

TRIED & TESTED This week: Fake tan Cocoa Brown 1 Hour Tan Mousse, £7.99, Superdrug This dries really quickly, which meant I needed to use quite a lot of product to fully cover my body. I left mine on for three hours before washing it off, which gave me a subtle glow. I’d leave it on overnight for a deeper tan. Bondi Sands Liquid Gold Self Tanning Dry-Oil, £14.99 I absolutely loved this. The colour is really natural and lasts longer than any other tan I’ve tried. My only complaint is that it doesn’t have a strong guide colour, so I wouldn’t recommend it for tanning newbies. St Moriz Velvet Finish Tanning Gel, £7.99, feelunique.com This didn’t have a guide colour either, making it a little tricky to apply. I…

1 Cadbury milk chocolate first hit the shelves in 1897, and Dairy Milk arrived in 1905. 2 There are 350 million bars of Dairy Milk sold every single year! 3 The purple colour of the famous wrapper was once only allowed to be used by Cadbury. In 2013, Nestle challenged this and, after a five-year battle in court, won. Now any brand can use it. 4 Flake, which has been around since 1920, came into being when a factory worker pointed out that the excess drained from the moulds created the famous flaky effect. 5 Creme Eggs first hit the shops in 1923. 6 It takes a whole year’s crop from one cocoa tree to make just 1lb (454 grams) of cocoa.…

Emma Womack, 34, Cheshire F or years, I moaned to my boyfriend Ben, 40, about how unromantic he was. I’d plan everything. I’d even buy my own birthday and Christmas pressies from him! ‘He’ll never change,’ I thought. Then, as he was turning 40, Ben made a suggestion. ‘We’ve some time off. Let’s go to the Lake District,’ he said. We piled into the car with our walking gear and our dog Bobby. On the first day, we found a secluded beach. While Bobby went for a dip in the water, Ben and I stood on the sand. ‘I know you wish I was more of a romantic,’ Ben said, ‘so I really want to do something special for you.’ I was excited and nervous. What’d he planned? Suddenly, Ben…

Lucy Mason, 36, King’s Lynn It’s a scene we’ve all seen on telly and in films. The wannabe mum, taking the pregnancy test, seeing the blue line – and then her thrilled expression! After four years of trying to fall pregnant, I thought I’d never have that. As my husband Adam, 32, and I started IVF, I knew not to get my hopes up. But, two weeks later, in September 2010, I was now seeing that blue line at last! Although my pregnancy was a breeze, at 28 weeks, I started to bleed, and Adam phoned for an ambulance. Then Daisy was born so quickly, weighing just over 2lb. Not breathing, our baby was rushed to ICU. Yet, two weeks on, she was still fighting… Shadow… After two months at…

ARIES 21 March–20 April There are some good times in the days ahead. Just keep an open mind and do try to remember that those with a past are entitled to have one. It’s what they plan to do with their future that matters. The Moon sees you confessing something important this weekend. Call: 09058 170 710* TAURUS 21 April–21 May Saturn is going to bring out your mature side and you’ll find yourself wanting to plan a much more secure life for yourself. You’ll also feel a desire to fix the problems of the younger generation around you. It’s important to return any phone calls on Friday. You’ll soon see why! Call: 09058 170 711* GEMINI 22 May–21 June Don’t count your days this week, Gemini – but do…