Table of contents for 26-Apr-2018 in Pick Me Up!

I’d like to nominate my best friend Lauren Ford, 26. My beautiful best friend has been there for me through one of the hardest times in my life and I can’t thank her enough. We’ve been inseparable for seven years and she’s practically a sister to me. She’s stood by me through thick and thin and helps those around her. After a car accident and collapsing down the stairs, I was diagnosed with severe nerve damage. I couldn’t walk at all and was completely devastated. Lauren stood by me from day one, stayed with me on the day I was admitted to hospital and visited every day after that. She was my rock when I needed her to be. Her bubbly personality puts a smile on everybody’s face and I…

It’s not seedy, we’re all in love with each other… Approaching my hubby Buddy, I felt sick with nerves. What I was about to say would probably change our relationship forever... We’d been together since we were 18, got married in June 2010 and, that same year, our son Owen was born, followed by James, two years later. Our sex life was great, too. But I was falling for someone. My ex Lauren. I’d dated girls, as well as boys, before settling down and Lauren had got in touch with me on Facebook. She’d visited, got on really well with Buddy and the boys and she’d become a fixture in our lives. But the chemistry was still there and I had to admit to myself that I no longer saw…

We couldn’t have loved him any more. But would kids tease him? My baby bump was so big, you’d have thought I was carrying twins. ‘It’s all fluid,’ the sonographer said. ‘Your baby’s swimming around in there!’ ‘As long as he’s OK,’ I said. Soon after falling pregnant, I’d been diagnosed with polyhydramnios - meaning I had too much amniotic fluid. Thankfully, scans showed that although our baby was small, it was healthy. And it always had its legs crossed in scans, so we were kept guessing about the sex! The birth, in November 2010, was difficult, though. The baby got stuck, so I was rushed into hospital for an emergency Caesarean. At 4.30am, my partner Chris, then 22, was with me as they delivered our son and took him…

‘Come on number 59!’ I was cheering to myself Phyllis Elliot-Tingley, 63, Brighton It was last October and I was a having a night in by myself, which was rare. My husband David, 64, was waiting for his cab as he was going to see our local football team play. ‘Why don’t you play bingo?’ David suggested. I’d joined Pick Me Up! Bingo in January 2011, and mainly played with the friends I’d made in the chatrooms. At 7pm, I bought tickets for Bingo Lounge where you match up different game patterns to win. Hi, how are you? I typed to friends in the chatrooms. Then in the second game, I noticed I needed one more number. ‘Come on number 59!’ I was cheering to myself. I’d win a £2,150…

ARIES 21 March–20 April You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step. The dreams you have are only half of what you can really achieve. Saturn promises you that money you need. Try not to tell any tales on others this weekend or it’ll come back on you. Call: 09058 170 710* TAURUS 21 April–21 May You’ve been waiting for others to lift you up, but first you must put yourself somewhere they can see you! Time wasted on a certain person wasn’t actually wasted. You’ve learnt what you don’t want and that’s one of the most valuable lessons… Call: 09058 170 711* GEMINI 22 May–21 June A lack of confidence is stopping you from doing all the things you want to with your life.…

Since 1990, the number of women over 40 having babies has doubled to 15 in every 1,000. Twenty years ago, Britain had the dubious honour of being crowned the teen-pregnancy capital of Western Europe. Back then, in 1998, there were 47.1 pregnancies for every 1,000 women under 18 - a figure many felt was scandalous. Fast-forward to 2010, and that figure was continuing to rocket - as was social disapproval. Concerned, the Government launched a campaign to tackle the number of teen pregnancies. Sex education in schools was improved, and further health services offering contraception and family planning advice were funded. ‘ Teenage pregnancy ruins lives,’ cried the politicians, who emphasised the risks to the health of young mums and their babies, as well as the social impact, claiming teen…

Just look at my little scarecrow! All dressed up for World Book Day. Shelley Barrett, Sheffield There was something not quite right about this zebra at the zoo, but we couldn’t put our finger on it… Vivian Acheson, Rochester My daughter loved looking around this Roman amphitheatre in Amman, Jordan, on holiday recently. Rebecca Lunt, London Ashton loved his visit to the park this week. The swing is definitely his favourite – just look at that smile! Ellen Warren, West Midlands It’s not often we get to eat at the Savoy, but this evening we did! Jessica Ward, via e-mail I climbed up the Sydney Harbour Bridge – it was a fantastic view before I came back down to earth! Donna Gray, Cleveland Erm… Lucas… There’s something behind you! It…

Q I have fibromyalgia and sleep poorly. The worse I sleep, the worse my pains, but my GP isn’t keen to give me sleeping tablets, as they’re so addictive. What can I do? Jacqueline, Moorgate A Fibromyalgia is a longterm condition causing pain all over the body. It causes sleep problems because, even if you get enough hours, the quality of sleep’s poor. Some types of antidepressants can help, so they may be worth considering. Q I waiting for a disc-repair op and I’ve been advised to take time off work completely. But I’m not fully disabled, so is there some kind of activity I can do safely without making my condition worse? Sarah, Banbury A Ask your doctor for a certificate that specifies working conditions that include gentle mobility…

MANCHESTER Daniel Woolf, 36, Manchester Predatory Daniel Woolf has been jailed for 19 years for raping a woman in a tent in Hale. Woolf had been sleeping rough in the woods in October 2017, when he approached the woman, in her 30s, at Altrincham train station around 1am. He led her away from the station, before launching his vicious attack, punching and kicking the woman and then dragging her into a tent. He raped her during an ordeal that lasted hours, until she eventually managed to flee to a nearby shop. Woolf was arrested shortly after. A jury found him guilty of rape, false imprisonment and assault at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court. He'd pleaded guilty to breaching a sex offender notification at a previous hearing. NORTHAMPTONSHIRE Terrence Jones, 64,…

Here’s Dennis the Australian frilled dragon showing why he’s king of the castle. Tabetha Bennett. Manchester Stop, thief! I caught my 9-month-old pooch stealing my slipper. Troublemaker! Patricia Harris, Wisbech I always have to check the tumble dryer for our kitten Sky as it’s her favourite warm place for a dreamy catnap… Jane Whitaker, Margate Paws up! We caught our dwarf rabbit Daisy red-handed devouring our potato plant. Joanne Campbell, Northern Ireland Here’s my little man striking a killer pose with his toy mouse as if for a portrait… Marco breaks hearts everywhere with his reclining stance. Jennifer Johnson, via e-mail Barney is all ready for a day at the races in Mum’s blue fascinator. Debb Hunt, Nottingham…

Hands on my hips, I tossed my long, mousey-blonde hair and pulled my very best pout. ‘Such a little poser!’ my mum Paula, now 47, giggled, snapping away. Just 6 years old, I loved pretending to be a catwalk model and posing in front of the camera. With two brothers - Asa, then 10, and Arista, 5 - rough and tumbling round the house, I had to make my own girly fun. So Mum’s high heels and lippy were forever being plundered. ‘I want to be pretty, like the ladies in the magazines,’ I told Mum and my dad John, now 58. By my teens, I was more concerned with doing well at school. But I still liked to try to look pretty, too. So for my 13th birthday, Mum…

I waited in the car outside playgroup every day for a year They say that childbirth gets easier with every baby you have. I wish! In labour with my fifth, the pain was so intense, I couldn’t take it. ‘Give me an epidural now!’ I screamed to the midwife. She barely had time, before baby Amelia popped out. Born on 8 June 2014, weighing 8lb 15oz, she was gorgeous. My partner Gareth, 43, and I fell in love. I couldn’t wait to take her home to meet my other four - Shannon, then 17, Bradley, 16, Libby, 11, and Callum, 7. But later that day, I was holding Amelia when her top lip turned blue and her eyes rolled back into her head. She’d stopped breathing. ‘Help!’ I yelled. A…

We have a special destiny to fulfil together – to help others After finishing university in 2004, I was in need of a way to unwind. Going online, I came across a local well-being centre, named Get A Life!, run by a woman called Lisa Whitehead. Another Lisa, I thought to myself, smiling. Lisa ran regular meditation classes, so I called to find out more. As we chatted, it felt as if we’d known each other for years. ‘I’d love you to come along and try a meditation class tonight,’ she said. I agreed. And, later, looking on her website, I saw a picture of Lisa. I know that face, I thought. She looked so familiar, but I couldn’t quite place her... That night, when we met, we clicked straightaway.…

Even if you become pregnant, you're still expected to go to school until the end of Year 11. If this isn’t possible, your local authority must provide alternative education. Your school shouldn’t exclude you or treat you differently and you’ll be allowed up to 18 weeks off before and after the birth. After Year 11, you're entitled to stay in full-time education or begin an apprenticeship until you are 18. Your college, uni or employer are not allowed to treat you unfairly because you're pregnant or a mum.…

I’d never felt love like it. I drank in every bit of him After I gave one last, exhausted push, the nurse placed baby Ethan on my chest. ‘He’s beautiful!’ I sobbed. Cuddling my newborn, I’d never felt love like it. I drank in every bit of him - his button nose, mop of red hair, blue eyes -8lb 2oz of perfection. I’d become pregnant at the end of a short relationship and his dad wasn’t around. I’d be a young, single mum, but I couldn’t wait. My mum Julie, then 50, had helped me decorate the nursery in sunshine yellow. When Ethan and I came home, I took to motherhood like a duck to water. Ethan was a dream, sleeping through by six weeks, happy, with a cheeky grin.…

1 It's the inflammation of the urethra. 2 The term ‘non-gonococcal urethritis’ is used when the condition is causedby an STI. 3 It's rare in men. 4 Women rarely experience symptoms. 1 TRUE It’s the inflammation of the tube that carries urine from the bladderout of the body, and is usually caused by an infection. 2 FALSE The term is used when the infection is not caused by the sexuallytransmitted infection gonorrhoea. 3 FALSE It’s the most common condition diagnosed and treated among men in sexual-health clinics in the UK. 4 TRUE NGU rarely causes symptoms in women but,in men,it can cause cloudydischarge, a burning sensation when urinating, and soreness.…

Champagne Flute Baby Bottle, £11.99, prezzybox.com Now no-one’s suggesting giving bubbles to a baby – but, for a bit of fun next time you’re raising a glass for a toast, here’s a flute/bottle for your tot’s milk or juice. It’s dishwasher-safe, too. Verdict: BONKERS! But quite a photo opportunity. Quadrapan, £39.99, highstreettv.com Save on washing-up time by cooking your entire fry-up in one pan. Great for small hobs and cookers, this is non-stick, so you can cook bacon and sausages with no need for added oil or butter. Verdict: GENIUS! Saturday mornings just got even better. Swish To Go, £3 for 6 sachets, Boots You can freshen your mouth without water with this clever powder that dissolves into an ingestible mouthwash. Pour a sachet on to…

Walking into the living room, I slumped onto the sofa. I’d just got back from a salsa class and muscles I didn’t even know I had were aching. ‘Mummy’s knees and back are sore,’ I groaned to my son Joshua, 6, as he looked up at me. ‘If your weight fit your height, Mummy, I don’t think you would hurt so much,’ he replied, and went back to watching telly. Ouch! Joshua had a point. A size-22 and weighing 15st 7lb, I’d never felt ashamed of my curves. I’d had three kids, after all - Lucian, 15, and Jada, 9, as well as Joshua. And my hubby David, 49, wasn’t complaining, either! I’d even celebrated my big booty and ample hips by entering a few beauty pageants for larger ladies.…

Knight & Wilson PurePlex Revolutionary Hair Repair System, £12.99, Superdrug If you’ve recently bleached your hair, chances are it’s in need of a little TLC. This treatment offers salon-quality results at a high-street price, repairing each strand from the inside to leave even the most frazzled locks silky and shiny. Eylure False Eyelash Blender, £10.95, Boots Anyone who loves strip lashes knows that the gap between your false and natural lash line can be a giveaway. This clever wand gently blends and hides the line. It also contains ingredients that strengthen natural lashes. Bioderma Photoderm Max SPF50+ Tinted Aquafluid , £13.72, amazon.co.uk It’s important to wear SPF every day, especially as we head into summer. This cream is really light, blending into your skin easily with a shine-free…

I clapped as my son Jenghis, 10, clambered over the play-centre obstacle course. ‘Well done!’ I beamed. Then I noticed another parent across the room smiling at me. Blushing, I smiled back. He was cute! We got chatting, realised our kids went to the same school. Edward, then 43, was a single dad, with his daughter Ellie, 11, at the same birthday party as me and Jenghis. Before the day was done, we’d exchanged numbers. One thing soon led to another - and, by July 2013, Edward and I were an item. Both spontaneous, we didn’t take life too seriously. Then, on Christmas Day 2014, while I was busy making the dinner, I noticed Edward was acting strangely. ‘You’re up to something!’ I laughed as he ran upstairs. ‘I don’t…

‘I had my first son at 19 and my second at 20. I feel as if I missed out on so much and it was hard work. I struggled during those times money-wise and I felt so alone. I had my daughter at 27 and enjoyed every milestone. I wish it’d been like that with my sons. And I wish someone had told me to wait.’ Michelle Underwood, 42, Woking, Surrey ‘I had my boy when I was 16, and he’s 15 now. I wouldn’t change him for the world. It was a real challenge, but he’s so worth it. I wouldn’t be who I am now without him.’ Laura Diggle, 31, Greenwich, London ‘I fell pregnant at 18, which gave me something to live for. But, as I got…