Table of contents for 14-Nov-2019 in Pick Me Up!

Sitting on the sofa watching TV, a Macmillan Brave for Shave advert came on. ‘Mum, I want to do that,’ my daughter Freya said. ‘Why don’t we think about it for a little bit?’ I suggested. Freya has always been very caring and is no stranger to fundraising for charity. She’d previously sold her teddies and has done little bits to raise money for the Nightingale ward at Chesterfield Royal Hospital. So, when she heard that her dad’s colleague had been diagnosed with cancer for the second time, she started asking us some questions. She’d heard of cancer before, but something had clicked inside her. I had no problem with Freya shaving her hair, in fact I was all for it, but she was only eight, and I was worried…

This week, our tip of the week will receive a great product from Addis! When only a quick clean will do, the Addis spray mop is all you need (£26.99). No need for a separate bucket and wringer as the mop comes complete with a refillable bottle, so it’s always ready to use. It comes complete with a removable and machine washable fleece head. For more ways to make your life easier, visit addis.co.uk Clumsy! If you’ve got an accidental prone daughter like me, you always need to be on hand with an ice pack, so I keep a soaked sponge in a plastic sandwich bag in the freezer. You can rinse and freeze again! Lisa Adams, West Midlands No more tears Never cry again when chopping onions – just…

Skipping a beat Q I keep feeling like my heart is fluttering. Should I be worried? Jayne, Dorset. A Heart palpitations can feel like a fast-beating, fluttering or sometimes pounding heart. Symptoms can be uncomfortable and last from seconds to minutes. Causes include stress, anxiety, exercise, medications, excessive amounts of caffeine, nicotine and alcohol. Other rarer causes can include more serious heart conditions, such as an irregular heart rhythm. Although heart palpitations can be worrisome, they’re usually harmless. If you’re concerned, it’s worth seeing your doctor to exclude any underlying medical condition which may be causing your flutterings. Menopause worries Q My menopause symptoms are making my life hell. How long will this go on for? Jill, Kent. A Menopause is a completely normal condition that happens to all women…

Could your phone be ageing you? Research has suggested that staring at the blue light emitted from phones and computers could accelerate ageing. In a study on fruit flies, by Oregon State University, it was found that soaking up LED waves decays brain cells, with the artificial light said to have dramatically slashed the fruit flies lifespan. Blue light has long been suspected to increase cancer risks, with night shift workers who are exposed to more artificial light said to be at higher risk. 1 in 4… That’s the number of hospital beds that are occupied by people living with dementia over the age of 65. The length of their stay can often be longer than those without dementia. Have you tried...Cuticura Mildly Medicated Dry Skin Cream, £9.99 per 200ml…

Listening to doctors as they told us our little girl needed surgery, we were terrified. Freya was nearly two, and me and my husband, Phil, then 35, had been in and out of hospital with her since she was born in December 2010. She had never developed properly, and in comparison to her twin brother Alex, and her older brother Dylan, then five, she was tiny. ‘They can’t be twins?’ people would ask, as I pushed them around the shops. ‘They are,’ I’d say, trying to bite my tongue. But it happened all the time. Everyone thought Freya was much younger. And by the time she was one, she was still in clothes that would fit a newborn. But doctors were still none the wiser as to what was wrong.…

As my son Ollie, nine, rushed in from school, he grabbed a snack that was sitting on the kitchen side. ‘I’m going out on my bike,’ he shouted over to me. ‘OK, keep your phone on loud,’ I urged him. He was always out playing with his friends, so me and my husband Clive, 51, had given him an old phone to check in with us. I’d call him every half an hour to make sure everything was OK. He was the baby of the family, as we already had Jack, 18, Seb, 15 and my stepdaughter Jess, 25. But ten minutes after my last call to him, my phone started ringing with an unfamiliar number. ‘Ollie’s fallen off his bike,’ one of his friends shouted down the phone to…

The experience of paternity leave can be very different for different women. Some say they value the opportunity to return to their careers, and welcome the support and help of their husband at home. They also find that staying at home with young children gives their partner a new appreciation of just how much housework needs to be done. And, they love seeing the bond their children have with their dad. Many families find these benefits last beyond paternity leave, and the dad is more involved in housework, cooking, cleaning and childcare than they  may have been before. As a result, it evens the balance and takes the burden off the mum. However, other women find the reality of paternity leave a struggle. They find leaving their baby more difficult…

If you love comfort food and gloriously gooey dishes, then Melted Cheese (Ryland Peters & Small, £9.99) is for you. It’s packed with 65 recipes that all celebrate the wonder of cheese. From fondue to grilled cheese, pasta bake to potato gratin, you’ll be taught the right cheeses to use to achieve melting perfection. Ideal for sharing, but we won’t tell if you don’t… Meatball & Fontina ciabatta Serves: 3 □ 1 large ciabatta, cut into 3 thick slices then cut widthways □ 250g of grated Fontina FOR THE MEATBALLS □ 225g minced meat, half beef and half Italian sausage □ 30g fresh breadcrumbs □ 1 teaspoon dried oregano □ 1 teaspoon dried rosemary □ pinch of chilli flakes, or more to taste □ 1 egg, beaten □ 2 tablespoons…

Are you fed up of constantly seeing models in the media who you feel don’t reflect who you are? Well, we all know how you feel! So why not help us make a difference? We are on the lookout for women, just like you and your friends, who would like to model for us in the magazine. The good news is, this is not a competition and we’d really love you all to get involved with it. To find out more, check out page 32 and enter online at goodtoknow. co.uk/REAL.…

As I walked through the front door of my flat, my phone started to buzz in my pocket. Glancing at the message, I noticed it was from my friend, John Painter, 23. ‘What does he want?’ I sighed to myself, dumping down my bag and flopping onto the sofa. It was 12 August 2014, and I’d been out for the day at Drayton Manor theme park in Drayton Bassett, Staffordshire, with a guy I’d been seeing. I was exhausted, and now I was ready for an early night. I’ve been kicked out of my parents’ house, John’s message read. I’m on the common and I’ve got nowhere to sleep. I couldn’t help but feel sorry for him. I believed what he was telling me, and with nowhere to go, he…

Ruth Kudzi is a mindset coach with an MA in Psychology. She uses her experience to help her clients build lives they love. www.ruthkudzi.com Hands off my man Q When my friend visits, she’s so flirty with my husband. She practically ignores me and touches him at every opportunity. I feel silly saying something, but it’s upsetting me. Jess, Cardiff A Maybe start a conversation with her, ultimately it is your house and if it is upsetting you then you need to discuss it. Approach it in a neutral way and let her know how you perceive what has been happening and how it makes you feel. Make sure that you are not confrontational, and you are fact based and give her the opportunity to respond. If you fail to…

1 To reduce swelling and help the stye heal, soak a flannel in warm water and apply it to the affected area for about 10 minutes a few times a day. 2 If the pain is bothering you, take paracetamol or ibuprofen as directed. 3 Avoid wearing contact lenses and eye make up while it’s healing. This could irritate the infected area even more. 4 Don’t try to pop the stye yourself as this can spread the infection. Contact your GP if a stye has not got better in a few weeks, affects your vision or is painful or swollen. Styes can be caused by bacteria infecting an eyelid gland…

Q I always get a cough or cold this time of year. Is there any way I can prevent it? Matt, Dundee. A The common cold is irritating and can be very common this time of year. It’s important to remember that it’s caused by a virus and antibiotics will do nothing to cure it. A sore throat, feeling hot, aches and pains, a runny nose and a cough are all symptoms of a cold. Your own immune system is the best at fighting it and most people will recover within two weeks. Your local pharmacist is a good place to seek advice on how to relieve any symptoms you may have. If you are concerned your cold might be something more, see your doctor. So, what steps can you…

From changing nappies to night feeds and newborn baths, baby responsibilities are progressively being shared by both parents. With a drive towards gender equality, men are now encouraged to have skin-to-skin contact with their baby after birth, attend antenatal classes and dress in scrubs during labour. But whilst men are urged to get more involved in the pregnancy and birth of their child, once the baby is born, they are expected to go straight back to work and normal life... 50% of men don’t believe fathers are treated equally to mothers Mothers are entitled to 52 weeks of maternity leave, whilst fathers and same-sex partners are only entitled to two weeks paternity leave. Gender diversity advocate, Caroline Strachan (womanatwork.org.uk), argues this difference; ‘The comparison between parental leave for a man…

IT’S TWINKLE TIME! Starting to plan some winter festivities? Christmas light trails are a magical way to wrap up warm and head outdoors! Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire. 22 November – 1 January The towering Tunnel of Light will once again twinkle with over 100,000 pea-lights. Watch the sky light up with dancing bands of colour, a dynamic waterfall and the softly glowing flowers of the Snowdrop Walk. Complete your stroll under the stars with mulled cider, mulled wine or a hot chocolate. Gather round the fire-pit with family and friends to toast marshmallows and look out for Father Christmas and his elves along the way. Tickets from £14.50, blenheimpalace.com Christmas at Kew, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 20 November – 5 January Now in its seventh year, Christmas at Kew takes a…

Dear Caitlin, I will never forget the first time I saw that cheeky smile of yours. Laughing with your mates in the park, your red hair bounced in the wind as you smiled at me when I walked past. ‘Come sit with us,’ you said, so confident. In that moment, I knew we had a connection. It was 2008, and at 14 years old, we became best mates. Living just a few streets away from each other in Brisbane, Australia, we spent every day together, meeting up after school to start right where we’d left off the day before. You were so fun, vibrant and full of life, such a ray of light. So it was no surprise, then, that just four years later, when we were 18, our friendship…

Self-confidence isn’t about feeling invincible – it’s about having a healthy belief in your abilities and your judgement. It’s very important to your psychological wellbeing. When you believe in yourself, you’re much more likely to put yourself out there – and you waste less time worrying about whether you’re good enough. Instead, you can spend that time on nailing it. Stop comparing yourself to others. It leads to envy which makes you feel worse! Life isn’t a competition. It sounds obvious, but eating well, exercising and getting enough sleep will boost the way you feel about yourself on the daily. Make self-care a priority. When you’re negative about yourself, think, would I say that to my friend? Then don’t say it to yourself!…

Grasping a T-shirt off the floor with my foot, I flung it down the stairs. Repeating the same awkward movement with the rest of the laundry, I’d eventually got it all down. Next, gripping the banister, I slowly made my way downstairs, and began the process again - kicking items of clothing one by one into the kitchen, and then into the washing machine. Finally, after over an hour, I switched on the machine. While doing laundry isn’t something most people find too difficult, for me, it was agonising. You see, at just 41, I have crippling arthritis, and sometimes, I can barely move. It all started when I was 10, growing up in Brighton. I was an active child, even a regional long jump champion. But I’d started to…

1 High blood pressure often doesn’t have any noticeable symptoms. ☐ True ☐ False 2 Your blood pressure is considered high if it is 140/90mmHg or above. ☐ True ☐ False 3 Only lifestyle changes can help reduce your blood pressure. ☐ True ☐ False 4 The risk of high blood pressure increases with age. ☐ True ☐ False 5 High blood pressure cannot be prevented. ☐ True ☐ False 1 TRUE There are often very few noticeable symptoms. The only way to find out is to have your blood pressure checked. 2 TRUE Ideal blood pressure levels are usually considered to be between 90/60mmHg and 120/80mmHg. 3 FALSE Lifestyle changes can help reduce high blood pressure, although some people may need to take medicine as well. 4 TRUE Age…

Turning off my alarm at 4.30am, I hopped out of bed and slowly headed downstairs to my at-home gym. By 4.45am, I was lifting weights and gearing myself up for the day. At 61, this has been my routine for nearly 40 years. I was never an active child and due to anxiety, I stayed far away from team sport. But when my doctor suggested working out to try and improve my mental health, I figured I’d give it a go. ‘It might do you the world of good,’ the doctor insisted. And so, at 20-years-old, I purchased some adjustable weights and started following fitness videotapes at my parents’ house. One of my favourites was a television programme called 20-minute workout. It was a great way to ease myself into…

1 Register at pickmeupbingo.com 2 Deposit and play £10 with code PMUL 46 3 Claim your £ 5 0 of FREE BINGO *Rules: 18+ UK only. New members only, must opt in. Min £10 deposit & wager. 30 day expiry from deposit. Bingo: Advertised ticket value based on £1 tickets. Game availability & restrictions apply. Full Offer details and Rules at: www.pickmeupbingo.com/ terms#welcomebonus. Offer in this issue ends 14 November 2019. Pick Me Up! Bingo is part of the Jackpotjoy.com network. For 24-hour support, freephone 0800 458 0770. Please Play Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org.…

What are the mental health benefits to both parent and child in taking a longer amount of paternity leave? Niels Eék, clinical psychologist and co-found of wellbeing platform Remente.com, answers… ‘A recent study showed that increasing a father’s parental leave and, as such, sharing the responsibilities of family life in the months immediately following childbirth, can significantly help reduce the likelihood of new mothers experiencing physical postpartum health complications, as well as helping to improve her mental wellbeing. ‘In addition, a report from the OECD indicated that the mental health and wellbeing of children is significantly improved if both parents have extended leave; showing marked advancement in academic performance, even five years down the line. ‘As a new father myself, I have found that having a flexible paternity leave has…

The long nights have officially drawn in, and for us, that means one thing – cosy evenings at home. It’s the season of baths and face masks, so this week, we are here to help you achieve the ultimate quiet night in. Indulge your skin Garnier Moisture Bomb Night-Time Tissue Masks, £2.99, Boots Making time to wind down and relax is crucial for both our mind and skin. These new night-time masks are the solution to a perfect night’s sleep and restored morning skin. Offering intense hydration and moisture before you sleep, this face and eye mask combo will revitalise the skin, leaving you relaxed and ready for a good night’s sleep. Enriched with deep sea water, hyaluronic acid and soothing cornflower, after just 15 minutes, your skin will feel…

ARIES 21 March–20 April Never dull your sunshine for others. I know (and you do as well if you’re honest with yourself), that you have been treated as a second-class citizen, by those you put your trust and time into. This week gives you the chance to put them out of your circle. Don’t let an emotional blip allow them to worm their way back in. Especially when you’ve come so far in life recently. Call: 09058 170 710* TAURUS 21 April–21 May Friends and what they mean to you are changing. You realise that you are full of knowledge and answers and you don’t need to consult others to make decisions. It’s a clear run, as soon as you decide to become more honest about what you need. Money…