Table of contents for 7-Dec-2023 in Pick Me Up!

Fastening my red cloak and putting on my round spectacles, I embodied the cheery spirit of Christmas. Walking into my son’s bedroom, I tried not to laugh. Lifting a huge Elf head, Lucas, now 15, took a deep breath and prepared to fit his own head inside of it. ‘I’m going to look ridiculous, Mum!’ he protested. But I knew we were dressing up for a good cause. In 2021, I decided to organise Christmas home visits in the local area to get families in the festive spirit. With locals paying for Mrs Claus, Elf on the Shelf and Santa Claus himself to turn up on their doorstep, all the money raised would go to domestic abuse charities. Lucas even dressed up as Elf on the Shelf And I knew…

Doing adorable our 12-year-old annual rescue car, Miz. Always Christmas looking for the Beecher, Farnley My daughter and her fiancé had moved into their first home and decided to decorate the bath, making it into a Santa sleigh for their son Grayson. As you can see, he loved it! Tiffany Hodgson, Yorkshire STAR LETTER This is my bunny Sweetener with her very own snowman! Caroline Palin, Merseyside Santa off to take some presents round to friends and family. Karen Jackson, Sheffield 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 life’s special moments and FREE delivery by post, a gorgeous bouquet by Flying Flowers is a lovely way to celebrate sharing smiles and happiness. See flyingflowers.co.uk for…

Do you have a favourite farm animal? Carols by Candlelight, The Donkey Sanctury, Sidmouth On 8 December, head to The Donkey Sanctuary for the most magical experience. Alongside the resident donkeys, you’ll feel like you’re in the manger yourself. And Father Christmas may even pop in for a few a songs, too. With thousands of candles lighting the way, head to the main barn where carols kick off at 6pm sharp. The service lasts an hour, and listening to angel voices alongside such kind and gentle animals is truly whimsical – a perfect way to kickstart Christmas. What’s more, hot food and drink will be available to purchase, so why not make an evening of it? With the donkey being such an integral part of the birth of Christ, you simply…

Huddled up by a roaring fire, with festive tunes playing through a little speaker, I got up to check on the Christmas dinner. Beef stew bubbled away in the oven, the warming smell filling our little cabin. I dished up and my husband Trevor and I sat at the table, just the two of us. It certainly wasn’t the big, extravagant Christmas I was used to. But then I took a look out the window, at blankets of crisp, untouched white snow glistening across our land and dusting the treetops – and I realised it was all worth it. It was a proper Bing Crosby White Christmas moment. We truly were living in a winter wonderland! Trevor, 31, and I had moved from Phoenix, Arizona, to Alaska in May 2022.…

FOR HER FOR KID FOR HIM FOR PETS Turn to page 60 for more gift ideas…

Haircare heroes We all love party season, but it can wreak havoc on our hair. With endless styling and applying more heat, it’s important that we do what we can to protect our strands. 1. GHD BODYGUARD HEAT PROTECT SPRAY, FROM £12.50, LOOK FANTASTIC The number one bestselling heat protector from GHD will allow you to create flawless styles with heated tools, without the worry of damage. Coating every strand, it helps to protect locks for hair that looks and feels healthier. 2. JOHN FRIEDA MIRACULOUS RECOVERY DEEP CONDITIONER, £7.99, BOOTS Give your hair a hit of hydration with this powerful, repairing mask. Rescuing distressed, heat-damaged locks, it will work to restore hair back to its former glory. With regular use, hair is quenched, nourished and conditioned. 3. TRESEMMÉ BEAUTY-FULL…

When you think of Christmas, one of the first things your mind wanders to is food. And it is no surprise – from Christmas dinner to mince pies, candy canes and plenty of cheese – food makes up a huge part of the yuletide festivities. And while many of us are looking forward to tucking into our Christmas puds, the food focus can be challenging for those living with, or in recovery from, an eating disorder. An estimated 1.25 million people in the UK have an eating disorder, according to the charity Beat. What’s more, hospital admissions for eating disorders have risen by 84% over the last five years according to The London Centre, showing a rise amongst adults in the UK. But why is Christmas such a pressurised time?…

Stepping into my local garden centre, I headed straight to the Xmas decorations. Only, I wasn’t looking to buy. Instead, I pulled my phone out, snapping pictures of the decorations catching my eye. A fancy bauble here, sparkly lights there – I loved looking at the beautiful décor. And keeping the images in my camera roll, I would be back on the Boxing Day sales to get my trinkets for next year. I love Christmas, but the festivities leave a better taste when you’re prepared. Call me the frugal Mrs Claus – I adore bringing the magic of Christmas home on a budget. But I hadn’t always been this organised. I remember going on mad dashes to the shops in the middle of December in the pouring rain, not knowing…

YOU’VE GOTTA SLEIGH! Standing up on the stepladder, my fingers were freezing as I tried to attach the lights. On a Sunday night on 12 December last year, it was below freezing, but I was desperate to finish my display. You see, I normally got it up and ready in November. But delivery delays and the horrible cold weather had put a spanner in the works. So now I was determined. ‘Are you OK?’ my neighbour Natalie asked, coming to check on me. ‘Come on its freezing, finish it tomorrow.’ ‘I’m almost done,’ I called. ‘You’re absolutely nuts!’ she said, going back inside. But I knew my gingerbread creation would be worth it. For the past couple of years, I’ve loved putting up a magical Christmas display for the neighbours…

Bitesize! ACROSS 1 Remote (4) 5 Bollard (4) 6 Dines(4) 7 Cut (4) DOWN 1 Top cards (4) 2 Young horse (4) 3 Against (4) 4 Relax (4) Read down the shaded squares for the answer. Answer on page 73. Follow it! 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. Answers on page 73. Fill it! Complete the grid then read down the shaded squares to reveal the hidden answer. Clue: Type of dog. Answer on page 73. ACROSS 1 2023 canine comedy film starring the voices of 11 Across, 26 Across, 9 Down, and 25 Down (6) 4 Vocalist (8) 10 Horn of Africa country (7) 11 Will…

Wrapping up a pair of white, silky pyjamas, trimmed with soft feathers, I felt a buzz of excitement. Lillie’s going to love these, I thought happily. For her 22nd birthday, in November 2021, I’d taken her to see Pretty Woman in London and then to Harrods for afternoon tea. As we’d browsed around afterwards, gazing in awe at all the lavish Christmas decs, she’d spotted the PJs and fallen in love with them. So I sneakily bought them for her for Christmas. I couldn’t wait to see her face when she opened them up. Lillie loved Christmas. It was just me, Lil and her big brother Michael, now 26, and I’d always made it special. Every year we got matching festive PJs and we spent the day with my parents,…

HORRIBLE CHRISTMAS, 29 DECEMBER, LONDON Head to The Barbican this Christmas and get stuck into the more gruesome parts of Christmas.Horrible Histories has another rendition of Horrible Christmas. When Christmas comes under threat, one boy must save Christmas Day. From Victorian villains to monks, puritans and Tudor treats, you’ll depart on a hair-raising adventure through the history of Christmas You don’t want to miss it. • Tickets start at £16.50, please visit: barbican.org.uk THE PURRRFECT CHRISTMAS, 25 NOVEMBER – 31 DECEMBER, CHESSINGTON WORLD OF ADVENTURES Make magical, festive memories with your nearest and dearest at Chessington World of Adventures. With the help of Santa’s elves and reindeer, meet the big man in his log fire grotto. With pantos and carollers, too, you can’t help but get in the festive spirit.…

Not just great bingo! We have some fantastic bingo games but we also have a HUGE collection of popular slot games, as well as Slingo, instant wins, on-site promos, prize wheels, friendly chat rooms and more! Join us for a fun night in! Keeping bingo safe this festive season Set yourself a deposit limit Don’t spend more than you can afford to lose. Take a break You can temporarily pause your account for a number of days. Don’t chase a win If it stops being fun, stop playing. Visit gambe aware.org This site has advice on playing responsibly. Your ultimate guide to bingo games Bingo has been around for decades, and rose to popularity in bingo halls around the UK in the 1950s. But even if you’re familiar with the…

FOR KIDS FOR HIM FOR HER FOR PETS…

Stepping foot inside my mum’s flat, my eyes lit up in awe. ‘It’s like Santa’s grotto,’ I laughed. ‘Well, if you can’t go crazy at Christmas, when can you?’ my mum Diane, then 59, smiled. Always choosing the biggest, fattest tree she could find at the garden centre, she’d even whip out a measuring tape to make sure it was just right. Bringing it home and putting it up proudly, she decked it out in red, gold and green – and no one was allowed to touch it but her! I’d come home to Margate for Christmas, to spend the big day with Mum and my siblings, nieces and nephews, as well as my nan. Christmas was always a big traditional family affair for us. Coming home for the festive…

Fun day out What’s Christmas without a festive illuminated light trail? And there’s nowhere better for an enchanted winter walk than a National Trust property. The magical trail through the festive gardens at Dunham Massey in Cheshire is a family favourite, with beautiful installations set to a choreographed soundtrack. With sculptures featuring lights flaring up like volcanic eruptions, a huge silver star shrouded in mist and a flotilla of colour-changing origami boats, it’ll take your breath away. Don’t worry about the winter chill – you can warm up along the way with a hot chocolate and artisan marshmallows to toast over an open fire. • On now until 31 December, tickets from £12.50, see website for dates and times • Please visit: christmasatdunhammassey.co.uk Make sure you book your tickets ASAP!…

Son the sofa feeding my newborn baby, I plunged my hand into the tub of Quality Streets on the table next to me. But feeling around, all that was left was shiny wrappers. Surely I’ve not eaten that many? I thought. But mindlessly munching my way through the choccies, it appeared I’d scoffed my way through the whole tub. Ah well, I thought. It is Christmas, after all! I’d always loved the festive season, and especially all the yummy food that came with it – my mum’s home baked mince pies, turkey with all the trimmings, plenty of selection boxes. We were a very foodie family – it was a proper British Christmas! But while my parents and my sister were all healthy weights, for some reason I’d struggled with…

Sitting at the table with Christmas tunes tinkling in the background, I carefully cut around the wrapping paper. Placing a gift in the middle, I folded the edges in, securing it with tape, before topping it off with a bow. ‘What are you doing?’ my wife Renee asked, laughing. ‘It’s only just October!’ ‘I know, but we need to be prepared this year,’ I said. You see, Renee and I were pregnant – both of us! It was barely November before our home in Québec, Canada, was decked out like Santa’s grotto, with festive decs and twinkling lights. I was leaving nothing to chance, wanting everything to be perfect for when our little miracles arrived. After getting together at the end of 2017, Renee made it clear she’d always wanted…

DON’T MISS Candy Cane Lane Out in cinemas on 1 December Eddie Murphy stars in this holiday comedy adventure about a man on a mission to win his neighbourhood’s annual Christmas home decoration contest. After Chris (Eddie Murphy) inadvertently makes a deal with a mischievous elf named Pepper (Jillian Bell) to better his chances of winning, she casts a magic spell that brings the 12 Days of Christmas to life and wreaks havoc on the whole town. At the risk of ruining the holidays for his family, Chris, his wife Carol and their three children must race against the clock to break Pepper’s spell, battle magical characters and save Christmas for everyone. Dashing Through The Snow, Disney Plus This new original film tells the story of a divorced social worker…

Treat of the week Spiced Snowmen Biscuits SERVES: 10 43p PER SERVING YOU WILL NEED: □ 225g plain flour□ 1 level tsp ground cinnamon□ 1 level tsp ground ginger□ 150g butter, softened, plus25g for the icing□ 100g caster sugar□ 2 large egg yolks□ 50g icing sugar, plus extra for rolling□ 500g Asda Chosen by you Ready to Roll White Icing□ Chocolate chips, to decorate□ Jelly beans, to decorate□ Strawberry laces, to decorate□ Smarties, to decorate 1 Pre-heatthe oven to 180O C. Line two baking trays with baking paper. In a bowl, sift together the flour with the cinnamon, ginger and a pinch of salt. 2 In another bowl, beat 150g of the butter and the caster sugar together until creamy. Beat in the egg yolks. Add the flour mixture and stir until…

HAPPY HOWL-IDAYS! Hanging the last bauble on the pine branches, I stepped back to marvel at my festive creation. ‘What do you think, Chilli?’ I asked my little Chihuahua. He was circling around my legs and wagging his tail – as soon as his mini Christmas tree comes home, he knows exactly what time of year it is. His little Chihuahua sister Sukhi wasn’t left out either – she had a Christmas tree, too. Rustling about in the Christmas tree decoration box with his snout, Chilli sniffed at the tinsel. From baubles hand-painted with different dog breeds, to wooden bones and plushie dogs, I was always buying doggy-themed decs for their miniature Christmas trees whenever I saw them. Chilli has a Xmas tree of his own Although, I had to…

Which cheese are you? At Christmas, we can’t wait for the cheeseboard to come out. But as you tuck into your go-to fromage, have you ever considered the traits you share with the cheesy goodness? It’s time to find out where your place is on the cheeseboard… 1 You’ve popped out to your local pub for a Christmas Eve tipple – what are you ordering? a A pint of bitter – you don’t care if it makes you look old b A Cosmopolitan – style doesn’t take a day off c Flaming sambuca – because it’s only Christmas once a year 2 What are you most looking forward to eating for Christmas lunch this year? a Brussels sprouts – it’s a shame they only come out at Xmas  b Roast…