Table of contents for 21-Jun-2018 in Pick Me Up!

Around six years ago, I met a young mum through a Facebook group. Since then she’s become my best friend and like a sister. Katie and I began talking through this group and realised we had daughters of similar ages. After meeting up for play dates, cups of coffee and general chats, I soon realised she would be the person I could rely on for everything. She calms me down and makes me smile when I least feel like it Our daughters became fast friends, as did we. Now we’re all inseparable. Even when times have been tough, Katie has been there to help me get through it all. There have been occasions when I’ve needed to call her at three in the morning and every time she’s always answered…

What’s that saying? An ex is an ex for a reason. Well, I wish I’d taken notice when I bumped into mine last year... ‘Gayle, long time no see!’ a familiar voice shouted as I shopped on the high street in Bishop’s Stortford. Me and Paul Beale, 37, had dated 10 years earlier and I hadn’t seen him since. But the twinkle in his eye took me back to when we’d been 27. We were a couple for two years, but our relationship had been a disaster. Paul had been very controlling and, in the end, it’d driven us apart. Now, as we chatted, he seemed different, more mature. ‘I’ve changed, Gayle,’ he said, fixing me with his piercing blue eyes. It’d been a long time, but Paul still gave…

Best foot forward With summer nearly here, it’s time to give your feet some attention! Whether you choose to scrub your way to smoother skin or slip on a nourishing foot sock, Superdrug has the products to keep your feet soft and in tiptop, sandal-ready condition. The entire foot-care range will be three for two until 19 June when bought in-store or online at superdrug.com. Can’t top that On 16 and 17 June you can get two courses for only £15.95 or less (depending on location) at Pizza Express. This set menu includes all mains, even the thin and crispy Romana pizzas, which can cost up to £15 themselves! Get fresh Now the weather is warming up, stop using the tumble dryer and hang those clothes outside instead. The Vileda…

1 Narcolepsy is a brain disorder. True False 2 Symptoms include excessive daytime sleepiness and falling asleep suddenly. True False 3 It’s estimated that the condition affects 10,000 people in the UK. True False 4 Medication can’t help ease symptoms. True False 1 TRUE It’s a long-term condition where the brainis unable toregulate sleeping and waking patterns normally. 2 TRUE Symptoms also include cataplexy (a temporary loss of muscle control), sleepparalysis (a temporary inability to move or speakwhen falling asleep or waking up), excessive dreaming and sleep-walking. 3 FALSE It actually affects at least 25,000 Brits. 4 FALSE Medication can help, as well as making changes to improve your sleeping habits. Ask your GP for advice. 1/3 That’s how many premature deaths could be prevented if meat was cut out…

We’d had a fantastic night at my cousin’s 40th birthday bash, but now the evening had come to an end. ‘Come on,’ I said, linking arms with my 20-year-old son Anthony. ‘Let’s get a taxi.’ It was November 2006 and the two of us chatted non-stop until the cab pulled up outside his dad’s house. We’d split when Anthony, an only child, was little. He’d been brought up with me in Bow, east London, but when Anthony was 17, I’d moved back to Dublin so he could be closer to his dad. Since then, he and his dad had lived together, but my house was only 10 minutes away. Climbing out of the cab, Anthony gave me a kiss. ‘Love you, Mam,’ he grinned. Unlike a lot of Irish lads,…

Starting up my brand-new car, I grinned. It was all thanks to a Pick Me Up! Bingo win! Back in July 2017, I won the £1,000 Full House on Sapphire Bingo - and I’d only been a member since the month before. I usually played slots, but wanted to try something new. Tickets were 10p, so I bought 37, and let the game roll. There were lots of members in the room, so I thought it must be a popular time to play...then my phone beeped with a message from my nephew - pictures of my great-niece, 18 months old. So cute! I texted. When I returned to the game a while later, it’d ended. I wondered who’d won. My balance was up by £1,000 – I’d scooped the top…

Tentatively opening the door of the special-needs classroom, I looked at the destruction inside. A smashed TV, books and pens strewn across the floor. One little boy did all this? I thought, stunned. But not just any little boy. My little boy Joel, then 7. Sitting among the carnage, he didn’t seem angry or sad. He just looked blank. Fear churned in me... What is happening to my baby? It was March 2011. Arriving to collect Joel from school moments earlier, teachers had warned me he was distressed. He’d had outbursts before, but nothing like this. ‘Joel,’ I said, putting my hand on his shoulder. But as he turned, a fist flew towards me. I reeled back with shock. My own son had punched me square in the face -…

‘Pounding away at the cross-trainer equipment in May 2010, I started to sweat. It felt as if I was running through treacle. Normal if you’re a beginner - but I was an athlete. I was 21, had been doing karate since I was kid, and had been representing England since I was 17. I had years of experience under my belt. A workout like this was usually no sweat. Literally. So I wondered... What’s wrong with me? I went to the doctor and was diagnosed with a virus. ‘Get some rest,’ I was told. But, by 20 May, nothing had changed and, this time, my GP did some tests. ‘You’ll get the results within a week,’ he said. I’d not been in long when the GP rang. ‘How are you…

Modern technology and social media are most definitely having an affect on relationships and impacting on sex lives. People pay more attention to Facebook and Instagram than they do to people sitting in the same room. I gave up social media for a few weeks and realised just how addictive and time-consuming it is. During that time, I engaged more and talked to my husband more. It’s scary how it creeps up. Gemma Carrick, 41, Sunderland I don’t think smartphones are badly encroaching on our sex lives. Yes, they may deter us daily from having real conversations or interactions with our partners, but there’s a time and a place. If sex is suffering, there’s more of an issue than phone usage. Jill Barlow, 44, Eastbourne I firmly believe smartphones are…

Watching the burlesque dancers move on stage, I was mesmerised. Their risque nipple tassles and g-string costumes certainly showed off their curves. Wow!I thought, blown away. I was 21 and at a burlesque show while on holiday in New Orleans. Back in Bristol, I got my myself an office job. ‘But it’s so boring!’ I moaned to a friend. So when she invited me to a pole-dancing class, I leapt at the chance. And I loved it! I soon moved on to burlesque dancing. I loved the freedom it gave me, the dazzling costumes and the towering stripper heels . I’d soon quit my boring desk job to do it professionally. I’d perform on stage and teach burlesque, too. Then, at 25, I met Graeme, then 24, through a friend.…

Alexis loves all animals, so when she got the chance to feed this pretty polly at the zoo she was super-excited! Deanna Clarke, Derby My partner Liam and I look like we’ve stepped straight out of the 1950s with our quiffs at the Rock Ridge Rumble rockabilly festival. Debbie Watson, Pelaw When I finally reached the top of Pen y Fan in the Brecon Beacons, I spotted something strange. Almost a full-circle rainbow and my shadow in the middle! Mike Willem, via e-mail Any trip to the local park is good fun, but Michael’s favourite thing has to be these little bicycles. Jill Barlow, Eastbourne I love taking part in the Colourama fund-raising event for my local hospice each year. I got covered in powdered paint, as did my grandson…

Thanks to Neutradol, you could win a family holiday to the Algarve in Portugal. Enjoy sun-soaked beaches with deep golden sand, small fishing fleets in picturesque ports and superb golf courses. If you win this prize holiday, you and your family will be staying at the Clube Praia da Oura Apartments, which offers great sea views, two swimming pools, a sun terrace and sunloungers, all overlooking a child-friendly, sandy beach. To get clean, healthy, fresh air in your home and at work, you need to get rid of bad smells. Some odours are nasty to live with and tough to shift, which is why you need hygienic and non-toxic Neutradol. Other big-brand air fresheners just cover up bad odours with a synthetic perfume. Using the latest science, Neutradol eliminates the…

The menopause? Q I’m 48 and still have fairly regular periods, but I feel different. I’m more emotional and people say I’m irritable. Can the menopause start before your periods stop? Clare, Durham A Your periods might become lighter, heavier or more variable before they stop completely and you can get symptoms such as mood changes or sweats with that. It’s difficult to predict how long the whole menopausal process will take. Cancer screening Q There’s a strong history of different cancers in my family. Can I have regular body scans to make sure I’m clear? Sandra, London A There’s no reliable way to screen for cancer formation outside the established screening programmes. You could ask your GP about these, but frequent scanning isn’t helpful and the radiation involved may…

Cramming myself into a stretchy purple bridesmaid’s dress, I blinked back tears. I’d been overwhelmed with happiness when my sister, Laura, then 29, asked me to follow her down the aisle. But now, in September 2015, as her big day approached, the reality of what I’d signed up for was sinking in. ‘I look so fat,’ I said sadly to my fiance Chris, 28. ‘You look fine,’ he assured me. But I knew I didn’t. Weighing 20st, I hated my bulging figure. And as I tried to squeeze my size-22 frame into the size-18 dress, I felt like all eyes would be on me. I’d always been on the larger side. But after the birth of our daughter Millie the year before, the weight had piled on. It’d been a…

It was January and I’d planned a cosy day in from the cold. I settled on the sofa with my laptop and a cuppa, my 4-year-old Morkie dog - a Yorkie crossed with a Maltese - Merlin, slumped on my feet. ‘That’s lovely and warm, Merlin!’ I laughed. I didn’t need slippers! I planned to buy some tickets for a game of Bingo. A member since May 2011, I loved playing Bingo online. I’d even won a £1,000 Full House once before in March 2014, while playing Sapphire Bingo. I’ve been able to spoil my two children, Antony, now 40, and Liz, 43. And, of course, my two wonderful grandchildren! This time, I decided to buy 20 of the 10p tickets on a ‘Buy 2 Get 1 Free’ offer to…

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Instant Facial Cream-Mask, £3.50 Perfect for travelling, this little pod is filled with hydrating serum to leave your skin noticeably plumper in just 15 minutes. When you’re done, remove the excess with a cotton pad or massage it into your skin as an extra treat. Finally, a face mask that won’t scare the postman – we’re sold! Beauty Kitchen Facial Konjac Sponge, £6.99, Holland & Barrett Made from 100 per cent natural ingredients, this sponge is great for giving your face a really deep cleanse. By gently exfoliating your skin it helps to plump it up by stimulating blood flow, and even works to remove blackheads. Baylis & Harding Oatmeal, Milk & Honey Cream Hand Wash, £2, Asda A daily treat for hardworking hands, this nourishing wash…

Growing up, it wasn’t unusual to find a severed hand on the kitchen table or a crushed torso in the living room. My dad brought them home, but the stray body parts were from the bronze statues he restored. His work had always fascinated me - and, in my 20s, I followed in his footsteps. Now I restore historic statues, too. But that’s not the only way my remarkable dad John has influenced me. His life story is like something from a film. Growing up in Dagenham, Dad’s French mother Lucy, after whom I was named, was said to be a witch. ‘I once walked with her past a garden she’d cursed,’ Dad told me one day. ‘All the plants and flowers in it had died.’ I’ve no idea where…

Send us your stories and photos, including all names and ages, a daytime phone number and full address. E-mail pickmeup@timeinc.com CALL 020 3148 6460 WRITE TO Pick Me Up!, 161 Marsh Wall, London E14 9AP FACEBOOK facebook.com/pickmeupmag SEE OUR WEBSITE lifedeathprizes.com Time Inc. (UK) Ltd reserves the right to reuse any submission sent to Pick Me Up! magazine, in any format or medium. Unfortunately, we can’t return photos without a stamped sae. Letters/photos must not be sent to any other publication.…

Huddled up on my sofa, I watched as the snow fell outside, covering the pavement in a thick, white blanket. ‘It’s so cold,’ I said with a shiver. ‘I wouldn’t want to be homeless tonight.’ ‘Me neither,’ said my sister Faye, 33. It was a Wednesday evening in March this year, and way below freezing. Working as a Community Coordinator for a housing association, I knew there would be people sleeping rough that night. As a single mum of three boys - Taylor, 18, Jack, 15, and Cale, 11 - it broke my heart. ‘Poor Kieran,’ I heard Jack say. ‘Who’s Kieran?’ I asked. ‘He’s just a mate of mine,’ said Jack. ‘He’s been sleeping in an abandoned train carriage for months.’ ‘He was in a tent before that,’ Jack…

Checking out her smile in the orthodontist’s waiting-room mirror, my daughter Leah, then 14, sighed. ‘I can’t wait to have perfect teeth,’ she said. ‘Just have a bit of patience, they’ll be sorted before you know it,’ I replied. In fact, we were almost there with Leah’s braces. She’d had fixed metal braces on her top and bottom teeth for 18 months now, and you could see her teeth straightening out nicely. She’d decided to get a brace in June 2016 because she hated how crooked they were. Though she felt a little self-conscious wearing one, she’d been far more self-conscious about her snaggly teeth. Plus, dozens of other kids in her year had them, too. ‘Leah Kitchen?’ a voice called from a treatment room. We made our way in…

For advice, contact us via one of the methods below. Letters and emails are selected randomly for publication. Sorry, Dr Onslow can’t reply personally. WRITE TO: Pick Me Up!, 161 Marsh Wall, London E14 9AP. E-MAIL: pickmeup@timeinc.com Follow me @DrBellyButton Disclaimer: Medical advice provided is for interest only and should never be substituted for seeing a doctor or seeking medical advice. If you have specific medical concerns please seek advice from a qualified medical professional.…

Tell my ex I’m with his brother? Janine, 39, Glasgow Earlier this year, I finally ended things with my cheating ex of eight years. It was a breath of fresh air to move out. I was very close to his family and kept in touch with them all, including his brother. But his brother and I are more than texting now - he came over to my new place to help me move, and one thing led to another... Now we’re in a proper relationship. When I told my friends, they were shocked that I hadn’t told my ex - but I don’t think I need to, or that I owe him anything. He broke my heart and I’m over him. But, although I don’t want my ex to have…

Pick Me Up! Bingo wants everyone to enjoy the experience, without spending beyond their budget. It has some handy tools – such as setting your deposit limit or adding a session reminder – which are all easily accessed from your account. It also has useful tips to help you get the most from your Bingo fun. There are value Bingo games with tickets between just 1p and 10p each. Look out for Promotional Games with special offers, where you can Buy 2 Tickets and Get 1 or even 2 Free Tickets. Always check on the site, as there are often Free Bingo games on offer. Join in the fun by playing in the bingo rooms, where the Chat hosts play games with members and you could even win a cash…

ARIES 21 March–20 April You seem to be far more confident than you were when this year began, Aries. Someone wants to prove you can trust them again and your stars tell me their offer is worth considering. Try to make time for older people with a confession or desire they need to share. Call: 09058 170 710* TAURUS 21 April–21 May You’ve had a lot to cope with lately, so work on simplifying your life this week. It’s the key to feeling like you again. Past and present get the chance to cross paths, and you get to make sense of where you are in life. Mixing business with pleasure comes at a price. Take care. Call: 09058 170 711* GEMINI 22 May–21 June Take your time and don’t…