Table of contents for 08-Jul-2021 in Pick Me Up!

Back when I was a child, I was one of two black people in my school. Whilst I don’t consider myself to have been bullied, I had a lot of questions about the colour of my skin, as well as my afro hair. I just got on with things, but I hoped things would change by the time I had my own kids. However, fast forward 20 years, and my son Jaden comes home at the age of four crying his eyes out. ‘What’s the matter?’ I asked. ‘I hate my hair. I want it gone,’ he sobbed. After a bit of pressing, it turned out he was the only kid in his reception class with afro hair and he felt isolated. I realised that day that things haven’t changed…

Watching the sun rise over the water with my daughter Alayna, I soaked in the magical moment. It was pure bliss. My husband, Alex, 49, and I were on a family holiday in Mallorca, making the most of our time together before Alayna and Maysa – our three-year-old twins – started school. Later that day, I pulled on my running gear, and set out for a jog along the promenade – a hobby I’d taken up while we’d been on our break. That morning, there seemed to be more people than usual out and about, so I had to weave myself between other runners. Suddenly, I lost my footing and went flying to the floor – landing with a thud. Blushing crimson with embarrassment, I winced in the pain. A…

Be a winner! This week, our tip of the week will receive some amazing products from Addis! Creating a clean and neat space can help makeover a room with a minimal cost yet maximum impact. This ultimate Lynsey Queen of Clean bundle contains her full collection including her pretty, pink foldable laundry basket! For ways to embrace your space visit addis.co.uk Panic over! In a snap Never lose your car in big car parks again by snapping a picture of its location with signs or numbers in. Beverley Lindfield, Kent Tip of the week Pristine pinkies Nail varnish can discolour your nails. To get rid of staining, simply make up a small bowl of warm water and drop in a denture tablet before soaking your fingers for five minutes. Gill…

Sue Tappenden is a Coach and People Expert who helps her clients improve their relationship with themselves and others. (www.headspacefor change.com) I thought I was coping Q I had a miscarriage earlier this year and although I thought I was doing ok, I got to my baby’s due date and I haven’t stopped crying since. People struggle to understand. How will I ever heal? Jen, Suffolk A Miscarriage affects us in so many ways and everyone’s experience is different. When things go wrong, we might physically recover fairly quickly, but the emotional impact of the lost hopes and dreams of the future are felt deeply. It’s no surprise that your baby’s due date has brought your sadness to the surface and you must allow yourself to grieve fully. Doing so…

Prevent pet theft With pet thefts on the rise, pet parents are being warned to be vigilant. NetVoucherCodes.co.uk have collated the best tips on how to protect your furry friends… 1. BE EXTRA VIGILANT-Keep a close eye on your pet whilst roaming free on their daily walks. 2. AVOID LOCATION TAGGING - Avoid tagging locations of your home, specific parks and walking routes online. 3. KEEP YOUR PROPERTY SECURE-Make sure your outdoor space is well enclosed and fit locks and a bell to your gate. 4. AVOID ROUTINE - If pet thefts are high in your area, switch up your daily routine. 5. DON’T LEAVE PETS IN A CAR - Dogs should never be left in a car alone! 6. WHILST AWAY - Take care when picking who will look…

Spend 10 minutes on social media and you’ll be welcomed with countless posts about life beginning to start up again. Understandably, many people are looking forward to returning to ‘normal’. From going to the pub, filling stadiums and just getting back on with life, many people are ready to break free from the social restrictions we have all faced this past year-and-a-half. However, not everyone is feeling so joyous at the thought of that. Since the easing of restrictions began in March, almost a year to the day since they were imposed, many people have begun expressing feelings of uncertainty. The term ‘post-lockdown anxiety’ has hit the headlines and after so long locked away, it understandable as to why. Whether it’s a worry of catching coronavirus or struggling in social…

As hotels, caravans and B&Bs get booked up ahead of the great summer of staycations, holidaymakers are being forced to take to their tents. Despite feeling at one with nature, some camping habits aren’t the best for the environment. The team at money.co.uk have explored how to make a camping trip as ecofriendly as possible. 1 Check for chemicals The products used during a camping trip can have even more of an impact on nature than leaving rubbish behind! Many household products, such as moisturiser, toothpaste, sunscreen, and insect repellent, contain chemicals that may pollute the environment they are used in. Plan ahead and pick sustainable, all-natural products. 2 Use, reuse and recycle Habits, like recycling, are usually followed at home but are quick to disappear when we go on…

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. Hot Trend! Go faux! Bring greenery inside This week’s puzzle answers! Planetary…

• If you’d like advice from our Pick Me Up! expert, email us at hello@pickmeupmag.co.uk or write to us at the address on our contacts page (pg4). • If your problem affects your mental wellbeing, you can call the helpline run by the charity Mind on 0300 123 3398, open 9am to 6pm weekdays. ‘Oh yes, the past can hurt. But you can either run from it, or learn from it.’Rafiki, from The Lion King. There are plenty of times when we’re told to put our past behind us and move on. While dwelling on negativity is not the way we should live our lives, we also shouldn’t pass up the opportunity to learn from it either. When we reflect, we can discover new strengths to help us navigate future…

YOU WILL NEED: Tip: Alternatively, get a tin of your favourite paint colour and add white paint to create lighter shades. You don’t have to spend a fortune STEP 1 • Carefully remove the sideboard doors. Then, plan out four equal sections on the doors and assign a paint shade to each. To achieve an ombré effect, use the darkest colour on one end and work towards the lightest colour on the other end of the sideboard. • Mask the first section out, making sure to go around the edges, too. We only want the front of the doors to be painted. STEP 2 • Paint the first section on each door and leave to dry completely. STEP 3 • Once they’re dry, remove the masking…

1. Attitude of gratitude Maybe you are dreading getting back out there, but rather than thinking about the things that you don’t want, really appreciate the things you do. 2. Effective self-care You may hear self-care and think spa day or meditation. However, whatever energises or relaxes you best is going to be the most effective for you. Remember that if we are feeling anxious, then something relaxing may be most effective, and if we are feeling down, then an energiser may be best. 3.Set yourself goals Having a focus, with flexibility or alternatives, means you have something to work for, and look forward to. Try writing down your aims, and then breaking down those goals into smaller steps – some of which you might be able to start right now. 4.Edit…

Colin the Caterpillar Cookie Dough, £3, M&S These ready to bake kits make four chocolatey cookies with colourful chocolate beans and mini Colin faces to decorate! It might be M&S’s most exciting Colin the Caterpillar creation yet. Warner’s Rhubarb Gin, £36, Tesco, M&S and Waitrose Made from farm grown rhubarb, Warner’s Rhubarb gin will make the perfect evening tipple this summer. Loaded Triple Chocolate Brownie Dessert, £3.25, Tesco This indulgent chocolate brownie is baked with milk chocolate chunks then loaded with chocolate sauce, white chocolate drizzle and finished with even more devine milk chocolate chunks. Sounds delicious to us! OUR MUST TRY Cooks&Co new launches, from £1.99, www.cooksandco.co.uk Lotus Root, Tri-Colour Jalapenos and three new Greek olive offerings join the Cooks&Co line-up this summer - helping you add flavour to…

Hearing a knock at the front door, I rush to open it. My youngest granddaughter Megan, aged17, is standing on the driveway with a beautiful big grin. ‘Morning Grandma,’ she beams. ‘Can I come in?’ Ushering Megan inside, I pop the kettle on and sit down for a natter. My eight grandchildren treat my house like their second home. My husband Peter, 80, and I couldn’t be more grateful for them all. We have such a close family and it’s marvellous. 10 years ago, three of my grandsons, Michael, then 17, Thomas, then 15, and Andrew, then 13, decided they didn’t want to do their local paper rounds anymore. They all had busy lives with numerous afterschool clubs. So, I told my daughter Lisa, then 42, that I’d take over.…

Dashing to the bathroom, I clutched my baby bump as I hunched over the loo By the third trimester, I expected the morning sickness to have calmed down, but it remained just as bad for my entire pregnancy. ‘Can’t wait to get you out of there,’ I joked, rubbing my burgeoning bump. It was 2016 and I was expecting my first child with my partner, Harry*, 29. Despite the horrendous morning sickness, we were so excited, especially when we found out we were having a little girl. However, at a 37-week scan, doctors noticed she had stopped growing and had reduced movement. ‘We’re going to induce you early,’ the consultant suggested. Although it was three weeks early, the doctor wasn’t overly concerned, and medical staff reassured me it was just…

Complete the grid then read down the shaded squares to reveal the hidden answer. Clue: Soft material. ACROSS 1 & 5 Down Fantasy TV series whose cast included 11 Across, 16 Across, 27 Across, 28 Across, 29 Across & 7 Down (4,2,7) 4 Muscle, power (8) 10 More disobedient (9) 11 Alfie _, John Wick star with a musician sister named Lily (5) 12 Male voice (5) 13 Usefulness (9) 14 Spice also known as meridian fennel (7) 16 _ Bean, National Treasure actor born in Sheffield (4) 19 Jon _, character in 1 & 5 Across played by 27 Across (4) 21 The ‘A’ in USA (7) 24 Rodent snare (9) 25 Snooped (5) 26 Powdered tobacco (5) 27 Kit _, produced and starred in 2017 BBC miniseries Gunpowder…

Heat kills around 2000 a year in the UK As the temperature is rising, it’s important to remember to look after ourselves to avoid heat exhaustion or heatstroke. Superintendent pharmacist Phil Day shares his top tips on how to stay safe in the sunshine. DRINK UP! Consume cold drinks regularly, ideally water. Avoid tea, coffee and alcohol as they can further dehydrate the body. COLD SHOWERS Regular cool baths, showers, or splashing your face with cold water are other useful ways of keeping cool. DRESS CODE Try to wear natural fabrics that are loose and not restricting. GET SHADY Stay out of the sun during the hottest times of the day – between 11am and 3pm. REST If you or someone else starts to feel unwell, find somewhere cool to…

Dear Mum, Growing up, you were such a free spirit. We had so much fun together and you always knew how to make me laugh. Although you and my dad, Richard, now 42, had me when you were only teenagers, you were the best parents. I never went without and when my sister Jade, now 22, and brother Hayden, now 13, were welcomed into the world, we were a close-knit group. Even when you and Dad split up and you met your new partner Darren, we all remained close. I know some kids go through a hard time when their parents split, but you and Dad made sure nothing changed. Although us three kids lived with Dad, we saw you almost every day, and we were so close with Darren.…

DON’T MISS High: Confessions Of An Ibiza Drug Mule, BBC Three Aged 19, Michaella McCollum boarded her first ever flight for her first foreign holiday in Ibiza. Just a few weeks later she was arrested at Lima airport in Peru trying, and failing, to smuggle more than a million pounds worth of cocaine in her suitcase. Follow the story of how Michaella went from a regular kid from rural Northern Ireland to a cartel drug mule. Like many teenagers, Michaella was bored of her hometown in the sticks and craved sun and adventure. She’d get a lot more of both than she bargained for, as her Ibiza dream of podium dancing and villa parties turned into a nightmare when she fell into the island’s illicit world of drugs and excess.…

Boarding the plane to Mexico, I tried to ignore the anxious thoughts and focus on being excited about my new life to come. I was a little worried because of horror stories I’d read online about weight loss surgeries like these going wrong and permanently disfiguring people’s bodies. My dad, Bill, had agreed to come with me for my op, my step-mum had struggled with weight problems herself, and my daughter, Daija, didn’t want me to do it. ‘What if you die in theatre?’ she panicked when I was home in Seattle. But, at the start of 2018 I’d made the decision, paid the money and there was no turning back. I was always a bigger kid, but it didn’t bother me until I reached middle school and I started…

Meet the latest residents at Drayton Manor Park! The Staffordshire-based theme park and zoo has introduced three new and improved animal enclosures for 2021, creating enhanced habitats for some of its much-loved residents, as well as an exciting and immersive experience for visitors. Drayton Manor Park’s 15-acre conservation zoo spent the winter months undertaking work on three different animal enclosures, with new-look homes unveiled for the zoo’s meerkats, tortoises and African birds. In the Reptile House, a brand-new enclosure has been introduced for the zoo’s five Radiated tortoises – a critically engaged species rescued from the illegal wildlife trade in Madagascar. The new enclosure features rocks and soil similar to that found in Southern Madagascar, as well as native Malagasy plants to make the tortoises feel at home. State-of-the-art lighting…