Table of contents for 09-May-2019 in Pick Me Up!

Quick as a flash, my hubby Jason snatched my phone from my hands. ‘It’s yours, if you give us a kiss,’ he grinned. Cheeky blighter! Jason was always pulling stuff like that, but secretly I loved it. I’d met Jason when I was 21, and as cheesy as it sounds it was love at first sight. Though his teasing could drive me mad, he cracked me up too. But Jason’s not just a joker. He dotes on our two kids, and since last June he’s really gone above and beyond. See our youngest child Ben, 10, was diagnosed with epilepsy. It was a total shock to all of us, and while I cried and worried, Jason kept me strong. He’s been a real superhero to all of us, but especially…

Finally, though - a week later - I was able to go home. But it was a long road to recovery and I really struggled to cope. It wasn’t just the physical problem of not being able to get around the house, cook or dress myself. I was in constant pain and my confidence was completely shattered. Counselling has helped me come to terms with what happened I was living in fear of having another seizure, of hurting myself again. But other than trying to recognise when a fit was coming, there wasn’t much I could do. Mum, Dad, Ben and Harvey all rallied round, tried to make sure there was someone in the house with me all the time. For five months, I couldn’t even sit down or lie…

1 Be confident ‘There’s nothing to be nervous or embarrassed about,’ says Kelsey. You have every right to be there, and all the ‘experts’ you’re intimidated by had to start somewhere – just like you. 2 Focus on yourself Keen gym-goers will be so focused on their own workouts they probably haven’t even noticed you. ‘Don’t worry about what anyone else is up to. Focus on what you’re doing,’ says Kelsey. 3 Read up! ‘Know what you’re doing,’ Kelsey says. Whether it’s weights or machines, do a bit of research to avoid embarrassment or injury. Or ask a professional at your gym for help – it’s what they’re there for!…

Alcohol poisoning 1 Alcohol poisoning occurs when a person drinks a toxic amount of alcohol, usually in a short period of time. ■ True ■ False 2 It can lead to a heart attack, seizures, brain damage and even lung damage. ■ True ■ False 3 If you suspect someone has alcohol poisoning, you should let them sleep it off. ■ True ■ False 4 Inhospital, a patient will be carefullymonitored until the alcohol leaves their system. ■ True ■ False 1 TRUE Symptoms include confusion, struggle with speech, breathing, co-ordination or staying conscious, as well asvomiting and hypothermia. 2 TRUE The sufferer could also choke on their vomit or stop breathing. 3 FALSE Dial 999 immediately and try to keep them sitting and awake, give them water if they…

My pup Zena is always happiest when out on her walks – she’s just a big bundle of fluff. Rachel Brown, Newbiggin-by-the-Sea My gorgeous little double Rex rat Eevie is so adorable! I call her my fuzzy little peach. Ellen France, Hatfield Articuno is our Lady Amherst’s cock pheasant and we all know he rules the roost. Hannah Debnam, Felixstowe ‘Mum, why aren’t you paying attention to me?’ says Buttons. Krissi Haslett, Ballygowan Dave the chinchilla is always practising his rendition of Me Ol’ Bamboo. He thinks he’s a furry Dick Van Dyke! Lisa Tomlinson, Billingham Johanna, our Bosc’s monitor lizard, was giving me the eye when I hadn’t been to feed her. Bethany Short, Sunderland…

‘My mam was almost 45 when she had me. She was always tired and that used to frustrate me. I was embarrassed  when people used to ask if I was her grandchild, as she had grandchildren similar in age to me. I envied my friends with young mams. I’m 52 now and have a 3-year-old grandson and I’m not ashamed to say I’m glad I don’t have him 24/7. I know now why my mam was always tired!’ Lynne Newton, 52, Durham ‘I think it’s just down to personal preference and the mother’s health. Of course, there  are more risks the older you are, that’s just general knowledge, but many women are now having careers first, and children later. It’s great women have that option and freedom!’ Kimberley Giles, 27,…

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Holding his baby sister in his arms, my son Jacob, 7, was mesmerised. His grin spread from ear to ear, as he held her tiny hand. It was spring 1988, and my darling Samantha - my second child and first daughter - had just been born. Samantha and Jacob were inseparable from the start. ‘I want cuddles now,’ Jacob would moan if anyone was holding the baby for too long. As Samantha got older, Jacob was the first to make her smile and he was there when she said her first word. Then, when she learnt to walk, Samantha followed her brother around like a shadow. ‘So adorable,’ my friends cooed, when we took them to the park after school. Together, we’d go to the soft-play gym or we’d sit…

Staring blankly at the roast dinner in front of me, I poked the broccoli to the edge of my plate. ‘Please, Alysha, eat your dinner,’ my mum, Maggie, sighed. ‘But I’ve eaten the potatoes,’ I whined to her. I was 8 years old and not at all interested in the balanced meal my mum had piled on my plate. My mum did her best to feed me nutritious, home-cooked meals, but because she worked three jobs, she wasn’t able to be home that often. When she was away, I’d ignore the food she’d prepared and indulge in my easy-to-cook favourites, like hot dogs and ready-meal macaroni cheese. Not a veggie in sight! Already a fussy eater, these junk foods soon became the only thing I’d eat. If it was quick,…

As I watched my babies sleep from my hospital bed, I couldn’t shake an uneasy feeling in my stomach. It was February 2011, and I’d given birth to Thomas and his twin sister Isabella two days earlier. Me and husband Simon, 32, were overjoyed to be first-time parents - but while Isabella flourished, Thomas was pale, slept a lot and struggled to feed Then, during discharge checks, doctors discovered a heart murmur. And after further tests... ‘Thomas has pulmonary atresia with an intact ventricular septum,’ the doctor told us. A serious congenital heart defect, PA/IVS meant that blood couldn’t pass through the pulmonary artery to collect oxygen from the lungs. Without urgent specialist treatment, our son would die. Simon and I were utterly devastated. We’d only just been blessed with…

It should have been an idyllic childhood, growing up in the small farming town of Merced, on the edge of California’s famous Yosemite Park. But for Cary Stayner, his start to life was tough. Living with his parents Kay and Delbert, his relationship with his father was difficult. Recovering from back surgery when his son was born, Delbert avoided picking up the baby, and when Cary cried, he’d yell at him. Aged 3, Cary was so anxious he was diagnosed with trichotillomania, a condition where he pulled his hair out. When Cary was 4, his mum had another son, Steven. He and Cary grew very close. Then, in December 1972, when Cary was 11, something unspeakable happened. Heading home from school, Steven, then aged 7, was lured into a car…

Turning down the radio, I cocked my head and listened. Somewhere, a beautiful voice was singing Celine Dion’s My Heart Will Go On. My own heart swelled. That voice belonged to my daughter Lizzie, 15. She took my breath away when she hit those high notes. Even the neighbours said they turned the telly down whenever they heard her sing! Out of all my kids - Peter, 31, Paul, 24, Carl, 23, and Vicky, 17 - Lizzie, 15, was the most like me. ‘She’s your double, Rose,’ Lizzie’s dad David, 50, always said. Lizzie never went anywhere without letting me know first With our dark hair and blue eyes, we were similar. But Lizzie could light up the room. Not only did she have an incredible voice, but she’d taught…

In March 2016, Sharon Cutts, 55, gave birth to triplets, 34 weeks into her pregnancy. The UK’s oldest mum-of-twins is Janet Bosher, who had Sarah and James in September 2002, at the age of 58. Elizabeth Adeney became Britain’s oldest first-time mother, when she gave birth to a baby boy at 66. In 1999, HarrietStole, 66, became the oldest surrogate grandmother in the UK, when she carried a baby for her son and daughter-in-law.…

Skin Republic Volcanic Ash Mud Sheet Mask, £7.99 Mud masks are a bit messy but also top glow-givers, drawing out impurities to leave skin sparkling. This also has fruit enzymes to gently exfoliate. Alex Steinherr Primark Pollution Solution Exfoliating Pads, £5 Exfoliation whips off dead cells to reveal fresh, radiant texture. This formula is very sophisticated for the price, blending lactic acid with gentler PHA to target every layer of skin. Nspa Beauty Rituals Luminous Glow Hot Cloth Polish, £7 Play the long game, glow-wise, by swapping face wipes for a proper hot cloth cleanse. This has ginseng and sweet almond oil to nourish skin as it removes dulling build-up. Garnier Organic Pure Thyme Perfecting Toner, £3.99 If clogged pores, blackheads or bumpy skin is standing between you and your…

CHESHIRE Nicola Walker, 35 When valuable jewellery went missing from a woman’s home, her suspicions fell on her cleaner, so she set up a trap to catch her. The homeowner left a ring in her bathroom, which later went missing. When confronted, cleaner Nicola Walker, 35, from Tarvin, denied it – but she later confessed and handed herself in to the police. Walker admitted stealing around £30,000 worth of items from seven of her cleaning clients to pay off her debts. Walker pleaded guilty to seven counts of theft by employee and was sentenced to 16 months during a hearing at Chester Crown Court on 2 April. LONDON Scott Willey, 27 An obsession with practising law led to a bogus barrister being jailed – for breaking it! Wannabe legal eagle…

Grabbing a pen from the coffee table, I yanked it down the inside of the cast I’d had fitted around my left leg. Scratching the skin, I groaned with relief. It was September 2018, and three weeks earlier a horse I was riding at the stables where I worked had got spooked and tipped me into a ditch. I’d broken my ankle and was cooped up at my parents’ while I recovered. I normally lived with my boyfriend Ben, 26, and our son Joshua, 6. As I reached for the kettle, everything seemed in slow motion But Ben was working long shifts as a plasterer out of town, and staying with his parents nearer to work. So it had made sense for me and Joshua to stay with my mum…

Looking forward Whether you’re planning a pregnancy in the near future or have already started trying for a baby, the SpermCheck Fertility home test kit can help. Get clear results in the privacy of your own home – there’s no need to send a sample away. SpermCheck Fertility is on offer for £19.99 (RRP £29.99) at Boots until 22 May. Your perfect pud From fruity lemon and lime posset to indulgent chocolate orange ganache – there’s a Pots & Co pudding for everyone. Now £1.50 (usually £2) at Waitrose until 21 May. Fruity fresh With just 12 calories a bottle, it’s hard to believe Sparkling Ice’s new Strawberry Watermelon fizzy drink contains no sugar! Perfect on its own or mixed with Prosecco or gin. Now two for £2 (usually £1.49…

Contraceptive coil query Q Is the contraceptive coil an option if you have previously had a miscarriage? Kim, Loughborough A The short answer is yes, but there are two types of what people often refer to as the ‘contraceptive coil’. The IUS (intrauterine system) is hormone based and lasts for 3-5 years. The IUD (intrauterine device) is similar but made from copper and lasts for 5-10 years. Both are more than 99 per cent effective and can be placed into the womb by your GP. Have a chat with your GP about which is right for you. Neither protects against STIs. Ringing in the ears Q I have tinnitus that comes and goes. Is there something that can be done about it? Dylan, London A Tinnitus, often described as a…

Complications and the possibility of hospitalisation during pregnancy increases as the age of the expectant mother goes up. Potential problems include miscarriage, gestational diabetes, hypertension and pre-eclampsia. Childbirth itself can also be tricky. Although older mums generally have Caesareans, other issues can still arise, such as premature labour, low-weight babies and birth defects. Although studies have shown that women who give birth later live longer, the increased chances of dying before the child reaches adulthood can’t be ignored.…

Hawaiian mango burger Serves: 2 Prep: 20 min Cook: 10 min ◻ 1 pack veggie burgers For the mango salsa: ◻ 125g fresh mango, diced ◻ 2tbsp sweet chilli sauce ◻ ½ red chilli, chopped (optional) To serve: ◻ 2 burger buns ◻ Lettuce leaves of your choice ◻ Tomato slices ◻ 2 pineapple rings ◻ 1 onion, thinly sliced ◻ 2 slices mature cheddar cheese 1 Cook the burgers on the barbecue according to the pack instructions. 2 Mix the mango, sweet chilli sauce and chilli together to make the salsa. 3 In a bun, stack the lettuce, tomato, pineapple, onion, cheese, burger and mango salsa. ‘Sausage’ & vegetable sticky skewers Serves: 3 Prep: 10 min Cook: 12 min ◻ 1tbsp olive oil ◻ ½tbsp lemon juice ◻ 1…

ARIES 21 March–20 April Family affairs at last seem to be getting back on an even keel, and you are no longer worried about things spiralling out of control. Foreign names and accents bring luck to your career and finances – and not a moment too soon, Aries. Call: 09058 170 710* TAURUS 21 April–21 May There is much you still have to learn about what really went on this time last month. What you do know – and you should acknowledge – is that you’re stronger and better for it. A brush with fame beckons in your work and is sure to be worth you taking the time to enjoy and relax into. Call: 09058 170 711* GEMINI 22 May–21 June The need to get answers that someone is…