Table of contents for 15-Apr-2021 in Pick Me Up!

Walking through our local area, we came across a cake sale. Taking a closer look at the stall, they were raising money for Cats Protection. ‘Wow,’ my son Joss beamed, looking at the delicious display. We’d recently adopted our own cat Margherita from a local rescue centre, and so we were all passionate about the welfare of our feline friends. Only eight, Joss didn’t really understand about charities. He knew about the local rescue centre where we’d adopted Margherita and the amazing work they do, but that was about it. However, that night, when we arrived home, he started watching YouTube videos all about Cats Protection – that along with funny videos of cats causing mischief. Within a matter of weeks, he was absolutely fascinated, and it wasn’t long before…

Peeling open my eyes, I could hear rustling from downstairs. My then 11-weekold son Mannix had kept me awake all night, so my husband Vinny, now 42, let me sleep in that morning. Usually, I’d be up and helping with the routine of getting our daughter Estlin, three, ready for nursery. Lying in bed a little longer, in March 2017, I soon took Mannix downstairs. ‘Are you tired today?’ I cooed, making some coffee. After Vinny had taken Estlin to nursery, I planned for a relaxing day with Mannix. With a toddler and newborn, it was a rare occurrence. Not only would Mannix keep us up at night, but Estlin kept us on our toes. Just weeks away from her fourth birthday, she was already such a confident and independent…

Complete the grid then read down the shaded squares to reveal the hidden answer. Clue: University term. JUST FOR FUN Fill it! pg 13 Lecture ACROSS 1 Bacon slice (6) 4 Unseemly (8) 10 Burial ground (9) 11 Scottish landowner (5) 12 & 21Ac. 2021 Sci-Fi film based on a young adult novel by Patrick Ness, starring 16 Across, 8 Down & 20 Down (5,7) 13 Rot (9) 14 Obstinately resistant to change (3-4) 16 _ Mikkelsen, played Bond villain Le Chiffre in Casino Royale (4) 19 Nonsense (4) 21 See 12 Across 24 Bogey or bugbear (9) 25 Concerning (5) 26 Native New Zealander (5) 27 Correction (9) 28 Hangs from above (8) 29 World or universe (6) DOWN 1 Killing of a king (8) 2 Sailor (8) 3…

BIG health story Heading out the front door, my guide dog Caesar led the way. ‘Good boy,’ I said, handing him a treat for his efforts, as we stopped at the side of the road. My faithful companion since September 2019, Caesar was a Labrador cross Retriever and I trusted him entirely. He helped me get from from A to B every single day. Whether I needed to get to the office or fancied a trip to the cinema, Caesar was always by my side to guide me. With both my wife and I having a visual impairment, Caesar’s help was so important for us to be able to live an independent life together. And he allowed us to do exactly that. While Abby, 38, uses a long cane to…

HOT TOPIC Multi-level marketing (MLM) schemes have boomed since the start of lockdown, as those suddenly out of work look for an easy income boost. But do they really know what they’re signing up for? Can you ‘get rich quick’ or is it too good to be true? Typically, a MLM business is a large organisation made up of hundreds of individuals selling merchandise and services such as beauty products, weight loss products, candles, cleaning products and books from home. MLM schemes can be identified by three things: You have to buy a starter kit to join and become a seller; you’ll make money by getting other people to sign up and become sellers; and you’ll earn a commission from sales. The Direct Selling Association (DSA) estimates that roughly 563,000…

www.theastrologyroom.com Catch Claire live on Facebook ARIES 21 March–20 April This is the week you finally decide which way you are going to go with the professional paths in your life. You have been compromising for far too long now. By admitting this you will find yourself a happier person. Make sure you decide, and not your friends! Certain faces will always see you as who you used to be, and not who you want to be in the future. Call: 09058 170 710* LEO 24 July–23 Aug If you were thinking about going back into the educational system in some way, then you could not have picked a better time to do it. Financially things you apply for can go better than you’d ever dreamed of. The new moon…

Join in the Big Smile Tea Party! Back and even better! What a great idea The ultimate pressie for the Percy fan in your life, this Percy Pig bouquet doesn’t feature flowers, but instead is packed full of everyone’s favourite sweet Percy treats. After Percy became the most searched term on the M&S website, and the success of their Percy Valentine’s gift bag, M&S have created this wow-worthy bouquet. It includes nine packs of iconic sweets, Percy phizzy pop and a Percy soft toy! Perfect for sending to someone as a little pick me up. • The Percy Pig Sweet Sensation Bouquet is £30 on www.marksandspencer.com GOOD DEED OF THE WEEK There’s no time like the present to show off your lockdown baking skills! The international children’s cleft charity Smile…

Waiting patiently in the doctor’s surgery for my check-up appointment, I planned what I was going to cook for tea. Maybe a vat of cottage pie? I thought to myself. And I’ve got some chocolate in the cupboard for dessert! It was August 2019, and I weighed 24st 11lbs and was a dress size 26. I was very overweight, but I’d never had any health problems. That was, up until now… ‘You have Type 2 diabetes, Sarah,’ my doctor said. I was stunned. Diabetes! I thought – the diagnosis flashing in my head. Type 2 diabetes ran in the family, but I’d had no symptoms at all. ‘I didn’t realise quite how bad my weight had got,’ I admitted to the doctor. ‘You need to lose weight for your health,’…

Sue Tappenden is a Coach and People Expert who helps her clients improve their relationship with themselves and others. (www.headspacefor change.com) Uncertain about the future Q As we come out of lockdown, I’m feeling so anxious about everything. I’ve been shielding and I’m not sure I’m ready for normal life. Kelly, Hampshire A It’s been such a difficult time for those of you who have been shielding and it is no wonder that you are apprehensive. It is important that you recognise how tough it’s been and are kind to yourself! For some people, as well as health issues, it is other elements of a more ‘normal life’ that worry them. For example, having spent a lot of time on their own, the thought of being around other people might…

Top tip An oversized shirt is a wardrobe staple. Top tip Look good with good intentions! Top tip Bag a pair of organic jeans made using natural processes. Clarks celebrates women! To celebrate the Clarks CraftSport launch, Clarks worked with an allfemale team to capture unique doorstep portraits of four motivating and successful women wearing their new Clarks at home. The new CraftSport collection is a range of stylish and comfortable athleisure silhouette sneakers. Go to clarks.co.uk to pick up yours! 1. Author Gynelle Leon, founder of Prick London 2. Georgia Murray, Fashion Editor and stylist 3. Educator Arooj Aftab, founder of Done With Diversity 4. Fashion and celebrity stylist Nana Acheampong Top tip Expertly crafted for life on the go!…

Walking into my daughter Roxy’s bedroom I gasped at the sight of her. ‘Hi Mum!’ she giggled, laying on her front, bent in half, her legs over her head with a pen in her foot. ‘I’m just doing my homework!’ She’s 13 now, and has been shocking me and my husband Andriy, 40, since she started her proper contortionist training three years ago. Roxy finds it absolutely hilarious seeing the reactions of other people as they realise bending in ways which don’t look humanly possible. She’s always been an entertainer. She practically stepped out of the womb singing, dancing and performing. Back when Roxy was just five I decided to take her to her first ever rhythmic gymnastics class. After the class she came out with a huge beaming smile.…

Treat of theweek Baked fusilli with aubergine and ricotta sauce Serves 6 □ 500g Barilla Fusilli□ 1 jar Barilla Ricotta Sauce□ 1 large aubergine, cut into 2cm cubes□ Mozzarella (125g), cut into 1cm cubes□ 2 ripe tomatoes, cut into 2cm cubes□ 3 eggs, boiled (6 minutes), peeled and sliced□ 10 basil leaves, torn□ 80g Parmigiano Reggiano□ Rock salt, for pasta water□ Salt and pepper, to taste 1 Bring plenty of salted water (7g salt to 1L of water) to boil. Boil the aubergine in the water and drain on kitchen paper, seasoning with salt. 2 Drop the Fusilli in to the water and cook, draining the pasta 3 minutes before the suggested cooking time on the pack. 3 Combine cooked pasta with Barilla Ricotta sauce, aubergine, basil, chopped tomatoes, half mozzarella…

GOT TA YOU’VE LAUGH! Slouching on the sofa, I was ready for a night in with Nan. Only, it wasn’t long before she sparked up the usual conversation. ‘Scott, when are you going to get a girlfriend?’ she asked. That was Nan, always pestering me about my love life. I’ve lived with my nan Trina, 82, for three years now, after deciding she could do with a bit of company. However, pretty much ever since, she’s always been on at me about getting a girlfriend. I’ve only actually been single for a couple of years, but I’ve just been enjoying my life. Prior to the coronavirus, I was going out and spending time with my mates – not to mention nights in with her! I enjoyed being single and wasn’t…

Be a winner! This week, our tip of the week will receive a great product from Addis! This two piece rattan effect bathroom set is perfect for a quick makeover. This stylish bathroom set includes a 5L swing bin and a durable toilet brush. They are hard wearing, wipe clean and they won’t dent or rust! For more ways to make your life easier, visit addis.co.uk Very happy meal There is a tab at the bottom of each McDonald’s Happy Meal box which turns the box into a plate with edges – saving mess and cleaning. Sian Salsbury, Cradley Heath Takeaway trick Simmer and shine If you’ve singed a saucepan, don’t throw it out! Just add water, an inch from the top, and add two tablespoons of vinegar. Then simmer…

Flicking on the TV, Dr. Michael Mosley popped on my screen. Giving all of his healthy eating advice in August last year, I was definitely intrigued. I’ve always been a fit and healthy person. As a lover of dance, I’ve been doing the tango, modern jive and salsa for around 12 years. However, as a result of the coronavirus, I hadn’t been able to dance in a while and I just wanted to keep myself healthy. So, purchasing a few of his cookbooks, I figured I’d give a few of his recipes a go. One of his biggest tips was that you should be eating more oily fish, as they contain lots of vitamins and nutrients. I’m your typical cod and chips kind of girl usually, but I figured it…

Lying on the ground, one of our newborn alpacas seemed to be struggling. ‘Is she OK, Mum?’ my son Casper, quizzed. ‘I think we better bring her in the house,’ I told him, scooping the fluffy little creature up and into my arms. It was July 2020, and my parents, who we lived with, had about a dozen alpacas as pets just for the fun of it. One of the females had just given birth and we were all busy keeping an eye on the newest addition to the herd. My two sons, Harry, 13 and Casper, 11, were just as involved as the rest of us and Casper was particularly interested. He’d always loved the alpacas, and as we watched the little one struggle on the ground we knew…

Making of aof a MONSTERMONSTER The internet can be a sanctuary for young people who are struggling to find their place in the real world. Whether it’s social media, or messenger apps, teenagers can connect and seek out like-minded users with the same passions and likes. After struggling with anxiety and depression, Bianca Devins, 17, had turned to the online community and had found a place where she felt accepted. As well as chat rooms, she was on TikTok and had an Instagram account with over 150k followers, where she talked about popular video games and ‘emo’ fashion. Bianca lived at home in Utica, New York, with her mum and younger sister. She had just graduated from high school, and after her personal struggles, she was about to go to…

OUR MUST TRYTRY Haig Club Mediterranean Orange Spirit Drink, £25, major retailers nationwide. Just in time for the summer, Haig Club have launched a brand new Mediterranean Orange flavoured spirit drink. The fruity new flavour is on sale now. Pret Frozen Croissants Range, from £3 (pack of 6), Tesco. Fans of Pret A Manger’s much-loved croissants, will be pleased to hear that Tesco are now selling them as part of Pret’s first ever ‘bake-athome’ range. Cereal Milk Clusters Mini Bites, £2.75 per 185g tub, M&S. These new cereal mini bites are packed with crunchy cornflakes, oats, mini marshmallows and sprinkles, in a cereal milk flavour yoghurt coating. Give them a try, you won’t regret it! The 720g Lotus Biscoff Spread, £3.50, Asda. Asda has launched a giant version of the…