Table of contents for 20-May-2021 in Pick Me Up!

I’ve always wanted to become a foster carer. And in 2018, with my eldest two moved out and my youngest son Jayden, now 14, in secondary school, I decided the time was right. Initially, I interviewed to care for children, but that’s when I discovered parent and child fostering. ‘You would help vulnerable mothers bond and care for their babies,’ I was told. I had my eldest daughter Jasmyne when I was just 16. As a young mum, I didn’t have a clue what I was doing. Remembering what it felt like, I knew becoming a parent and child carer was my calling. Although I had Jayden and my husband Scott, 48, at home, I was the main carer. To begin with, it was tough, and I was close to…

Dodging through the crowd, I looked around to make sure the guy hadn’t followed me. I wish he’d leave me alone, I thought to myself. Only, within seconds, the bloke I’d been desperately avoiding had found me. ‘So, how do you know everyone?’ he asked. Simon Cash was a friend of a friend, and I’d only met him for the first time that night in December 2018, as we were on a birthday night out together. Only, from the moment we stepped into the karaoke taxi at the start of the night, he’d latched onto me. ‘I don’t know, I’m going to the loo,’ I told him, quickly making my escape. Despite my best efforts to shake him off, Simon, 24, wouldn’t leave me be. I really didn’t want to…

Surcare, the specialists in allergy-friendly washing products, share their four steps to keeping hidden allergens at bay. EXTERMINATE MITES Dust mites are teeny, and millions are living in your home. Vacuuming carpets, rugs and sofas regularly helps to get rid of them. As does washing soft furnishings like cushion covers and curtains. OPEN UP Dampness in the home is where common allergies thrive. Let your house breathe and open your windows to let fresh air circulate. CHOOSE WISELY When buying household products always check the label. Look for products that have been endorsed by organisations like Allergy UK. Also, make sure they don’t contain fragrances, enzymes, acids and dyes as these could all irritate the skin. MOULD MANAGEMENT The spores released from mould can be a huge irritant in your home. Regularly…

Clutching my chest, I winced as I felt a burning sensation. ‘Are you okay?’ my mum Michaela asked me, worried. ‘I’ve got the worst heart burn,’ I sighed. ‘And I was sick this morning!’ My partner Tom, 29, and his mum Bev looked at me, concerned. ‘Oh my God,’ Bev said, stopping in her tracks. ‘Rachel… you’re pregnant!’ Mum and Bev agreed. It was early 2019, and I was already a mum to two boys – Bobby, eight, and Lewy, seven. To confirm their suspicions, I took a pregnancy test. And they were right! ‘We’re having a baby!’ I excitedly told Tom. We paid to have a private gender scan, and I was over the moon when the sonographer told us that we were expecting a baby girl. I had…

Walking into the garden, I found my daughter Rosie playing with her dolls. ‘Hug!’ she smiled, wrapping her tiny arms around me. Six-years-old, Rosie is obsessed with the movie Trolls and loves hug time. She’s the kindest little girl and when she’s not playing with her Lottie dolls, she’s trying to hug either myself, her mum Hannah, 47, or her four siblings, Leo, 12, Poppy, 10, Ixia, eight, and Zebedee, three. We definitely have a busy household, but life is good. Rosie is a child with down syndrome, but we treat her no differently to the others. To us she is absolutely perfect, and we wouldn’t have her any other way. However, when lockdown was enforced last year, with five kids and hugs demanded every hour, Hannah and I knew…

Sipping on my cup of tea, another intense, sharp pain shot through my stomach. ‘Ahh,’ I squirmed, trying to get comfortable. ‘Is everything OK?’ my friend asked. At nearly 31-weeks pregnant, my unborn son was putting me through my paces. ‘If I didn’t know any better, I’d say I was having contractions,’ I laughed. As a first-time mum, I didn’t know what these pains were, but as the afternoon went on, they continued to progress. Each more painful than the last, my partner Ben, 36, and I made the decision to go to the hospital that evening. ‘Let’s just get it checked out,’ Ben soothed. Only, when we arrived, my throwaway comment about having contractions turned out to be true. ‘You’re in the early stages of labour,’ the doctor told…

Tom Jackson and Harry Bamber are the phenomenon known as ‘Twisted’ and you can find over 100 of their recipes in Twisted: A Cookbook. It centres around social occasions which is perfect as we start to make up for lost time with loved ones. Tom and Harry want to remind people how fun and delicious, life can be when you don’t take it too seriously – and that there’s nothing better than a BBQ! ● Twisted: A Cookbook is out now (Hodder & Stoughton, RRP £20) Serves: 4 Glazed BBQ sausage kebabs ■ 1 tbsp vegetable oil■ 1 medium onion, grated■ 1 garlic clove, crushed■ 1 large cooking apple, peeled and cut into chunks■ 200ml ruby port■ 300ml apple juice■ 4 large rosemary sprigs, charred slightly over a flame, plus an extra…

Good to know Haircuts, hugging and handshakes – we have missed you! With the UK easing restrictions, and the end of the roadmap on the horizon, a new study reveals the heart-warming simple pleasures that Brits have missed the most. Commissioned by Gala Bingo, the study of thousands of Brits revealed that hugging friends and family is the top thing people long for. While the simple ability to make plans and visit friends’ houses took second and third place. Here are 10 other everyday things that we are most looking forward to after the pandemic is over: 1. Going for a meal with friends or family 2. Spontaneous trips 3. Sitting next to people you don’t live with 4. Going to concerts 5. Regular haircuts 6. Not queuing in the…

Walking to the roller hockey game I tried to control my nerves. I was just 14 years old and hopelessly in love with Nick Monguso, who was also 14. We were each other’s first girlfriend and boyfriend and had been dating for two weeks when I decided to introduce our families. I thought the roller hockey game Nick was playing at, in Dudley Park, Bayville, New Jersey, was perfect for it. ‘That’s them over there,’ I whispered to my mum, Joy now 62 as I pointed towards Nick’s parents, Dawn, 49 and Nick, 50. ‘Don’t say anything embarrassing,’ I begged. Walking over to them and introducing ourselves was terrifying, but everyone got on. ‘This is crazy, two 14-year-old’s dating for the first time,’ Dawn laughed. ‘You know, you look so…

Complete the grid then read down the shaded squares to reveal the hidden answer. Clue: Geography term. ACROSS 1 Perennial plant (6) 4 _ DiCaprio, actor whose first film role was in the direct-to-video horror film Critters 3 (8) 10 American city which hosted the 1996 Summer Olympics (7) 11 European language (7) 12 Natural beams of light (4) 13 Kindly (10) 15 Umbrella, informally (6) 16 To draw upon (3,4) 20 Move forward (7) 21 Customer or supporter (6) 24 Easy to reach (10) 26 Opposed to, informally (4) 28 Copiously supplied (7) 29 Avoidance (7) 30 Star of films such as Ocean’s Eleven and Fight Club (4,4) 31 _ Fanning, actor who starred alongside Tom Cruise in 2005’s War of the Worlds (6) DOWN 1 Forceful and bitter…

As the doctor studied my skin, she looked bemused. ‘I’m still none the wiser,’ she said, as she sat back down in her chair. For the past few months, I’d been suffering with some unusual red spots around my eyes, nose and mouth. ‘It’s not itchy or painful at all,’ I told the doctor. ‘I just hate the way it looks.’ But with no idea what it could be, I was sent on my way with a referral to a dermatologist. Only then did I discover what was really going on. ‘You’ve got perioral dermatitis,’ she told me. It was a skin condition that developed around the mouth and nose. ‘We can prescribe you with some antibiotics,’ she explained to me. But three months pregnant with my fourth child, I…

Inject some newness into your wardrobe with Lipsy’s spring-ready shades, featuring on trend broderie, ruffle collars and ditsy prints. Whether you’re meeting the girls in the park or having drinks in the garden, it’s time to make a comeback! Go to www.next.co.uk to shop Lipsy London’s latest range. Sloggi supports Team GB Sloggi, bodywear pioneer since 1979, is delighted to announce its support of Team GB ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in 2021, with a limited-edition capsule underwear collection. The range will include sloggi’s pioneering ZERO Feel technology for women – meaning zero seams, wires and skin marks. Fans and athletes can relax in ultimate comfort when they’re off the field and spectators can kick back on the sofa and support Team GB in style. Starting at £13,…

Proudly running in the popular Utica Boilermaker race in Utica, New York, mum-of-three Kerrilee D’Aviolio felt in the best shape of her life. Kerrilee, 32, had lost over seven stone thanks to a new healthy lifestyle. Kerrilee had discovered a love of running. In July 2019, she’d completed the annual Utica 15k race for the first time and crossed the finish line beaming with pride. It was exactly the confidence boost Kerrilee needed to see her through the huge life changes she was working towards. Kerrilee was married to Jason D’Aviolio, 47. When they first got together, Kerrilee’s family were concerned to discover that Jason was 16 years older, but the couple married and they had three daughters, then aged five, four and two. They settled in Rome, New York,…

This week, our tip of the week will receive a great product from Addis! Organise that never-ending flow of laundry with this stylishly designed linen hamper, complete with a lid. It comes with a large 50L capacity, allowing for ample storage for organising the family washing. For more ways to make your life easier, visit addis.co.uk Drip-free! When decorating, attach a piece of string across the top of the paint pot to easily remove excess from the brush. Lucy Travell, Glos Perfect cuppa Remove stubborn tea stains in your mugs by using a quarter of a Steradent tablet in half a cup of water overnight. They’re totally safe to use as they’re for cleaning false teeth. Mandy Keay, Angus Happy feet Any marks on my shoes, where the upper layer…

Sue Tappenden is a Coach and People Expert who helps her clients improve their relationship with themselves and others. (www.headspaceforchange.com) Shocking news Q Last year, my boyfriend revealed that he’s also attracted to men. He says it won’t change things between us – as he wants to be with me. But I fear it’s only a matter of time before he breaks up with me. Lucy, Essex A I imagine that this revelation was a shock and it is no surprise that you are left feeling insecure. Hearing this from your boyfriend has already changed things between you. Start by talking openly together about the future of your relationship. All of us deserve to be with a partner who makes us feel good about ourselves and that’s true for both…

Watching as my partner Damien, now 37, laughed with my parents Ken, now 55, and Hayley, now 51, my heart felt warm and fuzzy. Damien and I had been happily together for several years by this point, in 2016. I’d been blessed with the most incredible parents, and they’ve always loved Damien. My parents have always been fit and active, especially my dad, as he worked as a steel erector by trade. But, over the Christmas period, we worried as my dad’s health began to deteriorate. ‘With your work, it’s likely your back pain is because of an injury,’ the doctors would say. As the days passed, Dad got worse, but the doctors continued to misdiagnose him. On the 22 April 2017 it was Dad’s 50th birthday. Damien and I…

Whilst we’ve all been stuck at home in lockdown, one of the only things we’ve been able to do is eat! So it’s no surprise that food hacks and videos have blown up on the video-sharing network TikTok. To inspire you to have some fun in the kitchen, we’ve put together the most popular food trends from the past year. HOT CHOCOLATE BOMBS Exploding on TikTok and in our mugs! Over the colder months, TikTok users shared videos of them placing cocoa-filled chocolate balls into hot milk. Some filled the bombs with mini marshmallows for added deliciousness. Follow these steps for a tasty chocolate dream. YOU’LL NEED: ■ 100g chocolate■ 3 tbsp hot chocolate powder■ Mini marshmallows■ Milk, for serving 1 Melt your chocolate and scoop into half circle baking…

13 – 19 May www.clairepetulengro.tv ARIES 21 March–20 April The new moon on Tuesday helps you find fresh hope and inspiration in someone, who this time last week, you were ready to throw the towel in on. Family proves hard work, but if you can talk things through with them then you’ll find a better timetable to suit all of you. Those who were talking at each other will finally talk TO each other, if you take the lead this time. Call: 09058 170 710* TAURUS 21 April–21 May Recent events have seen you act very out of character. You may be wondering who you can trust that won’t be such a gossip, as others you trusted have turned out to be. I’m glad things are out in the open…

Nestled under a heat lamp on the farm I was helping out at, a tiny little lamb was curled up in a ball. ‘What’s happened here?’ I said, asking the farmer why the newborn was alone. ‘The mother’s died,’ he explained. ‘I’m not sure he’ll make it.’ It was March this year and the last few weeks had been lambing season on the farm behind my house. A huge animal lover, I’d always help out where I could. But as I watched the little creature struggle on its own, my heart broke. So the following morning, with my four-year-old daughter Ruby in tow, I had a plan. ‘Do you fancy bringing him home?’ I asked Ruby. Of course she didn’t hesitate to say yes. Completely smitten with our new wooly…