Table of contents for 1-Jun-2023 in Pick Me Up!

Spooning coffee into a cup, I waited for the kettle to boil. 14 June 2021 was a beautiful day and my husband Keith, 75, and I planned to sit in the garden with our coffees as the sun shone above us. That day we’d taken the car into town for servicing before getting the bus home. ‘I’m just going to put the paperwork away,’ Keith said as I poured milk into the mugs. Only upon his return, Keith’s right arm was dangling. ‘I don’t know,’ was all he could say – like he didn’t know what was going on. And as he couldn’t raise his arm, I could tell what was happening to him. ‘Darling, I think you’re having a stroke,’ I said. I knew the symptoms of a stroke…

Opening the back door and shouting a familiar name into the garden, I knew it wouldn’t be long until I’d see a tortoiseshell moggy strutting her stuff back inside. As from day one, our kitty Inka had been a little diva. Working in a veterinary practice myself, as a team we were used to seeing strays pass through on a weekly basis. So, when a three-week-old kitten came in during 2019, who had been found in a barn, the initial plan was to hard-rear her at home for the weekend, until passing her on to another colleague. ‘Please can we keep her?’ my children Katie, now 21, and Siôn, now 17, begged, falling in love. Even my husband Mike, now 55, and our Whippet Shadow, were fond, too. She’d used…

The smell of sun cream lingering in the air, sand between your toes and the glorious sunshine – get prepared for the best summer of your life! Think tropical prints, busy patterns and high energy outfits – we’ve got you covered… Don’t be scared of busy prints – tone down with jewellery and a sleek hairstyle! Tangerine is on this summer’s hot list – pair with denim shorts and colourful accessories Jumpsuits are a must-have for summer. Fashion has never been easier!…

Flint Lighter, £9.99, Mountain Warehouse If you’re looking for your next camping adventure this summer, make sure you add this essential to your list. Sitting around a campfire, telling stories and roasting marshmallows is an experience everyone deserves – if only starting a fire was that easy! But with this clever tool, you’ll be ready to go in no time at all. Simply strike the two blocks together to make a spark on your collected wood – it really is that easy. Verdict: GENIUS! Carry on camping! Verdict: BONKERS! Truly mad Make Your Own Wind Chime Kit, £35, from rockithome.co.uk Spoons, scrap metal, the kitchen sink… you don’t know what you’re going to get in this bonkers upcycled materials craft kit. With varying contents, generally including cutlery, wooden blocks, wooden discs,…

In rural areas of America’s West, isolation is not unusual. And for some residents, they prefer it. After all, who doesn’t like a bit of peace and quiet? Rolling hills, expansive rivers and long, grassy plains, Yoder, Colorado had all of that. And for the Carr family, it was home to them. Living an hour east of Colorado Springs meant the family could enjoy the hustle and bustle of city life as well as the silence of a rural community. Yet, the Carr’s had faced a few trials and tribulations. All of the Carr children, except Amy Grace Carr, were removed from their parents’ care when the family had lived in Southern California years ago. Amy’s mum found a body in the yard Perhaps the family were trying to make…

ARIES 21 March–20 April I know you’re not happy about those you’ve grown distant from, but your actions and words are saying otherwise. Don’t let pride stand in the way of you mending the relationships which have been damaged. You and those concerned are certain to feel better once you speak from the heart. Opportunities in your career come via new faces you meet this weekend. Call: 09058 170 710* LEO 24 July–23 Aug Sunday’s full moon sees others trying to right the wrongs which developed recently. The tendency to tell others where they’ve gone wrong with their lives could cast you as cold to those needing support. Think before you speak and use this authoritative role you’ve been cast to build up those you love. The change in their…

Good to know Fancy bagging yourself a free KFC? What are you waiting for?! Grab an 8 x 330ml pack of your favourite drink – Tango Orange Original, Tango Apple Sugar Free, Tango Dark Berry Sugar Free, 7UP Zero Sugar or 7UP Zero Cherry – at your nearest Asda store. Then simply head to KFC to grab a free meal when you buy one at full price. • Tango and 7UP multipacks £3.35, offer on until 24 August • Please visit: britvic.com Buy of the week Whether you’re heading out to the gym, summer festivals or stay-cationing, keeping hydrated as the weather hots up is important. We love this new flip-lid bottle from Chilly’s – in a choice of five stylish colours, it’s perfect for taking out and about for…

It is time to make your garden insect friendly as we head into summer. And these child-friendly products from The National Trust are a great way to encourage a little more biodiversity to your lawn this year.…

Kate Ashley-Norman is a psychotherapist and public relations strategist who believes that knowledge, communication and education are the foundations of good emotional wellbeing. Please search Kate Ashley-Norman for more. How can I keep calm now? Q I’ve been pulled into my son’s school to be told that he has been bullying multiple students. I have never raised him to be like this – I’m furious, shocked and confused. I can’t even look at him! How can I help him now? Mandy, Radstock A First of all, stay calm. Bullying is never as black and white as you think it is. Has your son been pressured into it by others? Has he experienced bullying himself? Have you talked to him about his side of the story? This is a time when…

INSTANT appointment With dermatologist and venerologist Dr Eva Melegh Feeling fishy Q I shower every morning, but I keep noticing a strong, fishy smell down below – what’s wrong with me? Claire, Margate A An intimate fish smell even after washing is likely to be a sign of bacterial vaginosis (BV), which is a common bacterial infection caused by an overgrowth of anaerobic bacteria that disrupts the balance of healthy bacteria that live within the vagina. First course of action is to start using a vaginal wash that replenishes good bacteria in the vagina. In2mate Wash (in2mate.co.uk) is a natural wash that contains vaginal prebiotics to replenish good vaginal bacteria and also helps re-balance vaginal pH, as well as reduce itching and discomfort. If your BV is accompanied by dryness…

Walking into my son’s room, I leant down to give him a kiss. But instead of walking over plastic toys and pieces of LEGO scattered over the carpet, Isaac had medical equipment like oxygen tanks, a suction machine, feeding equipment and a wheelchair dominating much of the room – all vital for keeping him alive. You see, Isaac has an extremely rare form of epilepsy – which meant he fitted 80 times a day. Because of this, Isaac is sedated throughout the night to prevent fits in his sleep. Without it, he could pass away in the night. Careful not to knock his seizure alert device, I tucked him in and went to bed. But I wouldn’t be in for a peaceful night’s sleep – Isaac’s sedatives only lasted for…

We love Want stronger, fuller locks for the summer? Well TRESemmé’s new Beauty-full Strength range will transform your crown in four simple steps.With a shampoo, conditioner, leave-in treatment and serum, this range works in harmony to give you a salon-quality shine. Strengthening your strands, this regime will bring your hair back to life for a healthy, voluminous look at home. • £6 each, available from Superdrug Easy peasy If you need to be out the door quickly, dry shampoo is probably your best friend – and thankfully, Batiste are always on hand with a dry shampoo for every hair type.• Available from Boots 1. Volume, £4.25: Lift roots and boost volume and texture for the perfect hair revamp. Extending wash day and giving you the boost you need. 2. Overnight Deep Cleanse,…

YOU’VE GOTTA FIND Watching as two simultaneous messages popped up on my phone, I wondered what all the sudden fuss was about. I’ve had a text from a man asking if John and Daryl Bonas are my mum and dad, what do I say, Mum? my daughter Nicole, 23, sent in September last year, obviously a little worried. And it was then clicking on another text, that my son Alex, 29, had been asked a similar thing from the same person. ‘Do you think it’s a scam?’ I asked my husband John, before thinking about what to say back. ‘It is all a little weird.’ Why don’t you message back on Facebook and ask what it’s regarding? we suggested to Alex and Nicole, trying to get to the bottom of it…

Help us, help you The NHS has launched a new campaign to make the general public more aware of all the signs and symptoms of a stroke. ‘Help Us, Help You’ Act F.A.S.T. campaign, supported by the Stroke Association, highlights a stroke is a medical emergency and urges the public to call 999 if they notice any signs of a stroke in themselves or others. This comes after new research revealed that 59% of adults in the UK were not aware that stroke is the fourth single leading cause of death in the UK and 39% did not recognise stroke as a medical emergency that requires attention, even though every minute following is vital. Around 100,000 people have a stroke each year in England, Scotland and Wales, which is approximately…

1. What are the top three most common dreams? Dreams of falling are very common, as are many anxiety dreams – being chased by an animal or even dreams of turning up to work naked. Dreams of flying are quite usual. And dreams of a cheating partner are not rare, as our subconscious deals with the fear of losing a relationship. 2. Can we predict the future in our sleep? I believe that all people are psychic to a greater or lesser extent and the ability to predict the future isn’t exclusive to a select few, but everyone can do it. Predicting the future in dreams is mentioned in the bible and is a part of ancient cultures and mythologies. During our sleep, the brain goes through four distinct stages.…

Throwing another oversized big black hoodie that was covered in sick onto the washing pile, I chucked a huge, frumpy T-shirt over my body. With my son Zack, then 18-months, and my daughter Maggie, only a newborn, I wondered how much longer I could spread myself so thin. Having experienced a breakdown in my marriage in 2016, with my ex leaving out of the blue, becoming a single mum meant that I was merely focused on surviving. My children came first, which meant I had neglected myself, big time. At first, nobody knew about my situation – I was isolated, struggling and had hit rock-bottom in terms of my self-esteem. It wasn’t until a few weeks later that I told my mum, Denise, and dad, Mike. One minute I had…

Bottom’s up A cocktail in the summer – there’s nothing quite like it! Why not add a touch of ice cream to make yours a float? Dark ‘N’ Stormy Float Serves: 1 You will need: • 50ml Goslings• Black Seal Rum• 150ml ginger beer• 1 scoop ginger ice cream How to: 1. Add ice to two highball glasses, then pour in the ginger beer. 2. Top with the rum, then finish with a scoop of ginger ice cream and a grating of lime. Gin & Tonic Float Serves: 1 You will need: • 50ml Hernö Old Tom Gin• 100ml tonic water• 1 scoop raspberry ripple ice cream How to: 1. Add the gin and tonic to a large glass, wine or rocks, and stir to combine. 2. Top with a…