Innehållsförteckning för 24-Nov-2016 från Pick Me Up!

What A Win! Well, sort of! I recently appeared on BBC’s Pointless with my sis and made the final, winning a coveted trophy (sadly, not the cash prize). To learn some insider secrets, visit www.lifedeathprizes. com/pointless . What A Hol! As you read this, I’m jetting of to Thailand for my honeymoon! I can’t wait to visit Maya Bay, setting for film The Beach . Do you think Leo will be there?! What A Star! At my wedding, my mum surprised me with an appearance by Britney Spears – well, lookalike Michaela Weeks! We sang Womanizer together – let’s hope my new hubby isn’t one! 22 … that’s the number of minutes…

‘I froze, then I fought back, scratching his head’ I’d just been promoted at work, so I organised a small celebration with friends. ‘Go out and have a good time,’ my partner Mike said. He’d offered to watch my kids with my mum, so I could enjoy a rare night out. It was 11 June 2015, and the sun was shining. I met my mates in the afternoon, had a few drinks and caught up. We were having such a good time. How are the kids? I texted Mike during the evening. Everything’s fine, he replied. Have fun. By 10pm, my mate Emily and I were in the pub. She was chatting to someone at the bar, and I assumed they knew each other. They looked comfortable with each other,…

Cheap Cottages If you’re thinking of taking a break in the UK soon, then don’t forget to check out www.snaptrip.com before you book. They specialise in last-minute cottage breaks, meaning you get a cheaper price the later you book. Music To Our Ears Treat the music lover in your life this Christmas to a gorgeous Bush Classic Turntable for £29.99 (normally £39.99) at www.argos.co.uk until 24 December. Kitchen Angel Head to www.vouchercodespro. co.uk/currys to save up to 50 per cent on hundreds of kitchen appliances, from coffee machines to TVs. Perfect for treating yourself and loved ones just in time for Christmas! Beauty Treat Bio-Oil is good for scars and stretch marks, as well as dry skin. Get a 125ml bottle for £7.49 (normally £14.99) at pharmacy chain Well until…

Ditch the itch Q Since the menopause, the skin in my vagina has become paler and rougher. I use moisturiser, but it’s incredibly itchy. Is this a normal change? Sandra, Brentford A This is lichen sclerosus, believed to be an autoimmune condition. It can be controlled with strong steroid cream. See your GP. Antibiotics and alcohol QI’ve just had a course of antibiotics, and I’ve a party coming up soon. How long after I stop taking them can I drink alcohol? Hayley, Chiswick A Some antibiotics that interact with alcohol can give you a very nasty reaction, and you need to have stopped them three days prior to drinking alcohol for your system to clear. Paracetamol problems QI have arthritis, and find soluble paracetamol is really effective at keeping me…

1 Sainsbury’s Lemon Meringue Pie, £2 With a thin but tasty layer of lemon filling in a thick pastry case, and topped with crunchy meringue, this easily gives you six generous slices. 2 Tesco Lemon Meringue Pie, £2 Not the prettiest pie we’ve ever seen, but it has a nice, deep layer of tasty filling. Frozen, it makes a good standby pud ready to defrost in a couple of hours. 3 Morrisons’s Signature All Butter Lemon Meringue Pie, £3 The clue to the taste is in the title – butter! With its rich pastry, creamy filling and lovely, soft meringue, this is delicious! Make it yourself... Serves: 6 Prep Time: 20 min + chilling Cook Time: 40 min • 175g plain flour • ¼tsp salt • 75g Trex • 1tbsp…

Q: Why did you join Pick Me Up! Bingo? A: My wife May, 56, joined a few years ago after reading a piece about another winner. Soon after that, I gave the site a try, too. We’ve both been playing ever since. Q: Why do you enjoy playing Pick Me Up! Bingo? A: I’ve not played loads, as I tend to watch May while she’s playing. But when I have a go, it’s really entertaining. You can put the telly on in the background and then play the games on your laptop. Q: How easy is it to play the games? A: It’s really simple to get the hang of and you’ll see how similar the online bingo games are to those in the bingo hall. Q: What are your…

I was new to bingo and playing bingo online. But in April 2012, a friend said Pick Me Up! Bingo was a lot of fun. So I signed up and soon found my favourite game, Sapphire. Last October, I bought a few tickets in Sapphire and let the games play. When I looked back, I’d won £1,000! When my husband Paul,47, got home, we decided we’d take our kids, 21 and 16, to Tenerife. We had a great holiday. Then, this March, I was having a game in Sapphire, but before the game finished, Paul and I had to go out. When we got home later, I checked my phone, and a message said, Winner! I’d scooped another £1,000! We gave the kids money to go shopping, and Paul and…

TRIED & TESTED This week: Eyeshadow pencils 1 Barry M Eyeshadow Pencil in Brown/Black, £4.59, Superdrug Pencils are perfect for lazy girls, and practically foolproof to apply! I blended this along my top and lower lashlines for a smoky effect that lasted all night. 2 Rimmel London Scandaleyes Eyeshadow Stick Crayon in Bluffing, £4.49, Boots Really pigmented and stayed crease-free all day. The metallic bronze shade would look amazing on green or hazel eyes. 3 Make Up Gallery Glide Away Eyeshadow Stick, £1, Poundland I was seriously impressed with how smoothly this went on and how easy it was to blend. I’ll be investing in a few more shades from the range! Want the perfect... QUICK-FIX TOOTH WHITENENER Try one of these… Flawless: Style White Paris Dental Wipes, box of…

‘Suddenly, I came across a photo that wasn‘t of me’ ‘He deserved so much more than a slap on the wrist’ Holding hands with my boyfriend Ryan, 20, as we walked down the street, I spotted a notice in a window. Room to rent, it read. ‘It’s just what we’re looking for,’ I said, beaming at Ryan. It was summer 2015, and we’d been together six months, had just decided to move in together. Writing down the phone number, we called for more info. It was a five-bed house, we’d be sharing with three others, it suited our budget - and it was round the corner from Mum’s. Perfect! Very soon, Ryan and I were settling in. As we excitedly unpacked boxes, one of our new housemates popped his head…

At 5ft 3in and a size-8, I’ve always been petite. Sporty, too! Aged 7, I got hooked on football. Only, at 16, I’d suffered leg injuries. Advised to quit footy, I used weights to stay fit instead. At 18, studying Sports Science at Salford University, I learned all about weight training’s benefits. At the gym, I met Gary Boulton, a trainer. ‘You could compete,’ he said, and soon became my coach. At the BodyPower Expo in May 2013, I entered the Junior Raw 52kg class and managed to deadlift 135kg, winning first place. Spurred on, I did the British Powerlifting Union British Championships in September 2013. There, I lifted 142.5kg, smashing the world record. ‘Congratulations!’ Gary said. The next month, I was in Prague for the World Powerlifting Congress World…

‘I want to raise awareness of sarcoma and the symptoms’ Work hard, play hard! That was my motto. A commodity broker living with my parents and sister Nancy in Essex, I hit the gym before work and socialised with colleagues most evenings. Single and carefree, I’d go clubbing with mates at weekends. I loved keeping busy. Only, in August 2014, I awoke with a bad headache. Initially, I shrugged it off as a hangover. ‘Time to lay off the booze,’ I joked to Mum Tracy, 51. But, more than a week on, my head was still banging. One morning at the gym, after throwing up in the toilet, I blacked out. Usually fit as a fiddle, it scared me. ‘See the doctor,’ Mum advised, concerned. I’d persistent blurred vision and…

‘What an incredibly brave woman. It must’ve taken a lot to share her story, but I’m so glad she did – it gives strength to other victims of rape and assault.’ Gemma Carrick, 40, Sunderland ‘I’m so glad she’s got some closure and her rapist is behind bars. I hope this won’t stop her living a full life. She should hold her head high for being so brave.’ Chantelle Love, 24, Woodbridge ‘It must’ve been hard, but she did the right thing to speak up at once and not to shower until after. Thanks to her, a dangerous man is off the streets. I wish her luck with everything.’ Hannah Woodfin, 25, Bury…

‘Dean beat 60 dads to win the World Dad Dancing title’ Plonking himself in the middle of the dance floor, Dean Wakefield started busting a move. ‘Upfront and centre!’ Dean cheered, pulling me over to join him, before launching into the ‘running man’. It was March 2010, and Dean and I had just got together. I’d learned on our first date he loved dancing. And, yes, his moves were a little cheesy, but Dean was fun and I fell head over heels. My daughter Mollie, from a previous relationship, adored him, too, and within a year Dean had moved in. Thick as thieves, they’d dance around the house, radio blaring, singing at the tops of their voices. We had Max, now 3, and Hugo, 1. Dean, 31, was a fab…

1 This condition affects the bones. 2 It is caused by bacteria. 3 It can be cured. 4 It can cause heart failure. 1 TRUE Paget’s disrupts the normal cycle of bone repair and regeneration. Bone pain is the most common symptom, often around the pelvis or spine, and is usually worse when lying down. 2 FALSE The disease is caused by abnormal bone regeneration, but it’s still unclear why this happens. Possible causes include genetics, or slow-acting viral infections like measles. 3 FALSE It’s incurable, but treatment can ease symptoms and prevent further complications. Options include medication, physical therapy and surgery. 4 TRUE Though it’s rare, damage to blood vessels inside the bones can cause heart failure, as the heart may not be able keep up with the…

‘I tried to let go of the desperate need for control’ Ididn’t have an issue. Things were totally fine. I mean, three rice crackers a day is more than enough to eat. Right? Then, in August 2012, I woke up in hospital connected to tubes and monitors. My grandad had found me at home in a bad state. ‘Your organs have started to fail,’ a doctor explained. ‘If you hadn’t come into hospital when you did, you’d have been dead in a couple of days.’ I was 5st. And at 5ft 11in, that was dangerous. I was playing with my life. ‘Help me,’ I managed to say weakly. For the next two weeks, I was basically sedated and hooked up to feeding tubes. My condition was stabilised, and my organs…

‘I could see the charred flesh on James’ thigh’ I’d just got out of the shower when I heard the panicked noise from downstairs. ‘Mandy, come here!’ my husband James, 50, called. ‘I’ve burned myself!’ What? How had he done that? We were going out, so I knew he wasn’t cooking. I rushed down to the living room and couldn’t believe what I was seeing. James’ jeans were in tatters around his thighs and the room smelt like acrid smoke. ‘What happened?’ I asked, mystified. But James was in too much pain to talk. I followed him into the kitchen, where he picked up the full washing-up bowl and emptied it over his legs. I still couldn’t figure out what was going on but I knew I had to do…

Try this…. PG Tips Strawberry Cupcake Smooth Green Tea, £1.39, Tesco Put the cake down! Instead, indulge your sweet tooth with this smooth green tea inspired by a strawberry cupcake. It’s a hot and tasty low-cal fix. Jim Jams Hazelnut Chocolate Spread, £2.59, Tesco With the equivalent of 7tsp of sugar in a 400g jar, compared to 57tsp in other brands (yes, really!), here’s a sweet treat you can enjoy and still stick to your diet! Flattering Fashion This pretty, sparkly sequinned top is perfect for the party season! It looks just as good with some smart, wide-legged trousers, a slinky skirt, or even just worn over your favourite jeans. Get Moving! GoFit Power Loops, £39.99, www.bodybuilding.com Forget bulky equipment and use this set of three bands for…

Since 2010, I’ve helped my shepherding partner manage a 500-acre sheep farm, as well as working as a part-time A&E nurse. We’ve over 600 sheep with eight sheepdogs. It’s a big job, especially in lambing season. Early April this year, my partner came in with a lamb. ‘His mother’s rejected him,’ he said. Tiny, and totally bald, he was barely alive. ‘He looks more like a baby kangaroo!’ I commented. So I named him Skippy. A week on, for warmth, I cut an extra hole in a small jumper and slipped it over Skippy. The vet diagnosed autosomal recessive hypotrichosis. It means he’ll always have sparse hair growth and dry skin. That month, I uploaded a photo to Facebook. Overnight, it was shared multiple times and he’s been on the…

‘All she did was jump around on the sand...’ My daughter Nakita, 8, took a run up to the pool and jumped in with a mighty splash. ‘Did you see that?’ she beamed. It was October last year and me and her dad Russell, 34, had taken her to Portugal. Russell and I had separated years ago, but we’d remained good friends. And we often did things together as a family. Full of energy, Nakita barely sat still for five minutes. Five days into the holiday, she wanted to learn how to surf. So Russell agreed to try it with her. We headed to the beach and they practised jumping on their boards on the sand. Having fun Neither of them had a clue what they were doing, but they…

‘It felt like I couldn’t catch my breath. My heart was pounding’ Sitting on a beautiful beach in Mexico, I watched as the sun slowly went down over the sea. I was so entranced by the scene that it took me a while to notice my then boyfriend Chris, 33, had got up from his seat... and was down on one knee at my side! ‘Sarah, will you marry me?’ he asked. ‘Oh my God! Yes!’ I squealed. It was such a romantic proposal. How could I resist? Once we got home, we shared our good news with family and friends, then got down to planning our wedding day straightaway. We set the date for March this year and started drawing up a guest list. I quickly found my dream…

‘The first two years were a real learning curve’ No parent expects to be told that their baby is unlikely to survive birth. It was devastating when, at my 20-week scan, doctors diagnosed severe spina bifida and hydrocephalus, a condition where the brain is compressed by a fluid build-up. ‘Even if he does survive, he could be so disabled, physically and mentally, he’d have no quality of life,’ the doctor said. We were offered a termination, but it wasn’t for us. ‘We won’t know how severe it is until he’s born,’ my husband James and I both agreed. ‘We can’t write him off.’ I was scanned every other week and, when our beautiful boy arrived on 25 October 2011, weighing 5lb 1oz, I never wanted to stop cuddling him. But,…

Utterly shattered, but totally in love, I cradled our new addition. ‘She’s beautiful,’ my husband John, 38, gushed. It was 23 February 2010, and I’d just given birth to our first child Evie. We were so happy, loved her to bits. But, back home, Evie was late in hitting her milestones. Rolling, crawling... Nothing. Then, at around 18 months, she took her first steps, but she still seemed to struggle. Though we were overjoyed, I couldn’t help worrying. ‘Something’s definitely not right...’ I told John. Born with an extra toe that was removed at 15 months old, Evie also had a squint in her left eye. So, just before she was 2, we saw an eye consultant. ‘Evie’s short-sighted, which is very unusual for her age,’ he explained. ‘These things…

Biscuit & Chocolate Roll Serves: 24 Prep Time: 15 min + chilling 1 Soak sultanas in 2tbsp of cognac for 10 min. Melt butter. 2 In a large bowl, break biscuits into medium-sized pieces. Add almonds, butter, cocoa powder, remaining cognac, condensed milk and sultanas, and mix thoroughly. It will form a very dense mixture, so it may be easiest to mix it with your hands. 3 Place a double layer of clingfilm on a clean work surface and put one third of mixture in middle. 4 Shape dough into a roll about 5-7cm in diameter. Place log towards one end of clingfilm and start rolling plastic tightly around it. Twist ends of plastic and tuck them under roll. 5 Make two…

Who Knew?! Look which classic books these famous movies were based on… 10 Things I Hate About You The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare Clueless Emma by Jane Austen The Lion King Hamlet by William Shakespeare Trading Places The Prince and The Pauper by Mark Twain Edward Scissorhands Frankenstein by Mary Shelley Yawn! Some of us Brits can be a bit well, predictable! • Even when it’s 30C outside, we still take a woolly in case… • An outfit may be crying out for a slinky pair of heels, but we stick to our flats. • No matter how cool it might look on others, we never wear our hats at a jaunty angle! • On holiday, we’re overjoyed to see well-known, fast-food outlets. We don’t want to…

FroliCat Cheese Automatic Cat Teaser, £22.99, intl.petsafe.net There’s nothing quite like the thrill of chasing a mouse for your moggie, and this fun toy lets them play peek-a-boo all on their own! Two ‘mice’ pop out from the cheese for them to try and catch, and it stops after 15 minutes so they don’t wear themselves out. Verdict: GENIUS! Cats will absolutely love it. Jimini’s Mealworms Sesame & Cumin, £6.35, www.planetorganic.com Edible insects are great for the environment, as they require far less food, space and water than livestock such as pigs and chickens. These mealworms are seasoned with sesame and cumin for a unique and environmentally friendly meal! Verdict: BONKERS! We’re not quite sold… Stair Pressure Mat, £7.19, www.maplin.co.uk This clever stair mat…

‘Billy appeared in a tux, carrying a red rose and a ring’ Studying for my A levels in 2010, I’d clicked with Billy Connolly, then 18, in the sixth-form common room. No relation to the famous comedian, he dreamt of becoming an actor. And I fancied handsome Billy as my leading man! In April 2011, we got together. Both big film buffs, we’d hit the cinema every week. Leaving school, I worked as a personal banker at HSBC, while Billy studied acting at the University of Sunderland. Moving in together, we’d discussed marriage but, still young, we were in no rush. In September last year, Billy told me about a preview screening for a short film. ‘If it gets a good review, I could get a part,’ he said. Supporting…

ARIES 21 March–20 April Stop worrying about things you can’t control, and focus on those you can. You should know by now that you’re a sign who has the power to turn a challenge into a successful story. Take up the gauntlet. This is your time, my friend! Call: 09058 170 710* TAURUS 21 April–21 May There are such an array of emotions around you that I don’t think you really know how you feel about anything. Give yourself time to recognise what you’ve come out with so that you can enter what’s in front with an open heart. Call: 09058 170 711* GEMINI 22 May–21 June A commitment which you were hoping to get out of now seems like it’s unavoidable. Deal with what needs to be done with…