Table of contents for 10-Jun-2021 in Pick Me Up!

At the age of just 23, my brother Robin was sadly diagnosed with testicular cancer. This came as a huge shock to the whole family as Robin was a fit, healthy young lad who was in the prime of his life. We were all devastated, and watching Robin decline was the hardest period of my life. Robin sadly passed away on 10 December 2011, just 10 months after his diagnosis. We were left completely broken, but we knew we wanted something positive to come out of his tragedy. So, in memory of Robin, myself, my eldest brother Adam, 36, and our parents, Mark and Lorna, launched The Robin Cancer Trust. In September 2012, we registered as an official charity and our hope was that we could prevent another family from…

Lugging the weekly shop down the road, I let out a long sigh. ‘Everything OK, Love?’ my mum, Diana Gray, 50, asked. ‘Yeah, just tired,’ I replied. In truth, I was exhausted. As a mum-of-two, that was natural, but despite having a partner by my side to help, I felt like I was doing it all alone. I’d first met Daniel Hall, now 24, in school. Three years older than me, he was just someone I knew through friends. However, in 2016, having both left school, our friendship took a romantic turn. To begin with, things were great between us. Daniel was kind, funny and always made me smile. We had the same group of friends, so we spent a lot of time together, and I couldn’t have been happier.…

This week, our tip of the week will receive a great product from Addis! From the Lynsey Queen of Clean collection are the Bamboo sponge and triple pack of super sponge complete with the Addis caddy. Made with natural bamboo, the sponges are both renewable and a naturally antibacterial plant source. Lynsey’s top tip – use these with or without product. For more ways to make your life easier, visit addis.co.uk Hands-free! If you’ve got nowhere for the recipe you’re following, use a trouser hanger to dangle from a cupboard. Amanda Hadley, Cradley Heath Glowing touch Once my Grand Marnier bottle was empty, I washed it out, put battery operated fairy lights inside, and used it as a quirky lamp for my shelf. Tina Williams, Blaenau Gwent Pest prevention Natural…

Dr Audrey Tang is a chartered psychologist, mental health & wellness expert and author of The Leader’s Guide to Resilience, (Pearson, £14.99) Can’t compete Q The mums on the school run are so competitive. Their kids attend so many clubs, and they even arrange playdates to make sure their children are friends with the ‘right crowd’. It’s making me question my parenting. Jessica, Hull A Are your children happy? Are your children healthy? If the answer is yes, then always remind yourself that you are raising your children for you as your family team – not for the other mums! If your children have voiced that they are missing out, then perhaps negotiate with them what they would like to do. From there you can figure out what they could…

As the doorbell rang, I felt a mixture of nerves and excitement. It was October 2020, and I was finally getting to meet the Golden Retriever who was potentially going to become my guide dog. ‘Freya, they’re here,’ my mum Alison, 52, shouted up the stairs. And as I raced down to meet them, I was greeted by a giant Golden Retriever. ‘This is Lennon,’ the trainer said, introducing me to a new four-legged friend. ‘Hello,’ I said nervously, giving him lots of fuss. And as Lennon nestled into me, I couldn’t get over how big he was. He was far from the puppy I’d been imagining in my head, but I was just so grateful that he was finally here. Just two years ago, I’d lost my vision completely.…

Posing for a photograph, I smiled in my birthday sash and said: ‘Cheese!’ It was January 2020, and I was celebrating turning 30 with my family at home. After singing ‘happy birthday’ and slicing the cake, I flicked through the pictures that my mum had taken. Oh my God, I thought. ‘Do I really look like that?’ I asked my fiancé Colin, 50, showing him the photograph. I was wearing a pair of black leggings and a size 20 grey check top. And I looked terrible. ‘You look beautiful!’ Colin reassured me. Why are you with me? I thought to myself. I was overweight, snappy and unhappy. Ever since I had become a mum to 12-year-old Lewis and eight-year-old Declan, I had gradually put on weight. In a comfortable relationship,…

Brarista Your bra problems sorted – no measurement tape needed! Taking out the fuss, the embarrassment and the inaccuracy of most bra-fitting services, the new Brarista mobile app does the bra shopping for you in these three simple steps: In the comfort of your own home, Brarista’s AI technology and expertise promises you the scientifically accurate fit. Go to brarista.co for more information. Find out more about our commitment to REAL woman womanandhome.com/real…

Flamingo float tea infuser, £17.50, RedCandy.co.uk This tea infuser creates the world’s most exclusive pool party in your cup. Simply fill with loose leaf tea and relax! Verdict: BONKERS! It’s flockin’ fabulous! Rocket candy grabber, £29.99, Firebox.com Grab a piece of the action with this retro-style arcade machine. Claw at the candy! Verdict: GENIUS! Make snacking fun again! Chocolate teapot, £24.99, Prezzybox.com They said it couldn’t be done! A working chocolate teapot is here, defying all the odds. Verdict: GENIUS! A fondue like no other!…

It’s British strawberry season! And Love Fresh Berries have some delicious recipes to inspire you to make the most of these sweet sensations. ● For more berry inspiration visit: lovefreshberries.co.uk White chocolate mousse with strawberry and black pepper sauce Serves: 4 Make extra sauce and freeze in sections of an ice cube tray, defrost as many ice cubes as you need in the microwave and drizzle over a scoop of vanilla ice cream to give it the star treatment. WHITE CHOCOLATE MOUSSE ■ 200g (7oz) white chocolate, broken into pieces■ 1 lime, grated rind only■ 2 eggs, separated■ 2 tablespoons white rum■ 150ml (¼ pint) double cream STRAWBERRY AND BLACK PEPPER SAUCE ■ 50g (2oz) caster sugar■ 75ml (21/2 fl oz) water■ ½ teaspoon black peppercorns, roughly crushed■ 225g (8oz) strawberries,…

What a great idea Desenio has partnered with Blue Marine Foundation (BLUE) on its mission to protect the oceans and seas. In support of BLUE and its cause, Desenio continues to celebrate the beauty of our oceans through newly launched art prints. With Clean Sea, the newest collection of art prints, Desenio want to help BLUE draw attention to the crisis in the oceans and support a solution that preserves life beneath the surface of the ocean. Did you know 90% of wild fish stocks are now overfished? BLUE makes a difference by securing marine protected areas, developing models of sustainable fishing, restoring marine habitats, tacking unsustainable fishing and connecting people with the sea. ● Go to desenio.co.uk to shop the range now. GET INVOLVED Have you ever considered adoption? Maybe…

As I struggled to keep on top of the kids and housework, Daniel remained hurled up in bed. ‘I need your help,’ I told him in February 2020. By this point, I’d stopped caring about what he would do to me. I was tired and exhausted. Then, suddenly, Daniel sprang out of bed as he heard his Xbox being turned on in the living room. Running in, he was furious as Riley was sticking a DVD in the player. ‘What are you doing?’ he screamed at him. Watching on, I sprang into mum-mode. Picking up Riley, I wasn’t going to let Daniel hurt him. Only, Daniel had lost it and was smashing up the place. ‘It’s OK,’ I cooed, as Riley screamed in my arms. ‘No, it’s not!’ Daniel yelled.…

This condition is when tissue similar to the lining of the womb starts to grow in other places on the body. Endometriosis is long-term and can affect women of any age. The main symptoms are; pain in your lower tummy or back which usually worsens during your period, pain during or after sex, difficulty getting pregnant as well as these symptoms while on your period – feeling sick, constipation, pain when going to the toilet and blood in your pee. If you have any of these symptoms you should visit your GP. There’s no cure and it’s rarely talked about, leaving many sufferers feeling unsupported and confused about how best to deal with it. Dr Marion Gluck, the founder of The Marion Gluck Clinic, offers her top tips on managing…

Heading to my dance class, I couldn’t wait to perfect our new modern routine. I’ve been dancing since I was two, and I enjoy nothing more than doing pirouettes, Pas De Bourrées and split leaps. My dance teacher has always been fantastic and helped me secure roles in pantomimes and stage shows. I trust her completely, so when she pulled me to one side when I was 12-years-old, I knew to take her seriously. ‘Macey, I’ve noticed a hump on your right rib,’ she told me with concern. ‘I think you should go to the hospital. It looks like scoliosis.’ I didn’t really understand what she meant. I was only 12. Only, I had noticed the hump on my rib. It had appeared a few weeks prior, but I only…

We've all heard of it, but how much do you really know about the cryptocurrency? It's a word you've probably heard floating around for years now, but for lots of us, bitcoin is something we know very little about. And if you poke your head into the world of digital currency, you could be forgiven for thinking it's inherently a guy thing. With just 15% of all bitcoin traders being women, it's time we demystified the myth that is cryptocurrency! So, in a bid to firm up our knowledge, we've enlisted the help of Lianne Dodds from Bottlepay, a newly launched Bitcoin-based Global Payments app which is on a mission to make bitcoin easy to understand, buy and spend. Here's all you need to know when it comes to the…

It was time for Stacia Hollinshead to put her turbulent past behind her and build a new future for herself and her young daughter. Despite a successful 11-year career as an Army intelligence officer, and a natural ability as a devoted mum to her five-year-old girl, Stacia, 30, had failed to find happiness in her marriage. Husband Ulisses W. Medina Espinosa had been controlling, manipulative and erratic during their relationship and in 2016, Stacia had enough and filed for divorce. Sadly, it was the start of even more problems. Ulisses, 31, had a habit of following Stacia and she caught him driving by her house in Sycamore, Illinois. He used his daughter to try and find out where Stacia was, especially by insisting they video chat so he could verify…

The Liquorists Small Batch Gin Bubble Gum, £10, Morrisons Just in time for summer, this bubble gum gin liqueur is bursting with flavour and even shimmers when shaken! Lo-Dough Double Chocolate Fudge Cake Bar, from £2.49, www.lodough.co Adding to their range of reduced calorie cake bars, Lo-Dough have announced the arrival of the Double Chocolate Fudge Cake Bar - the perfect chocolatey indulgence. Hecks Bangin’ Bites, £2.25, Tesco These cocktail versions of Heck’s popular 97% Pork and Chicken Italia sausages are perfect for summer picnics! The Birds Eye Green Cuisine Range, from £2, Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons Birds Eye have launched new Chicken-Free versions of some of their most popular products, including Chicken-Free Burgers and their Crispy and Southern Fried Grills. They may even tempt the most faithful of…

Holding an adorable little puppy in my arms, I was instantly smitten. It was March 2017, and my husband Jay and I were meeting our new pup, Sadie. ‘She’s adorable,’ I cooed. At just 12 weeks old, our new golden retriever puppy, had already been through a lot in her little life. Having rescued her from a particularly bad situation, she was underweight and suffering from a whole host of medical problems. But as she adjusted to life with me and Jay in Georgia, USA, she soon settled into her forever home. As she got healthier by the day, her confidence began to grow. Greeting everyone with a tail wag, Sadie was the happiest pup around. Her medical problems soon cleared up and she loved her new life with us.…

Slipping into a sexy handmade costume, I posed for my fans. With hundreds of subscribers on the site OnlyFans, I always make sure to please. Constantly chatting and sending images, I love my online community. I almost stumbled into it a few years ago and I’ve never looked back. You see, not only is it a great community, but it also saved my life. My health began playing up when I was just nine-years-old, and I’d been in and out of hospital ever since. It all started at the end a one-week trip to Spain with my grandparents, way back when. I’d been completely fine all week, but at the airport on the way home, I had a sudden urge to throw up. Everyone hoped I’d just picked up a…

ACROSS 1 Henry _, stars as Geralt of Rivia in TV series The Witcher (6) 4 Expelling (8) 10 Conjurors (9) 11 Flavour (5) 12 Amy _, six-time Oscar nominee and star of films such as Enchanted and American Hustle (5) 13 Without sound (9) 14 Means of entry or access (7) 16 Makes mistakes (4) 19 Elm, say (4) 21 A disease (7) 24 Fundamental (9) 25 _ Momoa, played Khal Drogo in Game of Thrones (5) 26 Gal _, Israeli actor who played Gisele in the Fast & Furious films (5) 27 Running machine (9) 28 Sanctions (8) 29 Arrival or coming (6) DOWN 1 Organised course of action (8) 2 Tramps (8) 3 Makes secure (5) 5 & 22Dn. Zack Snyder’s _ _, 2021 superhero film starring…

1 It is a rare infection. ◻ True ◻ False 2 There are no symptoms. ◻ True ◻ False 3 There is no treatment. ◻ True ◻ False 4 You can be vaccinated against it. ◻ True ◻ False 5 It is found in Asia. ◻ True ◻ False 1 TRUE This infection, which can affect the nose, throat and skin, is rare in the UK. However, there’s a small risk of catching it while travelling to some parts of the world. 2 FALSE Symptoms usually appear two to five days after becoming infected. These include a thick grey-white coating at the back of your throat, a high temperature, feeling sick, sore throat, headache, swollen glands, difficulty breathing and sometimes ulcers or pus-filled blisters. 3 FALSE Antibiotics are often used…

Sitting down on the sofa in my living room, I let out a huff. ‘Natalie,’ my then partner Liam, 27, said sheepishly. ‘You’ve been quite hormonal recently; do you think we should get you a pregnancy test?’ ‘I can’t get pregnant when I’m on the pill,’ I frowned. Little did I know, he knew my pregnancy symptoms better than I did – we’d had two kids already, Darcie, four and Harley, two. Somehow, I was seven weeks pregnant while taking the contraceptive pill. I felt uneasy about everything, especially as it was so strange that I’d become pregnant in the first place. ‘I just have this weird feeling,’ I told Liam. Sure enough, after the 12-week scan, we got a call saying the Down’s syndrome test came back high and…

Stepping out of a hot shower, I wrapped my towel around me. As I began to dry myself, my hand brushed along my left breast. What’s that? I thought, feeling a lump in my breast. It was summer 2019, and I was a fit and healthy single, working mum to my daughter Poppy, then 11. Feeling well, I thought nothing more of the lump. It never crossed my mind that it could be sinister. Still, I emailed my local GP for advice to double-check. Poppy and I were going to spend the next few months at my mum’s house in Cornwall for the summer, then we would be moving house from Oxford to Eastbourne. As soon as you get to Eastbourne, register at your local surgery and book an appointment,…

Intelligence, Sky One David Schwimmer and Nick Mohammed return for a second series of highly confidential chaos. After narrowly avoiding extradition to the United States on charges of treason, NSA agent Jerry Bernstein (Schwimmer) finds himself the centre of attention once again when the Russians obtain a cyberweapon that Jerry himself helped develop. With his intel vital to the safety of the nation, he is more than willing to once again step into the role of the office alpha male and save the day. But with the stakes so high and with him still facing demons from his past, can he avoid a national disaster? Unreported world, Channel 4 There is a homelessness epidemic in New York’s shelter system made worse by the Covid crisis. Reporter Krishnan Guru-Murthy witnesses the…

Garnier Ultimate Blends Shampoo Bars, £7.99, Boots Shampoo bars have been around for a while now. With brands moving towards a more sustainable future, there are now many on the market. However, according to research from Garnier, almost half of us worry that we’ll have to compromise on results to be environmentally friendly. Well, no more! Now Leaping Bunny approved, the brand is on a green mission to respect the earth and you. And if you haven’t already heard, their Ultimate Blends Zero Waste Shampoo Bars are a hit with consumers! Available in four gorgeous blends, each is made with 94% plant-based ingredients and is soap and silicone free. But don’t worry, these babies lather up a storm! CHOOSE FROM: • Strengthening, Blended with Honey & Beeswax: To protect hair…

Upcycling has become increasingly popular in recent years. The process involves taking an old piece of furniture and re-building it, decorating it and adding affordable accessories or upholster to transform it. With the UK spending more time in their gardens, this summer is the perfect time to upcycle and make your own furniture. The money saving team from NetVoucherCodes.co.uk share their tips. 1 Old bookshelves Got on an old bookshelf that no longer serves a purpose in your home? Transform it into a wonderful garden accessory like shelving, plant containers or even an outdoor bar! The natural shape of a bookshelf is ideal for lots of garden projects. Separate your herbs by transforming the shelving into a plant container or create your very own garden bar. 2 Old chairs If…

Climb aboard and hear the horrible history of the most famous river in the world! Tremble in terror at the Tower, sizzle at the Savoy, give Cleopatra the needle, be washed away at Westminster, lose yourself in Lambeth, get gobsmacked by the Globe, hold onto your head at London Bridge and escape from Execution Dock! This brand-new tourist attraction from Birmingham Stage Company and Woods Silver Fleet is set to be a hit this summer. The Horrible Histories Terrible Thames will set sail on the high tides of London’s historic river. Leaving from Tower Bridge Quay, join the Horrible Histories team on a fantastic journey to discover the terrible truth about London’s most iconic landmarks. Combining immersive theatre in Horrible Histories style, the tour will surprise and shock in equal…