Table of contents for 22-Aug-2024 in Pick Me Up!

Pushing my feet against the pedals, I couldn’t wait to finish. A warm, comfy hotel bed was calling my name. I was completing a charity bike ride for Marie Curie, from Solihull to Paris in 2010. ‘Is that place derelict?’ one of my teammates asked. ‘No, it’s our hotel,’ I giggled. Having put on hundreds of fundraisers for Marie Curie over the past 25 years, I was used to a few ups and downs. With my friends Jo, 59, Tina, 60, and Debra, 61, we’d planned countless events together. We may be a group of glamorous ladies but we’re on a mission – to raise as much awareness as we can for Marie Curie. Marie Curie treated us like family I’d realised the importance of Marie Curie in 1999 when…

My hubby Mike and I enjoy popping down to the coast near us to eat fish and chips – it’s made more enjoyable by the added sunset as the ferry leaves to cross over to the small island of Cumbrae. Fiona Deans, Beith The moment I caught my eight-year-old grandson Daniel ‘sampling’ all the chocolates from my birthday box – and putting back the ones he didn’t like!  Carol Casan, Tiverton STAR LETTER My elderly neighbour loves to send off photos and tips to Pick Me Up! So I bought her a nice pen, a pack of envelopes and a book of stamps as a little birthday gift. Katie Gooding, Tidworth This is Suna, our two-year-old Siamese. It took her ages to get used to the cat flap, now she’s in…

Where to stay Want a cosy retreat away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life? Look no further. Nestled in the serene valley of the hamlet of Hadspen lies a picturesque and peaceful getaway, perfect for families and friends seeking a staycation. Set within five acres of private countryside, Hadspen Glamping offers a unique experience of sleeping under the stars in one of three luxury lodges. Leave your camping preconceptions at the door – these boujie self-catering lodges are complete with luxurious amenities to make your stay special, and not a blow-up bed in sight! Each lodge is distinctly themed, too – bohemian, English country and classic modern. The solar-powered lodges have everything you need, including a fully equipped kitchen and ensuite shower room. The outdoor seating and wood-fired…

HAIR SOS Summer can wreak havoc on our hair. Excessive heat and styling can leave it in need of some TLC. Palmer’s new Amino Bonding Hair Care Range features four hero products to bring your locks back to life. • Prices from £2.99, Superdrug Bonding Hair Gloss A fast-acting, high gloss treatment that strengthens tresses while delivering shine, softness and hydration. After shampooing and conditioning, leave on for a couple of minutes and rinse. Bonding Healing Oil A heat protector and oil in one! Apply to damp or dry hair for a gorgeously smooth and shiny crown. Bonding Conditioning Masque Instantly detangle, nourish and hydrate hair with this highly concentrated reparative masque. After shampooing, leave this masque on for five to 10 minutes for best results. For an extra treat,…

Pulling over to a stranger and winding bowed my head. ‘No Gabe, don’t do it!’ I laughed as we stopped outside Tesco. ‘Excuse me, can you tell me where Tesco is please?’ my son Gabriel, then 23, asked the passer-by before giggling. He’d always play the prank. But that’s who my son was – he went out of his way to make other people laugh. He was extremely popular. Everyone loved him. He went above and beyond to make sure that me and his little sister Lilli, now 21, were well looked after. I’d split with Gabe’s dad when he was five – and it was tough being a single parent. Only, I’d ensure that we could all jet away to make amazing memories on holiday. We’d been to Egypt,…

Bitesize! pg 3 Tyre Strike it! pg 13 Magnolia (Cross out: 9, 11, 28, 31, 33, 46, 54, 68, 72, 88) Crack it! pg 23 Highlights Fill it! pg 13 Convertible Sudoku pg 36 1, 3, 9 Cross it! pg 36 Captured Number fit! pg 6359 Spot it! pg 28 Follow it! pg 8 Hatchback PLEASE NOTE Pick Me Up! will still be bringing you great puzzles to pit your wits against, but will no longer be offering prizes. Don’t forget, you can do puzzles for big cash prizes every weekin our sister magazine, Chat.…

Bitesize! ACROSS 1 Ancient Roman gown (4) 5 Unattractive (4) 6 Oak, say (4) 7 Observes (4) DOWN 1 Expresses disapproval (4) 2 Monster (4) 3 Joy (4) 4 Yes votes (4) Read down the shaded squares for the answer. Answer on page 44. Follow it! Solve the puzzle to spell out a term related to the picture. The arrows show you where to put your answers. The answer is spelled in the yellow squares. Answers on page 44. Fill it! Complete the grid then read down the shaded squares to reveal the hidden answer. Clue: Type of car. Answer on page 44. ACROSS 6 Scarlett __, character played by Vivien Leigh in film Gone with the Wind (5) 7 1982-92 sitcom set in occupied France, starring Gordon Kaye and…

Staring at the positive pregnancy test, I couldn’t believe it. My boyfriend Kyle, 30, and I had only been trying for a month. Yet in November 2019, I’d quickly fallen pregnant. It was like a dream come true. Having met over a year before, we’d not long moved in together. He was serious about me from the start – something I’d never experienced before. ‘I’m going to marry you one day, Desiree,’ he said. I had a son from a previous relationship and he a daughter, and I couldn’t wait to expand our family. When we found out we were having a boy, we were elated. ‘I’ve always wanted a son,’ Kyle grinned. Moving into a two-bedroom house with a garden to raise our family, we set up a nursery.…

Hearing the scurry of flippers from inside the enclosure, this wasn’t just your typical day at the local zoo. My daughter Charmaine, 34, was actually ready to feed the penguins. Days out as a family, with my other daughters Amy, 30, and Lauren, 24, plus my husband Jason, 50, were something we looked forward to. We organised a whole host of different extravaganzas – from Disneyland Paris, watching War Horse at the West End to movie nights at home. Charmaine documented every trip – she had six books all full of memories. Our motto was to live every day to the full. However, it wasn’t just a way of coming together and having fun. As with each new day, we couldn’t be sure if it would be our last with…

Verdict: GENIUS! Save yourself some thyme Plant Life Support, £13, MenKind Are you the person that can’t keep a plant alive? Picking a new plant, you promise yourself that this time will be different – only to have a clump of dead leaves in a few weeks’ time. However, this handy product will drip feed your plant as and when it needs water. All you need to do is set the flow regulator to ensure your greenery gets the right amount of water. Say goodbye to dead plants – this can save time, money and effort. Verdict: BONKERS! A killer day out If you dare… You may like a sprinkle of basil on pasta, but you won’t want to go anywhere near these plants! The Poison Garden in Northumbria contains over…

Stepping out of my back door, I was transported into another world. Hello, countryside! Stretching out from my patio was a glorious garden that me and my partner Ben, 34, had put our all into. From my custom-made potting bench, stacked up with soil bags and recyclable pots, to my almost overgrowing veg patch, it looked like a scene from a rural cottage. Except it wasn’t. There weren’t towering oak trees, rolling hills and fields full of farmyard animals beside us. There were red-brick houses and wooden fences – staples of the British new build – instead. But when Ben and I bought our new home in June 2020, we didn’t let that dictate what our garden looked like. Having always been green-fingered, I knew I could work my magic.…

What’s for dinner? A question we all ask at least once a day. Meera Sodha answers it in the most delicious way. With over 100 vibrant, easy-to-make veggie and vegan recipes, it’s never been easier to whip up your next feast. • Dinner by Meera Sodha, £27, available from Waterstones Fried Tofu over Tomato Sambal with Coconut Rice Serves: 4 YOU WILL NEED: ☐ ½ cucumber☐ 3 tbsp rice wine vinegar☐ Fine salt☐ Rapeseed oil☐ 3 ½ tbsp ancho chilli flakes☐ 6 cloves of garlic, crushed☐ 2 x 400g tins of chopped tomatoes☐ 1 tbsp caster sugar☐ 350g jasmine rice☐ 1 x 400ml tin of coconut milk☐ 2 x 280g packs of extra-firm tofu, drained☐ 5 tbsp cornflour☐ ½ tsp Chinese five-spice☐ 50g roasted salted peanuts, ground in a pestle…

Catch Claire live on Facebook ARIES 21 March–20 April You feel that you’re being pushed into only what suits others, with no voice of your own to be heard. As Mercury in Leo, squares Uranus retrograde in Taurus, you’re aware that timing is tight, but you use your ruling planet Mars to prove you do count and you will stand by what you need. Compromise is no longer an option, nor should it be. Call: 09058 170 710* TAURUS 21 April–21 May With Mercury in Virgo, you’re ready to leave the past behind. Those that can’t will not be tolerated, but make sure you inform others of what you expect from them as your communication skills this week are murky to say the least. Working with those you’ve dealt with…

Reason to smile We can learn a lot from the older generation – and residents at Lilian Faithfull Care in Cheltenham are sharing their advice on how to make friends and keep them. We love these words of wisdom! • Visit: lilianfaithfull.co.uk What’s trending If you’ve got a four-legged furry pal, you need to head to Ross & Friends in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire! The UK’s largest enclosed dog park, it offers peace of mind to let your woofers run free off-lead – but it’s so much more than a dog park. With over 35 acres for your dogs to get out their zoomies, there’s so much for them to enjoy – with their very own safari with different themes like Adventure Land and Treasure Trails, lots of enrichment and even a…

This week, our tip of the week will receive a great prize from Addis. This stylish storage box is pretty enough to put on display, especially with its rattan effect. It’s great for keeping your makeup or toiletries organised in the bathroom or stationery and paper on your desk, too. It has a lid attached so you can stop dust getting in as well. For more ways to make your life easier, please visit: addis.co.uk How does your garden grow? Use old lolly sticks to mark the seeds that you have planted in trays. Otherwise, you will forget what you’ve put in the soil. Margaret Anderson, Sunderland Get the motor going! I have an invaluable tip now grass cutting is in full swing. Spray WD-40 to the underside of your…

In the UK, women between 50 and 53 will receive their first invite for a breast screening. Then they will be invited every three years until they turn 71. Like Wendy, you may feel nervous about going to your first appointment. But the charity Breast Cancer Now can put your fears at ease. So, what exactly happens during a mammogram? 1. The mammographer will ask you to undress from the waist up and stand in front of the X-ray machine. 2. Your breasts will be placed on the machine one at a time. The breast will be pressed down firmly on the surface by a clear plate. 3. At least two pictures of each breast will be taken – one from top to bottom, then a second from side to…

Tummy trouble Q My son gets tummy aches all the time. I try to get plenty of fruit and veg into his diet, but he always seems to complain of pain after mealtimes. What could be causing this? Connie, Torquay A There are various things that could be having an effect on your son which could be causing him to have persistent tummy aches, such as food intolerances, IBS, constipation, stress or infections. I’d recommend keeping a food diary for at least two weeks as this can identify any potential triggers in his diet. I’d also recommend ensuring that he’s eating a balanced diet with not too much fibre as this can cause bloating when consumed in excess. Some foods can be more irritating than others, such as fatty foods,…

Staring at the huge volcano in the distance, I was in complete awe. With my partner Elliot, then 25, beside me, we could barely get a word out. Because right in front of us, one of Iceland’s volcanoes – Grindavik – was erupting. Spewing clouds of grey smoke into the air, Elliot and I were stunned. ‘This is incredible,’ I said. Sights like this were exactly why we’d planned to visit Iceland in April this year. Being a seasoned traveller, I was keen to tick more countries off my bucket list. So far, I’d driven through most countries in Europe, leaving only eight left to visit – and Iceland was one of them. Meeting Elliot in September 2022, I was overjoyed to find out he wanted to see the world.…

Natasha Page is an experienced psychotherapist, business coach, counsellor, writer and founder of My Little Therapy Box. She is an accredited member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and is passionate about mental health and supporting others. For more guidance and support, visit: bacp.co.uk and natashapagemsc.com There’s a skeleton in the closet… Q I have reason to believe that my husband is gay. I’ve seen signs and internet searches that he has tried to hide. Our marriage is more platonic now. How can I approach the subject with him? Mandie, Lake District A Understand that this conversation might be difficult for both of you. Start the conversation with ‘I’ statements to avoid sounding accusatory. For example, ‘I’ve noticed some things that have made me feel concerned, and…