Table of contents for 15-Jun-2017 in Pick Me Up!

What A Week! Deborah Black, senior sub editor What A Cowboy! My man made a big mistake, showing me this old photo of him as a nipper, dressed in cowboy gear, with his mum… What A Hoot! I’ve found a great shop near me selling a huge range of beers. My current fave is Himalayan Monkey… ‘a beer with ooh ohh aah aah’, as its ad says! What A Crush! I loved the ‘realpeople’ Beauty and the Beast. But though Dan Stevens is lovely, is it wrong to fancy The Beast more..? What’s your cartoon crush? Go to lifedeathprizes.com/ hot-cartooncharacters What A Voice! Here’s my talented cat Yoda, singing along with me to his favourite song The Lovecats by The Cure. Why, yes – I sing to my cat. You don’t, you say..?!…

Faye Ryder, 29, South-east London It had been sitting there on the left side of my face for 10 long years. And I hated it! The mole was only about the width of a pea, and slightly raised. I covered it in make-up every day, but it was a chore. ‘There must be something I can do about it,’ I moaned to my partner, Wayne, 30. When it first appeared on my face, I’d thought about having it removed. But then I had two children, and the mole went on the back-burner. So around Christmas last year I went to see my GP. ‘We don’t remove moles on the NHS for cosmetic reasons,’ he explained. Determined, I searched online. Found a YouTube video which suggested putting tea tree oil on…

1 Go Own-Brand Try supermarkets’ own brands. Normally they have premium as well as value ranges at rock-bottom prices. 2 Fool Them When you buy non-branded items, hide the packaging so it doesn’t influence the family and see if they notice. Then tot up how much you saved! 3 Point Scoring Sign up to a loyalty card, as purchases add up to money-off points or vouchers. You’ll also get to hear about all the in-store offers. 4 Bulk Buy Keep an eye on discounted items and stock up on must-have items like washing powder, loo rolls and cleaning materials when they’re on offer. 5 Online Info There are a lot of deal-hunters out there who share cut prices they’ve found online at www.hotukdeals.co.uk…

Medication worry Q When i was diagnosed with breast cancer, i needed treatment for depression, but i’ve heard it can stop the breast-cancer drug from working. What should i do? Sasha, Durham A While some antidepressants can work against some breastcancer treatments, not all do. Do a little research online to see whether your particular medications interact, then see your GP if they do. best treatment? Q i have fibromyalgia and really suffer with back pain. i’m thinking of booking physiotherapy, massage or chiropractic sessions, but which is the best for my condition? Jeanette, Blackpool A Be careful with handson therapy if you suffer from fibromyalgia, as it can worsen trigger points and pain. In fact, it’s best to avoid it altogether. Acupuncture and exercise have the best evidence of efficacy. Avoiding allergies…

Treat of the Week 30p per serving Gooseberry Crumble & Custard Cake Serves: 12 Prep Time: 20 min Cook Time: 75 min Topping: 80g butter, plus extra for greasing 100g flour 50g Demerara sugar Gooseberries: 400g gooseberries, topped and tailed 2tbsp sugar Cake: 250g butter, soft 180g self-raising flour 1tsp baking powder 70g ground almonds Large pinch ground cardamom 4 eggs 250g caster sugar ½tsp vanilla paste 150g ready-made custard 1 Preheat oven to 180C/ Gas 4 and grease and line a 23cm loose-bottom cake tin. Put on a baking tray. 2 For topping, rub flour into butter until it resembles breadcrumbs. Stir in sugar, then 1tbsp of water, stirring with a knife to create small clumps in mixture. Set aside. 3 Cook gooseberries and sugar in 1tbsp water for 5…

Beverley Clark, 42, Nottingham i was new to bingo and playing bingo online. But in April 2012, a friend said Pick Me Up! Bingo was fun. Days later, I saw the mag was offering a £30 Welcome Bonus for a £10 deposit. ‘Why not?’ I said to my husband Paul, 47. So I signed up. I soon found my favourite, Sapphire – a 90-ball bingo game, where your numbers are automatically dabbed off. I had a few small wins, but really I just played for fun. Then, in October 2015, I bought tickets in Sapphire and let the games play. But minutes later, when I looked back, all my numbers had been checked off! I’d won £1,000! Paul and I decided we’d go to Tenerife. Our kids, aged 21 and…

Want the perfect... FOOT TREAT PRODUCT? Try one of these… Republic Foot Repair Mask These soothing socks are the perfect treat after a long day. Keep on for 20 min to reveal instantly softer tootsies. I’d recommend removing polish from toes first, so they can feel the benefit, too! Footner CoolActive Massager Achy, tired feet are especially common in the summer, as sandals are less supportive than shoes. This metal massager dispenses cool foam to instantly soothe. Starskin Exfoliating Double-Layer Foot Mask Pop these plastic, treatment-filled socks on for 90 min and watch your old skin slowly peel off during the next 7-10 days. It’s a bit gross, but weirdly satisfying. I swear by these to get my feet ready for summer! Jess’ Beauty Hero Vichy Mineralising Thermal Water, £6.99,…

STEVEN JOHNSON Natalie Griffiths, 35, Christchurch Wiping tears from my eyes, I looked at the time. Richard’ll be home soon, I realised. It was 27 September last year, and I was staying at my boyfriend Richard’s flat with my beloved Yorkshire terrier Poppy. Only, Poppy’d fallen ill suddenly, and I’d had to have her put to sleep that morning. I was devastated, glad Richard, 38, was coming home. First, though, I decided to put Poppy’s basket and toys in my Mini Cooper. But, as I stood by the boot, I heard a car engine revving behind me… Then, suddenly, I heard a thunderous bang accompanied by a blood-curdling scream. What’s happening? I panicked. Only, then my body erupted in pain, and I realised... That harrowing scream had been mine. A…

Lindsey Pollastrone, 49, Chippenham When I was 7, I was given the most beautiful silver bracelet. It was a Christening present from my parents Josie, now 71, and Hank, 78, and had my name inscribed on it. Lindsey Maria Williams. I loved showing it off. It was never off my wrist. Except, one morning, back in 1974, it disappeared. I searched high and low, far and wide – everywhere. I scoured the field where I’d been playing. The park, my school, turned the house upside down. Heartbroken, I eventually gave up hope of ever finding it. I finished school, moved away, and married Tony, now 59. We had two children, then became grandparents. I had lots of other jewellery over the years. But, apart from my wedding ring, nothing compared to…

8-14 June 2017 ARIES 21 March–20 April Spend some time this week reminding yourself what you want from life. by taking stock, you’ll start to make the progress that seemed so impossible earlier in the year. News on family gives you reason to feel relief and the ability to distance yourself from drama. call: 09058 170 710* TAURUS 21 April–21 May talk is cheap this week and it’s actions that count with your nearest and dearest. try to prove you can live up to the promises you made in recent weeks. this could well be your last chance to demonstrate you mean what you say to a loved one, my friend. call: 09058 170 711* GEMINI 22 May–21 June You’ve had your time to think. Now those around you want…

Your Best CHeese Tips 1 Grate Idea To make grating much easier, keep softer cheese in the freezer for 15 minutes before you need it. Cassie Muldern, Oxford 2 Sensible Storage Don’t store cheese in the door of your fridge, as it can be affected by temperature changes. Keep it in the drawers instead to keep it more fresh! Peggy Cartwright, St Ives 3 Less Mess Keep your worktop free of mess by grating cheese straight into a freezer bag and placing it into a container. Alma Hardman, Kinmel Bay 4 Bump And Rind Save the rinds from Parmesan cheese and add them to soups and stews while cooking for extra flavour. Once you’ve done cooking, discard the rind. Joanna Barnes, Ripley Top Mum’s Tip! Mulch sliced banana skins and…

Georgina Chapman, 30, Broxbourne, Hertfordshire When our daughter Alice-Anna came into the world on 6 August 2015, it was love at first sight. ‘Oh, my God!’ I gasped, as the midwife placed the 7lb 6oz bundle on my chest. ‘She’s beautiful.’ With masses of dark hair and a perfect little face, she was the image of her big sister Mia, then 4. But, while Mia had struggled to breastfeed, Alice-Anna just latched on and started suckling. Amazing! My hubby Andy went with Alice into the Recovery Room, while I recovered from the Caesarean. But, when I held Alice again, I noticed something. ‘She’s making a funny grunting noise,’ I told the midwife. ‘Relax,’ she said. ‘She’s fine.’ But, despite her assurances, my instinct told me otherwise. ‘I just know this…

Neurofibromatosis 1 It causes tumours to develop. True False 2 It doesn’t cause any visible symptoms. True False 3 It’s caused by living an unhealthy lifestyle. True False 4 There’s no cure. True False 1 TruE Neurofibromatosis (NF) is the general name for a number of genetic conditions that cause tumours to grow along nerves. The tumours themselves are usually non-cancerous (benign). 2 FALSE In most cases the skin is affected and causes symptoms such as pale, coffee-coloured patches (cafe au lait spots) on the skin, and soft, noncancerous bumps on or under the skin. 3 FALSE It’s caused by a genetic mutation. In half of all cases, the mutation is passed from a parent to their child. In other cases, it develops spontaneously. 4 TruE Treatment involves regular monitoring…

when 5-year-old Nicholas wore a My Little Pony dress to school, his mum Lauren Springthorpe watched on proudly. The schoolboy had chosen the dress himself, and 22-year-old Lauren saw no harm in letting him wear it for nonuniform day. For decades it’s been assumed all girls should wear pretty dresses and little boys should be in trousers. Most toy shops have sections for girls full of pink toys and dolls, then separate boys’ sections packed with Action Man figures, cars and trucks. But these days, many parents are challenging gender stereotypes and dressing their children differently. And Lauren, from Coalville, Leicestershire, admits she and Nicholas’ dad Liam Perkin, 21, are right behind their son’s choices. ‘He spotted the My Little Pony dress in a supermarket and begged his dad to…

Swap cinnamon swirl danish pas t r y… 367 cal For jam doughnut… 252 cal £39.99 at Superdrug until 27/6/17 (normally £79.99) £10 George at Asda 5st 7½ lb Save …115 cal THE SECRET OF MY SUCCESS NAME: Catriona Roberts, 58, from Stonehouse, Scotland. VITAL STATISTICS: When I was working full time and tired in the evenings, I made poor food choices and did very little exercise. I found myself weighing 16st 5½lb, a size-22. MY MOTIVATION: I had a holiday with my husband Gwyn, and a family wedding coming up. Great targets to work towards. MY ACTION PLAN: I joined Scottish Slimmers in early 2013, lost some weight and felt good on holiday. But, soon after coming home, Gwyn collapsed, and 48 hours later, his life support was switched off. He’d died…

Manda Cook, 32, Prescot i’ve loved Disneyland Paris since I was a girl. It’s such a magical place At 16, I met my prince, Peter, now 36. He treated me like a princess. Except, princesses were always slim… I wasn’t. ‘You’re beautiful, babe,’ Peter would smile. But I’d eat enough for two, went from size-12 to a size-16. On my 21st birthday, Peter whisked me to the theme park. In front of Sleeping Beauty Castle, he proposed. ‘Yes!’ I screamed. We married, had Ethan in April 2011, were the perfect little family. But there was one big problem… My belly. On maternity leave, I’d scoffed and scoffed. When I returned to work as a nurse, my uniform didn’t fit. I thought nothing of asking for a size-20. In September 2014,…

Liza Brickell, 41, Folkstone Making my way downstairs, I found a pair of frilly, pink knickers on the floor. And in And in the living room, a woman’s bra was strewn across the carpet. He’s at it again, I realised, furious. I began knocking on doors in our street to explain My Reginald was up to his old tricks! But you’d be mistaken if you thought Reginald was my hubby, up to no good. He’s my 4-year-old cat. And he’s the local neighbourhood thief! He trawls the area looking for a house to target. If there’s a window open or a catflap, he sees his chance… Then he sneaks inside and steals the owner’s undies, socks, tights, leggings – whatever he can get his furry paws on! Returning with his…

PICK ME UP! BIG STORY Six months along with ex’s baby He broke in and attacked Jailed and deported She finally feels safe Marina Adams, 45, Bognor Regis My phone beeped with a text, and I smiled like a giddy schoolgirl. I had a great time tonight. When can I see you again? it read. It was autumn 2009, and I’d just got home from a first date with Olexandr Volynets. A single mum to my then 4-year-old daughter, my social life was pretty non-existent. So I’d turned to online dating. Olexandr was a window fitter who’d moved to the UK from Ukraine. Charming and kind, he seemed like a sweet guy. And he’d travelled from London to Bognor Regis to meet me. ‘Bonus points for effort,’ I’d told him,…

Beans… Beans! You can now have a bargain family day out thanks to baked beans! Pick up a promotional pack of Branston Beans for 2-for-1 tickets to Thorpe Park Resort and Sea Life Centres until August. OFEER OF THE WEEK Beauty Bargain Hempz is offering 10% off at www.hempzbeauty.com until 31 July with code SUMMERLOVE at the checkout. With 100% pure hemp seed oil, they’re ideal for dry skin and hair. say goodbye To Hayfever HayMax organic barrier balms are great for all allergy sufferers, and you can get 40% off at haymax.biz with the code PICK40 until 15 June. SAVING OF THE WEEK Make Dad’s Day Treat Dad on Father’s Day to a bottle of Boss Bottled Night Eau de Toilette. It’s now £39.99 (normally £79) at The Perfume…

Real-Life PLUS Trends, Info and Advice Rachel Sinclair, 32, Aintree February last year, I woke with back pains. Then, just days later, I lost the feeling in my right leg and couldn’t walk. The doctor told me there’s no known cure for MS At Aintree Hospital, tests revealed part of the discs in my back had crumbled. You’ll need surgery to remove them,’ I was told. Transferred to The Walton Centre for the specialist op, when I came round after, I couldn’t see. Doctors couldn’t explain why I’d lost my sight, warned I might not regain it. I was devastated, had test after test. Two weeks on, incredibly I began to regain vision in one eye. And, eventually, doctors had some answers… ‘You’ve got multiple sclerosis,’ a doctor said. MS…

Lucy Hodson, 42, Wirral All kids get chickenpox. My daughter Daisy, now 9, caught it when she was a year old. It was nothing a bit of cream couldn’t sort out. So when my son Leo developed a few spots in April 2014, I wasn’t too worried. I’d recently taken him to a soft play centre, so I assumed he’d picked up the infection there from someone. The spots covered his torso, arms and face. Then 3, it didn’t faze him. I smothered him in creams to help ease the itch. ‘No scratching,’ I told him. A few days on, my aunts asked to take him for a day out to the farm. Leo seemed fine, and his spots weren’t irritating him, so I agreed he could go. But by…

In Ancient Egypt, women used crocodiledung pessaries as contraceptives. How come they’re not a thing now..? DEAR SIR… We love these classic, sassy customer complaints An Apple customer returned his iPad, as his wife complained it was too expensive. He posted the gadget back with a Post-it note explaining, wife said no. The iPad was fully refunded via post with a note that read, Apple says yes. nice one, Apple. When Keith Clark’s bank card was cloned in April 2015, his bank promised a new one within 10 days. When the time was up, Keith’s local bank said no card had been ordered, but they’d sort it out. But, 19 days later, when no card had arrived, Keith cross-stitched a design of one and sent it to the bank to…

Emma Hynard, 21, Harrogate I was 14 when I got the idea into my head that I needed to go on a diet. At 5ft 5in tall and just over 9st, I’d never been overweight. But I started comparing myself to the other girls at my dancing class and school. Mum would come and check my pulse in the night Perhaps I should be thinner, I thought. So I cut out between-meal snacks – and, within a week, I’d lost about 5lb, dropping to 8st 10lb. This is easy! I thought. So, with no clue about nutrition, I started skipping meals, too… In denial I was always practising my ballet, tap and jazz, burning lots of energy, so it was no surprise the weight fell off me. But, after about…

Verdict: BONKERS! But they do make the point! Anti-Fart Pills, £4.99, www.prezzybox.com If you’re sick of spending time with a very, ahem, gassy partner or pal, these could be just the thing! Although the ‘pills’ are actually giant mints, they make a great gift for the stinker in your life. Verdict: GENIUS! Well worth a try if you’re travelling abroad this summer. Incognito Zap-Ease, £6.49, Morrisons This gadget works wonders to stop pesky insect bites from itching. Click the button around the affected area and it’ll deliver a tiny, harmless electrical impulse that helps trick your brain into thinking you haven’t been bitten. Verdict: GENIUS! Imagine how many washingup rows this will save! QuadraPan Professional with Glass Lid, £49.99, www.highstreettv.com Save time and washing up by cooking your entire meal…

People with eproctophilia have a fetish for… wait for it… flatulence and farting! THE WALKING DEAD – THIS IS HOW THEY DIED, BUT WHAT WERE THEIR NAMES? 1 Shot herself after being bitten on the neck 2 Devoured by a horde of walkers in the prison 3 Bitten, zombified, then stabbed in the head by Spencer 4 Bitten and died of infection, then stabbed in the head by Tyreese 5 Shot in the chest by The Governor, zombified, then stabbed by Daryl 6 Shot in the head by Dawn SERIOUSLY?!? Tourists ask the silliest things... ‘Can you tell me who performs at the circus in Piccadilly?’ What time is the Loch Ness Monster fed?’ I want to propose to my girlfriend while we are away, can we get the beach to…

Chrissy Brown, 44, St Neots Growing up, my dad Stan never threw anything away. Loo-roll tubes, bottles, cartons... In our garden, we had a golf course made from yogurt pots. Once, he made a whole conservatory for £5, picking up free double glazing and 50p car seats. ‘Dad, you’re so embarrassing’ I cringed. Thought it was so uncool. But now, it’s my life! It’s called upcycling – finding different uses for ordinary things. I’ve made lampshades from plastic spoons. All sorts. My partner Danny, 45, was impressed at my creativity. I had a log cabin built in my garden to use as an office, too. I painted it in a beach theme. Picked up shells, flip-flops, wicker chairs, hammocks... Surrounded by sea and sand, I felt relaxed. Decorating cost less…

Issue 24, 15 June 2017 Closing date for all entries: 21 June 2017 (three working days later for postal entries) Puzzle 1 Ed’s Test p3 Final answer Puzzle 2 Follow It! p8 Final answer Puzzle 3 Bitesize! p25 Final answer Puzzle 4 Cross It! p34 Final answer Puzzle 5 Sudoku! p34 Final answer Puzzle 6 Crack It! p36 Final answer Puzzle 7 Strike It! p50 Final answer Puzzle 8 Number Fit! p50 Final answer GOOD LUCK TO ALL OUR READERS! Pick Me Up!, published by Time Inc. (UK) Ltd, will collect your personal information solely to process your competition entry. We will not be using this issue’s competition entries to send you special offers or to pass on to third parties. PRIZE PUZZLE ANSWERS Issue 22, 1 June 2017 Cross It! Crack It! Ed’s Test Demerara Bitesize! Gill…