Table of contents for 02-Aug-2018 in Pick Me Up!

Luxury in a box Beautynaturals.com is offering over a third off (RRP £12.50) its luxurious gift sets until the end of August. The Tangled Rose Gift Set is included in this offer, with free delivery, and includes Body Wash, Body Butter, Hand & Nail Cream & Luxury Soap. Fine wine The Ned Sauvignon Blanc is fresh and grassy and full of zing! Like any good Marlborough Sauvignon, it’s typically paired with classic seafood dishes, but also works well with cheesy, veggie options! Only £6.99 at Co-op (usually £9.99) until 14 August. Hello to aloe Say Aloe is a soothing thirst quencher that will keep you hydrated, while giving you a big hit of vitamin C. This range comes in three fab flavours – Original, Strawberry and Mango – and is…

They seemed like any other normal, middle-class family. A dentist, Roman Podkopaev’s job made him a pillar of the community. His wife, Inessa Tarverdieva, 46, worked in a nursery. When the couple got married after the death of Inessa’s first husband, it should have been the start of their happy ending. Roman, 35, became a stepdad to Inessa’s daughter Viktoria, 25. The family lived a comfortable life in a nice home in Stavropol, Russia. They took regular camping trips in the countryside and prioritised quality family time together. On the face of it, they were a picture of respectability. But behind closed doors, the opposite was true. In fact, Podkopaev and family despised the law...and loved money. And they were determined to get as much of it as they could,…

As I watched my sons Shaun, 18, and Connor, 16, kick a ball about, I smiled. They both loved football - especially Connor, who’d been playing from the age of 6. ‘Be gentle,’ I shouted as their little brother Kyle, 13, tried to get in on the action. But I knew they’d take care of him. My boys may have squabbled like all brothers do, but they were so close. A single mum to three lads, I was used to them making a mess, making a noise. And in Connor’s case, making me laugh. He was the life and soul of our crew. The family joker, he was always ready with a wisecrack and a smile. But he was smart too. Leaving school in June 2016, Connor, then 16, got…

Rubbing the hair dye into a lather on my head, I sat on the loo seat while it worked. It was November 2015 and my partner Julian, 45, was downstairs watching TV. So, while I waited for the colour to take, I decided to enjoy a few games of bingo on my phone. I’d joined Pick Me Up! Bingo four years before, after my daughter, 29, recommended it. ‘It’s fun!’ she told me. And she was right. It was entertaining and it was the perfect bit of me-time, just like now. As I perched on the toilet seat, I bought a few tickets for Sapphire - it was my favourite game. I watched happily, as the games played out. Then I realised that I only needed one number to win…

Relate provides support for couples and individuals affected by infidelity. Visit relate.org.uk  for more. It’s a tale as old as time... You go to work, meet a new co-worker and instantly hit it off. You’re working nine-to-five with this person, five days a week and, before long, you consider them a close, personal friend. But how close and personal? Do you find yourself texting all the time, sharing private jokes, maybe even a little flirty banter? Sure, you might say, but doesn’t everyone? Well, according to a survey, yes! In fact, around 45 per cent of men and 35 per cent of women admit to having some sort of ‘emotional affair’ - which is around 20 per cent higher than the number of us who admit to having…

I’m not your typical girl. I don’t wear heels, do my hair or make-up... See, I’m a farmer’s daughter. My dad Michael, now 55, reared cattle. I spent my childhood up to my elbows in cow muck! So, when my boyfriend Adam, then 24, proposed in 2012, I didn’t want a typical wedding. Adam’s a farmer, too. I met him when I was getting riding lessons in high school. He was delivering hay and our eyes met. I fell head over hooves for him, wanted to make him mine! He took some charming, but after 10 months, we started dating. Farmers don’t wine and dine, or go to the movies. We visited each other’s farms, instead! Within a year, we moved in together. And Adam proposed on my 18th birthday…

I looked on as my husband had a lesson on a Segway in Spain recently. He was wheely good. Manisha Kuinkel, Harrow Lily instantly fell in love with this beautiful dolphin when we were on holiday at Discovery Cove in Florida. Sweet! Nicola Partridge, Lordswood Here’s my sister Olivia and me, treating ourselves to a day of pampering. We loved getting our nails done. Deanna Bardsley, Stockport Pretty as princesses! My daughters Jessica and Jadine looking stunning in their bridesmaids’ gowns for their cousin Sam’s wedding. Karen Wells, Gravesend Jasmine looks so proud of her Claireabella bag – she couldn’t wait to show it off. Stacey Hill, Torquay Think Archie got more of his dinner on his face than in his mouth! Kerry Lucey, Tadworth My boyfriend and I had…

Walk out on older man? Annabelle, 35 Chester I was 19 when I married my then 35-year-old other half. Now, I’m 35 and he’s 51. I was head-over-heels for him back then, but I feel as if I’ve missed out. Lately, he never wants sex, never wants to go out and it makes me feel like he’s controlling me - turning me into a stay-at-home wife. He says what we have is perfect, and always has been, but am I now seeing the reality of marrying an older man? He doesn’t want counselling and hardly talks to me, as he says there’s nothing to talk about. Is this what marriage is? I’ve been feeling like this for quite a fewmonths - should I consider divorce? I can’t help thinking I’d…

Pin-up star I was fed up with searching for pins while sewing, so I stuck Velcro to the back of the case and another to the wall. Now they’re close by whenever I need them. Angie Keeler, Lowestoft Lemon aid Freeze slices of lemon. They’ll keep for longer and you’ll be able to just pick one out and go when you need one. Great for refreshing summer drinks. Susan Wallace, Castlereagh Homework-time hack Take away the distraction of an iPad by using it to help stand up books and reference cards. So much easier. Louise Phillips, Pentre Present surprise I had no idea what to get my niece for her 21st birthday so instead I bought 21 small presents and then numbered and wrapped them. It made for one stunning…

My budgie is such a pretty polly, he even smiles for the camera. What a poser. Catherine Feeney, Claudy Tyrion, my little fat-tailed gerbil, has the biggest eyes in the world. So adorable! Krissie Cope, via email Jet is our 12-year-old rescue dog. I think she’s trying to blend in with the teddies. Let’s play along! Carole Geddis, Newarthill My centipede has 100 reasons why he’s the most unusual pet around. Brandon Pywell, via email George is pondering whether to straighten or curl his fur today… Michelle Underwood, Woking Buzz the bearded dragon is the King of Skull Rock – or so he says. Emma Richards, Fernwood…

It was January and I’d planned a cosy day on the sofa with my laptop, a cuppa and my dog Merlin. I planned to buy some tickets for a game of Bingo. A member since May 2011, I loved playing online, even won a £1,000 Full House in March 2014 on Sapphire Bingo. I’d been able to spoil my children, Antony, now 40, and Liz, 43. And, of course, my two grandchildren! I spoilt my kids and grandkids – and I treated myself! This time, I bought 20 10p tickets on a ‘Buy 2 Get 1 Free’ offer to play 75-Ball Bingo in Bingo Lounge. The next game was starting, the numbers just popping out. Then there was a knock on the door and Merlin went to greet my hairdresser.…

Stepping on to the stage, I gazed at the clapping, cheering audience. Presenter Jeremy Kyle was smiling, a piece of paper in his hand, as the cameramen whizzed around me. As I sat down in an armchair, I looked across to see my half-sister Melanie sitting beside me. She looked as nervous as I felt. Not because we were on telly - but because we were about to find out something we’d spent our lives wondering about. ‘Let’s do this,’ I mouthed at Melanie, moving my chair closer to hers and grasping her hand. Growing up in a care home, I’d always longed to have real parents of my own. I was such a confused little girl, pining for a family I never knew Luckily, I had my half-sister Melanie,…

Handing my parents a picture of my baby scan seemed like the best present we could give them. ‘Congratulations!’ said my mum, Judith, now 63, ecstatic at our news. Me and my partner Ross, now 35, hadn’t planned for a baby, but it was a lovely surprise. It was Christmas 2015, and I couldn’t wait to give birth the following summer. Seeing her rigged up to so many machines was just horrifying My pregnancy went smoothly, until I attended a routine check at my doctor’s five weeks before the birth. ‘The baby’s heartbeat seems a little too quick,’ the midwife said. ‘I’m sure it’s nothing, but I’m going to send you to University Hospital Crosshouse just in case.’ Trying not to panic, we made our way there, where they gave…

There and then, we made love. Afterwards, it made me giggle As my boyfriend dropped to one knee and said those magical four words, a vision of our future flashed before my eyes. Me and James with a big happy family round us. A lifetime of happiness filled with love, laughter - and, most important of all, family. ‘Yes!’ I squealed to James, then 28, ‘Of course I’ll marry you!’ Then in 2011, I confessed, ‘I want a baby.’ So we started trying. Despite our efforts - and it wasn’t for lack of trying - I didn’t fall pregnant. Each time another period started, our dreams of starting a family were chipped away some more. In early 2012, we were referred for tests to check our fertility. What if it’s…

I’ll never forget the day I realised I was different. It was May 2011, I was 10, and out with my mum Susi, 39, food shopping. Walking round the supermarket, filling up our trolley. Nothing weird about that. Then we spotted a woman storming towards us, her eyes locked on my face. When she came to a halt in front of us, she turned to Mum. ‘You should have had an abortion!’ she spat. Instantly I felt sick. She was talking about me... Mum reeled back in horror and disgust. ‘Well, why would I do that? She’s my daughter!’ Mum shot back, face burning with rage. As the woman scuttled off, I fought back tears, feeling ashamed and embarrassed. Of course, I’d always known I didn’t look like other little…

For most of us, when we think of someone cheating, we automatically assume there’s some physical or sexual component. That’s why the majority of people think what they’re doing – by having an emotional affair – is completely innocent. A recent survey found that the clearest indicator of ‘cheating’ was having sex with someone else, with the vast majority of people (93%) saying that this was cheating. But people were more divided when it came to flirting – almost a third (31%) said that this was not cheating, while over half (55%) said that it was.…

Looking for ideas to keep the kids entertained? It doesn’t get easier than an animated movie on DVD. And to mark 20 years since Antz was first released, DreamWorks has decided to re-release 35 of its best films as special editions. Featuring a fab new cover, each film is a numbered collectible. And kids will love that each DVD comes with its own free gift; collectible, limited edition trading cards! From the hair-raising adventures of Trolls to the fire-breathing dragons in How To Train Your Dragon, plus epic characters like The Boss Baby, Shrek and Po from Kung Fu Panda - summer’s sorted! Sounds like the perfect excuse to snuggle up together on the sofa if you ask us - so get the popcorn ready and press play... 1 Trolls…

The stunning simplicity of this elegant Figaro 18ct gold-plated jewellery, really sets it apart. Claim the bracelet for free, simply by sending a 79p stamped, self-addressed envelope, with the completed coupon below, to the address printed below right. This lovely bracelet is just part of a collection of gold-plated jewellery that’s available at an excellent price. There are two lengths of necklace, a 16in chain for only £5, and a luxurious 20in chain for just £6. Two pairs of earrings - matching drops and classic hoops - at just £5 for both pairs. The full set costs just £16, and if you order it all, we’ll enclose a mystery jewellery gift - absolutely free! How to claim  your free bracelet: Complete the coupon and send together with a 79p stamped…