Table of contents for 3-Nov-2022 in Pick Me Up!

Stepping up to the door of the plane, I took a deep breath. ‘Let’s go!’ I said. I closed my eyes and jumped – and just like that I was falling through the sky. This is amazing, I thought, gazing at the scenes rushing past me as I hurtled to the ground. It feels like flying. As my guide pulled a parachute, we slowed down and I could really drink it all in. But I wasn’t just any young thrill-seeker, I was a grandmother-of-four who was about to turn 90! It wasn’t my first time, either – I’ve always been a bit of a daredevil! Back in 2007, when I was in my 70s, I started getting pins and needles and leg cramps. It’s just old age, I told myself.…

This week, our tip of the week will receive a great product from Addis. This utensil and folding chopping board set allows for scratch free cooking, meaning you can have a happy kitchen! The chopping board creates a chute for all your chopped food or waste, whilst the utensils are easy to grip and look stylish, too. Visit: addis.co.uk Stain-buster A great way to remove stubborn stains is to use a toothbrush to gently work washing up liquid into the fabric. It really does lift up all of the stains. Angela Garvin, Romford Safe sizzles When frying sausages, put a metal colander upside down over the pan. It will allow the steam to escape, but stop them from splattering grease! Abbie Cairns, Colchester Thrifty fashion Research by maternity brand Isabella Oliver…

Sort your skin Up to one in 10 adults suffer from eczma. When we get eczma on our face it can be painfully sore. Sarah Brown, founder of Pai Skincare, shares her top tips on protecting your skin through the winter months. • Please visit: paiskincare.com 1) Track your triggers Keep a skin diary. Note everything from skincare products including shampoo and hair products, to diet, as well as the weather, your sleep, stress levels, and where you are in your menstrual cycle if you have one. Eventually patterns will emerge that should help you understand your eczema better. Once you’ve identified triggers, you can eliminate certain things, and track your progress. 2) Keep it simple With facial eczema, your skin barrier is compromised and struggling to hold onto moisture,…

• Available in store and online at: accessorize.com…

Smiling at my driver, I headed for the front seat of the taxi. ‘Not today, Pat,’ my driver interrupted. ‘I’m transporting medical equipment in the front, so you’ll have to hop in the back.’ ‘No worries,’ I smiled. I usually preferred sitting up front and having a chat with the taxi driver. As we rolled onto the Autobahn heading towards Frankfurt Airport, I leant back in my seat intent on enjoying an hour of peace, before all the chaos of passport control. It was 2018 and I was a nutritionist, and often flew back and forth to Germany to work with different health clinics and cancer patients. Between my work and other career as a powerlifter, I felt like I was always jetting off to different countries. I loved my…

Squeezing a line of ketchup on my hotdog, I tucked into the feast laid out on the table. Yet, with sticky fingers tapping me on the shoulder, I was in demand. ‘Is it dark enough yet?’ my daughter Rosie-May, then four, and son Christian, then six, asked, looking outside. Gathering at our friend’s house for fireworks night on 5 November 2017, we had an annual tradition taking place. Buying a box of explosives at our local firework depot in a nearby industrial estate, we then bought plenty of snacks to hold our own firework display, socialising with our friends, just like we always did. With Christian being autistic, he wasn’t a big fan of crowds, so a quiet get together, with colourful fireworks at the bottom of the garden was…

Looking for fun, easy family favourites? Anna Stanford knows that families need nutritious recipes without the fuss. Her new book aims to bring fun but simplicity to the kitchen, with over 70 recipes – from light bites to fakeaways. By working smarter, you can really liven up meal times. • Anna’s Family Kitchen: Navigating through food, faff and family life, £25, please visit: mezepublishing.co.uk Meat eaters Prep time: 5 minutes Cooking time: 15 minutes Serves: 4 Vegetarians Chicken or Beef Stroganoff Revelling in its air of 1970s sophistication, the stroganoff is making a comeback. Whether it’s mushroom, beef or chicken, it is a surprisingly quick and easy dish to make. There is more than a whiff of decadence in this recipe! YOU WILL NEED □ 2 tbsp olive oil□ 500g…

We’re loving What could be more perfect than a relaxing glass of vino…? One that helps to save the planet, too.Eco wino brand, The Hidden Sea, is removing 10 single-use plastic bottles from the ocean for every bottle of their wine sold – and they’ve just hit the 16-million mark! Plus, with a quirky and bold bottle designed by New York artist Jon Contino, it’ll look great on your wine rack, too. Choose from two whites – Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay – a Rosé or a Shiraz. • From £8, available in Asda, Sainsbury’s and Co-op • Please visit: thehiddensea.com.au Tastes good and does good – winner! GET IN TOUCH Send us your stories and photos, including all names and ages, a daytime phone number and full address. E-mail hello@pickmeupmag.co.uk…

Neutral tones will give a calm and relaxed vibe…

Staring at the two graduation pictures at my mum’s house, I felt so disheartened. I had gained so much weight since graduating. I was taking a high dosage of steroids, after my kidney function had dropped to 25% in 2012. I was diagnosed with IgA nephropathy when I was 13 – a kidney disorder that occurs when IgA, a protein that normally helps the body fight infection, settles in the kidneys. Throughout my teens, I had coped quite well, and had only had the occasional flare-up. But I knew I was heading towards renal failure, and it was terrifying. Spending loads of time at the gym, I was determined to lose weight and keep healthy. The steroids caused massive water retention and it really affected my self-confidence, and I believed…

Verdict: GENIUS! Brick by brick Flower Bouquet, £54.99, LEGO What if you could keep a bunch of flowers in your home forever? If you are looking for something intricate to get your hands on and you want to display a bouquet that will never wilt, treat yourself to this LEGO set. Using bricks made from recycled plants rather than plastic, display this set on your coffee table all year long. The set also makes an amazing gift for flower lovers and LEGO super fans alike. Verdict: BONKERS! Ships ahoy! World record LEGO brick ship. Stepping on a Lego brick has got to be up there with one of the most painful accidents, but what about putting together over 2 million small LEGO bricks?! That’s exactly what cruise ship company Dream Cruises completed…

Setting up the camera, 18-year-old Sabrina Nguyen got ready to film another video. With dreams of becoming a YouTube sensation, the teen would spend hours creating content for her channel. In her videos, one thing was clear – Sabrina had a zest for life. She loved her family and her friends. She loved entertaining in her Memphis home and just wanted to make people smile. Sabrina was always caring and compassionate – she was known to give the homeless money whenever she walked past them without a second thought. Coming from a large family, she was loved and adored by all who knew her. Her brother Jimmy described her as ‘the life of the party’ and that much was clear from her regular videos. However, behind that smile and away…

STAR LETTER 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 details.…

Blaring from the speakers, the familiar words of Queen filled the living room. ‘We are the champions,’ Freddie Mercury cried at full blast. ‘And we’ll keep on fighting to the end,’ my son William, then seven, screamed. His dad Mick, now 49, joining in on the next line. It was a familiar scene in our household – William just loved Queen. And for me, it was the perfect sight to see. Being diagnosed with polycystic ovaries at 18, I grew up thinking that I’d never be a mum. That was until I met Mick in 2005. Quickly kindling our relationship, I found out that I was three months pregnant a year later. Then, on 23 April 2007, at Salisbury District Hospital, our little boy William was born at 5.25pm. Holding…

Cathy Press has been working as a therapist and clinical supervisor for over 25 years. She specialises in relationships, what makes a healthy one and what are the red flags to spot in a toxic one, gas lighting, bread crumbing, and parenting issues – the list goes on! Please visit: cathypress.co.uk Should I stay or should I go? Q After saving for a year, me and my partner have decided to travel Europe together. However, we have been arguing non-stop recently and I don’t think I can spend the next six months in his company. I'm considering calling the trip quits. Shall I? Libbie, Newcastle A What a difficult dilemma you face! There is a wonderful saying, ‘life is what happens when you are busy making plans’. You are looking…

INSTANT appointment With Dr Deborah Lee, from Dr Fox Online Pharmacy (doctorfox.co.uk) Weight gain Q My daughter has recently started uni. When she came home last, I noticed she’d gained a lot of weight. How can I encourage her to stay healthy? Sally, Dewsbury A Moving away from home and cooking for yourself for the first time is a big change in a young person’s life. At uni, she has a lot of new stresses, plus a low food budget. It’s easy to skip meals and fill up with the wrong foods. You need to be a good role model. Encourage her to shop and cook with you at home. Follow a healthy eating plan together. Help her to cook healthily but cheaply. Ramp up the exercise, too. Could she…

Firework special Remember, remember the 5th of November – but there is something else that we need to remember this time of year – our pets! John Burns, Founder of Burns Pet Nutrition, is here to explain the do’s and don’ts this time of year, so your pets have an enjoyable experience all round… How are animals affected? In the last four years, the RSPCA has received a total of 1,453 calls about fireworks and their effects on animals. Here’s are the key signs of anxiety in dogs or cats: Anxious dogs Anxious cats Are cats bothered by bonfires? Although most of us think that cats are pretty much unbothered by most things, short of seeking world domination and getting their next…

Curled up on the sofa, I was sipping on a glass of red when the doorbell rang. Jumping up, I ran to answer it. ‘Thanks,’ I smiled, taking a hot box from the delivery man. Heading to the sofa, I opened up my Domino’s Pepperoni Passion pizza and breathed in the meaty, cheesy scent. Delicious, I thought, licking my lips as I picked up a slice. Before I knew it, I’d devoured the whole lot, washed down with my red wine. Some people might think a large pizza is a lot in one sitting, but for me it was the norm. I loved my food, and my weakness was savoury – pizza, sausage rolls, cheese… My mouth watered just thinking about it. But over the years, it had seen me…

100 YEARS OF BEAUTY Iris Apfel is a beauty icon and proves that you’re never too old to enjoy yourself. That’s why she’s partnered with Ciaté London to share her priceless beauty wisdom. The queen of eclectic style and self-expression has channeled a century of insight into her first ever cosmetic collection – Ciaté London x Iris Apfel. ‘For Available from Ciaté London. the creatives, the routine-lovers and the daredevils, this collection combines everything I have come to love about beauty over my 100 years,’ Iris Apfel 1. THE CHEAT SHEETS NAIL WRAPS, £13 The best-selling Cheat Sheets Nail Wraps have had an Iris Apfel glow-up with clashes, pops of colour and bold, beautiful prints. 2. CREAMY GLOSS LIPSTICKS, £18 EACH Iris is synonymous with bold and eclectic lip colours.…

Either Side of the Pond – Bishop Auckland, County Durham Gather around with hot dogs, popcorn, chips, and fizzy drinks in hand as you wait for the North East’s biggest Pyromusical firework display. Taking place on Saturday 5 November, the magical, multisensory show will feature a UK vs US theme – and it’s sure to be a sell-out! Although there is over 8,000 tickets on offer, the show runs as a first come first serve basis, so it may be worth purchasing your tickets now. And if fireworks aren’t your thing, there are firepits scattered around the sight to give off an atmospheric glow – what are you waiting for? • Tickets at £6, visit: 11arches.com/tickets for more Fireworks Fiesta – Barry Island After being cancelled year on year due…

Catch Claire live on Facebook www.clairepetulengro.tv ARIES 21 March–20 April The Sun and Venus joined forces to show you how to live life to the full, but now you are worried what other people think. Stop and take a breath. Life for your sign is meant to be a daring adventure. It’s by not playing by the rules that you will find what’s meant to happen next. Be brave, be bold, be the Aries you were born to be. You’ve got this, keep on being you! Call: 09058 170 710* TAURUS 21 April–21 May Financial matters are highlighted and if you are thinking of getting a mortgage or changing your current one, then this is the week to do it. Those of you who want to rent or move can…

YOU’VE GOTTA PUSH Watching the boys sprint out of the school gates, arms swooping like superheroes, me and the other parents giggled. My son, Toby, and Logan had been friends since the second year of primary school. They stopped running and said their goodbyes. They would be superheroes again tomorrow. By the time Toby, eight, and Logan became friends, Logan’s mum Debs was sick. After suffering with endometriosis all her life, Debs was due a hysterectomy. But scans beforehand revealed she had bowel cancer. Debs underwent chemo and then surgery to remove the tumours. Sadly, her health declined. In September last year, she found out the cancer had spread to her bones and brain. It was devastating news. I never knew Debs that well. We had spoken a few times…