Innehållsförteckning för Festive Special 2025 från Pick Me Up! Special

In the immortal words of Noddy Holder, ‘It’s Christmaaaaaas!’ Your Festive Pick Me Up! Special is here to add extra sparkle to your holly jolly season. Deck your halls from £1 on p18, find the perfect gift on p38, and out-twinkle the tree with our festive fashion on p14. We’ve even got a fabulous family feast to whip up for under £6 a head on p32 – bargain! Among the festive fun, there’s stacks of real life, true crime and puzzles. After suffering a terrible tragedy, Laura is using her heartbreaking story to save lives on p7, plus meet some adorable rescue animals spreading Christmas cheer this year on p30. It’s a cracker of an issue – we’re sure yule love every page.…

WOW DRESSES STYLE TIP Sequins, embellishment, velvet, silky pleats and jewel tones instantly elevate a party dress. But standout style is about more than sparkle – make sure your dress suits the occasion. Whether you’ll be dancing all night, sitting down to dinner or sipping cocktails, the key is feeling just as fabulous as you look. SKIRTS THAT SHINE STYLE TIP These sparkling staples are perfect for anyone who loves ‘high-low dressing’ – mixing formal pieces with more casual items. Let the skirt take centre stage and pair it with daytime classics such as a simple knit, luxe T-shirt or a crisp white shirt. Heels will elongate your silhouette, or opt for a fitted suede boot with a delicate heel. FESTIVE LOOKS…

Born in 1951, Bruce McArthur was raised by strict church going parents on a farm in Ontario, Canada. Aged 23, he got married, fathered two children. Hiding his true sexuality. After a string of affairs with men, McArthur came out to his wife. In 1997, he moved to Toronto, built a new life and became a regular on the gay scene. He worked as a landscape gardener and picked up extra work over Christmas, playing Santa in a local shopping centre. Dressed in a big red suit with a curly white beard, he posed for photos with children and families. Surrounded by twinkling lights, presents and a giant Christmas tree, Bruce McArthur was a picture perfect Santa Claus. But behind the beard, there was something sinister lurking. Signs that all…

In Oscar Wilde’s fable The Selfish Giant, which bird’s song alerts the giant that spring has come? The answer to each clue (apart from the first) begins with the last letter of the preceding answer. The shaded squares will spell out the one-word answer. 1 Pill (6) 2 Brass instrument (8) 3 Clint _, actor (8) 4 Entrance to a house (4) 5 Four-sided figure with right angles (9) 6 Welsh arts festival (10) 7 Of a volcano, quiet, but not extinct (7) 8 One older than 12 but younger than 20 (8) 9 Proof of purchase (7) 10 Armoured vehicle (4) 11 Water-boiling device (6) 12 Fraudulently appropriating (10) 13 Deep chasm or bay (4) 14 Smooth turf between tee and green on a golf course (7) 15 City of Myanmar, formerly…

A codeword is like a crossword puzzle but there are no clues! Every letter of the alphabet has been replaced by a number, the same number representing the same letter throughout the puzzle. To start you off, we’ve revealed the codes for three letters. Once you’ve filled in these letters throughout the puzzle, you’ll have enough info to guess words and discover other letters. Use the letter checklist and letter grid to keep track of the letters you have found. ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ…

It’s that time of year. Adverts for balm-infused tissues, throat-soothing cough syrups and sprays to unblock a stuffy nose dominate the Christmas TV. Feeling dreadful? Don’t be defeated – here’s how to beat the sniffles by tomorrow. 7am MEDITATE Can’t get out of bed yet? Try a free YouTube meditation session before you get up. Those who regularly meditated had fewer colds than those who didn’t, found a US study. ‘This could be because, under stress, your body can only deal with emergencies,’ says nutritional therapist Alison Cullen. ‘Colds become less of a priority, so your body shuts down the production of the antibodies that would fight them.’ 7.30am TIME FOR MEDS ‘Over-the-counter painkillers can bring down a temperature and zap headaches,’ says GP Dr Sarah Jarvis. Paracetamol and inflammation-reducing…

Kind, caring, generous and full of festive spirit. A ‘sweet, sweet lady’ who adored the holidays. Michele O’Dowd was Christmas personified. It was early December 2011. As always, Michele, 67, had gone all out decorating her Florida home. Her tree had got the full works – tinsel, baubles, fairy lights. Only, it was what lay beneath the pine needles and glitter that held the most magic for big-hearted Michele. Like every year, she’d already bought gifts for her nephews, nieces and grandchildren. Wrapped them up in shiny paper and heaped them carefully under the tree until Christmas Day. Michele was so crazy about Christmas, she even took the role of chief elf at work. She always put up the tinsel and fairy lights at the family business run by her…

Paige Young, 33, Cumbria Greeting children and parents at the airport, I quickly got into work mode. ‘Welcome to Lapland!’ I cried, waving my arms, my pointy elf hat bobbing around behind me. It was November 2015 and after finishing a stint as an entertainer on a cruise ship, I was working as a Santa’s elf in Lapland, Finland. Christmas was my favourite time of year, so I was chuffed to land the job. Every day was magic. Stunning, snow-capped mountains, clear lakes, twinkly lights everywhere. And the look of pure joy on kids’ faces as I sang songs and walked them to Santa’s grotto to meet the big man. I loved it so much, I went back the next year and became elf team leader. Performing shows in an…

ROUND 1 Name the film from its most iconic quote 1 ‘Merry Christmas ya filthy animal’ 2 ‘The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear’ 3 ‘Now I have a machine gun. Ho-Ho-Ho’ 4 ‘Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings’ 5 ‘God bless us, every one’ ROUND 2 Name that film using only emojis ROUND 3 Match the festive flick to its tagline 1 A Family Comedy Without the Family 2 Two Dads, One Toy, No Prisoners 3 There Glows the Neighbourhood 4 This Holiday, Discover Your Inner… 5 He’s Very Naughty and Not Very Nice A Elf B Jingle All Way C Bad Santa D Home Alone E Deck the Halls ROUND 4 Name that Chrimbo child star 1 This Gossip…

Hayley McCrossan, 38, Kirkcaldy Pouring gravy over a mountain of roast tatties, stuffing, pigs in blankets and thick slices of turkey, my mouth watered. Digging straight in, I ate every morsel and washed down my Christmas feast with some fizzy orange pop. ‘That was delicious,’ I grinned to my hubby, Michael, then 33, my stomach bulging, the waistband of my jeans snug. ‘Anyone for pud?’ It was 25 December 2011, and if you couldn’t overindulge at Christmas, when could you? Trouble was, it wasn’t just the festive season that had me overdoing the grub. I’d been constantly ravenous lately. After suffering nausea and chest pains earlier in the year, I’d been diagnosed with vasculitis, an autoimmune disease causing poor blood flow to organ tissues. It was life-threatening, incurable. ‘You’ll have…

Jemma Eyre, 40, Scarborough Cradling the baby, my daughter Olivia gazed lovingly at her tiny rosebud lips, gently stroked her perfect round cheek. ‘Time for your bottle,’ she whispered. It was Christmas Day 2019 and Father Christmas had brought Olivia, then 4, a brand new dolly. ‘She would be a great big sister,’ my fiancé Mark, then 34, said. ‘Let’s concentrate on the wedding first,’ I smiled. Our little girl had been asking for a sibling ever since she could talk. But with a wedding to plan, our own scaffolding business to run, plus an energetic Olivia, life was hectic enough. The next night, helping Olivia into her PJs, I noticed a lump on her left forearm. It was spongy to the touch, spanned across the muscle in her arm.…

Get glam Kate says: ‘For 364 days of the year, you won’t catch me out of my uniform of jeans, a T-shirt and just enough make-up to make me look awake. But if you can’t sparkle on Christmas Day, when can you? I’m talking shimmery eyeshadow, bold red lips and a frock with more sequins than the whole cast of Strictly put together. ‘I may open my prezzies in my festive PJs with a nest of bed hair but I love the moment when I emerge downstairs later to hear my family chorus, “Ooh, don’t you look nice.” Even if they do sound rather too surprised!’ In the bag Bess says: ‘It’s Christmas Eve when I think about wrapping presents. First, I fish out a few old present bags from the…

Neigh bells For excited children in one Norfolk village, the forecast this Christmas is cloudy with a chance of reindeer. Tinkerbelle the rednosed reindeer! Only, look a bit closer and you’ll see that Tinkerbelle is actually the cutest little Shetland pony, doing her best Rudolph impression. Belonging to Kirsty Gray, the owner of Spring Meadows Pony Parties in Old Catton, Norfolk, Tinkerbelle already has a huge fan base from her appearances dressing as a unicorn for children’s parties. Kirsty decided to dress Tinkerbelle up as ‘Tinky the Rudolph’ one Christmas, taking the eager little Shetland on a walk through the village. The pair visited elderly residents in care homes,. ‘Everyone loves meeting Tinkerbelle and we’ve made people of all ages so happy,’ said Kirsty. ‘She’s brought elderly residents to tears…

FOR TOTS & TEENS FOR HER FOR HIM…

Looking cool Here’s me with my beautiful boys Alfie, 18, Toby, 16, and George, 6, in our matching penguin PJs. They make me so proud. Kyla Voice, Hampshire Magical moment Me, husband Dean and sons Acer, 5, and Axel, 3, were so thankful to be together last Christmas. This was taken the night Acer got home from hospital after openheart surgery weeks earlier. Katie Underhill, Warwickshire Tree-mendous My little elves Poppy, 12, Riley, 10, and Teddy, 7, were so excited on Christmas Eve… can you tell? Leanne Stewardson, Shropshire Santa squad They’re the apple of my eye – my wife Lou and kids Raff, 3, and Minnie, 5. Chris Smith, Nottinghamshire Paw patrol Even Bella the dog gets involved in the festive fun with (from left) my son Elijah, 16, sister…

NUMBER JIG ANSWER: 84422 WORDSEARCH ANSWER: KENNY SPIRAL XWORD ANSWER: LINNET THREE IN A ROW ANSWER: WHALES ARROW WORD ANSWER: ISLAMABAD CODEWORD WORDWISE ABED, ABIDE, ABRIDGE, BADE, BADGE, BADGER, BAIRN, BAND, BANE, BANG, BANGED, BANGER, BARD, BARDING, BARE, BARED, BARGE, BARGED, BARGEE, BARING, BARN, BEAD, BEADIER, BEADING, BEAN, BEAR, BEARD, BEARDING, BEARING, BEEN, BEER, BEGAN, BEGIN, BEIGE, BEING, BEND, BENDER, BENDIER, BERG, BIDE, BIER, BIND, BINDER, BING, BINGE, BINGED, BIRD, BRAD, BRAE, BRAG, BRAID, BRAIN, BRAINED, BRAN, BRAND, BREAD, BREADING, BRED, BREED, BREEDING, BRIDE, BRIDGE, BRIG, BRIGADE, BRIGAND, BRINE, BRINED, BRING, DEBAR, DRAB, GARB, GARBED, GIBE, GIBED, GRAB, GRABEN, GREBE, INBRED, INBREED, RABID, REBADGE, REBID, REBIND, RIBAND ANSWER: GABERDINE SUDOKU SUDOKU THE BIGGIE ANSWER: I WOULD SWEAR TOO MUCH JUMBO PUZZLE ANSWER: MAUREEN LIPMAN LINKWORDS SALTED, TENNIS, TEMPER, DINNER, WISDOM, SESAME,…

What does comedian Kerry Godliman say is the reason she could not appear on Strictly Come Dancing? To find out, solve the crossword then read through the shaded squares to find the five-word prize answer. ACROSS 11 Paper handkerchief (6) 12 Senior businessman (9) 13 Engrave (4) 14 Fragile (8) 15 Coil or spin (5) 16 Very sad (6) 17 Not synthetic (7) 18 Restaurant booking (11) 20 Intoxicated (5) 22 Transmit over the radio (9) 24 Started (5) 28 Projectile (7) 29 Control in order to make use of (7) 32 From Paris, for example (6) 34 Beaten (8) 36 Includes (8) 37 _ Piggott, jockey (6) 39 Disagreement (7) 40 Seek advice from (7) 45 Enraged (5) 47 Loneliness, solitude (9) 48 Does as one is told (5)…

TREE TOPPERS Add a showstopping finishing touch to your tree CUSHIONS Bring some cosy cheer to your sofa TRY THE TREND TREE SKIRTS Disguise your tree base in style WREATHS Create a warm welcome by decorating your front door BAUBLES Adorn your tree with joyful ornaments STOCKINGS Fill with gifts for somebody special…

Nicole Carter, 24, Lichfield, Staffordshire Pulling the festive jumper over my head, I frowned. It was Christmas Day 2017 and I longed to dress in something seasonal. But the woolly jumper was already irritating the skin on my neck. A few years earlier, I’d noticed some weird changes to my skin. On holidays, I’d only tan in patches, then some of my eyelashes had turned white too. My mum Tracey, then 49, had taken me to the GP and I’d been diagnosed with vitiligo. An autoimmune condition causing white patches due to lack of melanin in my skin. ‘There’s no cure, but it’s nothing to worry about,’ the doctor had said. It didn’t bother me. But now, years later, painful patches had started to appear on my neck. Wearing knits…

Rachel Yoganathan, 32, Merthyr Tydfil Grampa slid the batteries into my new Tamagotchi, and my eyes lit up as it burst into life. ‘See how long you can keep him alive,’ he smiled. It was Christmas Day 2006. My parents Karen, then 41, and Mike, 43, were busy in the kitchen while Grampa Ron Fealey, then 64, played with me, 13, and my brother Adam, 17. Grampa came over every Christmas mid-morning. Helped us put our new toys together. Then the tradition was to wander to the cemetery to lay a wreath for our grandma Mary, known as Mayo. Mayo had died of cancer two years earlier. Grampa always shed tears as he laid the wreath against her headstone. ‘You have to treasure the good times,’ he’d say. It’s why…