Table of contents for 21-Jan-2016 in Pick Me Up!

12 That’s the number of weeks I’ve been doing yoga now. After an hour of bending and stretching into funny positions, my favourite part is listening to the calming music at the end of the class…bliss! What A Lunch! In my opinion, you can’t beat a good BLT! Apparently, your favourite sarnie can reveal a lot about your personality. Find out yours – see www. lifedeathprizes.com  and search ‘sandwich’. What A Night! Me, my brother and sister are competing in our very own Couples Come Dine With Me with our partners. What A Cutie! My boyfriend’s nieces, Rae and Bo, couldn’t be more thrilled with their new puppy, Yogi. I met him recently and wanted to steal him! I’m sure the three…

Pseudomyxoma peritonei. It sounded Greek. It sounded complicated. And it sounded terrifying. ‘I’ve no idea what it even means,’ I said to the doctor. Over the past few months, Googling my symptoms, I’d thought I’d had everything. Gluten intolerance, IBS, appendicitis, Crohn’s disease. But never this. Pseudomyxoma peritonei. ‘In other words, cancer,’ the doctor said. It was the one thing I’d never expected. It was December 2013. For the last few months, I’d felt bloated pretty much constantly. ‘I must have some sort of food intolerance,’ I said to my husband, James, 28. At first, I blamed bread. Well, I’d heard too much of it can swell you up something rotten. But cutting it out made no difference. There was the odd, sharp pain, too. Another symptom of food intolerance.…

‘Addictions can start so quickly and escalate. Izzy should be proud for turning her life around. I bet it wasn’t easy to admit her addiction and speak to people about it. That took a lot of guts!’ Lorna Young, 41, Isle of Mull ‘You wouldn’t think that something that started out so harmlessly could affect somebody so negatively. Izzy did well getting back on track and not burying her head in the sand.’ Kelly Imrie, 33 Hurlford ‘It’s a shame Izzy felt she had to go away to get help and didn’t seek it here. Sounds like her family have been a great support and her story may help others in similar situations.’ Melanie Lodge, 50, W Yorks…

Stopping antibiotics QI was getting frequent urinary infections until my GP put me on a low-dose antibiotic at night. It’s working, but I’m worried about being on antibiotics forever. Philippa, North London A There’s no benefit in continuing antibiotics beyond six months, so if it’s been that long, you can stop taking them. Your UTIs may be under control now, but see your GP if they recur. Jet-lag concerns Q I’m starting a new job which involves a lot of international travel. I’m excited, but I’m worried about jet lag. What can I do? Tonya, Manchester A Jet lag occurs if your destination is three hours or more in time difference. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, try to shift your sleep patterns a couple of days before leaving, and start with…

Beetroot Brownies Makes: 16 Prep Time: 15 min Cook Time: 35 min 1 Preheat oven to 180C/Gas 4 and grease and line a rectangular baking tray with baking paper. 2 Microwave butter and chocolate in a large bowl for 2 min. Mix until smooth and allow to cool. In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs and sugar. 3 Beat egg mixture into cooled chocolate and butter, then mix in beetroot. Fold in flour and salt, and pour into baking tray. 4 Bake for 30-35 min, until firm and crisp on top and soft in middle. Cool for 5 min, then cut into squares, dust with icing sugar and serve. Find more recipes at: www.haywardspickles.co.uk What To Eat Now Kale At…

The Internet is full of tragedy. Blogs documenting harrowing tales of battles against the odds. Stories of disease, injury, crime, horrific accidents, ravaging cancer treatments and death. Misery heaped upon misery and shared with the world on social media. They’re heart-rending, yet for those suffering similar hardships, they can provide valuable support. But some are lies. Stories made up purely to tug on our heartstrings, garner sympathy and attention. Faking disease in return for online fame is now so common, it’s considered by psychiatrists as a recognised medical condition: Munchausen by Internet. While Munchausen syndrome requires sufferers to physically act out symptoms, this modern form only requires online hoaxers to describe them convincingly. Also known as ‘death bloggers’, scammers join online support groups and even dish out advice to fellow…

Wait for the green man to flash, look both ways before crossing... I’d taught all six of my kids about road safety at an early age. So, when my youngest, Ryan, 7, asked to play outside with his friend one afternoon last September, I wasn’t worried. We’d just got home from the dentist and Ryan had been on his best behaviour, so I agreed. ‘Dinner will be ready soon,’ I reminded him. He promised to stay close by. We lived in a safe neighbourhood, so I knew he’d be OK. Besides, Ryan was sensible, he wouldn’t do anything stupid. But, 10 minutes later, the doorbell rang. It was Ryan’s friend, out of breath and looking panicked. ‘Ryan’s hurt,’ he panted. I quickly called out to my husband, Frank, 52, to…

The first time your child rides a bike is a milestone. But when our son, TJ, now 7, was born with amniotic band syndrome, me and my hubby, Jamie, 29, never expected to see that day. In the womb, TJ’s right hand had become entangled in the amniotic bands, hindering its development, so it was left closed like a fist. Surgery at 8 weeks old had opened it a little, but it was a big handicap. Although TJ didn’t think so! As a tot, he was so good on his toddler’s balance bike, he wanted a proper one. His natural talent was so clear. Soon, he wanted to enter competitions. ‘You can do anything you set your mind to,’ Jamie told him.TJ wasted no time in proving his dad right,…

CAPRICORN 22 Dec–20 Jan You can afford to trust your instincts for once – and you finally start to see sense and understand just why a close one acted as they did. Fellow Capricorns bring along fun social times and light relief. Call: 09058 170 719* AQUARIUS 21 Jan–19 Feb Personal issues got on top of you earlier this year, but you now start to see why people did the things that led to so many tears and tantrums. Enjoying time with older faces can reveal an important secret… Call: 09058 170 720* PISCES 20 Feb–20 March I can see how far you’ve come in recent months, but you still seem intent on setting impossible standards for yourself – and for one close one in particular. Events on Friday put…

Little chef I’m 78 – and can say, without a doubt, the best pizza I’ve ever had was made by my granddaughter Amelia – and she’s only 4! Carole Taylor, Leeds Cooking up a storm Who needs domestic goddess Nigella? I’ve got my very own kitchen deity – my happy hubby, Richard! Karen Hill, Wolverhampton Deep blue sea! This is my cousin, Amie, 23, just chilling on our Bahamas holiday! Abby George, Overton Jolly giant He’s a handful! My friend, Danny, 23, didn’t realise her Labradoodle, Persie, would grow so big! Gill Hughes, Broxbourne Sign language Can’t figure out what this means – don’t play a trumpet within 10 miles of a squirrel?! Angela Laird, Wirral High flyers The world’s so different upside down! That’s me on the right, with…

Drew was 3 days old when myself and husband, Andy brought him home from hospital. At 6lb 3oz, he was tiny and looked so pale. He’d had trouble feeding when he was born, and his body temperature kept dropping so doctors had kept him in. I’d known something wasn’t right the minute he was born in November 2010. He was silent, unlike his big sis, who’d screamed the place down! Now he was allowed home, Lexie, 7, couldn’t wait to hold him. ‘Hello!’ she squealed, as we walked through the door. My parents, Viv, 73, and John, 76, had been looking after her while we were in hospital. It was a relief to be together as a family. But as the weeks went on, Drew got weaker and his face…

Sinusitus 1 This is a common condition. 2 Symptoms include a yellow discharge from the nose. 3 There’s no cure for acute sinusitis. 4 It isn’t a long-term complaint. 1 TRUE Sinusitus often occurs after cold and flu viruses spread to the sinuses, the small, air-filled cavities behind your cheekbones and forehead, making them inflamed and blocked. 2 TRUE Other symptoms include facial pain, especially around the cheeks, eyes and forehead, a blocked nose, headache, tiredness, halitosis and a reduced sense of smell. 3 FALSE It can be bacterial, so antibiotics can be helpful if it persists. In acute viral sinusitis, symptoms will usually get better on their own within 2-3 weeks. 4 FALSE Some people can have recurring bouts, known as chronic sinusitis. You may need to be referred…

I work as a mental-health nursing lecturer and live with my partner, John. I signed up for Quidco two-and-a-half years ago, after hearing about it from a friend. I thought it seemed like such a good idea. It’d certainly help me out, and let me have some extra treats along the way, too. I’ve always been a big online shopper. I find that it’s so much more convenient for me, and also means that I don’t have to trawl round town every weekend. So, why not get some extra pennies in the process by signing up to Quidco? I started noticing the benefits of using Quidco straightaway, especially when I had to pay for things like utilities and insurance. The biggest amount I earned in one go was £120 cashback…

1 Aunt Bessie’s Jam Roly Poly, 300g A small rolled pudding with a biscuit flavour and a great jam filling. It looks small, but it’s surprisingly filling and will easily feed 3-4. 2 Tesco Jam Roly Poly, 460g Hungry? This pud has four huge portions of a fairly light, rolled, spongelike cake with masses of jam…and it tastes just like a hot jam tart! 3 Sainsbury’s Jam Roly Poly Pudding, 465g Four whirls of suet pastry with the perfect amount of gloriously sticky jam! Don’t eat straight from the oven as you will burn your tongue. Leave for 5 min before tucking in. Make it yourself... Serves: 4 Prep Time: 20 min Cook Time: 45 min 1 Preheat oven to 200C/ Gas 6.…

I was 11 years old when my mum, Rose, then 32, met Andrew Fulcher. ‘He’s a driving instructor and we’re dating,’ Mum said, introducing me to him not long afterwards. Andy slotted right into our little family. ‘Why don’t we go to Studland Beach for the day?’ he’d say, whisking us off to the seaside. Around a year later, in 1981, Mum and Andy married. They seemed so happy... We all were. But things quickly changed. Before long, Andy moved us from Frome in Somerset to Plymouth. It was tough for me making new friends - I felt isolated. Then Andy started acting strangely, too. He wasn’t friendly any more. And some days, he ignored me completely. It was like I didn’t exist. Until, one day, I was in the…

Solidea microMassage Silver Wave Anti-Cellulite Shorts, £25, www.micromassage.co.uk These textured shorts are designed to massage your legs and bum while you go about your day to smooth lumps and bumps and reduce cellulite. Slip ’em on under your frock! Verdict: GENIUS! A godsend for plenty of us! Billion Dollar Brows Brow Buddy, £22, Boots This tool may look a little scary, but it’s designed to help you create symmetrical eyebrows at home. Simply use it to see where your brows should start, arch and end, and mark this with the white pencil provided, before plucking. Verdict: GENIUS! A brilliant beauty tool. Rollie Egg-On-A-Stick Cooker, £29.99, www.firebox.com This gadget takes cooking eggs to a whole new level! Just give the machine a spritz of oil, add raw…

My friend, Sian, didn’t look sure. ‘Do you really want to do this?’ she asked. ‘Really,’ I nodded. ‘It’s only hair.’ She took a deep breath and switched on the electric razor. But as my hair fell from my head to the floor, I realised this wasn’t just about hair - it was about me. I’ve been pulling out my hair since I was 10 - I don’t remember how it started. ‘You’ll have no hair left,’ my mum, Karen, now 52, told me. Watching telly, in the car, doing my homework - my hands would wander up to my head. There were thick tangles of my long, dark hair all over the place. On the settee, the carpets. It must’ve driven Mum to distraction. She made me wear my…

‘ ’m quitting booze for a year!’ I declared my hubby, Wayne, 41. ‘Yeah, right!’ I scoffed. He’d quit alcohol for a month in January 2013, raising money for Cancer Research UK’s Dryathlon. But, due to turn 42 on 27 November 2013, he planned another challenge. ‘I’ll never run a marathon,’ he chuckled, patting his beer belly. ‘So I’m going to be dry for a year instead.’ ‘A year?’ laughed his best mate, Richard. But Wayne was determined. Opening a Facebook page to track his progress, he set a £500 target. From 00.01am on his birthday that year, he was alcohol-free. Then, my girl, Wayne’s stepdaughter, Charlene, 24, fell pregnant in March 2014. ‘We can be teetotal buddies!’ Wayne smiled. After 365 days, Wayne was gasping for a pint. And…

Tears poured down my face as I cradled my baby girl, Emon. Moments later, she peacefully passed away in my arms. ‘Mummy loves you,’ I cried. It was April 2005 and Emon Debonair was a month old. My partner, James Schofield, 26, and I had tried for two years before I’d fallen pregnant. Both of us came from big families and pictured a future with lots of kids. But I’d gone into labour at 24 weeks and Emon was born weighing a tiny 1lb 5oz. It was hell watching our little girl fight for life in an incubator. Yet Emon had gone from strength to strength. Until, at 4 weeks, she’d suddenly caught an infection, which led to septicaemia. ‘I’m sorry, there’s nothing more we can do,’ a doctor had…

slowly, he began to come round from his coma. ‘Do you know who I am?’ I asked him softly. ‘My girlfriend...’ he whispered. ‘Tammy.’ I froze. Tammy was Neill’s ex from years back. I knew he was confused, but it hurt nonetheless. ‘Tammy’s your ex-girlfriend,’ I reminded him. ‘I’m Claire.’ Neill nodded. But, the following day, he called me Tammy again. Still patchy Patiently, over and over, I reminded him who I was. But it was as if the recent past had been wiped from his memory. He remembered nothing of the fight, nothing about our home... Give him time , I told myself. Neill’s doctors explained he was paralysed, and the trauma to his head had affected his memory. He also needed facial surgery. ‘We’ll get through this together,’…

As far as teenagers go, I was pretty innocent. I had boyfriends, but I didn’t go further than kissing and didn’t lose my virginity until I was 19 years old. Three years later, single and living with Mum and Dad, I got chatting to a bloke in a bar. Six years older than me, at 28, he was charming and very good-looking. We became an item. We slept together days after we met, and two months on, in the bedroom one night, he just came out with it... ‘Shall we watch some porn tonight?’ he suggested. ‘It’ll get us in the mood.’ I wasn’t shocked, lots of people watched porn. He found a racy video online and we watched it while we had sex. It’s harmless, I thought. I moved…

That morning last July, I woke up next to my boyfriend, Billy, 23. Just like any other day, except... My vision was blurry, my limbs had seized up, I was sweating profusely. Worst of all was this crushing pain in my chest, like somebody was sitting on me. ‘I think it’s a panic attack,’ I gasped to Billy. But, 45 minutes on, I still had the pain in my chest, so Billy rang for an ambulance. When the paramedics came, they found my blood pressure was low, and an ECG showed I had an abnormal heart rhythm. I was rushed to St George’s Hospital in South London. Everything was a blur as I was taken for test after test. ‘You had a heart attack,’ a doctor told me. I was…

My mum and dad, Peter and Margaret, got the bad news when I was just 18 months old. I had the same liver condition as my big sister, Joanne. Cryptogenic cirrhosis. The same liver condition that’d killed her when she was just 7. It’s a rare illness which causes tumours to appear on the organ. Tests showed it was genetic. Growing up, things were tough for me. I was constantly rundown and exhausted, was always jaundiced and picking up infections. My stomach was swollen, too. Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, was like my second home. I was in and out having blood tests and scans, while my friends were playing sports, running around outside. Not a life any child should have. I outlived Joanne because her condition had been more severe. So,…

From huge discounts on clothes and beauty products to amazing deals on electronics and essentials for the home, we all know that January is the best time of year to bag a bargain! And if you love the New Year sales, then you’ll love Quidco – the UK’s number-one cashback website. • Quidco works with over 4,300 top brands, including all your online and high-street favourites, to ensure you get the value for money you deserve whenever you shop. • Let’s say for, example, that you know you want to buy online at Next. • Simply search for Next on Quidco and browse the available offers. When you’ve found one you like, click the offer link and make your purchase on the Next website as you would normally. Quidco tracks…

I lined the tiered bases of a cupcake tray with cut-offs of cardboard and created this pretty nail-polish holder. Evie White, Alfriston Place a slice of white bread over browned mince to absorb excess fat. Judith Cairns, Colchester Hang on to screw-top vitamin bottles – they’re great for storing small bits and bobs when travelling. Nicola Donnelly, Maghera Encourage your kids to draw pictures and cut out magazine photos to design their own travel posters. Here’s my daughter, Freya, 8, showing off the one she made after a trip to France! J Giblin, Penarth If your trainer soles have become a bit slippy, rub an old cheese grater along them and get back the grip! Ian Laird, Birkenhead An old toothbrush is the perfect tool for cleaning a clogged showerhead.…

Samantha’s won more than £2,600 in total! Samantha Hughes, 47, Leeds Me and my mum, Marlene, 78, have always loved playing bingo together. ‘Dabbers at the ready,’ we’d laugh as we settled into our seats at our local bingo hall. We had such fun playing together - and, if one of us won the jackpot, we’d always share our winnings. But, really, it wasn’t about winning - it was just a bit of fun. Then, three years ago, I started a new job and couldn’t go to the bingo halls as much. Mum was busy, too, with her friends, and going to the bingo hall wasn’t convenient. ‘You should try Pick Me Up! Bingo,’ a friend suggested. She explained I could play whenever I liked in the comfort of my…

TRIED & TESTED This week: Cherry lip balm 1 Blistex Intensive Moisturiser Cherry, £2.30, Boots I like a hard-working product, and this intense treatment really did the trick to soften my cracked, chapped lips. A must-have for winter! 2 I Love… Tinted Moisture Balm in Dark Cherry, £2.99, www.ilovecosmetics.eu This one was a little more like a lip crayon than a balm, but left my lips feeling velvety soft with a nice wash of colour. 3 Balmi Metallic Lip Balm in Cherry, £4.99, Superdrug The cone shape made this so easy to apply on the go, the flavour’s delicious – and it looks amazing in my handbag! READER’S TIP Soften your skin by adding a handful of oats to your bathwater. Rita Rogers, 69, Crewe ASK JESS QI…

Our Shih Tzu, Alfie, has always been a cheeky character, sneaking a tasty treat whenever he could. But last summer, he bit off a little more than he could chew... Sitting in our living room one day, I heard a scream. ‘Alfie!’ my mum, Maria, 53, yelled from the bathroom. ‘What’s wrong?’ I asked her, running in. Alfie, then 18-months, had been with Mum as she’d cleaned the bathroom, and he’d wandered over to a packet of sponges. She turned round to see our peckish pooch scoffing one - whole! Scared, we rushed Alfie to Gateshead Pet Hospital, run by the PDSA charity. ‘We’re giving him injections to make him sick,’ said the veterinary nurse. ‘We need to get it out.’ Twenty minutes later, we were told the sponge had…

Claire-Louise put her trust in a 'do-gooder’ Claire-Louise O’Brien, 35, Cardiff From the moment he was born in February 2010, my little lad, Dylan, was always in and out of hospital. He suffered from numerous problems, including a curved spine, difficulty putting on weight, constant vomiting and developmental delay. Despite his problems, though, Dylan was a happy, charming boy. His dad, Michael, 48, and I were struggling to get a diagnosis for him, but the consultant could only say that he had a genetic condition. On 14 June 2012, Dylan, 2, was struggling to sleep. Though I’d tried reading to him and rocking him, it was gone 3am when he finally settled with me in our bed. But, checking on him next morning, my heart lurched. Dylan wasn’t breathing. ‘Michael!’…