Pick Me Up! 5-Jan-2023

Grabbing my fourth bottle of wine that evening, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. I didn’t recognise the man staring back at me. Drinking had made me lose all sense of who I was, and it had been this way since 15. It followed me to college, university, and even into my 30s, where I’d drink every day of the week – I called it my Craig David era. Just like his song 7 days, Monday through to Sunday I’d be on the bottle. In 2009 I met my ex-wife while in Cyprus, and within six years we had it all – three kids and our dream house. Except, inside, I had never felt emptier. I relied on alcohol to get me through the day, and would…

BUY OF THE WEEK Are you giving Dry January a go this year? Don’t worry, it doesn’t mean you have to give up your favourite tipple completely! With just 0.2 units of alcohol per serving, Inginious Gin is the perfect way to keep enjoying a G&T throughout January – without worrying about a hangover. Win win! With 12 botanicals, including juniper for that classic gin flavour, it’s delicious served over ice and lime with a dash of your favourite tonic. • Inginious Gin, £26, available from: inginious-gin.co.uk • Follow on Instagram: @inginiousgin1 GET IN TOUCH Send us your stories and photos, including all names and ages, a daytime phone number and full address. E-mail hello@pickmeupmag.co.uk WRITE TO Pick Me Up! Media Centre, Emma-Chris Way, Abbey Wood Park, Filton, Bristol, BS34 7JU…

Follow it! Solve the puzzle to spell out a term related to the picture. The arrows show you where to put your answers. The answer is spelled in the yellow squares. Answers on page 47. Hot trend! COOL CASES With the kids heading back to school, why not give their stationery an update with these pencil cases from Paperchase? Rule school…

Taking a step back to admire my handiwork, the bedside table with a fresh coat of sky blue paint took pride of place in my room. Switching off another episode of a true crime documentary, I snapped a picture of my DIY work before uploading it to my Facebook account in November 2017. Not really being a DIY person before now, with an empty nest, I didn’t have much choice – but I knew I could do it. My twins Tony* and Ruth*, 28, had both gone on to live their own lives, leaving me to find ways of entertaining myself. Only before long, it seemed my post had caused quite a stir – so much so, I had a friend request from a stranger. Lee Norris. With a string…

Stepping off the plane, I smiled as the warm air washed over me. ‘Ah, home at last,’ I sighed aloud. Myself and my husband, Gordon, then 74, were taking our daughters and the three grandkids to Disney World. It was a special place for us all, having holidayed there for over 20 years. The atmosphere, the magic, the colour… I loved everything about it. Although I left the rollercoasters to the kids! Gordon and I met when we were both just 13 – we were true childhood sweethearts. We tied the knot on 26 September 1964. And our first trip to Disney World was in 1995. Despite it turning into a bit of a disaster – we were robbed at gunpoint in our hotel – we didn’t let it stop…

This week, our tip of the week will get a product from Addis. The Under Sink Storage Solution, adjusts to fit the space below your sink, perfectly. It includes 10 adjustable shelves to maximise your storage space. Coming complete with assembly instructions, it is simple and easy to construct and no tools are required. Visit: addis.co.uk Be a winner! TIME FOR TEA Did you know 64% of tea drinkers know how family D members take their tea, but only 53% know about their family history, according to research by Anchor. Anchor, the UK’s largest not-for-profit provider of care and housing for older people, urges people to chat about their history over a cuppa. Please visit: anchor.org.uk • Tea and a treat A cup of tea goes hand in hand with…