Indholdsfortegnelse for January 2024 i Pick Me Up! Special

What does actress Caroline Quentin say is one of her most deeply held desires? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the letters in the shaded squares to find the five-word answer. ACROSS 11 Coloured paper thrown at a wedding (8) 12 Large body of water (5) 13 Blood vessel (6) 14 Barred enclosure (4) 15 Turned like a wheel (7) 16 Breathing in (8) 17 Pistol case (7) 18 Unimportant, petty (7) 19 Finger end, often varnished (4) 21 Summer vegetables (5) 23 Formal expression of regret (7) 24 High quality glass (7) 28 Fencing weapon (4) 29 Tavern (3) 30 Fluid (6) 33 Word guessing game (7) 35 Brewed drink (3) 36 Large jetty projecting into the sea from the promenade (4) 38 Bridle strap (4)…

Wardrobe wizard To double the hanging space in my wardrobe, I use the metal tab from the top of a Coke can and loop it through the hook of a hanger. Then, I hang another hanger through it. It’s great for hanging up an entire outfit, all ready to go in the morning. Charlotte, Colchester Perfect fit The bin liners from the shop are too big for my small bathroom bins. So, I loop the handles underneath and tie them together. This stops the bin liner from slipping around inside. Michelle, Swansea Safe and sound After a few washes, my kids’ toys can look scraggy. So, I wrap plushies in a pillowcase when washing them. The case prevents wear from the machine washing. Ruth, Camborne Dry as a bone My…

Cramming another new jumper into the wardrobe, it’s bursting at the seams. And trying to find a spare bit of space to store all those candles you bought on special offer, you realise that all your cupboards are already full to the brim. You just seem to have so much stuff – too much stuff… Sound familiar? Then maybe it’s time for a good old declutter. Chris Lovett, TEDx speaker and professional minimalist, explains what the life changing magic of minimalism is. Emerging in the late 1950s, it’s built on the foundation that less is always more. ‘Maybe in the not-too-distant past, more meant better,’ explains Chris. ‘We aimed for a bigger house, an expensive car, a big salary, a lucrative job title…’ The average consumer sees around 5,000 messages…

PERFECT PINS Hoping to become more sustainable in 2024? Estrid have got you covered. Known for their vegan razor subscriptions, they now have a whole range of self-care saviours. • Visit: estrid.com • Starter Kits available at Boots 1. The Starter Kit – Razors, £9.95 Refills available from £9.95 for four Featuring a stainless-steel handle, with rubber backing for a secure grip, this razor looks as good as it feels. With five blades for a smooth, clean and precise shave, it’s so gentle on the skin that you can use it every day. 2. Sugar Scrub – All Glow’d Up, £8.95 With sunflower seed oil to maintain your skin barrier and watermelon extract to nourish your skin, too, this scrub will leave you primped and polished. 3. Shower + Shave…

Flicking through the pages of Mum’s book of family birthdays, my gaze fell on a scrawled out name that I didn’t recognise. Laura, 3 September 1946. ‘Who’s Laura?’ I asked. A sad look crossed my mum Marjorie’s face. ‘Laura was my first baby. Unfortunately, she didn’t live,’ she told me. My eight-year-old brain mulled over Mum’s words. ‘So she’d be my sister?’ I asked. ‘She would,’ Mum said, before heading into the kitchen to get dinner started for me, my big sister Lorna, then 12, and our dad Charlie, then 43. It was 1960, and I didn’t hear Laura’s name again for years. All throughout my childhood, Mum and Dad were both great parents to me and Lorna. Me and Lorna always felt safe and loved. Dad had spent five…

CHECK IT OUT Check out some of Claire’s amazing products here. Why not treat yourself or a loved one to one of these stylish tools? With products for type 1 and type 2 diabetes, as well as jewellery to show your support, there is something for everyone. • To find out more, please visit: organising-chaos.com WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF TYPE 1 DIABETES? Diabetes UK characterise the symptoms of type 1 diabetes as the 4Ts. If you spot any of the following signs, see a doctor for a test immediately. • Toilet – going for a wee more often, especially at night. • Thirsty – being constantly thirsty and not being able to quench it. • Tired – being incredibly tired and having no energy. • Thinner – losing weight…

SPICE UP YOUR LIFE Get your mush round this! If Dry January isn’t your thing, this is the perfect way to spice up your month. That Gin Company will tantalise your taste buds with their Jalapeño gin. Crafted the traditional way in small batches via a small copper distil, you can expect the best. Starting off as a quaint bar in Warwick – called That Gin Bar – the small team of experts have honed their gin making, finding the perfect flavour. With a hot taste, you’ll be baffled at just how good it is – expect both torment and titillation with this. That Gin Company truly are the Willy Wonka of the gin world. • That Jalapeños Gin, £34.95, thatgincompany.co.uk GET IT TOGETHER It’s time to get organised. With…

FILM AND TV 1 Which of these is not one of the children who won a Golden Ticket to enter Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory? a Veruca Salt b Augustus Gloop c Timothy Pepper 2 Which famous duo appeared in an episode of Emmerdale in December 2023? a Torvill and Dean b Ant and Dec c Richard and Judy 3 Which ex EastEnders star entered the I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! jungle in November? a Danielle Harold b Shona McGarty c Charlie Brooks 4 What is the name of the fictional land where Frozen is set? a Narnia b Arendelle c Neverland 5 What item is in every Fight Club scene? a Starbucks cup b Coca Cola can c Krispy Kreme doughnut SHOWBIZ 6 Taylor Swift’s boyfriend Travis Kelce plays which American…

In the words of ABBA, there’s no more Champagne and the fireworks are through… but that doesn’t mean you have to stop celebrating. Happy New Year! And in this month’s issue, we are banishing the January blues. With fiery days out to celebrate the Year of the Dragon (pg18), travel plans that mean skipping through Scotland (pg50) and all the essentials you need for a girl’s night in (pg66), make this a winning year. And winning is something that Samantha (pg31) knows all too well. Utterly obsessed with football, it was no surprise that her fella popped the question when she least expected it. She scored herself a keeper. However, with 16,000 onlookers, what was the result going to be? Read Samantha’s story to find out her answer… And searching…

International Executive Coach of the Year Jo Emerson, answers your questions. Listen to her podcast Tell Me Who You Really Are on your preferred platform now. Jo’s new email course can help you build confidence – visit jo-emerson.com. Grab her book, Flying for Beginners, on Amazon. Find Jo on Instagram: @jo_emerson_ Have I caught him red-handed? I found a pair of lacy knickers when doing the laundry that are NOT mine. I am absolutely furious. I don’t want to confront my husband just yet, I want to gather more evidence. But should I prepare for the worst? Evelyn, Luton YES Pick Me Up! reader Irene from Stevenage says: I’m going to be brutal here – but you do need to prepare for the worst. I think you already know that. You…

Stock up on snacks for a rainy day!…

With Carolyn Creel, decluttering expert and owner of cleaning company Active CL. Please visit: carolyncreel.com Cleanse: Look at every aspect of your life to determine where you might need to do some decluttering. This might include your home and belongings, thoughts, habits and people. It can seem overwhelming, but taking five minutes each day to declutter, cleanse and clear a physical space like a drawer or even your social media channels all add up. Let go: Look at life from a different perspective and start to let go of things weighing you down. Give yourself permission to let go of what no longer serves you – whether it’s an old habit, actually taking that trip to the charity shop to hand over your old keepsakes, or turning down an invite…

INSTANT APPOINTMENT With Dr Deborah Lee from Dr Fox Online Pharmacy (doctorfox.co.uk) Running setback Q I get sharp pains in my shins when out on a run. Why does this keep happening? Olivia, Nottingham A This sounds like a sports injury known as shin splints – the medical name for this is medial tibial stress syndrome.Overuse exerts stress on the lower leg muscles, ligaments and connective tissues. Pain is felt along the top of the lower leg – the shins. Rest for a few weeks until symptoms improve. Apply ice to your shins for 10 to 20 minutes three to four times a day, for a few days, to help reduce inflammation. You may need to take non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs). An orthotist can help by providing supportive footwear. Gentle stretching exercises can…

Jotting the numbers down in my diary, I knew that I would fool my doctors. I had been for most of my teenage years. You see, I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 1996, when I was six years old. And during my teen years I was rebelling against this diagnosis in every way I could. I would go out and have fun, ignoring my diabetes, eating and drinking what I wanted, not taking my insulin – I didn’t even own a working glucose metre. Taking my health into my hands was so dangerous, but I didn’t care. I was sick a lot of the time – I felt lethargic, confused, always needing the toilet, thirsty, and had ear and chest infections. And looking back, I knew this was…

JUMP AROUND Snuggle season is far from over. And what better way to beat the January blues, than to wrap up warm? From fluffy, textured and chunky, here are our favourite knits. How will you style them? DESIGNER DUPES Get the look for less with these high-end inspired alternatives. Nobody has to know……

Best friends My daughter Lindsay loves snuggling up with our family dog Bert. He’s got so used to being babied by now that he’s giving our youngest a run for their money! Paula, Manchester What are you most likely to sing in January? The blues! How funny! Say cheese Here’s my stunning nan and my uncle on his wedding day – big smiles for the camera! Hannah, Cambridge What can you catch in the winter with your eyes closed? A cold! How funny! Under the sea Me and my boyfriend spent a Saturday afternoon together at our local aquarium. Here he is, fascinated by the fish. My favourite were the clownfish – they looked just like him! Lily, East Sussex Green fingered As soon as I can get back outside to the garden again,…

Continued from previous page When word about Dad’s horrific crimes got round, friends and neighbours turned against us – it was an awful time. But Mum and I gradually settled into a new life, just the two of us. Each year we’d have a little party on the anniversary of their divorce. ‘I don’t know why I stayed with him for so long, awful man,’ Mum said to me. ‘You just wanted to do the right thing,’ I reassured her. One day, totally out of the blue, Dad sent me a message. I’m sorry for what I did to you, I’m so ashamed, but please don’t tell anyone, I wouldn’t cope in prison, it read. I couldn’t believe it – after everything he did, it was clear he was just…

This month… START OFF STRONG Follow these top tips from Lloyd Robson, head of banking at First Direct, to get into good saving habits this year. • Visit: firstdirect.com 1 Start strong Make realistic financial goals that are easy to stick to for the long-term. 2 Savings challenge Try the day-of-the-week challenge – save £1 on a Monday, £2 on a Tuesday and so on. 3 Spending audit Do a thorough, regular audit of your disposable income. 4 Set a budget Use the 50/30/20 technique. Split your income three ways – 50% on needs, 30% on wants and 20% into your savings. 5 Daily savings Every single time you make a saving, transfer the value of this into an account. For example, if you skip your coffee one morning, transfer the cost of this to…

Finishing my patient checks, I headed down the ward. I was relieved it was almost the end of my shift – I had a horrible headache. In April 2022 I was working on the Covid wards as part of my placement for my nursing degree, at Bradford University. The headaches had been consistently worse over the past few months, but I felt this was down to the long hours and stressful nature of my job. ‘Everything OK?’ a colleague asked, noticing me rubbing my sore head. ‘Just have headache,’ I replied. ‘Maybe give the doctor a ring,’ they said. Feeling the growing head pains, I agreed. Calling my GP on my next day off, I had an over-the-phone consultation, where I described my symptoms. ‘It sounds like your headaches are…

Throwing my hands up in the air, I cheered the players onto the pitch. ‘Come on, it’s going to start!’ I called to my partner, Tony, 45, as he made his way to his seat. Tony and I tried to get to every Plymouth home game we could – along with my football-mad children, Macey, now 15, Lilly-Rae, now 11, and Mackenzie, now eight. Growing up, I had gone to all the games with my dad Paul, 71. Having supported Plymouth for over 60 years, he was a superfan. So, the man I ended up with had to support Plymouth, too. When I met Tony in September 2020, I couldn’t believe my luck. We met on a night out, and, hitting it off at the bar, our chat quickly turned…

Dark florals fit in with any colour scheme Match crockery to your kitchen décor!…

FAMILY FAVOURITES Get in the kitchen and whip up these easy family meals with Heck’s very first cookbook. With 75 mouthwatering recipes, you'll be spoilt for choice. • Heck! Recipes You Can Swear By, £18.99, Waterstones Leek and Sausage Quiche SERVES: 8 YOU WILL NEED: □ 4 tsp olive oil□ 6 HECK! 97% Pork Sausages□ 1 large leek, halved and finely sliced□ Handful of thyme, leaves stripped□ 240ml whole milk□ 240ml double cream□ 4 medium free-range eggs□ Salt and pepper□ Grating of nutmeg (optional)□ 70g Gruyère or Comté, finely grated FOR THE PASTRY: □ 250g plain flour, plus extra for dusting□ 150g cold salted butter, cut into cubes□ 1 medium free-range egg yolk□ 2 tbsp cold water□ You will need a 23cm loose bottomed flan/tart tin and baking beans/rice HOW…

Kick off the new year with a strong start – one you can feel in your bones! Osteoporosis, also known as weak bone disease, can affect anyone of any age. But luckily, it can be reversed, and the risks can easily be reduced, too. There are 500,000 osteoporosis related fractures every year Beating bone disease Over three million people in the UK have osteoporosis, but there are no symptoms until you fracture or break a bone. Dr Taher Mahmud, consultant rheumatologist at the London Osteoporosis Centre has shared his lesser-known tips to strengthen your bones and keep osteoporosis at bay. • For more, visit: londonosteoporosisclinic.com 1. Secret super foods We’ve all heard of making sure we get enough calcium and vitamin D for strong bones, but there are a few…

Hearing a familiar meow at the back door, I braced myself. You see, my daughter Sophia’s cat, Demo, was a bit of a kleptomaniac. Every morning she would announce her finds by proudly meowing on the doorstep. From gardening gloves to bags of poo, she’d happily steal anything. But she didn’t always have this strange compulsion. About two years ago, Demo, now four, was hit by a car and suffered a serious head injury. Despite all odds, going blind in one eye and losing a few teeth, she pulled through. And after her recovery, she began nicking from the village. The first time, she arrived at the door holding a bouquet of red roses. She looked a funny sight and I couldn’t help but giggle – that is until I…

Standing at the school gates, I saw my son, Ammar, 11, running over with a grin. What’s he going to ask for now? I thought, laughing. He didn’t want to walk home with me and his sister as usual. ‘Please can I stay and play football, Mum?’ he begged. ‘All my other friends walk home by themselves.’ ‘Fine,’ I relented. ‘But only for half an hour, then you need to come home for tea.’ It was March 2022, and the first time Ammar would be walking back alone. But home was only five minutes away, and he was a very responsible kid for his age. Plus, his older brothers had been doing it for a while. As a mum of five – Ahmed, 15, Ali, 12, Haneen, six, and Rayan,…

Aries March 21st - April 20th You realise that all of your efforts in 2023 were worth it. The very faces you thought were stepping back from your life are about to become a major part of your future. Beware of telling others how much you do or don’t have this month. Many of the signs are looking for funds of money that they don’t even deserve! Time with older faces mid-month makes travel you didn’t want to do well worthwhile. Ring now to hear about your life in full colour. Taurus April 21st - May 21st Try to enter this new year with the mindset that you will listen when others talk. You spent so long last year trying to get out of a personal situation, and in shaping…

The biggie page 9 Answer: FOR THE TAPS AT HER HOME TO WORK Follow it page 36 Answer: STIR FRY Three in a row page 36 Answer: ANCHOVY Number fit page 52 Answer: 357 Spiral crossword page 52 Answer: FLOWER ARRANGING Hide and seek page 3 Answer: PAGE 11 Crack it page 24 Answer: CREAKY JOINTS Movie links page 20 Gerard Butler – THE UGLY TRUTH – Katherine Heigl – 27 DRESSES - James Marsden – ENCHANTED – Amy Adams – ARRIVAL – Jeremy Renner Slim page 48 Answer: DOUGHNUTS Spot it page 48 Cross it page 55 Answer: RATHER…

Arriving on set at 1pm back in 2006, I felt a little nervous. You see, it was my first gig as an extra and I was about to appear in the background of Doctors. I’d met another girl in London who had worked as an extra and was immediately intrigued. She’d given me the number of her casting agency and here we were, on set for the very first time. I was to appear in a wedding scene, so only needed to come in for the afternoon of shooting. The other extras, including a man called John, now 50, had been there since 7am. John, a seasoned extra, would have a short speaking role where he pointed out his wife. ‘Where’s your wife?’ one of the main cast members asked,…