Table of contents for 16-Aug-2018 in Pick Me Up!

My mum Ravinder, 57, is truly the backbone of our family. Ever since I was little, I knew that I could confide in her. She was so much more than just a parent to me. As an only child, I didn’t have a sister to lark about or share gossip with. But, in many ways, I did. Mum was the caring sister who’d be there to help me through the toughest times. The outrageous best friend to whom I could tell all my secrets, go on days out with and spend endless hours talking to. She’d adorn any hat that I needed her to..! And, most importantly, she was the mum who was a shoulder to cry on and to encourage me to better myself. I realise that I owe…

Stroking my bump as I lay in bed one night, I felt so much love for my unborn child. Soon, my dream would finally come true - I’d be a mummy! Things had changed since I’d fallen pregnant in April 2016. Before then, I wasn’t sure if my relationship would work out with my fiance Alistair. You see, there was always a big fat space in my bed where he should have been. Instead of snuggling with me at night, he’d slob in his pyjamas on the sofa or play games on his computer. He was obsessed with his laptop, distant. A world away from the gentle man I’d met years before. His goofy jokes had always made me laugh. But when I discovered I was pregnant, Alistair changed back…

HRT risks? Q I’m suffering with the menopause, but worry about any possible breast-cancer risks of HRT... Marie, Cheshire A HRT has great benefits for many women. There are some small increases in risk for a few conditions. This depends on family history, type of HRT and age. Discuss your risk profile with your GP. The benefits to women under 60 usually outweigh the risks. At the doc’s Q I’ve many health conditions and I’m always at the doctor’s for checkups. Are they really necessary? They seem to ask the same questions? Deirdre, Aberdeen A Multimorbidity (having many diseases) results in common functional problems such as reduced mobility, breathlessness and fatigue. Speak to your GP about streamlining your care to focus on the functional impact of your conditions…

Dove Shower Mousse with Argan Oil, £3, Sainsbury’s A great two-in-one product, this rich mousse works up easily into a creamy lather, so you can use it as a shaving foam, too. Like all Dove Palmer’s Coconut Oil Formula Coconut Sugar Body Scrub, £6, Boots Use this gritty polish on damp skin to buff away dead skin cells – focusing on the areas that need the most TLC. It’s formulated using ethically and sustainably-sourced ingredients. Massaging Body Brush, £15, arkskincare.com The combination of the bristles and massage nodules on this brush work together to shed dead skin cells, increase circulation and prevent ingrowing hairs. Aveeno Daily Moisturising After-Shower Mist, £7.49, Superdrug Seal in moisture after your shower by spraying this all over towel-dried skin. Made with nourishing oat…

As I shut off the hairdryer, there was a buzzing in my ears from the sudden silence. Then I realised it wasn’t my ears, but my mobile. It was August last year - and, as I got dressed for work, my son Glen, then 18, was calling. I answered and he mumbled, ‘Don’t panic, Mum...’ I was used to getting early calls from Glen and my other sons for breaking something or hurting themselves. And, as per usual, Glen’s night out was only just ending. ‘What have you been up to now?’ I chuckled. Glen’s voice was weak as he slurred, ‘I’ve been stabbed. I’m in hospital.’ ‘What?’ I shouted. Glen said that he’d been at a cashpoint after leaving a club in Bournemouth, where he lived with his dad…

I don’t think it’s down to the schools but, in practical terms, they need to be one of the institutions filling the gaps. We have to do more about those living in poverty – especially as many are working and still can't meet the cost of living – including making toiletries available via more food banks. Tracy Enright, Rochester It’s very easy to pass the buck but, in some cases, a school is the only place a child feels safe, nurtured and comfortable. So why not support families there who are struggling? If they genuinely have to choose between hygiene products or food, then they need all the help they can get. Jackie Wilson, Basingstoke It is not a school’s job but the government’s to ensure families can afford essentials.…

We already had three children when, in 2012, my husband, Jai, then 25, and I were packing boxes to move and I found an old pregnancy test. No point in wasting this, I thought, nipping off to the bathroom. I was on the Pill, and knew the chances were slim but, on the spur of the moment, I thought, why not? It was the world’s biggest shock when the test turned positive! ‘I thought our family was finished!’ I gasped, surprised. I was terrified that people would make nasty comments After the initial shock, we were delighted and I knew that Tia, then 6, Lealan, 5, and Lilly, 1, would be, too. My pregnancy was straightforward but, in March 2013, my waters broke four weeks early. At Royal Exeter and…

With his fluffy face and black, button nose, he was the cutest shih tzu dog I’d ever seen. It was 2005, and my fifth year of running my canine charity Home Counties Shih Tzu Rescue. Even though my job was to find new, loving homes for the adorable waifs and strays, there was something about this 6-month-old pup I simply couldn’t resist. ‘He’s staying,’ I decided. I named him Ted, and he quickly settled in with the other rescue dogs. It seems our past-life trauma had caused our skin problems! He was such a lovely little scrap, so warm and friendly - our bond was unbelievably strong. But, within months, I noticed Ted had developed sore patches on his legs and paws. That’s strange, I thought. I’d had sore patches…

Rummaging through the cupboard, I tried to find a few bits to rustle up for lunch for my girls Ava, 3, and Emilia, 10 months, only to draw a blank. It was April this year and, with supplies low, I made a plan. ‘Shall we pop to the market?’ I clapped. ‘Yes, please!’ Ava squealed running off to get her shoes. I strapped Emilia into a buggy and we were off. The market was busier than usual and I struggled to make my way through the crowds. As we arrived at a stall, Ava let out a shout. ‘I’m hungry, Mummy!’ she grumbled. ‘Smiley faces!’ she said, pointing at a packet of pasta. I scanned the stall for her favourite shapes, just as Emilia started crying too. Flustered, I picked…

Dystonia 1 Dystonia is the name for uncontrolled and sometimespainful muscle spasms. 2 Symptoms start in early childhood. 3 Tirednesscan trigger the condition. 4 There is no treatment for dystonia. 1 TRUE It can affect your whole body and symptoms include spasms, cramps, tremors and uncontrolled blinking. 2 FALSE Dystonia can start at any age, and symptoms may be continuous or come and go. 3 TRUE As can stress, drinking alcohol or caffeine, talking, eating, writing, typing or playing an instrument. 4 FALSE Main treatments include injections of botulinum toxin into the affected muscles, muscle-relaxant medicines, or a type of surgery called deep brain stimulation.…

Toby’s so convinced a family of squirrels must live here, we always stop on our walks to check. Julie Rickard, St Austell When it comes to story time, Poppy says there’s only one choice…Peter Rabbit, of course! Zowie D’Souza, Southampton I had fun on my holiday to Mexico and it’s clear that my guinea-pig Diego enjoys a fiesta, too. Heather Sutcliffe, Mytholmroyd Red the bearded dragon loves to be 'in control’ of everything – including my son’s game! Teresa Harris, East Tredworth Meet my lovely Gill – he’s very partial to a grape! J Giblin, Penarth Cleo was trying to play her favourite Beauty and the Beast song on my double bass… Tail As Old as Time. Lucy Hill, Luddenden Foot…

Personalised Chocolate Bar, £25 for three, thegrownup chocolate company.co.uk Create your very own chocolate bar from scratch, choosing from a wide range of ingredients and even customising the wrapper with your very own picture and message. Perfect for anyone with a sweet tooth. Verdict: GENIUS! Great choccy gift! Fake News Stamp, £9.99, firebox.com Fake it till you make it, with this hilarious stamp. Use it on everything from the newspaper to bills (although that’s probably not a great idea) for a bit of fun. Verdict: BONKERS! A Trumptastic gadget – totally crackers! JML Finishing Touch Flawless, £19.99, jmldirect.com Made using micro-precision trimming technology (say that after a few drinks!) this gadget works to remove hair from your lips, chin and cheeks. Verdict: GENIUS! Really…

Fiery steaks  Serves: 4 Prep: 10 min Cook: 10 min ◻ 2tbsp rapeseed or olive oil ◻ 1 red onion, peeled and sliced ◻ 1x 227g can chopped tomatoes ◻ 1tsp white sugar ◻ 1tbsp freshly chopped thyme leaves ◻ 2tsp hot chilli sauce ◻ Salt and black pepper ◻ 4 thinly-cut beef steaks ◻ Saute potatoes and veg, to serve 1 Heat half oil in a nonstick pan, add onion and cook on medium heat for 3-4 min. 2 Add chopped tomatoes, sugar, thyme and chilli sauce. Cook for 2-3 min (for a medium steak) then season well. 3 Put steaks on a chopping board and season on both sides. Heat remaining oil in a clean nonstick frying pan and cook steaks for 2-3 min on each side. 4…

GET CASH! £££ Send us your stories and photos, including all names and ages, a daytime phone number and full address. E-mail pickmeup@ti-media.com CALL 020 3148 6460 WRITE TO Pick Me Up!, 161 Marsh Wall, London E14 9AP FACEBOOK facebook.com/pickmeupmag SEE OUR WEBSITE lifedeathprizes.com TI Media Limited reserves the right to reuse any submission sent to Pick Me Up! magazine, in any format or medium. Unfortunately, we can’t return photos without a stamped sae. Letters/photos must not be sent to any other publication.…

Fur-tastic Take your pet’s grooming routine into your own hands by using The Furminator FURflex deshedding tool. Until 28 August, get a free grooming head with every purchase. Visit Pets At Home stores nationwide or visit petsathome.com Go nuts for this! Chocolate Orange Almond Butter is the newest addition to the Pip & Nut range. It puts a nutty twist on the chocolate-orange combo. Plus, it’s 100% natural and contains no palm oil or refined sugars. Just £3.45 at Sainsbury’s (usually £3.95) until 15 August. On your bikes, kids! Kiddimoto.co.uk  offers a wide range of bikes and scooters for all the littl’uns to enjoy. Enter MOTO20 when prompted at checkout to receive 20% off all products. Get infuse-iastic Twinings Cold In’fuse Tea is designed for water bottles. Just pop a…

Born in Algeria, Sabrina Kouider grew up in Paris with her mother. There, she met fellow French Algerian, Ouissem Medouni - she was 18 and he was 23. They first clapped eyes on each other when she was working on a sweet stall at a fair. They began a relationship which was on and off for years - and which was, by all accounts, dysfunctional and unstable. When Sabrina moved to London in 2011, Ouissem, or Sam as he was known, soon followed. Some believe that he was punching above his weight with Sabrina. Five years older than her and losing his hair, Sam was under Sabrina’s spell. She’d have bouts of irrational jealousy and violence, and Sam seemed weak, easily led. When she had relationships with other men, he…

Celebrity Masterchef, BBC1 There are 20 celebs hoping to impress John Torode and Gregg Wallace with their culinary skills, including Strictly pro dancer AJ Pritchard, singer Anita Harris, former Holby City star Chizzy Akudolu and Dolly Parton’s sister Stella. In the first heat, Keith Allen, Carol Decker (both left), Michelle Ackerley, Lisa Maxwell and Josh Cuthbert compete. Bollywood: The World’s Biggest Film Industry, BBC2 Bollywood fan Anita Rani is going to explore the bright lights of Indian cinema in this new documentary. She’ll go on set to meet some of her big-screen idols and reveal the secrets behind the famous and very colourful dance numbers. Who Do You Think You Are?, BBC1 Robert Rinder discovers many of his Polish relatives lost their lives in the Holocaust at the Treblinka death…

I straightened the canvas, dipped my brush in yellow paint, then set to work. It was January 2014 and I was relaxing while I painted beautiful scenery. Then a pain shot through my cheek and something wet and hot slid down past my lips. Blood. Not again, I thought, rushing to the bathroom. I’d been having nosebleeds for years, the result of a painful cyst in my right sinus. Three months later, a surgeon in my home country of Bulgaria removed it. Tests confirmed it was nothing sinister. Ready for a fresh start, I moved to the UK that September. I had my own fashion business, making and selling jewellery and clothes. But two months later, a familiar nagging pain set alarm bells ringing. Then the nosebleeds came... a nuisance.…

ARIES 21 March–20 April You may say it’s impossible not to fall out with your family this week, but you can be the bigger person and you’ll feel great making such a gallant effort. Work that’s half done gets your attention and is your chance to prove how good you are at being a team player. Call: 09058 170 710* TAURUS 21 April–21 May Many of the signs are striking out, trying to say things they know will purposely hurt you. Don’t take negativity personally, but be there to listen when others want to open up. Use Friday for lucky gambles and taking chances to create the future you want. Call: 09058 170 711* GEMINI 22 May–21 June It’s easy to see how hard you’ve been working, but you haven’t…