Table of contents for 28-May-2020 in Pick Me Up!

I first joined the Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund back when it first started in 1996. With the care of rabbits at the forefront of everything, I soon became a full-time director. Unlike cats and dogs, pet rabbits are hugely underrepresented. There’s little to no legislation to protect them, and even vets go through very little training for them. So, as a bunny lover, I decided I had to do something about it. At the charity, we advise owners and vets on how to care for the fluffy creatures. From providing the correct environment to making sure they have a friend. For their mental health, owners need to understand that rabbits should always come in at least pairs. Whilst my role is to advise and ensure that rabbits are properly…

I flung my phone down on the sofa with a huff. ‘I’ve had enough,’ I said to my son Keeton, 24. It was August 2015, and I’d been on Plenty of Fish for a few months after a colleague had raved about it. For the past 24 years, I’d dated on and off, but there was never anything serious. As a single mum to three kids – Leah, now 34, Wade, 32, and Keeton – there was no time. Now, though, with the kids all grown up and only Keeton living at home, I agreed to try the dating app. What harm could it do? I thought to myself. But I’d had no luck – since signing up, I hadn’t spoken to anyone nice, let alone someone I’d want to…

As my new puppy scampered over for a cuddle, my stomach flipped. ‘I don’t know what it is,’ I told my husband Robert, 30. ‘But I just cannot stand the smell of her.’ It was January 2017, and we’d just bought a little Border Collie called Ronnie. She was the loveliest addition to our household, but every time I went near her, I felt nauseous. Taking a pregnancy test at home on a whim, I couldn’t believe the result. ‘We’re pregnant!’ I screamed in excitement. We’d been married for two years and both wanted to start a family. As my pregnancy passed, everything seemed normal. I was diagnosed with a Group B Strep Infection, but the baby was healthy. At our 20-week scan, we found out it was a boy.…

Complete the grid then read down the shaded squares to reveal the hidden answer. Clue: Synonym for brave. ACROSS 1 _ XCX, pop star (6) 4 Perpendicular or upright (8) 10 Celebrity’s signature (9) 11 Synthetic fibre (5) 12 Light purple (5) 13 Sedimentary rock (9) 14 Deadlock (7) 16 Heroic (4) 19 _ Watson, actress (4) 21 African country (7) 24 Toy (9) 25 _ Owen, Academy Award nominee for his role in 2004 romantic drama Closer (5) 26 Major religion (5) 27 Medical or technical procedure (9) 28 Of Europe and Asia (8) 29 Measure of an object’s heaviness (6) DOWN 1 A clergyman (8) 2 Gazelle, say (8) 3 Reasoned thought (5) 5 Improve (7) 6 A convincing defeat (9) 7 Former name of Sri Lanka (6)…

1 The smallest bones in our body are the ossicles in the middle of our ears. 2 The internal portion of your ear is tiny, roughly the size of a pencil eraser. 3 Your sense of hearing depends on the hairs deep inside your ear. If you lose these hairs, you lose your hearing. 4 The cochlea is the innermost part of the ear and is about the size of a pea. If unravelled, it would be about 31mm. 5 You do not need to clean wax out of your ears unless you have an abnormal condition. Ears push wax out as needed. 6 Your ears never stop hearing, even when you sleep. Your brain just ignores sounds. 7 Ears are more than just necessary for hearing – they also…

As one of my clients sat at the table in front of me, I tried my best to understand how she was feeling. ‘It helps me try and connect with your loved one better,’ I explained to her, as she looked to me for answers. I didn’t ask her any questions, but before long I’d started to visualise the person she wanted to talk to and the figure of an elderly woman was soon standing next to me. It was the spirit of my client’s grandmother and I was now able to communicate with her from the beyond. Picking up phrases and feelings and relaying them back to her granddaughter. ‘Thank you so much,’ the woman said at the end of the session, relieved to have heard her grandmother’s message.…

Good deed of the week For 30 years, When You Wish Upon a Star has been granting magical wishes for children with life-threatening illnesses across the UK. Giving children a reason to smile again, the charity has granted over 18,000 wishes. Taking them to Disneyland, or introducing them to their icons, the charity provides the trip of a lifetime, to those who deserve it most. However, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, they are struggling to secure the funding to grant wishes. Already, they’ve had to delay 100 wishes and all fundraising events to 2021. It’s a difficult time for everyone right now, especially charities. Launching an urgent appeal, When You Wish Upon a Star are asking you to donate whatever you can to help make dreams come true…

Just then, I heard a familiar voice. ‘Mum?’ I heard him say. It was Wade! As my son dialled 999 and frantically tried to untie me, I passed out. It was only when I woke up a few hours later in Hope Hospital that I learned what had happened from police. After beating me unconscious, David had left me in a bloodied mess at the bottom of the stairs. He then went to the kitchen and grabbed a knife, before using it to hack the electrical cable off the back of the microwave. Tying my hands behind my back with the cable, David then bundled my body into the sleeping bag I’d left out for him. He fled on foot shortly after, unable to find the keys to our car…

This week, our tip of the week will receive a great product from Addis! This rattan bin and toilet brush is a quick and easy way to revamp your bathroom. The 5L capacity flip lid bin with inner rim conceals liners while the press to dispense toilet brush means you can fill the handle channel with your desired cleaning solution making it always ready to clean. For more ways to make your life easier, visit addis.co.uk. Secret stash I put all my loose change in the car in a chewing gum container. Angela Clifton, Suffolk On a roll I found that if you roll out pastry between cling film, it stops it from sticking to the work surface. Bruce Wilkinson, Devon Fancy a crisp? The perfect solution to stop flies…

Lowering my body into the warm water, I breathed a sigh of relief. ‘Won’t be long now,’ the midwife smiled. It was 21 September 2008, and I was having a water birth at Poole Hospital, my husband Rod, now 50, by my side. But a few hours later, when our son Mason was born, weighing 7lb 4oz, the midwife passed him to me with a look of horror on her face. Mason’s right leg looked like a piece of raw steak – there was no skin on it. There was no skin on his little chest or feet, either, and he didn’t have any toes. ‘What’s happened to him?’ I cried, devastated. Doctors whisked him away, took pictures of his body and sent them to London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital.…

Bake off: The Professionals, Channel 4 The toughest Bake Off on TV is back! Six teams of pastry chefs go head to head to dazzle with their intricate desserts and complicated showpieces. As always, the contestants are ruthlessly judged by talented Cherish Finden and Benoit Blin, and the series is presented by comedian Tom Allen and GBBO favourite, Liam Charles. Tackling Mental Health With The Duke of Cambridge, BBC One The Duke of Cambridge meets players, fans and managers from grassroots to the elite as part of his efforts to start the biggest ever conversation on mental health, through football. Filmed over a year, it tells the stories of men from all walks of life, including former England goalkeeper Joe Hart, who has been forced to cope with a very…

Lying on a sunbed next to my boyfriend Neal, then 28, I soaked up the sun’s rays. It was June 2013, and we were on holiday in Spain with friends. ‘I wish I didn’t look so big in this bikini,’ I sighed to Neal. ‘Don’t be silly, you look great,’ he reassured me. If only I felt it. Over the past year, I’d put on so much weight – over 7st to be exact. ‘I feel so lethargic,’ I told my GP in April. Having always been a healthy size 10, I couldn’t work out what was happening to my body. But my GP just insisted it was my fault. ‘You need to exercise more, Bryony,’ he said. In the month leading up to our holiday, I’d gained a stone…

Vaccinating your pet Jessica May, Lead vet at www.firstvet.com, shares everything you need to know about vaccinating your furry friend… ‘Vaccinating your pet is the quickest and best way to avoid preventable and harmful diseases. In the UK, it is advisable to vaccinate cats and dogs. Puppies and kittens should generally be vaccinated at 8 weeks old, and again 4 weeks later. To keep pets safe, keep them inside for at least a week after their vaccinations. Your pet will need booster vaccinations every 1-3 years. Be sure to keep track of when they are due a top-up. Cats and dogs can be inoculated at any age, so it’s never too late. If you are unsure, always ask a vet’s advice! PAWFESSIONALS Zoflora have launched a pet Instagram @ZofloraLovesPets to…

Watching my daughter Freya, then four, run off into the woods with our new pup Felicity, I smiled. Her hair was tied into two curly bunches, and she was covered in mud. ‘I don’t know who’s messier,’ I laughed at my partner, Tony, 40. Freya loves the outdoors, and so does her little sister Eliza, then two. When Freya’s not spending time with her big brother, Morgan, now 16, she’s pondering up ideas on how to make the world a better place. She is such a thoughtful and kind-hearted girl… In summer 2017, we took the girls to Dorchester Carnival. Whilst there, we saw a family friend who had recently cut her hair off to raise money for the Little Princess Trust, a charity that provides wigs to young people…

If your letter makes Star Letter of the week, you will receive some beautiful blooms from Flying Flowers. With over 30 years’ experience of helping celebrate life’s special moments and FREE delivery by post, a gorgeous bouquet by Flying Flowers is a lovely way to celebrate sharing smiles and happiness. See flyingflowers.co.uk for more details.…

If you fancy something boozi-ful and sweet, Aldi’s Triple ‘B’ Banana Bake is straight forward and easy to make with the key ingredients of bananas, blueberries and booze! Visit www.aldi.co.uk for more inspiration! □ 150g blueberries□ 2 ripe bananas□ 140g self-raising flour□ 140g caster sugar□ 140g Aldi’s Perfect for Cake spread□ 2 medium eggs□ 1tsp baking powder□ 50ml of the Aldi’s award winning Old Hopking Spiced (£10.49) 1 Preheat oven to 180°C and line the side of cake tin with non-stick baking parchment. Peel bananas and chop them up. 2 Whisk bananas, rum, eggs, spread, caster sugar, flour and baking powder until smooth or blend in a food processor. 3 Put a third of the batter into the bread tin and sprinkle over a third of the blueberries. Repeat this until…

Changing out of my uniform, I let out a yawn. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow,’ my colleague smiled. ‘Yeah, see you then,’ I replied, wiping sleep from my eyes. It was 1 October last year, and I’d just finished an exhausting 48-hour shift as a trainee nurse at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading. Growing up in Leitrim, Ireland, I’d always dreamed of becoming a nurse. I loved the idea of being able to help people for a living. My parents, Patricia, 49, and Damian, 50, were chuffed with the idea, but worried, too. ‘Being a nurse is not easy,’ Mum said. Of course she was right, but I had my heart set on it. And thankfully, after lots of hard work, I secured a place to study nursing here in…

Gigantic fake boobs. Long blonde hair. A microscopic waste. Plumped up pink lips. These are the stereotypical features of a bimbo. A slang term that historically describes an attractive, but unintelligent young woman. However, in recent years, the term ‘bimbo’ has taken a complete turn. Those undergoing ‘bimbofication’ – body modifications and lifestyle changes – are embracing the label positively. Leading bimbo blog, Pink Bimbo Academy, describes bimbofication’ as the process of permanently transforming a female into a bimbo. The cost of ‘complete bimbofication’ is approximately £60,000. The end goal is a status of ultra-femininity and ‘bimbo perfection’. This is achieved via different acts of training, conditioning, converting and surgical enhancements. Bimbos follow their own lifestyle rules, rituals and personal standards. The cost of complete bimbofication is around £60,000 Being…

As I pushed the buggy along the path, my two-year-old son Freddie was all smiles, taking in the sights of our local park. Swirling around my legs, my two sausage dogs, Frank, four, and Charlie, two, were just as happy to be outdoors. The park was adjacent to our back garden, and the four of us would head out there almost every day, keen to get out of the house for a while. ‘Right, who wants some chicken when we get home?’ I asked the pups, their eyes twinkling at the prospect of an early dinner. Frank and Charlie were like my children – I loved them just as much as I did Freddie, spoiling them with freshly cooked chicken and lots of treats on a daily basis. I’d always…

Family meant everything to mum of six Amber Avalos. She’d been with her husband Andres, known as Andy, since they were both 16 years old. They had five sons and a daughter, and lived in the tranquil area of Northwest Bradenton, Florida. The area is famed for its well kept homes and views of the flowing Manatee River. But despite the beauty on the outside, inside, Amber was battling to hold everything together. Andy struggled with drink and drugs over the years, and it was putting a strain on family life. Amber, 33, was a religious woman–she worked part time at the local church with the congregation’s children. Walking away from her marriage wasn’t an option. She’d even prayed with the pastor’s wife to try and stay strong for her…