Table of contents for 10-Mar-2022 in Pick Me Up!

Walking up to the school gates, I was eager to hear what the teachers had to say. ‘We’ve got a little character here, Mum,’ one of them told me as she smiled at my three-year-old son, Spence. ‘He’s been giggling all day.’ Although my boy couldn’t walk or talk, he’d made a huge impression on his first day. I’d expected no less. Spence was born on 23 April 2004 with a number of life-long conditions, after he had a stroke in the womb. He was diagnosed with cerebral palsy in all four of his limbs, meaning he can’t walk and his movement is restricted. As a result, he is in an awful lot of pain all of the time. He’s also got a rare brain condition called schizencephaly, full blindness…

Lucy Power is a leading Psychotherapeutic Coach and educator, experienced in Transactional Analysis Psychotherapy. Lucy helps people to raise their self-awareness so they can live without limits. (iamlucypower.com) Cut off Q After my son’s marriage broke down, I’ve hardly seen my grandchildren. It’s breaking my heart. Should I reach out to his ex, even though he’s said not to? Gill, Cardiff A Oh, this must be so hard for you to live through, what a loss. No wonder your heart is breaking. I don’t advise going against your son’s wishes, instead, talk with him about what he needs from you and seek to understand why he has asked you not to reach out to his ex. Explain how you are feeling. I suspect that once you both understand each other…

If you want healthy hair and a flake-free scalp, make sure you have a balanced pH. Regrowz anti-dandruff shampoo restores the balance of the pH using all natural ingredients, to help get rid of an itchy, flaky scalp.…

FULL HOURGLASS A full hourglass body shape is rarely talked about. Similar to the neat hourglass, characterised by a defined waist and bust, a full hourglass differs in the sense of a full bust with a rounded bottom and hips. It’s important to wear clothes that follow your body line and curves, instead of those that are straight and constricting. Opt for soft fabrics like waterfall jackets, cardigans, crossovers, or wrap tops and dresses. Avoid geometric patterns and choose shapes like spots and paisleys. OVAL (SOCALLED APPLE) An oval body type is distinguished by a rounded or sloping shoulder line, curved back, flattish bottom, and fullness around the central torso. To create the impression of a slimmer body wear coats, jackets, or cardigans which are longer than the hip line.…

Shivering on the shore I stood waiting anxiously in a mermaid costume. ‘Go!’ someone shouted and within seconds everyone started hurling towards the water. As the cold waves hit my body, I screamed. It was 1 January 2019, and year after year I made sure to head down to St. Andrews beach for a morning of fundraising fun. Raising money for Macmillan UK, I wanted to give back to them after all the help I had received after losing my Dad Robin, to bladder cancer in 2011. The Macmillan nurses were great with Dad in his final days and were always there to support us as a family when we needed it. Cancer had changed my life, but I knew Dad wouldn’t want me to dwell on the past. So,…

IN CINEMAS 18 MARCH 2022 Downton Abbey: A New Era Fans will be delighted that the eagerly-anticipated Downton Abbey movie sequel is finally here. All the main cast will be back, including Maggie Smith, Michelle Dockery, Hugh Bonneville and Elizabeth McGovern plus a string of new cast members have been announced, including Dominic West. The plot centres around an announcement by Violet Crawley (Smith) revealing that a mysterious man has given her a French villa which sets the Crawleys off for a grand new adventure to uncover the truth about the Dowager Countess’ secret past. The National Comedy Awards, Channel 4 These awards bring the year’s best-loved comedy stars together for a night that celebrates the brilliant work of the comedy world, and all for a good cause – Stand…

THIS WEEK Get giggling! Laughter is the best medicine – and fun-loving Amanda Frolich, also known as children’s entertainer Action Amanda, is here to help! The early years educator, best-selling author and Government advisor shares her top tips to keep you laughing and having fun every day. 1 Get outdoors! Don’t we all feel better for some fresh air and gentle exercise? No matter where we live, we can find green space. Even if it’s stepping outside into your garden, or wandering to your local shop for a Pick Me Up! magazine. Everyday activity, fresh air and green spaces help us get stronger and feel better, sending happy hormones whizzing round our bodies and energising us for the day ahead. 2 Hold your own kitchen disco! Whether Radio 2 is…

Have you heard? Calling all dog owners! Home and garden retailer Wilko, is now welcoming four-legged family members into their stores for the first time. There’s no need to leave your pooch at home if you’re popping to your local Wilko, instead grab the lead and bring your furry friend along. If you need to stock up on pet essentials, why not let your pooch choose their own? The luxury of shopping is sure to get their tails wagging! Participating stores will be those with on-street entrance and exit routes rather than those located inside shopping centres, but service dogs are welcome at all stores nationwide. • To see participating stores visit: www.wilko.com WHAT’S TRENDING Who runs the world? Girls! Well, that’s how the songs goes. However, all over the…

This week, our tip of the week will receive a great product from Addis! Addis Seal and Store vacuum bags feature a unique patented seal technology which makes them 100% airtight. Deep side panelling prevents crumpling when stored. They can be compressed by vacuum or by hand. Anti-moth, anti-mould, and anti-moisture, and the seal has a Lifetime Guarantee! For more ways to make your life easier, visit addis.co.uk Keep it fresh If you buy salad after a couple of days it can go a soggy. So put kitchen roll inside, it absorbs moisture and helps it stay crisp longer. Angela Garvin, Essex In a furry! Gather up pet hair from sofas by wearing a damp latex glove and swiping it over the hair covered area. The hair will stick to…

INSTANT appointment With Dr Marianne Trent – clinical psychologist and founder of Good Thinking Psychological Services Feeling down Q Everything has been getting on top of me recently and I’ve started feeling really down. I’ve lost interest in everything I used to enjoy. Could I be depressed? Lucy, Manchester A You’re describing some pretty common features of depression there, but depression might not be the only cause. It might be that you’d benefit from a chat with your GP to see whether any blood tests are warranted, to rule out any physical causes. It could be that you’re experiencing stress – when we have high levels of stress with no changes, we risk burning out. A consultation with a clinical psychologist or other therapist might help you to get an…

Lots of people who have had Covid-19 can experience breathlessness long after getting over the virus – but there are things you can do to help. Eluned Hughes, head of health advice at Asthma UK and the British Lung Foundation, shares some tips: 1. There are some positions you can put your body into to help you breathe more easily – try leaning backwards or sideways against a wall. 2. Practice breathing control. Get into a comfortable position with your body relaxed, close your eyes, put one hand on your chest and the other on your stomach. Breathe in through your nose. If your breathing is controlled, the hand on your chest will hardly move at all. 3. Speak to your GP if you have any other symptoms of long…

Botulism 1 It is a deadly condition. ◻ True ◻ False 2 There are no symptoms. ◻ True ◻ False 3 It can cause paralysis. ◻ True ◻ False 4 The cause is unknown. ◻ True ◻ False 5 There is no treatment. ◻ True ◻ False 1 TRUE Botulism is a condition caused by some of the most powerful toxins known to science, produced by bacteria. It is rare, but life-threatening. 2 FALSE Symptoms can develop anywhere from a few hours to several days after exposure to the toxic Clostridium botulinum bacteria. These include drooping eyelids, blurred vision, facial muscle weakness, difficulty breathing or swallowing and slurred speech. 3 TRUE If the condition isn’t treated quickly, the toxins attack the brain, nerves and spinal cord, causing paralysis. The paralysis can also spread…

YOU WILL NEED: ◻ A bedside table. We have used the Baroque Drawer Bedside Table by Furniture And Choice (£99.99)◻ Rose Velvet pink trade paint by Dulux◻ Jungle Fever trade paint by Dulux◻ Gold decal stickers◻ Hexagonal marble knob◻ Masking tape◻ Paint brush STEP 1 Remove the handle before starting. Paint the table in the primary colour you have chosen (we picked Dulux’s Jungle Fever) but leave the top of the table white. Leave it to dry completely before continuing. STEP 2 Use masking tape to mark a diagonal line across the drawer handle hole. Make sure that the tape is pressed down properly. STEP 3 Next, paint the left side of the table in the second hue you have chosen (ours was Dulux’s Rose Velvet). Cover the whole left…

Singleton of Dufftown 12 Years Old Whisky, £35, Amazon Enjoy a warming dram with notes of honey, nuts and coffee. Every bottle is carefully distilled and then matured for 12 years in Scotland. Blue Aurora Dusk Wine, £11.95, blueaurorawine.co.uk Made with 100% English blueberries, this unusual but delicious wine is crisp, fresh and fruity on the tongue. Fresh blueberries are pressed and then fermented, to create a refreshing medium dry white wine. Carte D’Or Madagascan Vanilla & Brownies, £4.12, ASDA Enjoy a moment of bliss with Carte D’Or’s luxurious new ice cream flavour. Combining Madagascan Vanilla ice cream with decadent brownie pieces, this is sure to please. Plant Revolution range, from £1, Morrisons Try Morrisons brand-new range of plant-based delights! Choose from 50 new products, both sweet and savoury –…

Catch Claire live on Facebook 7 days of hope & happiness with Claire Petulengro www.clairepetulengro.tv ARIES 21 March–20 April Life is 10% what happens and 90% how you react to it. Try not to agree with what you know will make you unhappy. You have been following others for far too long now, Aries. It’s time to admit what and who you really need to be to make you truly happy. By the end of this week you lead instead of following and it feels good. You’ve really missed this feeling. Call: 09058 170 710* LEO 24 July–23 Aug You’ve been so busy lately that I’m surprised you haven’t met yourself coming backwards. You’re still recovering from what was a bumpy start to the year. What I see, and you…

Q I’ve started a new high-protein diet to help me in the gym, but my partner thinks I’m restricting food too much and being controlling. She thinks I might have an eating disorder. Could she be right? Tom, St Albans A Well done for trying to be fit and active and making better choices with your diet. But it can be tricky to get the balance right, especially when we are restricting food groups and monitoring and documenting our intake. You might be straying into disordered eating territory, with features of orthorexia and dysmorphic thoughts. A way of testing this for yourself is whether you are able to manage the distress of not meeting your daily protein goals, or can eat a slice of cake without the need to compensate…

Cradling my burgeoning bump, I couldn’t wait to meet my newest arrival. My husband Rocky, 34, and I hadn’t been planning another child, but as my due date approached, we were so excited. We already had our daughter Lexie, now eight, and I knew she was going to make an amazing big sister. On 23 September 2019, our son Rocky Jr. was born weighing 6lb 5oz. ‘Hello, you,’ I cooed. Although Rocky Jr. had been an unexpected surprise, I was so full of love. Taking him home, our family of four was truly perfect. For the first few weeks, we were in that newborn bubble. Only, when Rocky Jr. was four-weeks-old, he stopped taking his bottle. Taking him to the doctor, I was a little worried. ‘Just keep an eye…

March is Endometriosis Action Month. Endometriosis UK, the country’s largest charity supporting those affected by endometriosis, is asking people to take action to end the silence associated with endometriosis, and end the pain that it causes. Find out more how to get involved in these actions at Endometriosis-UK.org, or follow Endometriosis UK on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Please visit: www.endometriosis-uk.org DON’T SUFFER IN SILENCE Britteny Gibson, 31, from Glasgow, doesn’t want anyone else to go through what she has. Sitting in class, a sharp pain shot across my belly. As I moved on my seat, I noticed it was covered in blood. 11-years-old, I was mortified. I was so young and confused, but over the next few years, my friends started having their periods, too. Only, by the time I…

Rattling a container of dog food, my three mutts lined up excitedly. ‘Dinner time,’ I sang. Pouring food into bowls and placing them on the floor, Oscar, Roxy and Buddy devoured them. Looking at them, no one would know they were eating a vegan diet. But there wasn’t a single scrap of meat or animal by-product in any of their meals. I’d been veggie for 20 years, and I went vegan seven years ago. I was such an animal lover, and I hated the thought of any animals being hurt as a result of my actions, even through just buying dog food. I started Googling, and found that, like us, dogs have evolved to be able to digest plant matter. So six months into my vegan journey, I gave my…