Table of contents for 05-Oct-2017 in Pick Me Up!

James Hanman, Writer What A Movie! My girlfriend and I watched Downton Abbey’s Dan Stevens (right) in The Guest. If bloody violence is your thing, this is definitely the film for you. Guns galore! 23 …that’s the height in inches of 21-year-old Manpreet Singh. He’s worshipped by locals as a reincarnated Hindu god. See lifedeathprizes.com/smallest-man What A View! While visiting Edinburgh, I stopped off in Leith, where Trainspotting is set. It’s much prettier and friendlier than the movies let on! What A Cutie! My friend’s new kitten, Vincent, tried his best to slash my hands to ribbons when we met for the first time this week. He’s as adorable as he’s playful! Bit blandÉ What A Sweet Tooth! The fact this lollipop isn’t real didn’t stop my girlfriend Charlotte from trying to eat it!…

Zoe Buxton, 26, County Antrim Admiring my reflection in the mirror, I turned to my twin sister Lucy, 26, and smiled. ‘You look lovely!’ she gushed. We were getting ready to go out for dinner. ‘Can you do my hair?’ I called to my husband Mike, 29. Most women wouldn’t let their hubby anywhere near their hair. But I’m not like most women, and neither is Lucy… Baffling docs When we were 5, I broke my elbow jumping off the sofa. Mum Avril, now 53, and Dad Ian, 52, took me to A&E, where my arm was put in a cast. Six weeks later, my elbow had healed – but, when doctors removed my cast, I couldn’t straighten my arm. When I tried, I cried out in pain. Bone had…

The number: Multiply by 10 to get the total of income you can earn before tax. If your code is 1150L you can earn £11,500 before being taxed. BR: For a second job or a pension. All this income is taxed at the basic rate of 20%. DO: For a second job or pension. All this income is taxed at 40%. L: You get the basic personal allowance. M: Your spouse or civil partner has transferred some of their personal allowance to you. N: You’ve transferred some of your allowance to a spouse or partner. S: You’re being taxed at the Scottish rate. T: There are items in your code that need to be reviewed. W1 or M1 at the end: Standing for week 1 and month 1, these are…

Real-Life PLUS Trends, Info and Advice Keighley Miles, 32, Southend My husband Richard and I were so thrilled to greet our second son Leo on 23 February 2015. But at 5 hours old, he had a routine screening test for hearing, and showed no response. ‘It could be mucus,’ the doctor said. But I knew something wasn’t right. You see, I’m profoundly deaf as a result of a gene defect. I can read lips, and I wear a cochlear implant, a device that replaces the function of the damaged parts of the ears. Our first son Oliver, now 4, had passed his screening, but Leo hadn’t been as lucky. At Leo’s second screening, the following week, he still wasn’t responding… More tests showed Leo had bilateral severe sensorineural loss, meaning…

Kim McFarlane, 23, Dunfermline Jumping up to head the ball, I suddenly felt a searing pain in my nose. My face had accidentally collided with another player’s hand. Ouch! It was October 2014 – and, aged just 20, I was Captain of Dunfermline Athletic Ladies’ Football Club. Football was my passion, so an injury on the pitch was nothing new to me. But back home, my mum Tracey, 40, was concerned. ‘Your nose looks crooked,’ she said, advising me to get it checked out. Days later, an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist confirmed my nose was broken, and a week later I had corrective surgery. I returned in March 2015 for a second op, this time to help breathing through my nose. When I woke up, I desperately needed the…

Vanilla & Almond Plum Layer Cake Treat of the Week 66p per serving Serves: 10 Prep Time: 30 min Cook Time: 60 min □225g unsalted butter, softened, plus extra for greasing □150g golden caster sugar □2tsp vanilla-bean paste □2 medium eggs □220g self-raising flour □½tsp bicarbonate of soda □140g soured cream □2 large oranges, zest and juice □50g ground almonds □6tbsp apricot or peach conserve □200g apricots, plums or peaches, stoned and thickly sliced Frosting: □250g mascarpone cheese □1tbsp icing sugar □75g ricotta cheese □Frosted petals and flowers and fresh rosemary, to decorate 1 Preheat oven to 180C/ Gas 4, and grease and line a deep 20cm cake tin. 2 Cream 175g butter with sugar, ½ vanilla, eggs, flour and bicarb until fluffy. Fold in cream, zest and almonds. Spoon half…

Millie Osman, 22, Ipswich I was just 2 when my mum Tracy noticed I was off my food, tired and grouchy. ‘It’s just a bug,’ the GP reassured her. Only Mum’s instincts told her otherwise, and so when I began coming out in bruises, I was given some blood tests. ‘Millie has got leukaemia,’ a doctor said when the test results came in. Back in 1997, survival rates weren’t as good as today and my cancer was advanced. Doctors told my parents to prepare for the worst… Mum and my dad Murray were worried out of their mind as I was whisked into hospital and began treatment within 26 hours of being diagnosed. ‘You’ve got poorly blood and you need medicine to make you better,’ Mum told me. As a…

it was the end of the school year, 29 May 1971, and teenagers Pam Jackson and Cheryl Miller, both 17, planned to celebrate with their classmates. After visiting Cheryl’s grandma in hospital, the girls, from Alcester, South Dakota, met up with male friends. They planned to follow them to a local gravel pit for the party. But the girls never arrived. The boys said they thought Cheryl and Pam had been following them in Cheryl’s beige 1960 Studebaker Lark. But the boys had missed a turning. And, when they turned back, they could no longer see the Studebaker. When Cheryl and Pam didn’t arrive, the boys assumed they’d changed their minds. But the teenage girls were never seen again… Friends insisted they hadn’t been drinking, didn’t do drugs. Detectives conducted…

Take 3... Get Moving! 30 Day Fitness challenges Workout app, free, itunes & google Play this is a collection of simple 30-day exercise challenges, where you do a set number of exercises each day with rest days thrown in. the workouts increase in intensity slowly and day 30 will test anyone. Start off at the beginner level and work your way up to advanced. Try this…. ugly Sparkling Waters, 99p, holland & barrett No sugar, no sweetener, no calories – and nothing artificial, choose from lemon & lime, orange, triple berry or tropical flavours. Vitinni air Fryer, £59.99, alfresia.co.uk using 80% less fat than a traditional fryer, this clever gadget lets you enjoy the taste of fried food – with way fewer calories! Food Swaps Swap Jumbo SauSage roll 485 cal…

NIMA BINIAZ DANIEL LINCOLN Georgina Saville, 18, Southampton Revving the engine, my bike roared into life. Aged 16, I’d just got my provisional motorbike licence. As soon as I was old enough, I’d begged my mum Stephanie, 48, to let me have one. ‘They’re too dangerous,’ she’d said – but, finally, she’d given in. And now, whenever I wasn’t studying for my A-levels, I was out on my bike. My boyfriend had one, too, and we’d go on rides along the coast with a group of biker pals. In May last year, we planned to ride 60 miles to Weymouth. This time, though, I left my bike at home, as it wasn’t cut out for long journeys. ‘I’ll just go on the back of yours,’ I told my boyfriend. But,…

Jackie Scully, 35, Greenwich, London My heart sank. It was December 2013 and I’d found a lump in my right breast. But I barely had time to worry... Next day, my partner Duncan, now 35, proposed. I’d been waiting 13 years! I decided to deal with the lump, then look at venues, dresses... Referred to hospital for tests, Duncan was my rock. ‘It’s stage-three breast cancer,’ the doctor said. My world fell apart. Instead of planning my wedding, I was planning to lose my right boob. Or my life... I was receiving engagement and sympathy cards. In February 2014, my breast was removed and reconstructed. I also had my eggs frozen. In the April, I began chemo. My hair fell out and I felt ugly, miserable. So, sick of feeling sick, I…

Issue 40, 5 Oct 2017 Closing date for all entries: 11 Oct 2017 (three working days later for postal entries) Puzzle 1 Ed’s Test p3 Final answer Puzzle 2 Follow It! p8 Final answer Puzzle 3 Crack It! p22 Final answer Puzzle 4 Bitesize! p23 Final answer Puzzle 5 Cross It! p32 Final answer Puzzle 6 Sudoku! p32 Final answer Puzzle 7 Strike It! p46 Final answer Puzzle 8 Number Fit! p46 Final answer GOOD LUCK TO ALL OUR READERS! Pick Me Up!, published by Time Inc. (UK) Ltd, will collect your personal information solely to process your competition entry. We will not be using this issue’s competition entries to send you special offers or to pass on to third parties. 4 WAYS TO ENTER EASY TO ENTER ONLINE! ONLINE It’s free and only takes a moment to…

Your Best MOUTHWASH Tips 1 Drive out dandruff Rinse your hair with a mix of mouthwash and water if you’re suffering from dandruff. Billie Spooner, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk 2 Keep it clean Dunk your toothbrush in a cup of mouthwash before brushing to make sure that it’s clean and free of bathroom bacteria. Jodie Knight, Corwen 3 Poison ivy problem If you’ve come into contact with poison ivy, apply some mouthwash which will help relieve the inflammation and itchiness. Rebecca Handelson, North Tawton, Devon 4 Rest your feet Spent all day on your feet? Then soak them in a mixture of mouthwash and water to soften and refresh those tired tootsies Carmella Jordan, Derby Top Mum’s Tip! Don’t throw your old Yellow Pages away. Give it to your children so they can…

POORLY JENSON Laura Fox, 33, Norwich My partner Karl and I had always said we wanted a large family. And I’d just found out I was expecting again. We already had three boys of our own – Ryan, 15, Callum, 6, and Quinn, 4 – plus four kids from Karl’s previous relationship. But, by six months, I started getting a lot of pelvic pain. Relying on painkillers and crutches, by 37 weeks I was begging to be induced. Doctors agreed, so leaving the boys with grandparents, Karl and I went to hospital. I thought the worst was behind me. Wrong. When labour kicked in, the pain was horrendous. Miles worse than every other time. I was sobbing. Then a pain ripped through me. ‘I feel like my insides are being…

Dr Arabella Onslow has been a GP for 11 years and was Rosemary Conley’s Health Professional Slimmer of the Year in 2012 after losing 10st. Traffic asthma Q My daughter has asthma. When we drive to school in the mornings and we are sitting in a traffic jam she often starts coughing from the fumes. Will wearing a mask help her? Lisa, Ipswich A Pollution inside cars from traffic jams is a health risk, especially if you have the fan on or the windows open. Close the windows, increase the distance from the cars in front of you and only circulate the air inside the car. Sitting duck Q I work in an office and spend most of the day sitting. I exercise every morning and at the weekends, but…

Was it part of an elaborate disguise to conceal a dark past? In the space of four months in 1990, the bodies of three women were found dumped on the banks of a river. The killing of 26-year-old Yolanda Sapp, 34-year-old Nickie Lowe, and 38-yearold Kathleen Brisbois was the work of one person with an axe to grind. Each of them was found partially exposed and shot, their bodies discarded casually in the same area of Spokane, Washington. All three were prostitutes. With a serial killer on the loose, police scrambled to find the murderer, but all their leads led to dead ends. The case went cold – and, for years, the women’s families were left grieving. Meanwhile, 38-year-old Donna Perry was busily transforming her life – and her body.…

50p each 1Asda 2 Lemon cheesecakes, 2 x 100g There’s rather a lot of biscuit in these little puds – and the topping’s also fairly thick, which means there’s less room for the actual cheesecake in the centre. But for the price, these are great value. 67p each 2Sainsbury’s 3 Lemon Cheesecakes, 3 x 100g Almost our favourite – there was very little between this and the winner – and we loved the jelly-like, lemon-curd flavoured topping and lovely digestive crumbs at the bottom. 55p each 3Morrisons Lemon Cheesecakes, 3 x 100g Our winner, thanks to the really tangy lemon flavour – a tasty match for the creamy filling and crumbly biscuit base. What a treat! 24p per serving PLUS How to whip up your own at home! Make it yourself...…

Yvonne Mead, 64, Weymouth After dinner, I flicked the kettle on and asked my husband Barry, 64, if he wanted a cup of tea. He did – so I made us both one – but he was watching a programme that I wasn’t interested in – so I started playing around on my laptop. Soon I got chatting to my bingo pals in the chatroom of Pick Me Up! Bingo. I’d been a member for over 10 years. Sometimes I just logged in, for a little natter. The ‘roomies’ as they’re known, are such a lovely bunch. And there was always a laugh to be had in the chatrooms. Before long I was giggling away at something one of my friends had said. ‘The roomies are at it again!’ I…

A ‘cyclops’ goat, born in India in May, is worshipped by locals who believe it’s sacred. Quirky Collections Rubbers, stamps, marbles, we’ve all collected them over the years. But some people’s collections are a little stranger than others! UMBRELLA SLEEVES TOENAIL CLIPPINGS BELLYBUTTON FLUFF CHEWED NICOTINE GUM Prosperous PETS These lucky critters are in the money! 1. Millionaire moggy Wealthy British recluse Ben Rea once shared his mansion with 15 feline friends. The last surviving cat Blackie inherited £7m of Ben’s fortune in 1988. 2. Well-heeled hound German shepherd Gunther VI inherited his £90m fortune from his doggy dad Gunter III, sole beneficiary of his German owner Countess Karlotta Liebenstein. 3. Cash kitty Stray Tinker was taken in by an elderly lady who left him £100,000 – plus her £350,000…

28 September - 5 October 2017 ARIES 21 March–20 April leadership includes both strength and humility. Your sign is known as the born leader of the zodiac – but remember to consider others’ feelings this week. Many of the signs will be feeling a lot more sensitive than you actually realise. sincerity wins you loyalty. Call: 09058 170 710* TAURUS 21 April–21 May only you are the expert on your life – so pay close attention to your thoughts and feelings. You must focus on the ones you know are right for you. emotions are running very high in love. Be very careful not to say hurtful things that you don’t mean out of anger. Call: 09058 170 711* GEMINI 22 May–21 June the attitude of a lifetime isn’t very…

Pick Me Up! BIG STORY • Pervert preyed on chat-room teen • Sex at just 14, then blackmailed • Not his only young target Danielle Hall, 22 As a message pinged up on my computer screen, I felt familiar butterflies. Hey, gorgeous! How was your day? it read. It was from John Dodd, then 21. We’d been talking online for a couple of weeks in the chat room BearShare. He was a complete stranger, but we’d really hit it off. I was just 13, he was eight years older. But John was always there to listen to my problems. My parents had recently separated and I was finding it tough. You’ll be OK, things will get better, John reassured me. Quickly, our conversations moved to MSN messenger. Then we were…

OUR TOP TIP Make A Note! Bag yourself an exclusive 10% off everything at gettingpersonal. co.uk when you enter the code PICKMETEN at the checkout before 10 October. We’ve got our beady eyes on these amazing notebooks! SAVING OF THE WEEK Stay Virus Free Buy a desktop or laptop computer from ao.com before 12 October and you’ll receive a free one-year subscription to McAffee Livesafe virus protection software worth £79. Heaven Sent… Aero’s Heavenly Salted Caramel Mousse is the perfect size for sharing (but only if you want to)! Get your mitts on a tub for just £1.29 (normally £1.80) at Asda until 15 October. Nailed it! Treat yourself to two Essie nail polishes for only £6 (normally £8.99 each) at usc.co.uk Like we needed an excuse! OFFER OF THE WEEK Giftcard Reward…

Typhoid Fever 1 It’s caused by bacteria. □ True □ False 2 Incontinence is the main symptom. □ True □ False 3 It doesn’t require treatment. □ True □ False 4A vaccination is available. □ True □ False 1 TRUE The condition is a bacterial infection – usually picked up by consuming food or fluids contaminated with salmonella typhi bacteria. It is highly contagious. 2 FALSE Common symptoms include fever, headaches, sickness, stomach pain, muscle aches, constipation, diarrhoea, rashes, and loss of appetite. 3 FALSE If treated, the fever should improve within 3-5 days. If left untreated, the symptoms will worsen, and could lead to serious and potentially lifethreatening complications. 4 TRUE Typhoid can occur anywhere, but it is more common in areas with poor sanitation and limited clean water.…

Licki Brush, £24.99, firebox.com We’ve had lots of mad products in this column, but this is the weirdest yet! A synthetic tongue lets you ‘lick’ your puss in the way cats groom each other without a gob full of fur! Verdict: BONKERS! This is totally rid‘lick’ulous! Stayhold Boot Organisers, £24.99, velcro.co.uk If you’re sick of groceries flying around in the boot, we’ve got just the thing! This organiser sticks to the carpet of your boot and helps keep everything from eggs to plants firmly in place until you’ve got home! Verdict: GENIUS! There are straps to secure wine bottles, too! Jumbo Jelly Prosecco, £12, prezzybox.com Enjoy the taste of your favourite tipple, and completely avoid the hangover, by tucking into this giant proseccoshaped gummy! We want one on hand for…

Before making it big, Channing Tatum worked as a stripper! Spot The Amazing Genes! Reese Witherspoon with daughter Ava Phillippe, 18 Katie Holmes with daughter Suri Cruise, 11 Gordon Ramsay with son Jack, 17 Lisa Bonet with daughter Zoë Kravitz, 28 IF IT’S GOOD ENOUGH FOR THEM… We LOVE these ads fe aturing our fave sports stars... david Beckham – h&m usain Bolt – Virgin media mo farah – Quorn Bradley Wiggins – skoda serena Williams – Tempur-Pedic mattress Brownlee Brothers – Yorkshire Tea You What? These are by far the weirdest ever choices on Desert Island Discs A stuffed effigy of Michael Palin. 2Film director Alfred Hitchcock (1959) A continental railway timetable. 3 Children’s author Michael Morpurgo (2004) A water slide. 4 Comedian and TV personality Julian Clary (2005)…

£3,333 Just Like That Karen Carder, 45, Woking t his April, it was just after 10pm, and I was going to pick up our daughter, 17, from her chip-shop job. I had time before I had to leave, so I had a few games of Pick Me Up! Bingo. The site has so many great games and my favourite was Tiki, a 90-ball bingo game. I also enjoyed Diamond Bingo. I’d even had a big win on it in February 2015, when I’d scooped the £1,014 jackpot! I’d put the money towards driving lessons for our eldest daughter, 19, and spent the rest on bits for the house. Now, as I waited to pick up my daughter, I bought tickets for Tiki and let the games play out while I watched…

Ask jess Q I’ve tried using baby shampoo to wash my make-up brushes but I can never get them completely clean. I’m looking for an alternative but I don’t want to use something full of nasty chemicals. Laurie Younger, 31, Coventry A EcoTools Makeup Brush Shampoo, £5.99, Superdrug, works a treat to remove excess product, dirt and grime for brushes without damaging them. Allow your brushes to air-dry naturally after using for the best results. reAder’s tip Keep your nail polishes in the fridge to stop them from drying out. Sophie Smith, 58, Reading Pick Me Up!FOR LESS 3 for 2 on all Cantu hair products in Superdrug (until 17/10/2017) Want the perfect... SOFTER HANDS? Try one of these... Nourishing: Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Visibly Renew Elasti-Boost Hand Cream SPF 20 You’ll…

Kate Ovens, 23, Kennington, London The biggest burger I’d ever seen – at 4½lb – plus fries, it looked amazing. And I scoffed the lot in 12 minutes! I’ve always loved food – but at 19, I was a happy size-10. Then I saw US show Man v Food. Presenter Adam Richman, 43, attempted eating challenges. ‘I could do that,’ I breezed. So, in winter 2013, I took my first challenge – a 24oz beef burger in 20 minutes. And I did it! Some blokes who failed couldn’t believe it. Since then, I’ve tried 40 eating challenges, though sometimes the food wins… In November 2014, in Glasgow, I almost managed a 27in margarita pizza. But, in London this April, I scoffed a massive sarnie – chicken, cheese, beef, shrimp..! In…

DOGGY ’DO! Laura Schakosky, 48, Dallas, Texas when I spotted Jewel the Yorkshire Terrier in the classifieds, I knew she was for me. ‘First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes a dog,’ I laughed to my new husband John, 38. Cooing over her cute pictures online, it felt like fate. Jewel’s previous owners could no longer afford to look after her. But I was determined to give her a new home. So, in summer 2015, we bought Jewel for $450 (around £350). A bargain for this beauty! Collars & colours Soon, Jewel was curled up on my lap on the sofa. She fitted in straightaway with our Bengal cats Tango and Kisses. Home, sweet home. But it wasn’t long before we realised how heavy collars are for little dogs.…