Table of contents for 20-Jul-2017 in Pick Me Up!

Emmie Harrison, Features Writer What A Pain! Despite our race for life, I hate sport! I blame school PE. See what I mean at www.lifedeathprizes.com/pe-lessons 486 That’s Team Chat and Pick Me Up’s number for Race for Life 5k…we’ve been training hard (not). Wish us luck! What A Cutie! Awww! I met Bugsy the Andrex puppy…best day ever! I wanted to keep him as the office pet, but couldn’t, sadly… What A Treat! For my birthday, my boyfriend Jethro got me a Polaroid camera. Looks like he’s regretting it here… What A Guy! Mysterious giiirrll… Peter Andre was one of the nicest guys ever. This week has been full of surprises. Ed’s Test £25! WIN Puzzle 1 Can you unscramble this nine-letter word to reveal things that Emmie is going…

Roisin Laverty, 30, Dunmurry, Co Antrim, N Ireland That boy is really fit,’ I giggled to my mates. We were just 15 and hanging out in the park. We’d been joined by a group of lads who were larking around, but I had my eye on the shy one in the corner, Tony. I was mortified when one of my friends went over to him. ‘My mate fancies you,’ she said. My cheeks burned. But he came over to chat – and, before long, we’d snuck away to sit on a bench for a cheeky kiss. After that, me and Tony were inseparable. I took him to the prom and that Christmas he met my parents Mairead and Liam. ‘He’s a lovely lad,’ smiled my mum later. ‘Be careful, though,…

Save On Fuel Bills 1 Lightly does it Going heavy on the brakes and gas drinks fuel. Also, use the highest gear the car is comfortable in. 2Keep clear Leave distance between you and the vehicle in front. Slow gradually or roll along without stopping. 3 Fuel finder Be picky about where you get fuel. Find the cheapest local prices at www.petrolprices.com 4 Switch off If you get caught in traffic for over 3 min, turn off the engine. 5 Keep topped up Driving around with a full tank of fuel burns more fuel. So try and fill up with small amounts more often. 6Slow down… According to the Department for Transport, driving at 70mph uses up to 9% more fuel than at 60mph, and up to 15% more than…

Linda, 41, Penzance My 3-year-old son often plays with my sister’s little boy, who’s 4, and they’ve always got on. But recently, my nephew hit my son with a toy. I carefully told him not to do it as my sister came into the room. She was furious, convinced I’d told off her son. I tried to explain, but we had a huge row. We haven’t spoken for two weeks. I don’t want to go on like this, but I don’t feel like I did anything wrong. Was I wrong to discipline my nephew? YES Pick Me Up! reader Debbie Hadden says, ‘It isn’t your place to say anything to her lad. You should’ve waited for her to come back, then told her what happened. Perhaps you’ll have to agree…

Juliette Anderson, 45, Cardiff For as long as I can remember, I’ve been cursed with heavy, painful periods. Sometimes I’d bleed for four weeks, and my period cramps were on another level! ‘Us women don’t have it easy,’ I’d say to partner Mark. In 1990, I had my daughter Beckie, then Josh in 1996. After, I went back on the Pill to try to manage my periods. It was no use, though. The contraceptive coil didn’t help, either. My periods were still heavy. And the constant burning pain was unbearable. I went back and forth to my GP, but was told I had IBS. Over the years, I just learnt to live with it. When I was told it can cause infertility, I was stunned But by 2015, it was…

Treat of the Week Serves: 8 Prep Time: 15 min Cook Time: 50 min ■175g butter, softened ■175g caster sugar, plus extra for sprinkling ■3 eggs ■200g self-raising flour ■25g ground almonds ■Grated zest of 1 unwaxed lemon ■4tbsp wild blueberry conserve 1 Preheat oven to 180C/gas 4, and line a 900g loaf tin with nonstick baking parchment. 2 Place all ingredients except conserve into a mixing bowl and, using a hand-held electric whisk, blend until smooth. 3 Spoon into prepared tin and level with back of a spoon. Place wild blueberry conserve into a paper piping bag and then snip off end. Pipe a swirl of the conserve on top of cake. 4 Bake on centre shelf for 40-50 min until a skewer pushed through centre comes out clean.…

Angelika Gula, 43, West Norwood A lex, 12, could sing before he could walk. My boy used to babble away to the radio in the back of the car, little head bobbing in time to the rhythm. Alex had such an ear for music. But we weren’t a musical family! My husband Grzegorz, 43, played the violin – decades ago… Some little boys love to bang the drums, or strum the guitar, but Alex wanted to sing. At 7, he heard about the Libera all-boys choir in south London. Thinking he had nothing to lose, we went to the audition. I was more nervous than Alex – he was so relaxed. And he got in! It was so natural for him to belt out the melodies, even alongside boys twice his age.…

13-19 July 2017 ARIES 21 March–20 April mercury is pushing you to stand up to those you’ve already made arrangements with, and to do what you want when you want. Just make sure you honour a financial meeting, which can give or take away your personal freedom in the weeks and months ahead. Call: 09058 170 710* TAURUS 21 April–21 May there’s a dream-like quality to your chart now, where you’re not sure if you’re living in the moment or watching life from the outside in. Pay attention. others will be asking you to make decisions this week, which will shape the next 12 months. take control. Call: 09058 170 711* GEMINI 22 May–21 June there are so many positives to all that’s been going on in your life currently,…

Tammy Smith, 26, Worcester A fter a hectic day with the kids, I was looking forward to getting into bed and resting my growing bump. But as I pulled back the duvet, I heard Johnny- James, 2, calling for me. ‘Mummy’s coming,’ I shouted down the hallway. I made my way to his room but before I got there, I felt a gush between my legs. No! My partner AJ, 29, heard me and came rushing to my side. ‘My waters!’ I told him. It was February last year and I was only 20 weeks pregnant. The hospital told me to come straight in. There, they confirmed the amniotic sac had ruptured and said to expect labour to start. ‘Will the baby survive?’ I said. ‘I’m afraid not,’ a doctor said.…

Sarah’s daughter’s condition means she’s always hungry… Sarah Gray, 37, Plymouth I t was obvious there was something wrong… When Rosie was born seven weeks early in December 2014, she wasn’t like other babies. She didn’t cry, open her eyes, move her head… Doctors ran tests, but back home she still failed to thrive. She had to be tube fed, and she slept for nearly 24 hours a day. Me and my husband Andrew, 38, already had three daughters – Holly, 6, Jasmine, 5 and Berry, 3 – so we knew about babies! When Rosie was just a few months old, we finally had some answers… ‘She’s got Prader-Willi syndrome,’ a consultant said. It’s a rare condition where her brain fails to send vital messages to her body. It can cause…

B aseball coach. Dad of two. Easy-going factory worker. Rapist and murderer? That was what Altemio Sanchez, 48, stood accused of after his arrest in 2007. And, indeed, what he’d finally plead guilty to. To the outside world, to his neighbours and friends, Sanchez was the model small-town citizen. Married to his wife Kathleen, dad to two grown-up sons, he’d held down his factory job for over 20 years. Mild-mannered, his co-workers called him. At weekends, he’d usually host barbecues or coach baseball. A simple, quiet life in the town of Cheektowaga, Buffalo, near the American border with Canada and Niagara Falls. But this quiet life hid an evil secret... Sleepy town Sanchez was the man that police officers knew as the Bike Path Killer... The moniker was coined after three…

KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY Talent clearly runs in some genes, as these celeb siblings prove… STOP DAWDLING! you’re in a hurry to get somewhere, then this lot get in your way… 1 escalators 2 Ticket barriers 3 wheelie suitcases 4 Slow friends who blame ‘little legs’ 5 Sudden stoppers 6 Tourists 7 umbrellas HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW... desperately Seeking Sus an? 1what song is playing in the opening credits of the film, and who sings it? 2where does Rosanna arquette’s character Roberta live? 3which new york punk legend plays the guy in bed in madonna’s first scene? 4what’s spray-painted on the drum case madonna’s character Susan uses as a suitcase? 5what’s the luxury product that Roberta’s husband sells? phwoar! drool over these period-drama dreamboats… ANSWERS: 1. One Fine…

Noke Bluetooth Padlock, £59.99, Amazon There’s no need to worry about remembering your locker code again. This super-smart padlock works through an app to unlock when your phone is within a few feet. Verdict: GENIUS! Even works if your phone’s out of battery. Cola Bottle Soap, £3.99, www.prezzybox.com We loves sweets, but even we draw the line when it comes to washing with them! This cola-shaped soap smells exactly like the real deal, meaning you can, too. Verdict: BONKERS! We’ll stick to eating them, thank you! Verdict: GENIUS! We think this is a wheely great idea! Maxi Flyte Backpack Scooter, £99.99, Argos Designed for kids aged 8 and up, this scooter folds into a compact rucksack so they can wear it during the day before scooting home. It’s bound to…

This week: Deodorants Refreshing: Sure Maximum Protection Antibacterial Odour Protection Anti-Perspirant This is perfect for long days in hot weather, as it works to reduce 90 per cent of odour-causing bacteria. I thought it worked brilliantly, even keeping me feeling fresh after a trip on a packed underground train. Cooling: Soft & Gentle Cool Boost Anti-Perspirant Deodorant I use a spray deodorant after going to the gym, and absolutely loved the cooling sensation this gives. It’s definitely going to become a staple in my handbag. Gentle: Dove Go Fresh Pear & Aloe Vera Anti-Perspirant All Dove products are formulated for sensitive skin, and this is so gentle that it didn’t sting at all after I’d shaved my armpits! The subtle fragrance left me feeling clean all day. ASK JESS Q…

Jemma Buddle, 26, Great Yarmouth i t’s a girl!’ the midwife smiled. Pregnant with my second, I was over the moon. ‘We’ve already got a girl!’ my partner Stephen, 33, huffed. But deep down he was chuffed, and he already doted on our daughter Isabelle, 3. My pregnancy was different this time, though. I was sick constantly, unlike with Isabelle. ‘This girl’s giving me grief!’ I said to my mum Carol, 51. ‘Are you sure it’s not a boy?’ she laughed. Still, I went to town on my unborn princess, buying dresses, cute shoes, girly toys… We redecorated Isabelle’s room, too, as we wanted her to share with her new sister. The walls were pink, littered with pretty butterflies. Picking names was fun. ‘What about Florence?’ I said. ‘Perfect,’ Stephen smiled.…

£1,000! if you complete the lot! WIN PUZZLE 9 How this special puzzle works: If your entry is first out of the hat, you win £25 for every correct answer, and if you’ve correctly completed the lot, we’ll make the winning total up to £1,000! Fill in the coupon overleaf and send the whole page to enter. ACROSS 7 Coffee substitute (7) 8 Person who has ginger hair (7) 9 Mention particularly (7) 10 Padded chair side (7) 12 Reasonably, somewhat (10) 13 Evict (4) 15 Human punchbag (8,7) 18 Become ragged at the edges (4) 19 Repair of chairs and sofas (10) 21 Psychotherapist (7) 23 Loutishly (7) 24 Lowered yourself (7) 25 Resultant (7) DOWN 1 Owner of a retail outlet (10) 2 Thorntree, wattle (6) 3 Scribble…

Abused by stepdad from age 5 Fake smiles in the wedding pictures Justice at last – but at what cost? Dena English, 37, Hull S nuggling under my parents’ duvet, I closed my eyes. I’d often sleep next to Mum. My stepdad Stephen Campy would climb into bed after his shifts as a taxi driver. But within minutes of Mum getting up for work, I’d bite my lip, knowing what was coming... I was only 5. But most days, Stephen would abuse me. Every time, I’d pretend to be asleep and stay perfectly still as he put his hand under the cover and into my underwear. Too scared to cry, I’d count the seconds until it was over. Mum had met Stephen not long after my real dad had left. Although…

Bright Idea… Head to ledhut.co.uk and enter the code SPOTBULB20 before 20 July to save an exclusive 15% on all of their spotlights and bulbs. Now is the perfect time to stock up! fancy snack Swap regular crisps for something fancier like these Champers & Serrano Chilli Potato Crisps by Savoursmiths. They’re just £1.99 a bag (normally £2.49) at Waitrose until 12 August. Clean Up Save a third on all products in the Surcare Sensitive range at Waitrose until 8 July. Their non-bio liquid laundry won’t irritate skin and is a bargain at £4.20 instead of the normal £6. Little Black Bag Dispose of tampons discretely and without harming the environment with the new opaque, biodegradable bags from FabLittleBag. Get 25% off using the code PMU25 at www.fablittlebag.com until 31…

Dr arabella onslow has been a GP for 11 years and was rosemary conley’s Health Professional slimmer of the Year in 2012 after losing 10st. Painful mammogram Q i’m due my second mammogram, and the first one was very uncomfortable. Will this one be as painful? Olivia, Salford A If your previous experience was painful and you’re still having periods, reschedule it for the week after your period. And tell the mammographer of your previous discomfort before the scan. Teeth grinding Q i’ve started grinding my teeth at night. i wasn’t sleeping before due to depression, so i started medication. my sleep is better, but now i’ve started doing this. Monique, Slough A An unusual side effect of some anti-depressant medication can cause teeth-grinding like this. You may need a change of…

Stacey Thomas, 30, Plymouth, Devon M y head was pounding, I had the sweats and couldn’t stop shivering. ‘I think I’m coming down with something,’ I said to my boyfriend Rich, 32. ‘Let’s have an early night,’ he suggested. So I dosed up on paracetamol and headed to bed, hoping to feel better in the morning. In fact, I just felt worse. Nevertheless, I went in to my job as a business development manager. I convinced myself it was a cold or the flu and that I’d shake it off soon enough. But, hours later, concerned colleagues ordered me to go home after I couldn’t do anything except sit at my desk shaking and flipping between feeling hot and cold. The next day, in June last year, I was due to…

matchmaker to the rescue! Sarah Allenby, 47, Plymouth W hen I was living in Dubai, I had just two weeks to plan my perfect wedding. Everything was arranged, the flowers, the food and my beautiful silk dress… The only sadness was that my parents weren’t able to make the trip. ‘Who’ll walk me down the aisle?’ I asked Craig, my hubbyto- be. ‘Don’t worry,’ he said. ‘I know exactly who we can ask…’ Mike. His best man and the chap who’d played matchmaker! I’d met Mike in June 1996 when he was sharing a flat with a friend of mine. ‘I’ve a mate who I know you’d just love,’ he said one day. I fobbed him off, not wanting to be set up. But at a New Year’s bash that year,…

ESSENTIAL DRESS We all need a versatile summer frock that can be dressed up or down to suit any occasion – and this is it. You’ll also notice this fab floral number is a blooming great price! Try this…. new york Bakery co Bagel thins, £1, Asda, waitrose with the usual soft and chewy taste and texture, just thinner, these bagels have less than 130 cal each. choose from original or cinnamon & raisin. florette slaw mixes, £1.19, Morrisons online, sainsbury’s Just empty this ready-cut veg into a bowl and mix with the sachet of dressing, either yoghurt & Mint or thai sweet chilli. THE SECRET OF MY SUCCESS NAME: Lisa Busza, 31, from Inverness. VITAL STATISTICS: I was a typical yo-yo dieter. I’d lose a stone or so and…

Linda Moore, 67, Newcastle B rowsing the dating website, I spotted Gordon, then 50, and was intrigued… It was 2007, and his profile was adventurous. I love travelling, diving, climbing… it read. ‘Oh, and I’ve lost a leg!’ Soon, we got chatting. Living in Northampton, he was 200 miles from my home in Newcastle. Still, he invited me down for his birthday. It felt like I’d known him for years, so I accepted. He was a great cook, too, and we started dating. Then, a year on, he relocated to live with me. ‘I’m a spotty dog lady!’ I warned. I doted on my Dalmatians Harvey and Poppy, but Gordon had never had a pet. It was make or break, but he fell in love with them. Sadly, in 2010, Gordon…

Laura Harper, 24, Bushmills G ood girl,’ I cooed, easing Evie’s chubby legs into a pink sleepsuit. My wee princess was just 10 weeks old and we’d got settled into a cosy bedtime routine. She’d just finished bathtime with her big brother Leo, 3, and now it was PJ time. Evie’s dad Mark, 20, usually came round for his dinner every night and helped with bathtime. But this night he was off playing bowls with some of his friends, so I was looking after the kids single-handed. Pyjamas on, we settled in front of the telly. Peppa Pig was on – Leo’s favourite. I looked down at Evie, lying across my knee, and snapped a quick photo of her to send to my sister. Then I got up and carried my…

Pick Me Up! Bingo Sarah C won £1,454 on Emerald playing my Emerald tickets, i only had a couple of games left, so was pleased when i won £4.50 on two lines. then out came my numbers for the house. i won the Emerald progressive jackpot of £1,454. i couldn’t believe it! my mum won £8,888 a few weeks earlier on the round the Clock game. i’ve done up my house, treated my family to days out and bought my children bunk beds. the rest will go on my home and on a deposit towards a holiday. Janette L won £39,588 on Sapphire my amazing progressive jackpot win was in the Sapphire room and i saw my balance change to over £39K! the money will be used for a holiday…