Table of contents for 17-Oct-2019 in Pick Me Up!

Laying down on the doctor’s bed at my 20-week scan, I was dealt a blow. ‘I’m afraid your baby has Gastroschisis,’ the doctor said. It was heartbreaking, but I was determined to pursue with the pregnancy. When I gave birth to baby Lennon, I loved him more than anything in the world. He was born with his intestines on the outside, so we had to stay in Alder Hey Hospital for eight weeks. It was the hardest time of my life, being away from my daughter Gracie-Mai, now 12, and seeing my newborn in such a vulnerable state. I was so glad when we were finally allowed home, but I soon realised there was little support from the hospital. Although I had the help of my partner Steve, 42, I…

My son Freddie patiently waiting for his food after a day at a play area. Robyn young, Lowestoft This little beauty is my seven-year-old daughter Frankie meeting The Gruffalo at Cannock Chase. Kelly Whitton, West Midlands Check out my boy Amari. He fancies himself as a bit of an iron man! Sian Salsbury, Cradley Heath My daughter made me feel better about our endless pile of washing on a recent trip to a museum! Sandy Gill, Formby My husband and I had a lovely time seeing the sights on this train in Majorca. You’re never too old for a train ride! Lesley Dunn, Cranham 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…

Happiness life coach Jo Hanby empowers people to be the best they can be – to live fully and to love their life. Visit www. bigchangecoaching.co.uk to find out more. Bombshell confession Q My husband has told me he’s gay. We’ve been together since we were teens and I hadn’t a clue. He’s the love of my life. My confidence is shattered, and I feel so betrayed. How will I ever recover from this? Debbie, Huddersfield A Do you know why your husband has mentioned this now? Have you discussed what this means? There’s a lot of talking to do after this bombshell, so take some time to let things sink in – decide what YOU want for the future. Remember, this isn’t a reflection of how your husband feels about…

Check your breasts… There is no right or wrong way to check your boobs, but it is important to know how they usually look and feel. The NHS Breast Screening Programme has produced a five-point plan to be breast aware. 1 Know what’s normal for you. 2 Look at you breasts and feel them. 3 Know what changes to look for. 4 Report any changes without delay. 5 Attend routine screening if you’re 50 or over. When checking your breasts look at them and feel each breast and armpit, and up to your collarbone. It may be easier to do this in the shower or bath. You can also look at your breasts in the mirror. Look with your arms by your side and also with them raised. If you…

Take a nap … Taking afternoon naps has been linked to having a healthy heart, that’s according to a new study carried out in Switzerland. Researchers from the University Hospital of Lausanne, found that people who had one or two afternoon naps a week were less likely to have a heart attack or stroke, cutting their chances in half. However, having more than just two naps a week and the length of the siesta wasn’t thought to have any further benefit on your health. 42,000… That’s the number of people in the UK that are under the age of 65 and living with a form of dementia. The Children’s First Aid Kit, £19.99, www.e-hospital.co.uk The Children’s e-hospital, founded by consultant paediatrician Dr Tim Ubhi, have launched a first…

Walking a few steps down the street, you hear the infamous ‘wootwoo’ come whistling. ‘How you doing, baby?’ bellows a man in a van. ‘You are definitely a screamer!’ a scaffolder yells, laughing to his mates. Adult men wolf-whistling and catcalling women - It doesn’t come as a surprise or a shock. We’re socialised to accept the objectification of women on a daily basis. Feeling uncomfortable, disgusted and terrified, you carry on walking straight and glaring at the car. After all, we don’t know what their intentions towards us really are. Sound familiar to you? You’re not alone. Street harassment is a big problem in the UK, especially for young women and girls. According to a recent survey by stopstreetharassment.org, 71% of women have faced verbal sexual harassment in public…

L’Oreal Paris Matte Signature Liquid Eyeliner, £8.99, Boots Create effortless statement looks with these super intense eyeliners. Available in nine bold shades, you’ll be able to create the wing of Gods. Whether you want a timeless black winged liner, eye-opening white liner or an attention-grabbing blue look, L’Oreal has you covered. The textured grip creates control and fail proof application, while the ultra-precise felt tip ensures an effortless finish. Get ready to show off your colour signature. Collection Lip Rockers, £3.99, Superdrug Add an instant glamorous finish to your lip look with these new additions to the Glam Crystals® range. The metallic, vegan formula starts with a sheer wash of sparkle and easily builds to a dazzling, pigment packed pout, so you can experiment and adapt to your mood. There…

SEA LIFE, BRIGHTON Pay a visit to the world’s oldest operating aquarium to discover over 1,500 sea creatures. Go on a rainforest adventure full of snapping jaws and leaping frogs, stop by the seahorse nursery and keep your eyes peeled for Nemo and Dory. Home to everything from turtles and jellyfish to rays and even sharks, exciting talks bring the underwater action to life. Don’t miss – Ascarium From 19 October to 3 November, follow the immersive trail to find missing potion ingredients, then deliver them to the spooky Sea Witch in her lair, who will reward brave guests for their help with an exclusive reward! Get a season pass online from just £15, visitsealife.com DEEP SEA WORLD, FIFE Deep Sea World is Scotland’s national aquarium, so it’s only fitting…

HAVE YOU HEARD OF? As the weather gets colder, you know it’s the beginning of cuffing season. Cuffing season is the period between October and March when people feel the need to be in a serious relationship. The cold weather leaves many of us feeling lonely, and rightly so. With plenty of relatives harassing you about being single, it’s easy to fall into the trap of cuffing. While many cuffed-up couples agree from the onset that their romance will fizzle out come spring, many of us can fall into the typical cuffing pitfall – falling in love. Are you willing to take the risk of being cuffed? DON’T MISS We all love a Disney live action remake, and the new Maleficent film is no exception. Angelina Jolie returns as the…

It’s human nature to get jealous, but it only becomes a problem when we act on it. When we focus too much on someone else’s life, we can devalue our own. Social media doesn’t help, as everyone seems to be having the best time – so try and recognise that when you’re looking at a single moment in a picture. Turn your attention back on yourself and start to build up your self-worth. Ask others to point out your best traits – you might be surprised! And learn to use jealousy to drive you to push for what you want, not hold you back.…

Pouring a glug of tanning oil onto my palm, I rubbed it all over my shoulders, arms and legs. It was 1998, and at 15, I was obsessed with the perfect tan. ‘Are you sure this works?’ my sister Louise, then 12, asked, smearing her legs with oil. ‘Of course,’ I said. ‘You’ll be brown in no time!’ Growing up, my family would go on holiday to France every year and stay in caravans. My sister and I would spend the entire time outside, soaking up the sun. Back then, being tanned was all the rage. That’s just what us teenagers did - use oil for a tan and lemon juice on our hair. Even back home, I’d take every opportunity to sit out in the garden in my bikini,…

Q By mid-day I often feel really tired and have very little energy. What could be causing it? Liam, Durham. A There are a million different reasons for this, and it can be difficult to diagnose. If your tiredness and fatigue has been on-going for a few weeks then see your GP. Medical causes can include anaemia and an underactive thyroid but the most common cause for fatigue is down to lifestyle factors. These include lack of sleep, stress, a poor diet, poor nutrition, too much alcohol and caffeine, or working too much. Consider each of the lifestyle factors mentioned and see if there are any healthy changes you might be able to make such as improving your sleep, finding time to relax, exercising and making improvements to your diet.…

This Morning’s Phil Vickery has partnered up with Love Canned Food to become its official ambassador. Chef Phil’s aim is to raise awareness about the many benefits of canned ingredients. You can rustle up affordable, nutrious and tasty meals with the help of a tin. Phil proves how with his classic recipe. PHIL VICKERY’S MEAT FREE LASAGNE SE ES 4 INGREDIENTS: □ 400g (8) dried lasagne sheets FOR THE SAUCE □ 2 tbsp olive oil □ 2 small onions, finely chopped □ 4 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped □ 2 tbsp flour □ 1 x 400g can chickpeas, drained □ 1 x 400g can borlotti beans drained □ 1 x 400g can chopped tomatoes in juice □ 1 heaped tbsp tomato puree □ 1 x 10g vegetable stock cube □…

The mornings are a little misty, you’re swapping tees for jumpers, and your drawer of tights is looking that bit more enticing. But, a change in the fashion season can be really pricey. However, you need not spend a fortune to get dressed for the cold. Money expert Kate Pattinson from ashleighmoneysaver.co.uk has shared her fashion tips… 1. Try on all your autumn clothes from last year The best way to work out what you need for the new season, is to understand what you’ve already got in your wardrobe. Do it in the style of super-organiser Marie Kondo and pull all your autumn clothes out of your wardrobe and onto your bed. Try each piece on, and if it ‘sparks joy’ then keep it – if not, pop it in…

As the days are getting shorter, the fun is heating up at Pick Me Up! Bingo! Join us for a month of great games and promotions... Top prizes! WIN a trip to London for two, plus £200 spending money! Every day there’s one night’s stay for two in a central L ondon hotel, plus a pair of tick ets to Madame T ussauds and £200 spending money to be won. Go to the Spitting Image promo at Pick Me Up! Bingo , and for every day between 7–20 October that you , you will be spin the wheel and play the revealed amount on any game . Opt in and minimum £1 wager required. entered into the daily prize draw New Game Grab the joystick and enjoy some retro fun…

Transformation coach and author, Noor Hibbert, expands: ‘Psychological studies have shown that verbal sexual harassment can exacerbate depression and anxiety, especially in younger women who receive unwanted sexual attention. ‘Unfortunately, verbal sexual harassment is common and yet so many women don’t report it because they feel unable to speak out. ‘This is the type of stress which can lead to the  development of mental health issues, and so the impact of verbal sexual harassment can spread far beyond the immediate discomfort experienced during the actual incidents. ‘Most women, including myself, have suffered from street harassment which over time, can lead to experiencing anxiety when out amongst other people. When women are constantly on the alert and feeling unsafe, this raises their cortisol level which in some people can lead to…

Tomato sauce gun, £10, aplaceforeverything.co.uk Why squirt a boring bottle of ketchup when you can shoot it out of a gun? This new dispensing gun adds a little fun to the dinner table. Fire sauce until your heart’s content, or until your chips are drowned. The biscuit bag, £4.50, aplaceforeverything.co.uk A match made in heaven – tea and biscuits! Hook this little biscuit bag over the rim of any mug to store your break-time Bourbon. Great for tea bags, too. Upside down novelty wine glass, £9.99, gettingpersonal.co.uk Upon first look, this novelty wine glass looks no different to any regular glass. Shock your guests in horror when you turn it upside down! With a little hole to pour the liquid in, you can sip…

Beanz baked eggs Serves 2 □ 2 cans Heinz Beanz (415g can) □ 1 tbsp vegetable oil □ 1 onion, chopped □ 2 red peppers, sliced □ 2 tbsp water □ 1 tbsp tomato purée □ 1 tsp cumin □ 1 tsp paprika □ 6 eggs □ Bunch of chopped parsley 1 Preheat the oven to 180°C. Heat the oil in an ovenproof saucepan and fry the onion and peppers until soft. 2 Add tomato purée, cumin and paprika and season to taste. Add a splash of water, then pour in the Heinz Beanz. Stir everything together and bring up to a light simmer. 3 Add the eggs one at a time and place the whole dish in the oven. Bake for around 5 to 10 minutes or until the…

ARIES 21 March–20 April Fallouts with neighbours or friends are likely, and there seems to be a territorial feel to what you’ll be falling out about. Just because someone knew someone before you, or has been somewhere longer, doesn’t mean you don’t have a right to make a life, too, does it? Refusing to enter into arguments will get you the outside help you’ve been waiting for. Call: 09058 170 710* TAURUS 21 April–21 May The Moon made it difficult for you not to wear your heart on your sleeve last weekend, and some of you were left feeling red faced and rather embarrassed about it all. Don’t be! Remember, what you were keeping bottled in needed to come out, or it would have ended up driving you around the…

Send us your stories and photos, including all namesand ages, a daytime phone number and full address.E-mailhello @pickmeupmag.co.uk WRITE TO Pick Me Up! Media Centre, Emma-ChrisWay, Abbey Wood Park, Filton, Bristol, BS34 7JU PHONE 01174400607 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.…

INSTANT appointment With Dr Gary Bartlett, a GP based in North Wiltshire. Painful piercing Q I have a piercing in my ear, and I think it's got infected. It's really painful. What should I do? Georgia, Kent. A Ouch! An infected ear piercing can be painful! Is the site hot, red, swollen or discharging pus? If any of the answers to these questions are yes, then your ear piercing may well be infected. In the first instance, I would suggest removing the ear piercing altogether, as the infection has been introduced into the soft tissues by the infected piece of jewellery. Failing to remove the piercing can delay healing and lead to the infection spreading throughout the soft tissues of your ear. This will make the infection much more complicated…

The ABCDE checklist can help you assess your mole: • Asymmetrical – melanomas have two very different halves and are an irregular shape. • Border – melanomas have a notched, ragged or blurred border. • Colours – melanomas will be a mix of two or more colours – different shades of black, brown and pink may be seen. • Diameter – most melanomas are larger than 6mm in diameter. • Evolving – a mole that changes, especially in size or colour over time, is more likely to be a melanoma. Visit www.miiskin.com.…

1 Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder where you regularly have sudden attacks of panic or fear. ☐ True ☐ False 2 Sufferers may start to avoid certain situations in case they trigger another attack. ☐ True ☐ False 3 Panic attacks always have a known trigger. ☐ True ☐ False 4 Medicines and talking therapies can help treat panic disorder. ☐ True ☐ False 5 The causes of panic disorder are understood. ☐ True ☐ False 1 TRUE Someone with panic disorder will experience feelings of anxiety, stress and panic regularly and at any time. 2 TRUE This can create a cycle of ‘living in fear’. It can add to your sense of panic and lead to more attacks. 3 FALSE Panic attacks can come on very quickly and…

Running with a dog is top remedy for bad moods Pet food brand, Canagan, and the University of Chichester partnered on research into how running with your dog impacts performance. It’s no secret that exercise leaves us feeling more energised. But new research reveals that exercising with your dog can improve energy and stamina, compared to going it alone. Negative moods like depression, anger and fatigue also decrease following a run with a dog. Better yet, exercising with a dog isn’t just good for you, but it also boosts your dog’s overall health, mood and fitness levels. So, the next time you decide to jump on a treadmill or hit the gym, consider taking your furry pup on a jog instead. @jadethesablegsd Jade and Jasper are house wolves that love…

Pulling into our road I smiled. ‘What a great week,’ my husband Kevin, 27, said. ‘Wasn’t it just? Though I think it’s knackered them out!’ I laughed nodding to our sleeping kids, aged 3 and 2, in the back of the car. Bless, they both looked utterly exhausted, but it wasn’t a surprise. JACKPOT! My screen erupted in colours and fireworks The last five days had been spent splashing around in the pool in Skegness and nights dancing, and having an incredible time. Hard to believe, it was all after my latest big bingo win. It was February this year and the day was like any other. The four of us devoured a roast dinner, then as Kevin washed up, I’d tucked the kids into bed. We were both really…

Collapsed in a hospital bed, my whole body ached in pain. ‘Stay strong, Mum,’ my daughter Jane said, squeezing my hand tight. I looked at my other two daughters Zoe, 28, and Ruth, 26, who were smiling reassuringly at me. In 2012, doctors had told me that I had food poisoning. But I knew something was seriously wrong. ‘Susan has contracted double pneumonia,’ the doctor announced to my family. Double pneumonia is a serious infection of both lungs, and can prove fatal. ‘Her body is very weak,’ the doctor said. ‘We are worried that she won’t make it to lunchtime.’ It was 10am. Distraught and terrified, my family huddled around me. ‘You’ve got to fight,’ my husband David, then 58, willed. And I sure did. When midday passed, I sobbed…

Our Pick Me Up! Feature Writers have all experienced being wolf-whistled or catcalled on the street. Here are our experiences… Nia Dalton, Feature Writer, says: ‘There is one road by my house where all men beep or whistle. I was walking home from the gym the other day when a man slowed down in his car. I crossed the road and his car came to a halt next to me. He shouted out ‘You’re so fit! Don’t go to the gym gorgeous!’ He was twice my age and I felt so vulnerable. I told him to leave me alone and he sat smirking in his  car. It made me feel so angry. Now I’m too scared to walk to the gym alone, so I always drive.’ Rosie Crass, Feature Writer,…

Over the years, it had become a truly toxic relationship, but somehow, Jason Considine and Natasha Hogan were still together. The couple lived in Melbourne, Australia, and had been together since high school. Jason and Natasha were quick to defend their love on social media, but they’d had their fair share of problems. Jason had struggled with drug addiction and was out of work. He took his issues out on Natasha, and their relationship was plagued with domestic violence. When Jason served some time in prison, Natasha was unfaithful, and he found out about it. But once he was released, they reignited it all again. It seemed that they were trouble together, but they couldn’t bear to be apart. In early 2017, Jason knew there was a good chance that…

Cleaning up the remanence of tea, I scraped the leftover pizza and chips into the bin. On 6 August, I was looking after my daughter, Josie, two, and my two stepdaughters. ‘I’m going to the loo,’ Josie called out, running upstairs to her sisters. We were potty training Josie - I knew she’d be just fine with her sisters up there. But before I had a chance to wash up, they started screaming out for me. ‘Help! Help!’ the girls shouted down the stairs. ‘What’s going on?’ I yelled back concerned. ‘Josie’s got a potty stuck on her head!’ they screamed back. What did they just say? Running up the stairs, I couldn’t believe my eyes. Her little ears were stopping it coming off Stood in the bathroom doorway, Josie…