Table of contents for 3-Oct-2024 in Pick Me Up!

Taking a puff of my inhaler, I lined myself up at the starting line. In 2015, I was running the London Marathon for the first time. And running for Asthma + Lung UK, it was a charity close to my heart. Not only because I myself had been diagnosed with exercise induced asthma 30 years ago. But because I’d lost my pappa, Antonio, 85, to COPD on 25 January 2013. COPD was a progressive disease that meant Pappa’s airways were narrowing, making it difficult for him to breathe properly. Pappa had started smoking aged six, growing up in Naples, and didn’t quit until his 70s – it was likely this triggered the COPD. The disease was progressing slowly and as a proud Italian man, Pappa had always been very independent.…

Serves: 8-10 Wake up and smell the coffee with this marbled banana and coffee cake from Camp Coffee – perfect paired with a cuppa. • See: campcoffeeclub.co.uk ◻ 100g butter, softened◻ 140g caster sugar◻ 2 large eggs◻ 140g self-raising flour◻ 1 tsp baking powder◻ 2 ripe bananas, mashed◻ 3 tbsps Camp Chicory & Coffee Essence 1 Preheat the oven to 180°C. Grease and line a 900g loaf tin. Whisk the butter and sugar together until pale and fluffy, whisk in the eggs one at a time. 2 Mix the flour and baking powder, fold into the butter mixture, and then fold in the bananas. Divide the mixture into two. Add Camp Coffee to one half. 3 Add three spoonfuls of each mix alternatively to the base of the prepared tin.…

Complete the grid then read down the shaded squares to reveal the hidden answer. Clue: Type of optical aid. Answer on page 44. ACROSS 1 Disunited (6) 4 The __, 1960s girl group whose hits include Da Doo Ron Ron and Then He Kissed Me (8) 10 Something __, BBC children’s TV series starring Justin Fletcher (7) 11 The Last __, 2003 action film starring Tom Cruise and Ken Watanabe (7) 12 Lou __, singer of Walk on the Wild Side and Perfect Day (4) 13 BBC TV series portraying life at Longleat Safari Park, presented by Ben Fogle and Kate Humble (6,4) 15 All __ the Skylark, 2019 album by Hawkwind (6) 16 Director of Cabin Fever and The Box (3,4) 20 Red sauce (7) 21 __ Little, murine…

Scrolling through my phone, I was barely paying attention to the TV flickering away. Filling out different forms, I was working my way through 200 different applications. I wasn’t looking for a new job though. Instead, I entered 200 different competitions. From cash prizes to hampers and holidays – I applied for them all. Competition entering – or comping – was something I loved to do. It was something I’d got into eight years ago, in 2016, when I was pregnant with my eldest child. Me and my husband Rod, 53, were overwhelmed by the amount of baby bits we needed to buy when a post popped up on social media. Baby Blooms was running a competition. A prize draw, you had the chance to win a hamper of baby…

Sitting down to have a good natter over a cuppa, the family chit chat started as usual. Even though me and my twin brother Lloyd, 30, had gone on to live different lives, we always had a catch up. He lived near-by with his fiancée Farryn and daughter Theia, now four. Whereas I lived on my own with my cats Pepper and Spud. We were far from your typical matching twins. But in February last year, while catching up with our mum Diane, now 66, Lloyd dropped a bombshell. ‘I need a kidney,’ Lloyd said. Nearly spitting out my drink, we were quite shocked. He had said it so casually. Back in 2015, docs removed a tumour on one of Lloyd’s glands in his neck. But the mass had caused…

NEW IN Achieving a flawless base doesn't have to cost the Earth. Collection Cosmetics has launched two new gorgeous foundations for under £8! With a matte and satin option, you can choose the perfect look for you. GLOW LIKE NEVER BEFORE For those who prefer a radiant, dewy finish, this foundation delivers a hit of luminosity. While lightweight and comfortable, this isn't to be underestimated. With buildable coverage, you can go as light or full as you like for a seamless finish. MASTER THE MATTE LOOK Delivering a smooth, sleek finish, this is infused with niacinamide to help control excess oil and shine throughout the day. With a buildable coverage, it won't dry out the skin, so you'll look fresh-faced all day long. Plus, it has SPF30. All in the…

We’re loving Eyes down, dabbers at the ready – because Gala Bingo has teamed up with Moonpig to create a fab range of limited-edition cards. Did you know that Brits get more joy from receiving a greeting card than they do from a text message? And one in five admit to keeping every card they’ve ever received. Well inspired by traditional bingo calls, there’s now a funny card for every occasion to help spread some joy. So from ‘doctor’s orders’ to ‘knock at the door’ and ‘baker’s bun’ – how good is your bingo lingo? • From £3.99, visit: moonpig.com Buy of the week The leaves are falling, the air is crisp and autumn is definitely in the air. So what are you waiting for? Time to give your home…

What is rhabdomyosarcoma? A rare type of soft tissue tumour, most children with rhabdomyosarcoma are younger than 10 years old – and it’s more common in boys than girls. The tumours develop from muscle or fibrous tissue and can grow in any part of the body. The most common symptom is a lump or swelling – other symptoms will depend on the part of the body that’s affected. • A tumour in the head or neck can sometimes cause a blockage and discharge from the nose or throat. An eye may also appear swollen and protruding.• A tumour in the tummy can cause pain or discomfort in the abdomen and also difficulty going to the toilet, too.• A tumour in the bladder may cause blood in the urine as well…

Scooping another chunk of Ben & Jerry’s into your mouth, you feel your tears plopping into the ice cream tub. There’s no hiding those puffy eyes. The empty bottle of merlot speaks volumes, too. You stick on your sad song playlist, sobbing to Adele as you snuggle under the covers. You’ll probably die old, alone and single. Welcome to heartbreak hotel – the sad, all-consuming reality of a break-up. Well, 85% of adults have been there at least once in their lifetime, according to Marriage.com. No matter how you ended up there, whether that was through betrayal, infidelity or just realising what was best for you, it hurts. The world feels like it’s ended. How are you supposed to function? According to Yelp, it takes an average of about three-and-a-half…

Slipping on my welly boots, I grabbed a piece of toast and headed out the door. On a crisp spring day back in April this year, I was heading out to the stables where I kept my horses. I’d always been into horses, and my daughter Kadie, 38, took after me. We shared four between us, and we’d often spend time together at the stables tending to them. And arriving 10 minutes later, I wasn’t surprised to see Kadie was already there, brushing her horse Vinny. After a quick natter about plans for the weekend, Kadie rushed off to pick up her kids Caden, 13, and Poppy, nine, from school. ‘Speak later,’ she waved, dashing off – she was always on the go. Chatting that evening on the phone, as…

In the small, rural Monroe Township in New Jersey, baseball was at the heart of the community. Families gathered each week to watch the youth teams compete. And on Friday 14 June 2023, the Doerman family had come to spur on seven-year-old Clayton. Dad Chad was his biggest supporter – alongside mum Laura, half-sister Alexis and brothers Hunter, four, and Chase, three. The Doermans were your typical all-American family. Living in a ranch-style shingle home just a stone’s throw away from the local baseball field, they were well loved within the community. As well as baseball, the boys loved going fishing, go-karting and swimming with their dad. Bursting with energy, they were always out playing – constantly ‘joking, laughing, having a good time’. And after the match, the family carried…

Looking up at the night sky, watching it beam with an array of majestic, flashing colours, tears pricked at my eyes. This is just like the films, I thought, watching the Disneyland Paris fireworks show for the first time. It was something I’d dreamed of for years. As I rode my favourite thrill-seeking Buzz Lightyear ride and watched the parades in awe, I was in my element. I realised just like Olaf needs snow, I needed Disney. I’d loved Disney since I was little, from the moment I first watched The Little Mermaid with my mum and little sister Ronni, now 19. I knew I needed to be part of that world. Soon I became obsessed and like Winnie the Pooh collects pots of honey, I began to collect plushies…

This week, our tip of the week will receive a great prize from Addis. This classic 9.5l Sink Bowl is a kitchen essential! With a high-gloss finish and easy to clean, it can protect your sink at the very same time. Made from a durable material that is heat resistant up to 100°C, you don’t have to worry about putting hot pots and pans inside – perfect! For more ways to make your life easier, please visit: addis.co.uk The big chill I store cling film in the fridge as it’s easier to handle when it’s cold. Liz Tubby, Bergh Apton Buy in bulk I buy big bags of 5kg rice in supermarkets or independent shops. It’s much cheaper than buying the smaller packets. You don’t have to worry about running out…

Tablescape to your heart’s content!…

Watching my son Joshua repeatedly rubbing his eye, he seemed frustrated. ‘What’s wrong?’ I asked him, trying to get a better look. ‘Does it hurt?’ He shook his head, but continued rubbing his eye. It looked a bit red, and I wondered if he’d developed an allergy to something. I wasn’t too worried – I had a lot of allergies myself, so it wasn’t surprising that Joshua might, too. ‘Try not to touch it,’ I soothed. ‘You’ll make it worse.’ But it seemed to be really bothering him. ‘Maybe it’s conjunctivitis,’ Joshua’s dad Chris, 38, suggested – but getting some eye drops from the chemist, they didn’t seem to work. Then we noticed Joshua’s eye swelling. ‘What is that?’ I said to Chris, looking closely. ‘What’s in his eye?’ It…

Creeping into my daughter Poppy’s room, I peered down into her cot. ‘Good morning,’ I smiled at her, lifting her up for a cuddle. But straight away, I knew something was wrong. Poppy was normally an excited bundle of energy right from the get-go. But that day back in March this year, she seemed lethargic. And feeling her forehead, I frowned to myself. ‘Feels like you’ve got a bit of a temperature,’ I soothed. ‘Let’s get you some Calpol.’ Always on the go and playing with her dolls, all Poppy wanted to do that morning was lie on me. She was so clingy – it wasn’t like her at all – and trying to spoon-feed her some Weetabix, she just wasn’t interested in eating. Maybe she’s coming down with a…

Parole, BBC Two The Parole Board need to decide if serial burglar and jewellery store thief Jason should be given a third chance. Jason is questioned about the motivation for his crimes, including using an axe to intimidate a woman in one robbery and falsely imprisoning a victim in another. In the programme Jason says: ‘I did not want to be violent to the person, I did not want to put my hands on anybody… I want to get out of prison and live a good life.’ Meanwhile, Jeanette was 24 years old when, along with her co-defendant, she punched, kicked and stamped a man to death. The panel question whether she now has the skills to recognise when her risk is escalating. Inside Out 2, Disney Plus If you…

Claire Doré has created a day-by-day timeline to guide you through a break-up. Cry, dance and remember to put yourself first… • To see more from Claire, follow @thewildwomanceo on Instagram and please visit: clairedore.com Day 1 All the tears come up as soon as you open your eyes. Wail and scream if you need. Choose to stay in bed, go slow and soft with yourself. Watch your favourite film, take coffee and snacks to bed. Try to stay away from external distractions. Day 2 You’ll have more tears to express – let them all out. Have a bath, move slowly, eat nourishing foods, go for a walk if you can face leaving your four walls. Continue to stay away from your phone. Day 3 Let yourself cry if the…