Table of contents for 13-Feb-2020 in Pick Me Up!

Stood in the bathroom brushing my teeth, I saw my boyfriend’s face appear in the mirror behind me. ‘Alright babe?’ I mumbled, spitting toothpaste into the sink. Without saying a word, he came up behind me, wrapped his arms around my waist and started nuzzling into my neck. ‘What’s gotten into you tonight?’ I giggled, swivelling my body around to face him. ‘Been a long day,’ he whispered, reaching his hands down to my pyjama bottoms. ‘I just want you.’ Dan, 30, and I have been together for nearly three years, and it’s safe to say, our sex life has never gone cold. A fact - given Dan’s job - that would probably surprise many people. Dan is a gay porn star. When I met him back in December 2016,…

The price of forgiveness Q I’ve taken back my boyfriend after he cheated on me and not one of my friends or family approve. I feel like I’ve lost their support. What if he cheats on me again? I’ll have no one to turn to. Jess, London A Although your family and friends don’t approve of you sticking with your boyfriend, it doesn’t mean they don’t care about you. Their disapproval will be coming from a fear that he might hurt you again. Tell them how you feel and how you value their support with other elements of your life, even if they don’t want to know about your relationship with your boyfriend. If they care, they’ll appreciate that. Spend time with them without your boyfriend so that you independently…

Treat norovirus Often called the ‘winter vomiting bug’, norovirus can be particularly unpleasant. For most of us, it will go away in about two days and can usually be treated at home. Here’s what to do if you catch the nasty winter bug… 1 Stay off school or work until the symptoms have stopped for two days. Also avoid visiting anyone in hospital during this time. 2 Drink plenty of fluids such as water or squash. If you’re feeling sick take small sips at a time. Don’t have fruit juice or fizzy drinks as they can make diarrhoea worse. 3 Eat when you feel able to. You don’t need to eat or avoid any specific foods. 4 If you’re in discomfort, take paracetamol. Make sure you check the leaflet before…

Q I have a constant buzzing in my ear and it’s incredibly frustrating. Could it be tinnitus? Neil, Swansea A The constant buzzing you are hearing in your ears could be tinnitus. Tinnitus leaves people hearing noises that are not caused from an outside source. Most cases of it are temporary and not normally a sign of anything serious. Tinnitus can sound like ringing, buzzing, whooshing, humming, hissing, throbbing, music or singing. See your doctor if it is regular, constant, worsening, or affecting your sleep, as they may want to examine your ears. Seek urgent medical attention if you have tinnitus plus any of the following: • A head injury • Sudden hearing loss, spinning sensation, weakness of your face • Tinnitus that beats in time with your pulse For…

Ending a relationship is hard and brings up painful emotions. There are several ways you can work through these emotions and start to move on, such as writing about your feelings, allowing yourself to grieve, and being  cautious about rebound relationships. Keep in mind that getting over a breakup takes time and patience. In the meantime, make sure you get out there – make plans with friends and have fun. It may feel awkward at first, but it will get easier with time. Your social life will help you move on.…

Scanning the calendar, I frowned. ‘Still nothing yet, Babe?’ my husband Joshua asked. ‘No luck,’ I sighed. It was December 2018, and for the fourth month in a row, I’d failed to get my period. While I was glad to be rid of painful abdominal cramps and terrible PMS, not having my regular period wasn’t ideal - Joshua, 34, and I really wanted a baby. We’d met 10 years ago while on holiday in Miami. I’d been on the contraceptive pill ever since I was a teen, which suited our lifestyle just fine at the time. My periods were always regular, and I didn’t have a worry in the world. A few years later, though, we were both ready to start trying for a baby. So, as soon as we…

Liver cancer 1 Symptoms of liver cancer often don’t appear until the cancer is at an advanced stage. ☐ True ☐ False 2 The exact cause of liver cancer is unknown. ☐ True ☐ False 3 You cannot reduce your chances of developing liver cancer. ☐ True ☐ False 4 Treatment for liver cancer depends on the stage it is at. ☐ True ☐ False 5 Symptoms include loss of appetite and feeling full after eating. ☐ True ☐ False 1 TRUE Symptoms are often vague, and many people don’t show symptoms in the early stages. 2 TRUE Although most cases are associated with damage and scarring of the liver known as cirrhosis. 3 FALSE Cutting down on alcohol, eating healthily and exercising regularly are all ways you could significantly…

Puppy love Here’s five ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day with your favourite fur friend… 1.ENJOY DINNER FOR TWO Cook up a pup-friendly homemade meal to dine together. 2.WATCH A MOVIE TOGETHER Romance isn’t dead with your dog. Snuggle up with popcorn and a film. 3.GIFT SOME GOODIES Treat your pup to a new toy or treat that they’ll fall in love with. 4.ADVENTURE TIME Bundle up and visit a local beach, a woodland area or take them on a doggy date – anything fun! 5.DONATE TO YOUR FAVOURITE SHELTER - Give a little back to those who need it most. Give the gift of love this Valentine’s by donating to an animal charity or rescue centre. Pet monster mushion, £26.99 firebox.com This giant pillow of your pet’s head…

Alone this Valentine’s Day? Not to worry! Experts at mindful dating platform Meet Mindful (www.meetmindful.com) share clever ways to love yourself this February 14th… 1 Pamper yourself Spare no expense, because you are indeed worth it. Send flowers to yourself at the office, go all out with a mani-pedi spa day, order your favourite takeaway, and buy expensive chocolates – not for sharing! 2 Throw a party Whether it’s an anti-Valentine’s Day party at your place, dressing to the nines for a singles mixer, or hosting a pyjama party complete with every romcom on Netflix, gather your favourite single people and take back the holiday. 3 Date yourself Have an at-home date in your pyjamas with your celebrity crush! Grab the popcorn and a glass of your favourite wine, turn…

Spa days for two are the perfect way to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Buyagift .co.uk have some fantastic experiences on offer for you and that special someone… Spa Day for Two at Marshall Street Spa, £20, London Take a day off from your busy schedule and visit the Marshall Street Spa for a day of relaxation. You will have a whole day to take full advantage of the great leisure and spa facilities on offer. Perhaps you could start off with a vigorous workout in the morning, making full use of the 100-station gym facilities, before a relaxing dip in the swimming pool – earning the right to a lazy spa day! In the afternoon, you could chill out in the relaxation area with your favourite book, or detox in the sauna…

Here’s a picture of my lovely girl Ellie, 3, at a recent fairy photo shoot. She loved it! Tiger-Lily Manson, London Here is Snooker legend Willie Thorne with our little Yorkie Dennis. He was such a wonderful likeable character! Jane Raw, Bradford I love to entertain and this is my cosy spread of afternoon tea at home! Amanda Hadley, Hayseech My two lovely granddaughters cuddling memory bears in honour of their late Uncle Jason. Patricia Cordon, Cheltenham If your letter makes Star Letter of the week, you will receive some beautiful blooms from Flying Flowers. With over 30 years’ experience of helping celebrate life’s special moments and FREE delivery by post, a gorgeous bouquet by Flying Flowers is a lovely way to celebrate sharing smiles and happiness. See flyingflowers.co.uk for more…

What can I do? Q I think I’ve got varicose veins. Is there anything I can do to get rid of them? Donna, Liverpool. A Varicose veins are large swollen veins that usually occur on the legs and feet. They can be unsightly and sometimes get inflamed, making your veins painful and the skin over them can become very dry and itchy. Symptoms are often worse with long periods of standing and in warm weather. Symptoms can improve by resting your legs above waist height and by walking. You can prevent varicose veins by avoiding long periods of standing and by losing weight. Maintaining a normal weight can massively reduce your risk. Treatments include wearing compression stockings and regular exercise. If lifestyle measures fail, speak to your doctor. Flare up…

Healthy habits According to new research, a healthy lifestyle can give women an extra ten years of life free from cancer. Researchers in the US tracked 111,000 people for more than 20 years and found they gained more years of life through making improved lifestyle choices. Those who exercised regularly, drank in moderation, maintained a healthy weight and good diet, and didn’t smoke, were more likely to live disease free for longer. For men who did the same, they were thought to gain seven years of life free from cancer. 1 in 4...  The amount of under-18s referred for mental health treatment on the NHS who are rejected, according to a new report. HEALTH TIP Have you tried... Oilatum’s junior range, from £4.99, Boots.com Specifically targeted to help soothe…

Sitting around a table with my family in my favourite takeaway restaurant, I couldn’t have been happier. Surrounded by empty burger boxes and fries packets, it was pretty obvious how much we’d just eaten! My older brothers Eric, then, 10, and Kevin, eight, and my twin sister Sarah, had already scoffed down their meals. ‘You’ve only got about a minute left, hun,’ my mum Diana smiled, pointing to her watch. ‘It’s almost midnight.’ ‘My milkshake!’ I squealed, grabbing the cardboard cup and sucking on the straw as hard as I could, the delicious chocolate goodness pouring down my throat. As I gulped it down, Mum and my dad Craig starting counting down to midnight - quickly joined by my siblings. ‘Three, two, one... STOP!’ they yelled. Setting down my cup,…

A300lb woman was inspired to become a yoga instructor after teachers ignored her in class simply because of her weight. Jessica Rihal, 35, from California, said instructors refused to offer her guidance and sometimes wouldn’t even look at her as she attempted poses. Now she teaches weekly yoga classes and is on a mission to prove that yoga is not just for thin women. ‘According to the media and the society we live in today, fitness and wellness are reserved for thin and able-bodied people only, but that’s just not true,’ Jessica says. ‘I knew that I needed to be the change I wanted to see, and I wanted to let other people who look like me understand that you don’t have to be thin to practise yoga. ‘I wanted…

Food blogger Mark Setchfield from Gas Mark Six (www.gasmarksix.net)shares some delicious recipes to add some heat to any occasion! Thai chicken curry Serves: 4 FOR THE PASTE: □ 2 tsp coriander seeds □ 2 tsp cumin seeds □ 4 small fresh red chillies, chopped □ 1 tsp shrimp paste □ 2 garlic cloves, chopped □ 4 shallots, chopped □ 1 lemongrass stalk, white part only □ 1cm piece of galangal □ ½ cup chopped coriander □ 1 tbsp peanut butter FOR THE CURRY: □ 3 tbsp of curry paste □ 4 kaffir lime leaves □ 1 stick lemongrass □ 1 can of coconut milk □ 1 cup of chicken stock □ 1½ tbsp fish sauce □ 1kg chicken thighs, cut into cubes □ 150g sugar snap peas □ 2 tsp brown…

ARIES 21 March–20 April Let yourself go this week, Aries. Follow your true desire and best advantages this week. Friday and Tuesday are your best days to get back in the driving seat financially. This is a week to face your fears and ask questions, my friend. Stop thinking and instead try experiencing. You have the right to ask questions and there’s a life out there waiting for you to live it! Call: 09058 170 710* TAURUS 21 April–21 May Discover a wilder world this week and push your boundaries. Some astrologers would say you’ve just been existing. I think you’ve been treading water. This week it’s time to choose your direction and go towards what you planned. Try on Saturday and Sunday, and the most unexpected of faces will…