Table of contents for 17-Nov-2022 in Pick Me Up!

Loading up muddy football kits in the washing machine, it didn’t feel like a miserable task to me. There was something so rewarding about seeing the children happily running around in the fresh air. Since 16, I had spent all my time babysitting. My Friday nights as a teen weren’t spent heading out to wild parties, but instead singing lullabies to babies. So, when I met my first husband, aged 20, I couldn’t wait to have my own. James was born in 1990, and 10 years later, I got remarried to my partner, Chris. We did consider having more kids of our own, but settled on fostering instead. ‘We’ll give it a go for a couple of years…’ we said to each other. We’ve now fostered over 90 children! Except,…

Perfect for on the go, or when you’re in need of a quick snack, the Locako Keto Collagen bars are high in essential fats and protein, and low in carbs and sugar. Offering excellent nutritional macro content, they are made with the combination of pasture-raised bovine collagen and coconut MCT that support your hair, skin, nails, joints and gut health. Available in two delicious flavours – Chocolate Hazelnut and Chocolate Caramel.…

As the cart juddered towards the top of the peak, I grinned, my stomach sick with anticipation. But, it wasn’t the ride making me nervous. A month ago, childhood best friend Lewis, then 17, had finally asked me to be his girlfriend and we were on our first date at LEGOLAND. It was a perfect date – we bonded over our love of Lego. What’s more, we both loved theme parks, so it was a perfect combination of our interests. We finally go to the summit, and I looked over at Lewis. ‘Here we go!’ I grinned at him. We swooped down shrieking, and by the time we got off, I was grinning from ear to ear. It was truly a magical day. As we swooped around the rides, I…

We have all seen those delicious bottles full of cake ingredients, ready to simply add a dash of milk – and when they are cooking our pets are bound to be jealous! This time around, they can certainly have a sweet treat for themselves… The Doggy Baking Co. offer glass bottles containing all the ingredients to make delicious treats for your dog. And there are three scrummy flavours to choose from – Pumpkin Seed and Banana Biscuit Mix, Linseed, Oregano and Parsley Baking Mix, and Carrot Cake Mix – they can get involved in the process, too. • Doggy Baking Co. Bottle, £10.99, bottledbaking.co.uk…

Christmas at Blenheim Palace, OXFORDSHIRE See the Kingdom of the Snow Queen reimagined at Britain’s greatest palace. Explore the palace rooms, transformed and filled with hidden surprises, then head to the gardens to see the jaw-dropping Illuminated Trail, with a million twinkling lights. • From 18 November to 2 January 2023 • Tickets from £36.50 • Please visit: christmasatblenheim.seetickets.com Christmas at Hatfield Park, HERTFORDSHIRE A brand-new trail for 2022, this historic National Trust property, just 20 minutes from Kings Cross Station, was a place that Queen Elizabeth I spent much of her childhood. The stunning 42-acre gardens have been transformed into a magical winter wonderland for the first time. • From 25 November to 31 December • Tickets from £17 • Please visit: christmasathatfieldpark.seetickets.com Christmas at Bedgebury, KENT Throwing majestic…

Despite previously confessing, Moses Christensen pleaded ‘not guilty’ to murder at a preliminary hearing – so the case would go to a trial. Tears began streaming down my cheeks as I felt a mixture of emotions. I went to a few of the pretrial hearings, but I couldn’t bring myself to sit in court every day through the trial. I didn’t want to hear about Grandad’s final horrific moments – it was still too raw. But Mum, Dad, Nan and her brother went every day to the trial at Stafford Crown Court, in April last year. As I struggled to process what had happened, I blocked everything out and struggled to talk about it. All I could think about was the last time I’d seen Grandad. Why hadn’t I given…

ACROSS 1 Glows (6) 4 Easily fooled (8) 10 Remarkable (7) 11 Attack by planes (3,4) 12 _ Jeffries, star of TV series Rel and Empire (4) 13 Lancashire town (10) 15 Relaxed (6) 16 Imitation (7) 20 Celestial (7) 21 Column (6) 24 Diva (5,5) 26 Portent (4) 28 Unprofessional (7) 29 Delayed (7) 30 Disperses (8) 31 Sharlto _, star of the films Ted K and The Last Days of American Crime (6) DOWN 1 Sunscreen (8) 2 En route (2,7) 3 Idris _, star of TV series Luther and Turn Up Charlie (4) 5 Not frightened (8) 6 Throat inflammation (10) 7 2022 survival adventure film starring 12 Across, 31 Across, 3 Down, and 25 Down (5) 8 Final part (6) 9 Fight with swords (5) 14…

Adults over 50, who sleep five or less hours a night, are at an increased risk of developing chronic illness, according to a study published in the journal PLOS Medicine. The study found that those who slept under five hours a night were 30% more likely to develop a chronic illness such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease in the span of 25 years, in comparison to someone who sleeps seven hours a night. Recommending seven to eight hours of sleep a night, the study suggests physical activity and exposure to light in the day will help you feel more sleepy.…

It’s a sausage party Everybody loves a sausage dog, and what better way to celebrate this cute little pooch than holding an almighty dachshund dash? That’s exactly what happened in Yorkshire! This October welcomed the HECK event, where 10 star sausages lined up ready for the race of their lives. The event included endless supplies of footlong Bratwursts, giant pretzels, and alcohol, so the audience would be ready to cheer from the side-lines – competing for the Golden Sausage. HECK’S Amy Seed said: ‘We held our first Dachshund Dash at a sausage festival a few years ago – sausage dogs are a bit of a tradition in the HECK! Family and there were a few generations of dogs on hand to watch. ‘We thought it was time for a rematch…

Lying back on the hospital bed, I only had one thought that came to mind… Well, that was certainly easier than the rest! With a straightforward pregnancy, and a labour that was over in just a few hours, on 16 June 2011 at Jessop Hospital, Sheffield, our baby girl Ronni, weighed in at a healthy 8lbs 2oz. And if anything, it was a relief to finally see a baby girl – especially as she had three protective older brothers at home waiting for her. Up until then, I had been outnumbered with my husband Jason, 45, and sons Lewis, now 23, Harrison, now 20, and Riley, now 13, ruling the roost. Only, the same day we were about to be discharged, something wasn’t quite right. Latching on, Ronni seemed to…

We’ve all been scared by spooky stories of vampire bats, lurking in the shadows and waiting to suck our blood. Bats have been blighted by bad press – but there’s no reason to be frightened. In fact, if you look at one up close, you’ll actually find they’re pretty cute critters! And they need our help more than ever – with four of the 18 British bat species listed as threatened. ‘The greater mouse-eared bat currently has one known individual left in the UK, and the grey long-eared bat, the serotine bat and the barbastelle bat are endangered, too,’ says Alex Morss, press and communications officer at the Bat Conservation Trust. ‘Some other British bat species are too scarce or under-recorded to know how they are faring. A common pipistrelle…

Rob and Romesh vs The Three Lions, Sky It’s coming home… hopefully! On 20 November, the FIFA World Cup officially kicks off and to get us in the spirit, Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan are back for a very special edition of Rob and Romesh Vs. In this episode, the boys will meet the stars of the England men’s football team ahead of their bid to win the World Cup. As well as hanging out with the England stars, they will also meet the mastermind behind England’s renaissance, Gareth Southgate. The Santa Clauses, Disney Plus With Christmas just a few weeks away, Santa is busy in his workshop, but things aren’t quite going to plan. Out on 16 November on Disney Plus, Tim Allen is back as Kringle himself. Scott’s…

Walking through the front door, I immediately laid eyes on a gorgeous, stripy-faced kitten amongst a litter of cats. Crouching down to give him a stroke, it really was love at first lick! Trawling through Google in December last year, I was on the hunt for a kitten before I moved into my new place. Finishing up my Masters in Public Health at Manchester University, meant I would soon be moving into my very own one-bedroom flat in Dundee to begin a new course up there. And of course, there’s no better company than a cat. So, in January this year, I met my new friend, Bongo. I originally wanted a rescue kitten, but because I’m actually allergic to cats, Bongo’s Bengal-Ragdoll breed means he is hypoallergenic. And I most…

My little Wiggles met an ‘unusual doggy friend’ on a recent visit to Threlkeld! Krissie Cope, Manchester Recently we found ourselves in the charming city of Troyes in France. I could not resist such a beautiful invitation to kiss in the city known for its love of cheeses! Maybe her name was Helen – well, it was Troyes! Mark Dabbs, Great Wyrley The best thing about turning 30 was tucking into to this homemade Lotus Biscoff cake, thanks to my sister! Vicky Cooke, Doncaster As you can see, Polly the cat takes her babysitting duties very seriously when asked to look after the guinea pigs, Eeeny, Meeny and Mo. Tina Vowels, Stroud If your letter makes Star Letter of the week, you will receive some beautiful blooms from Flying Flowers. With over 30…

Watching the smooth polish coat my fingertips, I smiled, widely. ‘Keep still,’ my sister Laura, 35, giggled, as I tried to get a better look at the intricate nail art she’d swirled all over my fingernails – they looked cute. As a nail tech, Laura had to practice new designs constantly, and I loved offering my hands up, free of charge. ‘It’s like I’m your guinea pig!’ I would laugh. As sisters, Laura and I had always been inseparable. As I grew up with cerebral palsy, my baby sister always protected me on and off the school playground. ‘Why are you staring at my sister?’ she would say to strangers at just two years old. When we were both at school, she defended me from mean bullies. ‘Have you got…

Thrillseeking couple Lee Churchill and Leanne Smith, recently tied the knot at Fantasy Island, Skegness. The couple, who intended to get married in Las Vegas before Covid, decided to swap the City of Sin for ‘Skeg-Vegas’, choosing their favourite theme park to host their wedding. • Please visit: fantasyislandresort.co.uk 1. HAVE YOU BOTH ALWAYS LOVED ROLLERCOASTERS AND WHY? We do love rollercoasters and we go on them as much as we can! However, it was just our love of Fantasy Island itself that drew us to get married there. The place always has a magical feel when we come, and we couldn’t think of anywhere better to spend our special day. 2. WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO GET MARRIED AT A THEME PARK? We have been coming to Fantasy Island…

Name: Rosie Breed: Dachshund (Smooth haired) Age: 7 years old Location: Dog’s Trust, Cardiff Reference ID: 1260018 Rosie is a lovely sausage dog who can be shy at first but quickly forms attachments once she is comfortable. She likes going on adventures but prefers quieter walks away from busy roads – her favourite walk being on the coastal path. Rosie loves curling up on the sofa and having cuddles once she knows you, and she will make a great addition to the right home. She will need someone who is patient, especially as she will need to be house trained. • If you think that Rosie sounds like the pet for you, visit: dogstrust.org.uk, using the reference ID listed above.…

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The 18 resident bats in the UK make up almost a quarter of Britain’s mammal species. Here are a few to look out for… • Alcathoe bat: The latest addition to the UK bat family, this was only confirmed as a resident species in 2010. • Bechstein’s bat: One of our rarest bats, found in parts of southern England and south east Wales. • Common pipistrelle: The most common of the British bats, and a tiny little critter weighing in at around five grams – the same as a 20p piece. • Natterer’s bat: Its broad wings mean it can fly slowly and prey on lots of insects – even snatching spiders from their webs. • Noctule: This is our biggest bat – but still smaller than the palm of…

As you may have heard, butter boards are the big food trend of the moment. Even This Morning have been showcasing their very own versions. That’s why award-winning butter producers, Trewithen Dairy, are here with their top tips to make your very own! A MASTERCLASS IN CREATION… 1) Soften a block of butter so it’s spreadable but still firm 2) Take your favourite wooden board or sharing platter and spread the butter onto the board 3) Using a spoon, create ripples and grooves in the butter 4) Top with an assortment of delicious delights 5) Serve with a cut-up French loaf for dipping BUTTER BOARD FLAVOUR IDEAS SAVOURY • Chilli flakes, salty anchovies, rosemary, lemon zest, crispy bacon • Olive tapenade, sun dried tomatoes, red onion slices, fresh basil, olive…