Table of contents for November 26, 2015 in Pick Me Up!

What A Splash! Me and my friend, Mike, recently tried our hands at taking command of a boat. The prosecco enjoyed on board left us feeling rather shipfaced, though! What A Cracker! It’s never too soon for a Christmas playlist in my house. I’m loving Kylie Christmas . Santa Claus is coming! 30 The age my best buddy, Jaki, recently turned. Here we are giving her the birthday bumps, before a night on the tiles! What A Laugh! I couldn’t stop giggling at the name Plopsaland when I saw this sign in Belgium. For more hilarious places, go to lifedeathprizes.com  and search ‘rudest place names’. What A Treemendous Idea! While walking through the woods, I came across this fairy house nestled at the bottom of…

You find love in the most unlikely places. That’s what happened when I met Marcus Peers, then 21, at a bus stop. I’d recently moved house and was unfamiliar with the bus routes. Reading the map, a man with a friendly smile approached me. ‘Need a hand?’ he offered, showing me the way. Then he waited with me for the bus. ‘I’m Marcus,’ he smiled. He lived locally and was a painter and decorator. When my bus pulled up 10 minutes later, he asked to swap numbers. A pimple ‘Text me when you get home so I know you’re safe,’ he winked. Such a gent. After that, Marcus and I began texting and meeting up. Soon we were inseparable. ‘He’s my soulmate,’ I told my mum, Tracey, 44. A year…

Looking at my tot Bethany’s arms, I felt a mix of sadness and terror. She’d been up all night, itching and scratching. So much so, her arms were completely shredded. Her eczema had flared up badly. Again. Since she’d been a baby, Bethany, now 6, had suffered badly from the painful skin condition. It left the skin on both her arms covered in patches and looking raw. Though I tried to distract her from scratching during the day, at night she’d do it without realising, which made the eczema worse. It also left her exhausted, as she’d get very little sleep, then wake up screaming in agony. I took her back and forth to the doctor, but, as she was so young, all they could prescribe was an emollient cream…

It got to the stage where I couldn’t ignore it any more. Balance problems, cramping in my muscles, tingling in my fingers and toes. And I had a lack of feeling in my fingertips sometimes, and no reflexes in my joints. So, three years ago, when I was just 24, my GP referred me to a neurologist at Southend University Hospital. There I had the devastating news broken to me. ‘You have Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT),’ the doctor confirmed. My late father had suffered badly with the progressive genetic condition, which damages the nerves and renders you disabled. By his mid-40s, he was unable to walk, and he struggled to do things like hold cutlery. He kept a brave face, but it was distressing to see him suffer like that. Though…

Opening the oven, the scent of freshly baked biscuits filled the air. It wasn’t long before I heard a pitter-patter of feet on the kitchen floor. My taste tester had arrived. Looking down at his eager little face, I couldn’t resist it. ‘OK, just one treat. You don’t want to spoil your appetite,’ I laughed, handing him a biscuit. Panting and wagging his tail, he soon scoffed the lot. Minty, my chocolate Labrador, really loved my baked treats - and biscuits were his real favourite. But these were no ordinary biccies - they were bacon-and-cheese flavour. Made with dog-friendly ingredients, they were perfect for my discerning pup! When he wagged his tail for more, I knew they’d got his woof of approval. Hot cakes! It’s not just Minty who’s barking…

My mum always used to joke, if I walked into a toyshop, I’d walk out with the broken toy. I’d feel sorry for it. The one that no-one else wanted. It’s a feeling that came with me into adulthood. As a gay woman, I’d long decided that adoption was the best option for me and my partner, Jo, to become parents. Then, when we were on holiday in Gran Canaria in 2004, I was sunbathing by the pool when it hit me. I didn’t want a perfect baby. Unadoptable babies spend their lives feeling abandoned. ‘I want to adopt a child who has special needs,’ I said. The call Jo was a little apprehensive, but supportive. Back home, I made the call to social services. I knew it was an…

TRIED & TESTED This week: Moisturising shower gel 1 Eucerin Replenishing Body Wash, £8, Boots Formulated for people with dry skin conditions, this contains only mild cleansing agents so as not to remove any natural moisture. It left my skin feeling really nourished. 2 Weleda Almond Sensitive Skin Body Wash, £7.95, www.feelunique.com This is a soap-free formula that contains organic almond oil to replenish dry skin. I’d recommend this for anyone with sensitive skin. 3 Carex Gentle Moisture Shower Cream, £2.19, Superdrug Lathers well, while its natural blend of cleansers protects the skin’s natural barrier and locks in moisture. ASK JESS Q I’ve heard about eyelash enhancers that help your eyelashes grow long and thick. Can you recommend one? Kelly Ellerby, 28, Lincoln A Try Mavala Eye-Lite Double…

I Scooped £3,565 In Two Jackpot Wins! Twice the excitement! Back in 2012, a friend told me about winning on Pick Me Up! Bingo online. So I signed up - and I’d won some nice amounts, too. One Friday, I noticed on my laptop that Pick Me Up! Bingo had sent me £5 to play with! I logged in and bought 60 10p tickets for the brilliant Bejeweled Bingo game. My numbers came up quickly -and, soon, I’d filled two lines and won £565! But the game continued, and my numbers were dabbed off. Minutes later, I’d won the £2,000 jackpot! ‘You won’t believe this,’ I phoned and told my husband, who was out that night. Later, we discussed what we were going to do with the winnings. ‘Kitchen first!’…

My hubby, Steve, 46, is a champion water-skier. Although rubbish at it myself, I trained as an official timekeeper for events. And our daughters, Hannah, 16, and Lauren, 13, watched skiing competitions. Then in May 2013... ‘Can I have a go?’ Hannah asked. Competitive Lauren soon joined in. Both naturals, in June 2013, they won first prize in the Under 14s and Under 12s categories at the British Water Ski Championship, Cardiff. Ever since, we’ve travelled Europe to participate in various competitions. In April this year, Steve got a call from Robin Hanbury-Tenison, 79, who planned to become the oldest person to ski The English Channel. ‘Who’s the youngest?’ Lauren asked. Turned out, there was no record of a teenager achieving it. So Lauren accepted the challenge! On 29 August…

Frail mum Q My mum is 80 and frail. I sort her meals out every day to make sure she’s getting enough nutrition, but how else can I help keep her well in winter? Emma, Chester A The cold can increase the risk of heart attacks, flu, depression, chest infections and other health problems, so if you’re caring for someone of over 65 or who’s vulnerable, make sure you keep the temperature of their home at 18C or above, day and night. Winter snuffles Q My 5-year-old girl’s nose runs all winter. Is something wrong with her immune system? Natasha, Leeds A The average child gets five to seven colds over the winter season, so it sounds as if she’s doing well to fight the infections with only a runny…

‘I felt no regret, none,’ Miranda Barbour told the police. Not for the 22 men she claimed she’d murdered. And not for the one police knew, beyond doubt, she had. Miranda was 19 when, a few months before in November 2013, she stabbed a man to death in the passenger seat of her Honda CRV. She and her young husband, Elytte, 22, met Troy LaFerrara online through the Internet classified ads site, Craigslist. Miranda offered to have sex with Troy for $100, and arranged to meet him in Susquehanna Valley Shopping Mall’s car park, a short drive from her home in Hummels Wharf, Pennsylvania. But as Troy, 42, climbed into Miranda’s car, Elytte jumped out from his hiding place under a blanket on the back seat and threw a cord…

Cherry Berry Cheesecake Serves: 8-10 Prep Time: 40 min + chilling 1 Mix melted butter with biscuit crumbs. Tip into a 20cm loose-based cake tin and press in an even layer over base. Chill for at least 20 min. 2 Put gelatine leaves into a bowl and cover with cold water. Leave to soak 5 min. 3 Beat together soft cheese, condensed milk, lemon zest and lemon juice. Remove gelatine leaves from water and transfer to a small saucepan. 4 Heat very gently until just melted, then add to cheese mixture, stirring well. Pour over biscuit base, then cover and chill for 2-3 hr. 5 Remove set cheesecake from tin, and spoon fruit filling over top to serve. Find more recipes at:…

Arriving at my friend Naomi’s flat, I flung my arms around her. ‘Good to see you!’ I said. Naomi, 21, and I had been friends for years, but recently she’d moved to Newcastle to study at university. So me and a few mates had arranged to visit her for the weekend in October last year. We kick-started our reunion at a local bar. ‘Let’s go to a club,’ someone said, a few glasses of wine later. We weren’t ready to call it a night yet. But most of the clubs were so busy, they’d stopped letting people in. Grabbed Eventually, at midnight, we found ourselves in a nightclub. It was crowded with clubbers, but we managed to get a spot on the dance floor next to the DJ booth. ‘This…

Food Swaps Save 56 cals 100-Calorie Gallery Flattering Fashion This cleverly cut jacket will give you the look of a nipped-in waist – and is a bargain. Pick it up with your groceries! Have You Tried? A vegetable spiralizer What is it? This smart gadget turns your veg into spirals or ribbons. Try courgette ribbons in place of tagliatelle or carrot spirals instead of spaghetti – and save loads of calories. Find out more? Lakeland Vegetable Spiralizer, £29.99, www.lakeland.co.uk THE SECRET OF MY SUCCESS NAME: Sarah Worrall, 36, from Birmingham. VITAL STATISTICS: I’d tried everything to control my weight but, after losing it, the weight would always come back on, plus more. By the time I reached 18½st, a size-22/24, my confidence had reached an all-time low, I…

As a child, I loved Tolkien’sThe Lord of The Rings, Enid Blyton’s The Magic Faraway Tree. Even as a grown-up, I wished I could swap my terrace in Sheffield for a fantasy hideaway. So I did! Luckily, my partner, Karl, 30, supported my scheme to move to the countryside. I put my career as a singer on hold, Karl quit his accountancy job - and, in June 2010, we bought a run-down, seven-acre farm. Now I could work on my plans to create a replica of the hobbit homeland, the Shire. We lived in caravans with our kids, Daisy, 16, Charlie, 14, Rosie, 4, Holly, 3, and Poppy, 1,while the work was done. I got planning permission, applied for grants to help funding. ‘Well done, my preciouss...’ joked Karl, quoting…

SCORPIO 24 Oct–22 Nov A lack of energy may make it hard for you to get much work done. It’s not that your brain is slow – it’s actually your body that doesn’t seem to have the strength you usually show. Distancing yourself from negative people changes this. Call: 09058 170 717* SAGITTARIUS 23 Nov–21 Dec Careful of lying to a loved one about money issues. They know far more than you could imagine, and may begin to think that you’ve lied about other issues that affect your life together. Pisceans provide the best invites for the weekend. Call: 09058 170 718* CAPRICORN 22 Dec–20 Jan You’re going to find it hard to fight the Stars as they decide to throw you into the path of an admirer who doesn’t…

I could hear his voice almost as soon as I arrived at the party. It was May last year, and some mates and I had been invited to a do by another partygoer. And, inside, I saw straightaway whose party it was. Aly Donzo was holding court over a group of guys in the living room. I didn’t know Aly - I’d just seen him at a club we went to. Horrific He was one of those blokes who everyone was aware off. He fancied himself a big shot, always dressing in fancy, bright clothes, and posting pictures online posed next to celebs. I ignored his boasting, and began to enjoy the party. Later, though, Aly was there when I came out the loo. I froze. Something about the way…

My smiling face, and the scars on my chest, bear one message... Cancer – you lose! I’ve taken back control. See, breast cancer’s had a vice-like grip over my mum’s side of our family for as long as I can remember. Two of my great-aunts, and even my great-uncle, died of breast cancer. My mum, Angela Keeney, 58, is one of five sisters. She saw three of them - Catherine, Josephine and Sadie - all diagnosed with it. Sadly, Catherine and Josephine have since lost their battles, while Sadie is, thankfully, in remission. When Mum rang me after receiving a mammogram result in September 2007, I knew before she’d uttered the words... She had breast cancer. ‘I’m here for you,’ I told her. But, inside, it felt like my world…

Irritable Bowel Syndrome 1 IBS is a common, chronic condition. True False 2 Stomach pain and cramps are symptoms. True False 3 It’s diagnosed using a blood test. True False 4 There’s no way of treating it. True False 1 TRUE IBS is a common, long-term condition of the digestive system, affecting one in five people at some point in their lives. It’s twice as common in men than it is in women. 2 TRUE Other symptoms include alternating bouts of diarrhoea and constipation, bloating, wind and a feeling of incomplete emptying of the bowels. 3 FALSE Blood tests can rule out other conditions, but diagnosis of IBS is based on your symptoms and how long you’ve had them for. 4 FALSE IBS can often be managed with exercise, dietary…

1 Morrisons Minestrone Soup, 400g Plenty of vegetables give this a great flavour, plus little pieces of thin spaghetti help fill you up. Tasty, filling – and what a bargain! 2 Baxters Vegetarian Minestrone With Wholemeal Pasta, 400g Big chunks of all sorts of vegetables, plus little pasta shells, make this a very tasty, tomato-based soup. Lovely, fresh flavour. 3 Heinz Minestrone Soup, 400g You’ll find peas, potato, peppers and carrots along with short lengths of pasta in this peppery-flavour tomato soup. Rich and satisfying, it’s simply the best!…

Good Boy Dog Advent Calendar, £3, Tesco A great gift for pampered pooches, this advent calendar has 24 tasty and dog-friendly choccie treats hidden inside. They just might need a little help opening the doors! Verdict: BONKERS! Dog lovers will want one, though! Ultimo Sidehook Bra, £35, www.ultimo.co.uk Designed to create a clean line and smooth silhouette under your clothes, this bra is also a godsend for those who struggle to do theirs up at the back! Verdict: GENIUS! A great idea! Iluminage Beauty Skin Rejuvenating Pillowcase, £49.99, www.currentbody.com Made from fabric that’s derived from pure mineral copper, this luxury pillow is said to help boost collagen in your skin and minimise the signs of ageing while you sleep. Verdict: GENIUS! Could this be the new…

Watching on as my kids splashed around in the swimming pool, I sat back and relaxed. ‘This is wonderful,’ I sighed happily to my partner, Russell, 30. We were on holiday in Skegness,Lincolnshire, with our six littl’uns - Heather, 8, Callum, 7, Tyler, 6, Oscar, 4, and our twins Ruby and Scarlet, 1. We took them to Skegness every year for a weekend of activities. But this year we’d treated them to two full weeks. All thanks to Pick Me Up! Bingo. I’d been a member since December last year. ‘It’s great fun,’ friends had said - and they were right. I loved the bingo chat rooms. They were a brilliant wayof making new friends, swapping tips for the games. My favourite room was Sapphire. One evening in May this…

Speak in private. Discuss if they’ve ever experienced or witnessed any type of bullying. Be patient, calm and understanding. Listen to what your child is telling you. Reassure them. Make it clear the bullying isn’t their fault, and praise them for being brave enough to confide in you. Assure them that now you know, issues can be resolved. Give support and trust. Let your child know that you’ll need to take action, but come to an agreed plan of what you’ll do together. Don’t respond aggressively. Storming into school will be the reaction your child has been dreading, and often makes bullying worse. Don’t promote retaliation. Telling a child to fight back won’t solve any issue, just promote a cycle of bullying. For more info, see www.…

Idly sitting at my desk at 8am one Monday, Ireached for anotherbiccie… All gone! I’d wolfed the entire lot. Mortified, I signed up to the Weight Watchers website there and then. After I had my son, Alexander, 13, I’d gone from size-12 to size -22. It was March 2011, and Biscuitgate pushed my bulky butt over the edge. That night, I stepped on the scales and gasped. Weighing 18st at 6ft tall, I wasn’t overweight – I was obese! Horrified, I cut back on portions, tracked meals online. As for biscuits, I was shocked into cutting them out completely. A year on, in March 2012, I’d dropped to a size-16 and 15½st ‘Come to my gym,’ said my older sis, Annette, 49. She’d asked before but now I felt confident…

Staring down at the two blue lines - I was finally going to be a mum! It was September last year and my partner, Marc, 27, and I had been trying for a few months, after I’d miscarried in March. This time, things looked more positive. Thankfully, at my midwife appointments, it looked as if all was going well, and I excitedly told friends and family. And, at my 20-week scan, we found out we were having a girl. On 8 January, I went to my job as a cook in a care home. It was just like any other day. But, heading to the loo, I noticed a bloody discharge. Shaking, I took my boss aside, told her what I’d found. ‘I’ll call you an ambulance,’ she said, hearing…

I signed up to Quidco back in October 2008. Being a web designer, I try to keep up with all the latest websites, and I love a bargain, too. So when I came across Quidco and saw the amazing range of earnings available, I was soon hooked! One of the first things that I did was to buy a new computer through Quidco. I really couldn’t believe how much money I earned - it was a whopping £61! So I did the house insurance, too, and bought loads of toys for the kids. My biggest amount of cashback so far was £100 when I switched to a Sky TV package through Quidco. And recently I got £100 cashback on a SIMonly mobile-phone deal - and another £50 on a phone…