Innehållsförteckning för 24-Jan-2019 från Pick Me Up!

Growing up, I felt a bit lost at times, what kid doesn’t? But, for me, my worries were focused on food. Terrified of being fat, I was obsessed about whether I was eating too much. By the time I was 17 years old, I’d dropped down from a size-12 to a size-6. ‘You have anorexia,’ my GP told me. ‘If you don’t start eating you’re going to end up in hospital.’ I was really scared. But I needn’t have been. ‘I’ll help you,’ my mum reassured me gently. She never judged me, didn’t ever lose her temper. Just let me know that she was always there for me. That didn’t mean my recovery was easy. But with Mum by my side, I was sure I could do it. And sure…

Take it slow Strapped for time but want to make wholesome and healthy family meals? These new Slow Cook Casserole Meal Kits from Asda help you make hearty meals in just a few simple steps. Whether it’s the classic flavour of slow-cooked chicken you’re after, or some sultry slow-cooked beef, there’s a kit for you. It all comes in the bag ready to go! They’re only £4.50 (usually £5.50) until 23 January. Meals for one The Finest single-serving ready meals from Tesco are perfect for when you want a treat but don’t have the time or energy to cook from scratch. And now there’s a new vegan dish in the range – this Cauliflower and Sweet Potato Satay. The meals are two for £6 (usually £3.50 each) until 3 March.…

What’s normal, what’s not? Conjunctivitis This is an eye condition caused by infection or allergies. It is uncomfortable and contagious, and causes the eyes to burn, produce pus, itch and water. However, it’s nothing to panic over as it usually gets better in a couple of weeks without treatment, but over-the-counter eye drops can help speed up the healing process. Have you tried... the Noom: Health & Weight App? It’s free for iOS and Android, and has proven psychology-based programmes that help you identify your deep-routed thoughts and triggers. This means it can provide a custom plan to help beat your unhealthy habits – whether it be constant snacking, or avoiding exercise. 88 % That’s how many children who have tonsils removed do not need the surgery, despite it costing…

Noodles, The Wobbly Dog, £12.99, Very Great for kids, simply press the button on Noodles’ back and he starts walking and grooving to his very own (quite catchy) theme tune – throwing in the odd bark too of course. Verdict: BONKERS! But oh, so cute! Boozy Soaps, £7.99 each, firebox.com Made with real beer, whiskey and wine, you can shower, shave or shampoo with these three fun, alcohol-scented soaps. Cheers! Verdict: BONKERS! Not good for a hangover. Make Your Own Cat Treats, £6.95, rexlondon.com Make sure you know exactly what’s going into your pet’s snacks and spoil them rotten with this fun kit. With five different recipes, from cheese treats to salmon goodies, your moggie will love them. Verdict: GENIUS! What a great idea.…

Rita and Gus will sit in anything! We bought these crates for the kitchen not for kitties. Jess Hindes, London I was really thirsty, but couldn’t get this can open. Luckily, Bestie the budgie is straight to the rescue… Jan Savage, Ipswich 'Ear, ear!’ says my rabbit Ems. I reckon my new packet of carrots has caught her eye. Susan Wallace, Belfast Our tortoise, Georgie is so tiny she fits in the palm of our hands. But she’s got a whole lot of room for love in that shell. F Giblin, Penarth I told Sirius to pose for the camera. I think he's nailed the innocent head tilt. Krissie Cope, Prestwich My Labrador, Trefor, looks like he wants a serious chat. It’s either about the ball I didn’t throw or…

LANCASHIRE Andrew Harwood, 46, Burnley While working at a job centre, a security guard suffered life-changing injuries when he was stabbed by an unemployed man last October. Andrew Harwood attacked the guard at the Job Centre Plus on Victoria Street in Burnley. The victim needed surgery on his hand. At Burnley Crown Court, Harwood pleaded guilty to a Section 20 assault and possession of a bladed article. The court heard that he’d drunk a large amount of alcohol before entering the centre and claimed he attacked the guard because he had problems with his Universal Credit payments. Harwood was jailed for a year. LEICESTERSHIRE Jasmin Mistry, 36, Loughborough A woman lied about having cancer to collect £100,000s from her husband, parents-in-law and members of the public. Jasmin Mistry, 36, told…

When I told Lee that I was expecting twins, his face lit up. ‘This doesn’t mean we’re back together,’ I told him firmly. But I think he was still hoping we would be. Alex and Emma were born in November 2013. Like with Josh and Nathan, I allowed Lee to see them, as long as he was supervised. Only, half the time he didn’t show up. And when he did, I could see he was spiralling downwards. He’d turn up late, always picking arguments. I knew I’d made the right choice in finally ending things with him. But it broke my heart thinking of how all this was affecting the kids. Then one day in March 2018, I was at home having a cuppa in the kitchen when I heard…

1 Thanking your body Look at your body and appreciate what it DOES, instead of pinpointing what it doesn’t. Never liked your legs? Well, they’ve carried you wherever you wanted to go, so be thankful for them! 2 Getting real Mirrors are your worst and best friend. You can spend ages picking out tiny flaws when, in real life, nobody but you is looking at those things – the truth is, everyone has too much on their plate to notice cellulite on your thighs or your uneven boobs. 3 Embracing positivity Surround yourself with positive people – whether it’s your partner or your group of friends. Don’t be with or around people who make you feel in any way inadequate or in need of change. Surround yourself with people who…

1 Cool the burn as quickly as possible with cool, running water for at least 20 minutes, or until the pain is relieved. 2 While cooling the burn, carefully remove any clothing or jewellery, unless it’s stuck to the skin. 3 Cover the burn loosely with cling film. If you don’t have cling film, use a clean, dry dressing or non-fluffy material. 4 Don’t wrap the burn tightly – swelling may lead to further injury. 5 Don’t apply creams, lotions or sprays to the burn. DID YOU KNOW? If cooling a large area, especially for children and the elderly, it may cause the body to lose heat faster than it produces it – hypothermia. You may have to stop cooling to avoid this.…

One cold morning, in February 2017, Ben Bailey, 36, dropped off his partner of four years, Michelle Williams, 33, at the convenience store where she worked. A shift manager at One Stop Shop in the quiet Welsh market town of Usk, she got to work at 5.50am, ready for a busy day ahead. A few minutes later, her colleague Bev Davies arrived. As normal, Michelle unlocked the front door, then brought in the morning papers, using a stack of them to prop open the door. It wouldn’t be long before the first customers arrived for newspapers and pints of milk. Just like every other day. But as Michelle walked back towards the cash desk, something truly terrifying happened. CCTV cameras at the store recorded the events in full. A masked…

The wind was howling outside my living room window. ‘It’s making me cold just listening to it,’ I shivered to my hubby Barry, 66. ‘Cup of tea?’ he chuckled, getting up from the settee. While Barry pottered in the kitchen, I logged on to Pick Me Up! Bingo. It was a chilly October night in 2018. I couldn’t face bracing the cold for a trip to the bingo hall so thought I’d play from the comfort of my home. Since signing up for Pick Me Up! Bingo in September 2007, I’d won over £16,300. Not all in one go - I’d scooped five jackpots! And in 2015, I even won a holiday to Tenerife in a promotion on the site. Barry and I are both retired, so we’d spent much…

TOP TIP Layer with a cream roll-neck Comes in white with black trim too…

Send us your stories and photos, including all names and ages, a daytime phone number and full address. E-mail pickmeup@ti-media.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 TI Media Limited 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.…

Spinning on the dance floor, I was enjoying myself for what felt like the first time in ages. It was August 2016 and I’d recently ended my engagement, then lost my nan shortly after. But I was bouncing back. I was 21, and had missed out on the whole clubbing thing after having my daughter Amelia, at 18. She was toddling now and often stayed with her dad, which gave me a chance to put on my dancing shoes. ‘You’re sleeping with someone else, aren’t you?’ I was in a bar in Cheltenham with friends when a bloke sauntered over. ‘You’re stunning, can I get your number?’ he smiled. ‘You’re confident,’ I laughed. But I figured why not? Then my friend Chloe, 22, turned to me. ‘That’s Daniel,’ she confided.…

I knew that I’d only make things worse, but the urge to scratch was just so overwhelming that I couldn’t resist any longer. Just a little one, I thought. Luckily, my mum Bev, 56, was always on hand to stop me. I’d had eczema since I was a little girl and treated the dry, red patches behind my knees and on my elbows with a mix of E45 and aqueous creams. I’d use a stronger steroid cream if I had a flare-up. These used to be rare but, recently, it’d been really bad. ‘You’ll grow out of it,’ the doctors would assure me, over the years. But I never did and, aged 16, my flare-ups were only getting worse and more intense. By November 2012, my face, neck, back and…

1 Frozen shoulder is caused by exposure to cold temperatures. 2 It results in inflammationof the tissue around the shoulder joint. 3 It usually lasts for around two weeks. 4 Treatment follows a courseof strong pain and swelling relief. 1 FALSE Frozen shoulder can happen due to a physical injury, surgery or diabetes. 2 TRUE It can cause the tissue to get tighter, which causes pain – particularly when you’re sleeping. 3 FALSE Frozen shoulder means the pain and stiffness will not go away for months – and sometimes years. 4 TRUE Frozen shoulder is treated with pain relief, as well as physiotherapy to get the movement back.…

Detective Sergeant Matthew Edwards, who led the investigation for Gwent Police, said, ‘This was a terrifying and distressing experience for the true victim. ‘Michelle Williams, who was employed at the shop, showed a flagrant disregard for the safety, welfare and trust of her colleague by planning and allowing this robbery to take place. Michelle, together with Ben Bailey and another, executed the robbery and attempted to mislead the investigation.’…

1 Join pickmeupbingo.com  with promo code PMUL4 2 Deposit and play £10 on any game 3 Grab 200 Free Bingo Tickets worth up to £50 *T&Cs: 18+. UK only. New members only. Registration and opt in required. Min £10 deposit and wager. Bingo game restrictions apply – £50 value on 25p tickets. 30-day expiry from deposit. Rules apply. Offer in this issue ends 24 January 2019. See full T&Cs at pickmeupbingo.com. Pick Me Up! Bingo is part of the Jackpotjoy.com network. For 24-hour support, freephone 0800 458 0770. Please play responsibly. BeGambleAware.org JOIN NOW AT  pickmeupbingo.com…

Sloshing a mop over the sticky floor, I grimaced as I came across yet another mound of grub. ‘It’s hard work, this,’ a friendly voice from behind me said. Turning around, I came face-to-face with a bloke carrying a matching mop in his hand. ‘I’m Christian,’ the handsome stranger beamed. It was May 2011 and I knew a new cleaner had started work recently at Plymouth University nightclub. This must be him. Bonding over the grimiest of tasks and the weirdest things we’d found in lost property, Christian and I clicked. I definitely fancied him, even in his overalls! Five years older than me, he had a lot more dating experience. Not difficult, since I’d never had a partner. Chatting away over our next few shifts, we realised we had…

The National TV Awards, ITV It’s time to celebrate the best TV stars and shows in this glittering night at London’s O2 hosted by Dermot O’Leary. Among those up for awards are the stars of Killing Eve , Bodyguard , Doctor Who , Our Girl and Peaky Blinders . Can Love Island , the surprise hit show which got the whole nation talking in 2018, win against Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway and I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! in The Bruce Forsyth Entertainment Award? Danny Dyer’s Right Royal Family, BBC1 After discovering his royal bloodline on Who Do You…

‘It’s easy for outsiders to say that it’s silly to fall out, and that life’s too short. But these rifts can be hard  to overcome. As for falling out over funeral arrangements, people need to take a step back and see the bigger picture. It’s not a time to quarrel.’ Manisa Kuinkel, Harrow ‘I no longer speak to my brother, after falling out over the funeral arrangements when my mum died  in 2005. I haven’t spoken to him for almost 13 years, but there are no regrets.’ Julie Hinton, Heckmondwike ‘My husband doesn’t speak to any of his family, ever since his mum’s death. It definitely could have been avoided  if they all talked about it but, sadly, that didn’t happen. Cutting people out isn’t always a bad thing, though.…

Pork and black bean stir-fry Serves 4 Prep: 10 min Cook: 10 min ◻ 2 green peppers, sliced ◻ 3 spring onions ◻ 1 red chilli ◻ 225g pork medallions/pork chops with bone removed, sliced ◻ 1tbsp vegetable oil ◻ 2 x 150g packets ready-to-wok noodles ◻ 25g toasted cashews FOR THE SAUCE ◻ 100g black bean sauce ◻ 2tbsp rice wine vinegar 1 Finely slice the green peppers, spring onions and red chilli. Between two pieces of greaseproof paper, bash the pork medallions or pork chops using a rolling pin or meat mallet until you have a pork fillet around ½cm thickness and season. Heat the oil in a frying pan until very hot. Add the pork fillet, sliced green peppers and spring onions. Stir-fry for about 4-5 min,…

ARIES 21 March–20 April Time is money this week, so try to make sure you cover all your bases professionally and financially or you could end up with a fair amount of egg on your face. Someone who wasn’t single soon will be. This could well change EVERYTHING for you. Call: 09058 170 710* TAURUS 21 April–21 May Work you do this week will stand you in good stead for months and not just weeks to come. Your wish to see someone who you think has the words you need to hear will turn out be a much more complex business than you initially thought, so try to create some extra time. Call: 09058 170 711* GEMINI 22 May–21 June There is a really strong need for you to belong…

With his furrowed brow and scrunched-up face, Blaze looked serious and a little sad. But me? I was smitten. ‘Aren’t you gorgeous!’ I squealed, peppering his white furry face with kisses. It was November 2017 and Blaze was an American bulldog puppy. Just seconds earlier, he and eight siblings had been born in a pen in my lounge. It started with the odd trainer, an empty loo roll, bits of make-up… My son Cameron, 18, owned mum Bella. And while the other pups were for sale, I claimed Blaze as my own. He was clumsy - bumping into furniture, unsteady on his paws - but so lovable. As the weeks passed, Blaze settled in, becoming more boisterous, adventurous. We took him out three times a day, sometimes for two hours,…