Table of contents for 8-Feb-2024 in Pick Me Up!

Walking into my local cafe, the man stood behind the counter had caught my eye. Meeting Nuno, 28, in the summer of 2021, I thought he seemed lovely. We already knew each other through friends, and he was cheeky and charming. Bumping into each other a few more times, we started talking more on social media. And by November, we had progressed from a few flirty messages to meeting in person. While our relationship was not official, he introduced me to his family, and I felt myself falling head over heels. ‘I think I’ve met the right person,’ I’d told my mum Ali, 49. Nuno was so caring. He would wake up early to make me breakfast and start my car before I went to work. In February 2022, we…

This week, our tip of the week will receive a great prize from Addis. This rattan-effect laundry hamper has 40L capacity for all of your dirty washing! With its slim and stylish profile, it’s perfect for fitting in tighter spaces if you don’t have much room. And with carry handles for easy use, it makes your usual chores a joy. For more ways to make your life easier, visit: addis.co.uk Eyes on the prize I always keep a pen in my glasses case with my reading glasses. It’s so handy if you ever need to fill in a form. Angela Garvin, Essex Wipe it off Keeping wet wipes in the car for sticky little fingers is always needed. So I found a small, watertight jar the ideal solution. It keeps…

Bring the outside in with pretty florals…

Wanting to be proactive, I couldn’t imagine the thought of our son not being here. What can we do to have a big impact on Jed’s life? It was something that my husband, Michael, and I had spoken about after our son Jed, then eight, had received a life-changing diagnosis. Unable to hit his milestones early on, Jed would bum shuffle instead of walking. And we knew, deep down, that something about his mobility wasn’t right. Which was a pattern that continued as Jed joined primary school. ‘Why can’t I go upstairs?’ Jed would ask frequently. However, back and forth from Great Ormond Street and John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, we always had the same response. ‘By the time he reaches eight, he will catch up,’ the medics confirmed. Only, that…

Cheering on the sidelines, I watched the football pitch swarmed with excited children. Beside me, my dad Dean, now 66, and mum Joy, now 57, whooped as they watched my son Zach, then seven, control the ball. It was Zach’s seventh birthday party at Goals, a sports centre in Doncaster, on Sunday 26 June 2022. And of course his grandad – a huge Scunthorpe United fan and Zach’s biggest cheerleader – was there to watch him play. Playing football with Zach in the garden every evening and cheering him on at his Broughton Ravers matches, football ran in the family. ‘How about a kids versus adults game?’ the party host Louis yelled. The kids screamed with excitement as the parents were dragged onto the pitch. Zach bounded over to us.…

Dark khaki, chestnut browns and furry little friends – step into nature this season. With a meadowy feel, breathe in the fresh air and build your wardrobe to reflect the outside world… To bring some nature into your home, check out p14…

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Keeping the community spirit alive, you may notice that your town’s memo board is full of opportunities. Sports clubs, free soup kitchens, beach clean-ups, reading sessions at the library, mental health workshops and allotment work to name a few. However, at the heart of all of these projects, is one powerhouse in particular – incredible volunteers. They are arguably the unsung heroes of your village, town or city. Giving up their free time, whether that’s to pursue a hobby or get stuck in, it’s an important, selfless act with long-lasting effects. Doing good is said to be a volunteer’s most likely motivation in the UK, in a survey conducted by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. The report also found that 46% of adults said they would volunteer…

Dan Mills-Da'Bell is an experienced psychotherapist who specialises in a helping people with a range of issues including trauma, relationships and stress. He is also a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). Visit: bacp.co.uk Bare it all… Q I want to be intimate with my partner but I’m ashamed with how I look. How can I get past this? Sarah, Hull A We all have different and complicated relationships with our bodies, and it becomes difficult when there is an element of shame is related to this. You and your partner are making a choice to be together, and they are likely to have a very different perspective on how you look and be much less judgmental and critical than you are about yourself. Remember that…

Recipes from Sorted Food’s recipe pack, One Tray Bakes ● Please search Sidekick in the App Store for more One Tray Greek-Style Chicken Orzo with Feta YOU WILL NEED: ◻ 5 spring onions◻ 1 red bell pepper◻ 2 chicken thighs, boneless and skinless◻ 1 tbsp smoked paprika◻ 1 tsp chilli flakes◻ 1 tsp dried oregano◻ ½ tsp ground cinnamon◻ 3 tbsp olive oil◻ 200g orzo◻ 1 chicken stock cube◻ 100g feta◻ 15g fresh mint 1 Preheat the oven to 210°C, then fill a kettle with water and put it on to boil – you will need this later. Chop the veg. Remove the roots from five spring onions and cut them crossways at 1cm intervals. Deseed one pepper and cut it into bite-sized chunks. Cut up the two chicken thighs…

Strolling through my local Waitrose, I had my eyes on the prize. While my husband Rodney, 87, focused on filling up our trolley with our weekly shop, I had other things on my mind. Gazing at other shoppers, I spotted little crumpled bits of paper sitting in their trolleys. Some shoppers even had them between their fingers, checking them before reaching for the next item. If only I could snatch them for myself… I thought. Shopping lists and receipts just drew me in! I wanted to know what people were having for tea, their favourite snacks and sometimes, I’d get the odd insight into what tasks they needed to do, too. ‘Not another one,’ Rodney would chuckle. He’d grown used to my quirky need for collecting shopping lists since I’d…

Somehow, I found the strength to get to the office. My back was in so much pain, I could barely walk. ‘We need to call the police now,’ my manager said. I knew I couldn’t look back. Nuno was arrested that same day and taken into custody. I can’t remember what I said to the police, but I was still terrified he would come after me. But the worst part was telling Mum. ‘Why didn’t you tell me?’ she burst into tears. I’d saved pictures of all his attacks on my iCloud and with Mum by my side as I showed the police, it must have been horrible for her to see. ‘I thought he would come after you,’ I told her. ‘I wanted to protect you.’ Mum just cried…

Switching banks can sound like a confusing process. But did you know that after you’ve made the switch, you can reap the rewards, too? Here are some of the best deals we’ve found… 1. Santander When you switch to Santander, you can get 1% cashback on your household bills when you set up your direct debits. That’s up to £10 a month for six months on cashback, which includes council tax, energy and water bills, phone bills, broadband and paid-for TV packages. Plus, you can get 1% cashback at supermarkets when doing your weekly shop and filling up your petrol tank. 2. First Direct First Direct are offering new customers £175 in cash plus a 7% fixed interest rate on their regular saver account, on up to £300 a month.…

Hit the beat… It’s no secret that there are some musical talents in this world. But what about a record breaker? Keita Hattori set the Guinness World Record on 7 December 2023 for the most piano key hits in one minute. Can you guess how many? He hit 958 in total. Some may say a strange talent, but it’s pretty impressive, too. Verdict: GENIUS! Pia-pia-piano! Piano Fingers, £12, MenKind Ever wish you could play the piano without having to lug the huge instrument around? Now you can! Play any rendition that you want to, or at least try, with Piano Fingers. All you need to do is place the musical gloves on the tip of each finger and tap a flat surface. Producing their own sound via a Bluetooth speaker…

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 more details.…

INSTANT appointment With Dr Chun Tang, GP and medical director at Pall Mall (pallmallmedical.co.uk) Random rash Q I’ve been waking up with a red, itchy rash across my skin every morning this winter. Why is this happening? Nicola, Skegness A Waking up with red, itchy skin in colder weather could be due to several medical reasons. Common causes include dry skin, exacerbated by low humidity and indoor heating. Additionally, conditions like eczema and psoriasis may flare up in winter. Central heating systems can reduce indoor humidity, contributing to dry skin. Dry air indoors can strip the skin of its natural moisture, aggravating certain skin conditions. Longer, hotter showers can be tempting in colder weather, but they also strip the skin of its natural oils, exacerbating dryness, too. Limited exposure to…

Seeing the single line of a negative pregnancy test, I felt a familiar pang of upset and disappointment. I’d always wanted to be a mum, trying to have kids since I was 20 with my then-partner. But sadly, it seemed it wasn’t meant to be. Diagnosed at 14 with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), I knew I would find it hard to conceive. ‘You also need to lose weight,’ doctors had told me. But this was something I had always struggled with. Coming from a bigger family, my weight was always a little bigger than the other kids. But it wasn’t until I was 13, that I started piling more weight on. My mum Gloria, 67, made every meal from scratch, but I would frequently find extra to snack on. For…

Skincare saviours This time of year can wreak havoc on our skin. However, a good serum can help keep your complexion in tip top shape. Helping to target specific skincare concerns, serums are a crucial step in any skincare routine. Soap & Glory Daily Dew Instant Hydration Serum, £12.99, Boots Wake up to a fabulously dewy complexion. Used morning and night, simply pop a few drops onto clean skin for a heavenly hit of hydration. Skin Proud Secure The Barrier Skin Barrier Booster Serum, £12.95, iamproud.com Lock in hydration with skin-loving ingredients for a nourished and replenished look that will last all day. Boosting the skin’s natural moisture barrier, with consistent use, you’ll be left with a healthy, brightening glow. Garnier Vitamin C Daily UV Glow, £12.99, Superdrug Boost brightness…

If volunteering sounds like something that you’d like to get involved in, here are just a few options that can give you inspiration… ● Spacehive – a fundraising platform for community projects. If you have an idea and want to start a project, Spacehive can connect you to exclusive funds that will bring the community to life. Please visit: spacehive.com ● Royal Volunteering Service – if you want to find a volunteering opportunity that works best for you or need help and guidance, the Royal Volunteering Service has a platform with everything you may need. Please visit: royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk ● Facebook – don’t forget to search your local area for clubs, groups and opportunities. Facebook can be a great way to connect to others and meet new friends – all for…

Getting out pots and pans, I got to work making tea on 12 August last year. Having been out in town with my partner Alex, 30, and our two girls Alexie-Leigh, six, and Farrah-Leigh, five, we’d had a great day. And coming home to our three dogs – two XL Bully puppies called Tash and Fury, and our 16-year-old Staffy, Tyson – the girls missed them. Farrah-Leigh adored our dogs, cuddling and playing with them all the time. ‘Could you pick up some salt and bread?’ I asked Alex at about 5pm. ‘Can I come?’ Farrah-Leigh asked, and off they went. The shop was only a few minutes away, and I began dishing up Alexie-Leigh’s food. Only as I placed her plate down in front of her, I heard a…

ARIES 21 March–20 April You know you’re ready to take on more, but your job now is to convince others of this fact. Mercury hands you both the physical and mental aptitude to make the impossible possible. A good week to convince the more stoic characters in your career that you’re worthy of their attention, time and help. This is your time to shine, Aries. Please don’t waste it! Call: 09058 170 710* LEO 24 July–23 Aug Something which you had hoped to work out but didn’t has left a rather sour taste in your mouth. You find yourself questioning who is really on your side. What Mercury reveals as this week unfolds is that you could do what was needed on your own. You only thought you needed the…