Table of contents for 17-Aug-2017 in Pick Me Up!

What An Ahhh! I love squirrels and I just can't get enough of these cuties. See them at www.lifedeathprizes.com/squirrels 20... …that’s how old the first Harry Potter book is this year! And I loved my visit to the new Forbidden Forest at Harry Potter Studios! What An Adventure! I’m getting excited, planning my summer trip to Italy. I’m going to start by visiting Pisa and finish my break in Naples! What A Laugh! Me and my friends had a great time at Isle of Wight Festival in June. We’re planning on going next year, too… Bring it on! What A Miss! Not sure I’ve found my sport... I managed to get the ball stuck while I was playing crazy golf recently!…

Katie Plumtree, Leeds, West Yorkshire Hearing titters down the school corridor, I knew what lay ahead. ‘Here comes Bruce Bogtrotter,’ taunted a mean voice. ‘Who ate all the pies?’ giggled someone else. Brushing past, my head bowed, I swiftly hurried home. It was 2005, I was 16, and these bullying jibes had become like my soundtrack. ‘Bruce Bogtrotter, Bruce Bogtrotter, Bruce Bogtrotter, Bruce…’ He’s a character in Roald Dahl’s Matilda, who’s forced by headmistress Miss Trunchbull to eat a giant chocolate cake in front of all the class. Like him, I loved eating. Cereal, cakes, cheesy pastries. You name it, I’d scoff it. Aged 17, I needed a routine op to repair a split tendon in my left foot. Not a direct result of my weight – but not helped…

OFFER OF THE WEEK Keep It Natural Kalms is the perfect natural remedy to help reduce the symptoms of anxiety, or help you nod off after a stressful day. Even better, Kalms Night and Kalms Lavender are now three for £10 at Asda. Shine On Get your glass gleaming for less with 50% off the Vileda Windomatic. This streak-free cleaner is now £24.99 (normally £49.99) at shop.vileda.co.uk until 27 August. OUR TOP TIP Personalised Fun! Enter the code PICKMEUP10 at www.gettingpersonal.co.uk before 31 August to save an exclusive 10% off your purchase. We’ve got our beady eyes on a gorgeous personalised notebook, just in time for going back to school! SAVING OF THE WEEK Friends Forever Azendi has slashed the price of its gorgeous beaded friendship bracelets from £15 to just £5 until…

With Dr Arabella Onslow 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. Intimate irritation Q My clitoris is really tender, and the skin around it is swollen and itchy. I can’t have sex, as it’s too sensitive, but I don’t want to tell anyone. What should I do? Shirley, Newchurch A Sounds like thrush. Try an over-the-counter cream, but, if it hasn’t cleared up in a week or so, see your GP, who I promise won’t be shocked or embarrassed. Inhaler overdose? Q Whenever my daughter gets a cold, she wheezes. She has inhalers, so she can take an extra puff if she needs to, but how much extra can she have without…

Jodie Moloney, 31, Solihull My mum Mishell, 49, wasn’t just a mother to me. She was my best friend, too. Growing up, it was just the two of us until my brother came along when I was 13. And, when I found myself a single mum to Chloe, 13, and Callum, 10, Mum was my rock. And her laugh..! It was guaranteed to cheer you up no matter how miserable you were feeling. She had her quirks, of course – a ‘clean freak’, she was meticulously organised and prided herself on having an immaculate house. She lived about half an hour away from me in Birmingham, but visited every week, and FaceTimed me and the kids daily. The weekend of 6 February last year, I was meant to be going…

We test 3 products so you don’t have to. This week HAM & PINEAPPLE PIZZA 48p per serving 1Lidl Trattoria Alfredo Stonebaked Hawaiian Pizza, 2 x 350g, £1.89 Frozen, this takes just 12 min to cook if you like a fluffy base, or 15 min for crispy brown. It’s generously loaded with plenty of ham and juicy pineapple. Really good, and this two-pack is great value. 80p per serving 2Aldi Italian Cuisine Stone Baked Thin & Crispy Hawaiian Pizza, 340g, £1.59 Lots of tasty ham, small chunks of pineapple and cheese on a tomato base. You could share this one, but don’t overcook or you’ll lose the soft, tasty base. 50p per serving 3Iceland Thin & Crispy Ham & Pineapple Pizza, 367g, £1 It might be quite small, but this…

TRIED & TESTED This week: Bubble masks 1 Skin Republic Bubble Purifying + Charcoal Face Mask, £5.49, Superdrug Bubble masks work by foaming as soon as they come into contact with air to detox and exfoliate. My skin was instantly brighter after using this. 2 Oh K! Bubble Sheet Mask, £6, feelunique.com This has a real cooling sensation that feels so soothing. Great for a deep cleanse, it has a clean scent and left my skin feeling very fresh. 3 Sanctuary Spa Purifying Charcoal Bubble Sheet Mask, £5, Boots I’m always a sucker for products I can see working, so I loved the way this fizzed and foamed as it cleaned my skin. ASK JESS Q I don’t like wearing foundation in summer but my skin looks uneven without it.…

Donna Bowen, 25, Shropshire Hurry up, Donna kebab!’ my friend shouted across the playground. My face burning, I laughed it off. But I wanted the ground to swallow me whole. At 8, I was the biggest girl at school, couldn’t even fit into children’s clothes. I thought the name-calling would stop at high school, but it didn’t, and I’d come home in floods of tears. ‘It’s just puppy fat,’ my mum Trudy, now 45, reassured me. Age 14, I was a size-16, and would eat to numb the pain. I’d shovel in sweets or crisps when no-one was looking. At 19, I was a size-20, huge and miserable. And, at 21, Mum and I started up our own mobile catering van. Karl, now 47, was a regular. ‘He’s nice,’ I whispered…

ARIES 21 March–20 April Jupiter’s made you feel as if you were taking two steps forward, and one step back. Let’s look at the positive, though, Aries, at least you’re moving in the right direction. Don’t let jealousy in the workplace bring out your vindictive side. Play it cool to win hands down… Call: 09058 170 710* CANCER 22 June–23 July Why are you looking to the past for answers that only the present is able to offer? Try and dip your toes into new experiences and don’t worry so much about what other people think of your actions and decisions. Come on, whose life is it anyway? Call: 09058 170 713* LIBRA 24 Sept–23 Oct A talkative mood could see you revealing secrets that aren’t yours to tell. Note…

Travel Money 1 Highly rated Check exchange rates a few months before you go, then buy when the rate is good. You can set alerts on a phone or PC, notifying you when the rate reaches a certain level. 2 Mix it up Take a mixture of cash and pre-paid card. You’ll still need cash for the little things, but most places take plastic. 3 Ace card Use a pre-paid card as much as possible for purchases and ATM withdrawals. Only use your debit/credit card as a last resort and always pay in the local currency, never GBP. 4 Cash out Minimise ATM visits. Depending on your bank, what currency you select and ATM you use, you could end up paying on average 2.73% in fees.…

Marie, 44, Belfast Recently, I’ve fallen for a colleague 15 years younger than me. We’ve been mates for years and he’s confided in me about his love life. But he’s suggested that we go for a drink on our own, to which I joked it’d be like a date. Last week, we spent the night together at a work do and I’m sure I felt a spark. Does he like me or see me as just a friend? I’m worried it could ruin our friendship. Should I ask out my younger colleague? YES Pick Me Up! reader Tracy Enright says, ‘Once you’re an adult, age doesn’t matter. When you’re older, you tend to be cautious about relationships as you’re confident in your independence. Why not just ask him if he’s…

Rhesus disease 1 It’s a condition specific to pregnant women. □ True □ False 2 It’s caused by an unhealthy diet. □ True □ False 3 It’s preventable. □ True □ False 4It can be fatal. □ True □ False 1 TRUE It’s a condition where antibodies in a mum-to-be’s blood destroy her baby’s blood cells. It doesn’t harm the mother, but it can cause anaemia and jaundice in her baby. 2 FALSE It happens when the mother has rhesusnegative blood, and her baby has rhesus-positive. 3 TRUE Rhesus disease is uncommon these days because it can usually be prevented using injections of a medication called anti-D immunoglobulin. 4 TRUE Treatment after delivery of the baby can include phototherapy, blood transfusions and an injection of a solution of antibodies to…

By Leanne Paulson, 21, Leicester Standing in the supermarket, my identical twin sister Natalie and I knew we must’ve looked daft. Each one of us buying a pregnancy test. Just an hour before, we’d been at her house chatting. ‘I’ve missed a period,’ I said in November 2015... Me and my partner Robert, 24, had been trying for a baby. Then… ‘Me, too!’ Natalie confessed. She and her partner Dan, 28, had also been trying. ‘Better get tests!’ we agreed. Back home, we sat in the bathroom together, counting down the seconds... Both positive! I’d say we were shocked, but while it was hard to find words, it seemed to be the way things went for us. Thick as thieves since we were born, we were the classic story of…

Verdict: GENIUS! Handy for a last-minute spruce-up! Black Is White Whitening Chewing Gum With Activated Charcoal, £4.99, curaprox.co.uk Although it seems a little odd to use something black to whiten your teeth, this really does work! It uses carbon to absorb stains and tastes of lemon and mint. Winner! Verdict: BONKERS! Maybe one for the kids? Emoji Ring, £14.99, firebox.com Emoji is fast becoming everyone’s favourite way to communicate, so why just keep them on your phone? These rings are certainly a conversation starter and come in plenty of designs, from blowing kisses to the smiling poo! Verdict: GENIUS! It works so, if you can afford it, go for it! PMD Kiss Lip Plumping System, £125, currentbody.com Throw out your lip liner! This clever gadget plumps lips quickly and painlessly. Used daily, a…

A hoarder who had 4ft of dirty cat litter in her home hadn’t seen her floor in four years! Getting fit is fun… With these weird and wacky workouts! Zip Up! Before you jet off on your summer holidays, why not check out the top 10 cities where you’re most likely to be pickpocketed... 1 Barcelona, Spain 2 Rome, Italy 3 Prague, Czech Republic 4 Madrid, Spain 5 Paris, France 6 Florence, Italy 7 Buenos Aires, Argentina 8 Amsterdam, Netherlands 9 Athens, Greece 10 Hanoi, Vietnam How Well Do You Know The ROYLE FAMILY? 1 What is Jim Royle’s middle name? 2 How many series did The Royle Family run for? 3 Who was Denise engaged to before she met Dave? 4 What is the theme song to The Royle Family? 5…

Get Moving! Four ways to burn off a Magnum With 275 calories, if you can’t resist this ice-cream treat, here’s what you’ll have to do to burn it off! • Walk briskly for 55 min…no slacking, you need to pick up and keep the pace to use your fat stores! • Run for 28 min…this is about the time it takes to run a Race for Life. Just think, all that effort for just one ice cream! • Disco dance for 40 min…Put on boogie tunes and dance like no-one’s watching! • Housework for 50 min…Not just a spot of light dusting, plan to clean the whole house from top to bottom in the allocated time. Flattering Fashion Just perfect to dress up or down. Plus, this smart, navy all-in-one…

Louise Hopkins, 35, Ashburton, New Zealand I’m a cat person – I’ve had my gorgeous boy Blacky since he was born. Now, at age 12, he’s an old chap. But we’re actually very lucky he’s still with us at all… Sadly, when he was 2, he lost an eye. Another cat scratched him, and his left eye ruptured. But it never robbed him of his paw-sitive attitude! A crazy cat, who loves me dressing him up in hats, Blacky even has his own Facebook group! But when he was 5, disaster struck Blacky again. I found him crying under the porch, looking as if he’d been hit by a car! His poor body was mangled. ‘He’s got no broken bones,’ the vet confirmed. ‘But there’s spinal nerve damage.’ Sadly, Blacky…

Puzzle 1 Ed’s Test p3 Final answer Puzzle 2 Follow It! p8 Final answer Puzzle 3 Crack It! p28 Final answer Puzzle 4 Bitesize! p29 Final answer Puzzle 5 Cross It! p32 Final answer Puzzle 6 Sudoku! p32 Final answer Puzzle 7 Strike It! p44 Final answer Puzzle 8 Number Fit! p44 Final answer GOOD LUCK TO ALL OUR READERS! Full Name ____________________________________________________________________ Address ______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ E-mail Address ________________________________________________________________ Postcode _____________________________________________________________________ Daytime Tel ___________________________________________________________________ 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. 4 WAYS TO ENTER EASY TO ENTER ONLINE! ONLINE It’s free and only takes a moment to enter from your smart phone or…

Pick Me UP BIG STORY • DJ dad was a monster • Abused from age of 10 • A prison confrontation NOW: I’M HAPPY Get Help And Support NAPAC (National Association of People Abused in Childhood) offers support to adult survivors of child sex abuse. Call the confidential helpline on 0808 801 0331 or see napac.org.uk Michelle Schofield, 34, Bradford Sun streamed through my window as I awoke to music blaring. My dad Steven was a DJ – and every Sunday, he played a set at the local pub. Me, my mum and my younger brother would go along to support him. Everyone loved Dad. I felt proud he was my father – he had the coolest job and doted on me and my brother. While Mum worked 12-hour shifts…

Tips 1 Saving laces If the ends of your laces are fraying, drip some hot wax onto them and roll between your fingers to fix. Holly Weathers, Dartford 2 Pleasant pong For a lovely aroma, put leftover scented candle wax in a heavy glass jar and pop on the radiator. It’ll smell great once the wax melts! Pauline Hart, Willesden 3 Classy glass Melt some wax onto the outside of glass vases and bowls to create a cool, decorative ornament. Jo Marks, Northampton 4 Fire starter Old wax makes a great fire starter. Take an egg carton, put bits of dryer lint in each cup, then pour the melted wax over them. Maureen Handelson, Dagenham…

Lucy Peddar, 28, Haslemere, Surrey After a fun-filled morning at the park, it was time to head home. But my son Henry, 2, didn’t want to say goodbye to his best pal Ned and sobbed as we tried to leave. ‘Maybe Ned wants to come and play at our house for the day?’ I suggested. Henry’s face lit up. I’m friends with Ned’s mum Gemma and we agreed a playdate was a good idea. On the way home, I popped to the shops to pick up a few bits. It was a warm Saturday morning in June and I didn’t fancy cooking in the heat, so I piled a basket with hummus, pitta breads, cocktail sausages, sausage rolls and blueberries. Once we arrived home, I laid out the food on…

Real-Life PLUS Trends, Info and Advice Tory Kirk, 25, Holton-le-Clay The problems began while I was at school, in summer 2007. I was just 14 and my vision was suddenly blurred. It got so bad, I couldn’t even cross the road by myself. An eye test at the optician’s showed my eyesight was fine, and neither my GP nor eye specialists had answers. Soon, my vision was so poor it seemed pixelated, almost like an untuned telly. By then, I’d stopped going out with my friends. I’d only venture outside if my mum Yvonne or sister Samantha, 27, came with me. I was given glasses, which didn’t help, so I stopped wearing them after a while. I suffered other symptoms, too, like persistent fatigue and occasionally insomnia. In August 2010,…

Shahzia Chaudhari, 44, Luton I knew something wasn’t right when my son Ismail was just 2 days old. His skin was turning yellow, and the midwife was concerned, as jaundice doesn’t usually affect babies until day three. The paediatrician said Ismail was fine. But, back home, things got worse. Within a week, Ismail’s eyes, skin, even the roof of his mouth, were yellow. He also shook uncontrollably. ‘Bring him back in,’ the senior midwife advised. At Luton Hospital, my little lad had a blood test. ‘Ismail has severe jaundice,’ the midwife told us after. He needed IV fluids and phototherapy – exposure to special lights – to treat it, and was in hospital for two weeks. It worked, until he returned home. So we were back and forth to hospital…

89p per serving Oriental Tea For Two! Treat of the Week Summer Pain Au Lait Pudding Serves: 4 Prep Time: 10 min, plus standing Cook Time: 30 min □4 milk brioche rolls (pain au lait) □Butter for spreading, plus extra for greasing □150g mixed summer berries (strawberries, blueberries and raspberries) □3 eggs □500ml semi-skimmed milk □150g creme fraiche, plus extra for serving □40g caster sugar, plus a little extra for sprinkling □1tsp vanilla extract 1 Preheat oven to 180C/Gas 4. 2 Split rolls in half, butter them lightly, and then use a little butter to grease a 1.5 litre baking dish. 3 Put rolls into dish and scatter fruit on top. Beat together eggs, milk, creme fraiche, sugar and vanilla extract. Allow a few min for sugar to dissolve, and then…

Jacklyn Herbert, 46, Liverpool As I gorged on yet another packet of crisps, my son Jacob, 5, pulled my flabby belly towards him for a cuddle. Then... ‘Mummy, I can’t get my arms around you!’ he exclaimed. I gulped. Out of the mouths of babes... Jacob had only told me what I already knew. At over 22st, my weight was ballooning out of control. At over 22st, my weight was ballooning out of control I’d been big since I was at school, where I was picked on for my size. But after meeting my husband Lee, now 43, it’d only continued to go up. Food frenzy Head over heels in love, we adored our food, stuffing our faces with takeaways during cosy nights in and devouring the pub grub at…

Claudia Ferguson, 22, Sunderland Applying my mascara, all I needed to finish off my uniform was – my hard hat! I’m one of the UK’s 30 female scaffolders – among over 40,000 men. Back in July 2015, I was pulling pints in the local pub, and in my first year of a Photography degree. Then I met Darren, 50, a customer who was a scaffolding boss for Interlink Scaffolding. Intrigued, I had so many questions. ‘Why don’t you do a trial shift?’ he suggested to me. A female scaffolder? Me? Still, ready for something new, I quit my job and my degree, and worked hard to pass the scaffolding course. ‘You’re crazy!’ friends said. Mum Tanya, 47, and Dad Paul, 45, weren’t surprised. I was always changing jobs! Passing the…

Amanda Tomlinson, 51, Leominster My teenage daughter Ella has always been sports mad, lived for it. She’d recently begun training with the county’s netball team, played for Hereford’s junior hockey team, as well as being a star player on her school teams. So, when she complained of pain in her left hip in summer 2015, we thought it was a minor sports injury. ‘I can feel it creaking,’ Ella groaned, rolling up her top to reveal that the left side of her waist was very indented. ‘That’s not right,’ my husband Steve, 61, said. An X-ray at Hereford County Hospital showed Ella’s spine wasn’t straight and, days later, we were sent to a specialist at Cardiff Hospital for more tests. The consultant said Ella had adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), an…