Innehållsförteckning för November 2023 från Pick Me Up! Special

HOW TO REGISTER It’s FREE to enter and it’s so easy to do. Just visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com and register by hitting the Create Free Account button and then you can enter as many competitions as you like. Go on, have fun! For website rules of play, go to comps.lifedeathprizes.com/rules. Terms and conditions apply, UK only…

For more crafts visit pomstitchtassel.com Celebrate the natural wildlife roaming around in your garden at this time of year by creating your very own Hettie the Hedgehog pom pom! Adorable and easy to make, this craft will keep both adults and children alike occupied. YOU WILL NEED: □ Pom pom maker or two cardboard circles measuring 7mm diameter with a hole cut out in the centre □ Light brown and dark brown wool □ Two 12mm googly eyes □ A 10mm black craft pom pom □ Sharp scissors □ Strong glue TO MAKE: 1. Wind one side of the pom pom maker with light brown wool to begin. 2. Wind the other side of the pom pom maker with two different brown wools together to create a sprinkled effect. 3.…

Feeling a bundle of fur resting against my leg, from that day onwards I knew that was where my kitty was going to stay. After bringing Beau, a dark tortoiseshell moggy, home from Bridgend Cats Protection in 2019, she made my house a home. Overweight and with a heart murmur, Beau, then eight, had been at the rescue centre the longest as nobody wanted her. Trying to get out of her cage as she wanted a fuss and a cuddle, I knew that I wanted to take her home in that instant. Inspecting everything with a sniff, I wasn’t sure of Beau’s background, but as her eyes widened at the sight of the stairs, I assumed she’d never been upstairs before, let alone in a comfy bedroom. And she loved…

Getting under the duvet, I quickly started reading before a question lingered in the air. ‘Should I make a bucket list?’ my hubby Darrell, now 57, asked in October 2021. ‘I think it could be a good idea,’ I said, knowing all the wild things that Darrell was going to suggest. ‘We could see Ed Sheeran, I could race a Jag around Silverstone, we could book a cruise, tour the UK in a motorhome, take the girls to Disneyland…’ Darrell listed. And I knew the last one was something that our girls Phoebe, 12, and Molly, 10, would love the most. ‘And you know those speed camera vans that park up around town?’ Darrell asked. ‘I’m going pull a moonie at one.’ ‘Sure you are!’ I laughed, knowing Darrell’s tongue…

Hate the cold and rain? Warm your soul instead! USQUABAE EDINBURGH There’s nothing like a shot of whisky to put the fire back in your belly – and it has to be said, Scotland does it best. So, head to Edinburgh’s West End and check out Usquabae – who believe drinking whisky is a saintly and noble quest. The bar has stocks of over 400 whiskies, starting from just £3.25 – so there will definitely be a perfect taste for you. You can sample whisky that pre-dates The Beatles and even World War II – you can even book yourself a whisky tasting. If you don’t fancy yourself much of a whisky connoisseur, don’t worry, the helpful staff are on hand to guide you through the huge selection. And to…

+ Your health Scooping a large clump of Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse out of the pot, I set about applying my makeup. Smearing a thick, orange layer over my cheeks, I tried to ignore the burning sensation that tingled under the foundation. My skin was already inflamed, and I hadn’t even put my concealer on yet. Just ignore it, I thought. You need it to hide your skin. I had suffered with eczema my entire life, and as I went through puberty it seemed to be getting worse. My hands would flare-up when I was stressed – and in the run-up to my GCSEs the pressure was on. Typically, my eczema affected my body, and while I would have a little on my eyelids it was generally easy to hide my…

For the dog walkers The small market town of Frome is surrounded by stunning walks – perfect to take your pooch.  Exploring the woods of Great Elm, your dogs can splash about in the river and chase squirrels, while you explore the ancient and abandoned ironworks. And when it’s time to warm your fingers and toes up, head into the town where many of the independent shops, cafés and pubs are dog friendly. Why not check out The Griffin? With a wide range of cask ales and craft beers, they also serve up their signature dish, poutine – known to most of us as cheesy chips and gravy! What better way to warm yourself up after a chilly November dog walk? With train links to Bath and Bristol, the town…

It doesn’t matter how old you get – when life doesn’t turn out the way you planned, you can always go to your mum for loving support. That’s exactly what Heather Barbera did when she started to have problems with her marriage. Heather, 43, left the home she shared with her husband and two children in Mississippi and moved in with her mum Michelle, 67, in New Jersey. Unemployed and at a crossroads in her life, Heather was welcomed in. Michelle shared a sunny seafront apartment on Ventnor City Boardwalk with her elderly mum, Elaine Rosen, 87. They lived on the eighth floor in a luxury apartment block that boasted a pool, a luxury lobby and a café, too. The pair enjoyed meals out, trips to nearby Atlantic City and…

For more recipes visit ao.com Perfect for Bonfire Night on 5 November, these autumnal sweet treats will get your mouth watering as you watch the night sky light up in a multitude of colours from the comfort of your own home. Makes 15 YOU WILL NEED: □ 1kg demerara sugar □ 1 tbsp ground cinnamon □ 15-20 small apples □ 250ml water □ 15-20 wood skewers or wood lollipop sticks TO MAKE: 1. Mix the ground cinnamon with the sugar in a bowl. 2. Carefully insert the wood skewer or wood lollipop stick into the apple until it is secure. For a more rustic Bonfire Night feel, you can even use short branches from the garden as your skewers! 3. Lay out the baking paper on top of a wooden…

Swapping out my work trousers for worn-out jeans, I set to work painting my room. We were decorating our bedroom for our baby boy, who we were due to welcome into the world in March 2022. Only, I wanted it to be a clutter-free space. Scouring Facebook Marketplace for cots and baby carriers, I picked out the bare essentials. We wanted the baby to have a calm space to move into, and didn’t see the need to fill it with lots of random stuff. I had been practising minimalism since 2017, when, needing to pay off some debt, my partner, Jason, and I downsized. We were about to move from a five bed to a two bed in Ontario, Canada, and had mountains of stuff to get rid of. How…

The 18 resident bats in the UK make up almost a quarter of Britain’s mammal species. Here are a few to look out for this winter… Alcathoe bat • The latest addition to the UK bat family, this was only confirmed as a resident species in 2010. Bechstein’s bat • One of our rarest bats, found in parts of southern England and south east Wales. Common pipistrelle • The most common of the British bats, and a tiny little critter weighing in at around five grams – the same as a 20p piece. Natterer’s bat • It’s broad wings mean it can fly slowly and prey on lots of insects – even snatching spiders from their webs. Noctule • This is our biggest bat – but still smaller than the…

Perfect for when you are on the go!…

Hearing my phone ping with a new message, I quickly snatched it up. I’d come to the UK from New Zealand in September 2017 after travelling around Europe for a while – but after six months here, I was struggling to find work and my money was quickly drying up. I’d downloaded an app called Job Today, hoping to find something to bring some cash in fast – it linked you up to lots of different organisations, often in hospitality settings, so I’d made a profile and attached my CV. And now I had my first message. It was from a woman called Kristy, saying she had work to offer me – I replied with my number. But in the early hours of the next morning, my phone buzzed with…

This December, Team Marduk are setting off on an epic voyage for Bowel Cancer UK and Head Up. Alex, George, Adam and Jack will be sailing 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean, from the Canary Islands to the Caribbean. We caught up with Jack to ask a few questions about their journey. • To donate please search Marduk Atlantic Challenge on GoFundMe • Follow the boys on Instagram: @marduk_atlantic_challenge • Please visit: bowelcanceruk.org.uk and head-up.org.uk Could you tell us why you have chosen Bowel Cancer UK as one of your charities? We are raising money for Bowel Cancer UK as it’s a cause close to my heart. My uncle died of the disease when I was nine and I was very close to my cousins – they were the cool…

LOOK AFTER YOUR LOCKS The winter months can be brutal on our tresses – between rain, cold winds and central heating, it can leave our hair frazzled. Thankfully Laura Elliott, head stylist at Neal & Wolf, is here to share her top tips to keep your locks in tip top shape. Please visit: nealandwolf.com 1. Cleanse – A simple trick to creating winterproof hair is to increase the time you go between washes. Washing hair less often means there’s less chance of hair drying out, which can cause split ends and dryness. Look for shampoos containing moisturising proteins and oils that work to smooth any frizz and add moisture back into strands. 2. Choose the right conditioner – The transition from summer to winter can cause drastic changes to hair…

Aries March 21st - April 20th As you enter this month, you find yourself displaying more leadership qualities than you have since the beginning of summer. Now, you no longer worry what people think, but you make how you feel your main priority. The new moon on Monday 13th in Scorpio, conjunct to Mars and in opposition to Uranus, sees you turn an important corner in your life. For many of your sign, this links to a major career decision that you should have made years ago. Ring now to hear what your true calling in this life is, Aries. Taurus April 21st - May 21st Your ruling planet Venus sees your emotions coming to the fore. By the 5th you realise who you have to let go from your…

Running a hairbrush through my locks, I took a deep breath. Why am I so nervous? I thought. It’s only a date. But I liked Matthew already. After matching with him on Plenty of Fish in November 2011, he’d sent me a message and we’d been talking for the last four months over Facebook Messenger. Although shy and a little nervous over text, Matthew, then 39, was funny and kind. Signing up for the dating site, I knew I wanted a partner. A single mum to my daughter, Tina, 11, I didn’t often get time to myself, but with her being a little older, it felt like the right time. Looking for the usual tall, dark and handsome, Matthew fitted the bill – apart from his ginger hair! Not my…

On the hunt for some low calorie meals? Well, look no further as these recipes from Primula are all under 400 calories, without compromising on taste! For more easy squeezy meals, visit: primula.co.uk Breakfast Muffin SERVES: 4 339 CALORIES YOU WILL NEED: □ 2 tbsp olive oil□ 250g fresh spinach□ 1 garlic clove□ ¼ tsp black pepper□ ¼ tsp chilli flakes□ 1.5 litres of water□ 1 tbsp white wine vinegar□ 4 eggs, poached□ 4 English muffins, cut in half□ 140g Primula Burger Cheese tube HOW TO: 1. Wash, clean and dry the spinach. Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat, lightly fry the garlic for about two minutes and remove it. 2. Add the spinach and mix until evenly coated with oil. Cover the pan,…

We’ve all been scared by spooky stories of vampire bats, lurking in the shadows and waiting to suck our blood. Bats have been blighted by bad press – but there’s no reason to be frightened of them. In fact, if you have a look at one up close, you’ll actually find they’re pretty cute critters! And they need our help more than ever – with four of the 18 British bat species listed as threatened. ‘The greater mouse-eared bat currently has one known individual left, and the grey long-eared bat, the serotine bat and the barbastelle bat are endangered, too,’ says Alex Morss, press and communications officer at the Bat Conservation Trust. ‘Some other British bat species are too scarce or under-recorded to know for sure how they are faring.…

BBC Children in Need is back this year on 17 November, raising money for local charities and projects across the UK dedicated to supporting less fortunate children and young people. But, did you know that you can do your bit from home, too? Read on to find out how! Spot of tea Did you know that you can raise money for BBC Children In Need by hosting your very own spotty tea party? From baking cakes to serving a classic cuppa, it’s a great way to bring everyone together and donate to a good cause. To bring your tea party to life, follow these tips from Claire Hoyle, director of income, marketing and communications at BBC Children in Need. • For more, please visit: bbcchildreninneed.co.uk 1. Matching invites Why not…

Bowel Cancer UK have shared the signs and symptoms of bowel cancer. They also have a handy online symptom diary to record changes to your health. If you are worried about any symptoms, always see your GP. For more advice and information, please visit: bowelcanceruk.org.uk • Bleeding from your bottom and/or blood in your poo • A persistent and unexplained change in bowel habit • Unexplained weight loss • Extreme tiredness for no obvious reason • A pain or lump in your tummy…

A WORLD OF PURE IMAGINATION Everyone will remember The Jolly Postman, Each Peach Pear Plum and Peepo! – just a few of the great children’s tales from Janet and Allan Ahlberg. Well did you know that you can experience Adventures with the Ahlbergs at National Trust’s Mottisfont? With a full retrospective exhibition of artworks that have never been shown publicly before, you can immerse yourself in a real-life picture book, with plenty of selfie opportunities, too. On until 5 November, make sure you add it to your list of things to do with the whole family. • Adventures with the Ahlbergs at Mottisfont, Hampshire. Tickets start at £9, National Trust members go free. Please visit: nationaltrust.org.uk BOOK OF THE MONTH With Strictly Come Dancing in full swing, it’s time to…

Just for FUN FILM AND TV 1 What EastEnderscharacter killed Archie Mitchell back in 2009? a Ronnie Mitchell b Roxy Mitchell c Stacey Slater 2 What is the name of the toy store featured in Toy Story 2? a Infinity and Beyond b Al’s Toy Barn c Toys R Us 3 What is the name of the spin-off showfrom BBC’s Casualty? a Holby City b Holby Central c Holby Hospital 4 Who left CoronationStreet to return to playing Dave Lister in Red Dwarf? a William Roache b Michael Le Vell c Craig Charles 5 What was the first ever toy to be advertised on TV? a Barbie b Action Man c Mr Potato Head SHOWBIZ 6 What connects Kylie Minogue, Madonna and Geri Halliwell? a They all have the same…