Innehållsförteckning för 13-Apr-2017 från Pick Me Up!

60 …seems that’s the percentage of adults who’ve lived in the same house for over 15 years. One in 10 of us say we’ve not moved for 31 years or more and, having just done it, I know why! What A Killer! Getting keys cut for my new place, I spotted these rat and mouse traps. But… hang on! That’s a guinea pig and a hamster, surely? What A Swizz! Needed some urgent building work when done I moved in – and the cowboy plumbers insist the pipework’s finished and actually SHOULD knew? I can look giv lik e e you this their . Int erior number design , if you – who like? What A Star! My cat Yoda got so stressed when we shifted house recently, but I…

‘He had less than a five per cent chance of surviving’ ‘A flash of my defiant little bro was shining through’ After waking up, I lay in bed lazily scrolling through Facebook on my phone. Frowning, I noticed everyone was sharing the same news story about a house fire in nearby Shildon. A teenager had been pulled from the blaze and rushed to hospital. Only then a comment made me sit bolt upright in bed. It’s Troy MacKinlay, someone had written. My little brother! Panicking, I called one of my other five brothers, Ike, 24. ‘What’s happened?’ I cried. ‘Troy’s been in a bad fire,’ Ike said. Troy had been taken to Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary, was in a critical condition. Ike, our mum Vivian, other brothers, Carl, 21, Gary,…

Snap Me Up! TeaTreat Have a night off from cooking and treat yourself to a delicious Italian! Go to www.vouchercodespro.co.uk before 26 April to get 25% off takeaway food at Bella Italia. Does that sound like an offer you can’t refuse?! Bless You! HayMax Organic Allergen Barrier Balms are a natural solution for hay fever – they catch pollen before it enters the nose and eyes. They’re offering PMU! readers an exclusive 40% off the balms. Just enter the code PICK40 at haymax.biz before 13 April to get yours. Protein Pack Snack happy and healthy by reaching for a Taste Inc. 100% Chargrilled Chicken Fillet when you next feel hungry, instead of something sugary! A 5 Pack Fridge Filler is now just £2.50 (normally £3) at Morrisons until 7…

‘Heartbreaking. I feel so sad for Lauren and Bella missing out on having Chris around. And, to be honest, Chris is missing out, too. If only he’d been able to kick the habit, would this have been a different story? But Lauren’s so brave, it’s quite incredible. And she’s got a great support network around her.’ Gemma Carrick, 40, Sunderland ‘This is such a desperately sad situation. Lauren’s so young, but so brave. I think Chris had an addiction, which has been so hard on everyone – on Lauren, Tanya and Jamie, and on Bella, who’ll never know her dad. Lauren’s an inspiration, though, for all the strength she’s shown. I wish her all the best.’ Kayleigh Reeves, 26, Woodley, Berkshire…

1 This is a minor heart disease. 2 Symptoms are flu-like. 3 It only affects smokers. 4 It’s treated with antibiotics 1 FALSE Legionnaires’ disease is a serious lung infection caused by Legionella bacteria, which is spread through contaminated water. 2 TRUE The initial symptoms are similar to flu, including headaches, muscle pain, fever, chills and fatigue. Further symptoms include a persistent cough, shortness of breath and chest pains. 3 FALSE The disease can affect anyone, but your risk of contracting it is increased by smoking, heavy drinking, being over 50, or a weakened immune system. 4 TRUE Legionnaires’ is treated with antibiotics. The length of the course depends on the severity, but most sufferers make a full recovery. Next Week SPONDYLOLISTHESIS…

‘We cooked sausages to try and lure Peanut out of hiding!’ With my eyes closed tight, I was struggling really hard to contain my excitement. ‘Are you ready?’ my boyfriend Owen, 23, asked. ‘Yes!’ I squealed. ‘OK, open!’ Owen laughed. My heart skipped with happiness when I saw the tiny Jack Russell puppy nestled in Owen’s arms. It was last November. I’d had my 21st birthday the month before and I’d been badgering Owen for ages about getting a puppy. And it seems all those hints hadn’t gone unnoticed. ‘Thank you so much,’ I cried, taking the little pup from him. I decided to name my pooch Peanut, and was instantly besotted. As Owen lives on a farm, we decided that Peanut should stay with him. I lived with my…

STRETCH, FLEX… THEN ADD BUBBLES! Try This Bathside Yoga Workout Before You Take A Lovely Dip Reverse Plank Pose Sit on the bath side, holding the edge. Extend your legs, then push your pelvis away until your legs straighten. Clench your bottom. Seated Side Stretch Sit on the bath with your hands resting on the side. Stretch your left arm up and over to the right. Repeat with your other arm. Seated Half Lotus Pose Sit on the bath edge. Cross your right calf over your left knee, flexing the foot and dropping the knee. Repeat with the other leg. Seated Baby Pose Sit on the bath on tiptoe, then curl your body forwards, stretching your spine and tucking in your head, to hug your knees P-p-p-Penguins Are Amazing! •…

‘Seeing how much fun Estelle had, I decided to give it a go’ ‘We decided to put the money towards a new car’ When my daughter Estelle, 37, won £1,000 on Pick Me Up! Bingo last October, I thought, If she can be a winner, maybe I can, too! She’d only been a member for a few months. ‘It’s so much fun, Mum,’ she said, telling me about all the different games. But I wasn’t very good using computers, though, so I thought I wouldn’t be able to get the hang of it very easily. When Estelle won again just a few weeks later, I was thrilled for her. She’d scooped another jackpot, this time for £4,200. ‘I’m putting it towards a holiday for the kids,’ she beamed. And…

ASK JESS QI really want to try the pink-and-red eyeshadow trend, but I don’t want to spend too much in case I don’t like it. Can you suggest any brands that do cheap shadows? Gemma Guest, 22, Blackpool A Collection Eyes Uncovered Eyeshadow Palette in Matt Nude Rose, £3.99 from Boots, is a real bargain with a great range of shades. Hope you like it! Want the perfect... CHARCOAL MASK? Try one of these… Brighten: Sanctuary Spa Covent Garden Cleanse Purifying Charcoal Bubble Sheet Mask Suitable for all skin types, the charcoal pulls dirt and grime from your pores, leaving skin zit-free and feeling brighter. Even better, this comes in two halves – for your upper and lower face – making it a doddle to apply! Purify: Masque Bar Luminizing…

‘Police found a collection of recipes he’d created’ ‘No-one knows how many children were murdered’ He was a known sex offender. He went to the same church as the child who’d disappeared. He matched the description of a man seen in the area that day in February 1996, when 10-year-old Zachary Ramsay vanished... But that wasn’t enough to make an arrest. If they were to catch Nathaniel Bar-Jonah, police in Great Falls, Montana, would need something more concrete on their prime suspect. Originally named David Brown, by 1996 Bar-Jonah had been out of prison for five years. He’d served 14 of an 18-to-20-year sentence for the kidnap and attempted murder of two young boys in 1977. Dressed as a policeman, Bar-Jonah had lured the boys into his car. He’d…

Susan was on a journey Susan Moiser, 53, Beamish, Co Durham Owning a country hotel was like a dream - even better running it with my hubby of 31 years Philip, 54. We’d bought South Causey Inn in Co Durham 10 years ago. It had themed rooms and hot tubs... But it wasn’t complete. Then at another hotel, I saw it - the finishing touch - a big, red bus! On the Internet, we found a 60s’ original London Routemaster. It’d fallen into disrepair, so we snapped it up for just £5,000. Next stop: Total refurbishment. Final destination: Luxury. Philip transformed it in just five months from boring to bus-tling! The lower floor is a gorgeous bathroom with a roll-top bath, heating, flatscreen TV, running water and fluffy bathrobes. The…

ARIES 21 March–20 April There’s a thirst, a hunger in you, that’s making it hard for you to show good manners or caring to those you deal with. Try to at least make an effort to ask others how they’re feeling this week, or you risk losing the support of an older face who’s important to you. Call: 09058 170 710* TAURUS 21 April–21 May You feel like you’re running out of time to complete something you’d hoped to have tied up by now. You feel responsible, but I can see at least two other people have let you down. Don’t be afraid to call in some favours on Monday and Tuesday. It can work a miracle. Call: 09058 170 711* GEMINI 22 May–21 June Telling lies this week will…

1 Shop Around…  Travel insurance is a must, even for short breaks, for everyone travelling. Think about what cover is required, compare prices, read small print and purchase cover to suit those needs. 2 Feeling Active?  Read your policy to check what activities are covered. Not all insurance will cover as standard diving, bungee jumping, or even a city tour in a horse and cart! 3 Know Your Limit  If you’re taking an expensive gift, or your best clothes, check that your baggage cover limits are not less than what you’re packing. 4 Be Honest…  Give insurers accurate info on all pre-existing medical conditions. Even minor ailments such as asthma or high blood pressure must be declared to make sure you're fully…

‘Relaxed with me, we laugh, but the pain does affect him’ It started when he was 5. My son Ioan began making a clicking noise with his throat. ‘It’s probably a phase, a tic he’ll grow out of,’ my partner Jonathan, 36, said. It didn’t pass and, aged 9, Ioan began randomly throwing his head back, would come home from school with holes chewed into his top. ‘Why are you doing that?’ I asked him one day. ‘If I don’t do it, my head will fling back,’ he replied. Concerned, the GP referred him to a neurologist. ‘He has Tourette’s syndrome. It’s characterised by involuntary tics and sounds,’ the consultant explained. While Ioan didn’t swear like some sufferers, he began to roll his eyes, blink hard, grimace and grind his…

‘Knowing our baby faced surgery was terrifying’ I was so excited for my 12-week scan, nerves didn’t even cross my mind. That’s why I was caught off-guard when the sonographer detected a problem. ‘Your baby’s bowel is outside of its body,’ the consultant told me and my husband Paul, 45, . My baby was inside out?! ‘But everything feels fine,’ I sobbed. He explained it’s a defect called gastroschisis, though the cause is unknown. Scared and confused, we were referred to The Royal London Hospital when I was 16 weeks pregnant. ‘Will our baby be OK?’ I asked, following more tests. The consultant explained we’d have to wait for the birth to know for sure how much of the bowel was outside the body. And how damaged it was. ‘Your…

Easter Cake Serves: 10 Prep Time: 20 min Cook Time: 20 min • 75g Trex, at room temperature, plus extra for greasing • 125g self-raising flour • 1tsp baking powder • ¼tsp salt • 115g caster sugar • 2 large eggs • 3tbsp milk • ½tsp vanilla extract Filling and decoration: • 100g butter, at room temperature • 250g icing sugar • ½tsp vanilla extract • 2-3 drops pink or yellow food colour • 3-4tbsp raspberry jam • Small Easter eggs and icing flowers 1 Preheat oven to 180C/Gas 4, and grease and base line two 18cm sandwich tins. 2 Sift flour, baking powder and salt into a bowl. Add Trex, sugar, eggs, milk and vanilla extract and beat until smooth and creamy. 3 Divide mixture between tins, level tops…

‘Please don’t just read my story, then do nothing...’ Red, blue, green, grey... There wasn’t a car my lad Riley, 3, didn’t love. Same with his little brother, Louie, 1. The pair of them spent every minute vroom-vroom-ing their toy cars around! That morning, last November, they’d been playing at the coffee table, speeding along an imaginary motorway from the settee to the telly. ‘Right, you two,’ I said. ‘I’m making lunch.’ ‘Lunch!’ Louie babbled. Riley smiled. I knew he’d be looking forward to ham-and-cheese sandwiches - and a yogurt if he ate it all. But Riley never said much. A year before, he’d been diagnosed with autism. For me and the boys’ big sister Samantha, 16, it was hard. The condition meant Riley found it difficult to relate to…

‘I spotted a group of teenage boys, pointing. Laughing’ Slumped on the sofa, I tucked into a baguette stuffed with chicken. Mmmm, comfort food, I thought, polishing off the lot. Next, I ate crisps, sweets. After, I didn’t feel comforted, though. I felt miserable. It was March 2015, and my husband Simon, 45, had taken our boys Arran, then 10, and Logan, 4, out for the day. He was always taking them to the park or swimming. But I’d stay behind, stuffing my face. A size-20, I was too embarrassed to be seen in public, rarely left the house. My health was poor, too - I suffered IBS, constant pain. Doctors worried I had fibromyalgia, as I was always so run down and unwell. I’m failing my kids, I thought.…

‘After three weeks, my devil child was complete ’ Laden down with bags in one hand, a doll in the other, I hobbled to the counter. ‘Cheeseburger and fries, please,’ I said, last November. Not an unusual sight at Maccy D’s in Chelmsford. Though from the look on the lad’s face behind the counter, you’d have thought he’d seen a ghost. I just smiled and went to find a table. It was packed, but I spotted a seat with some teenagers. ‘Excuse me, is this one taken?’ I asked. They shook their heads, then scarpered. Terrified. Giggling, I knew what had shocked everyone. My homemade Chucky doll! Complete with the dungarees and the ginger hair to match. Always creative, when my auntie Michelle brought round a hand-painted doll in 2009,…

‘They were supposed to be my mates, how could they do this?’ ‘I refused to go out, I was too afraid to face people…’ I’d not long moved into my new home with my daughter Payton, now 3, when I decided to have a housewarming party. ‘I’ll look after Payton for you,’ my mum Nicola, 46, offered. So that Saturday afternoon, in June 2015, I invited my sister Sarah, 17, and a few close mates over for drinks. ‘Here’s to your new place!’ Sarah said as we clinked glasses. A bit later, a few male friends turned up. We’d known them for years, so I didn’t mind. We sat around drinking, chatting and laughing... It was still light out when people started leaving. Though a few mates didn’t seem in…

1 Soothe Your Skin  Dissolve an eggshell in a small jar of apple-cider vinegar and use the solution to soothe minor skin irritations. Janet Wright, Corby 2 Better Less Bitter Make your morning coffee less bitter by adding an eggshell to the filter. Niamh F inch, Stirling 3 Pest Control  Deter slugs and snails away from your garden without pesticide by scattering crushed eggshells around your plants and flowers. Melanie Turner, Bath 4 Clean Drain  Keeping a few crushed eggshells in the kitchen-sink strainer is a great way to keep your drains clean natur ally. Charlott e Mason, Kendal…

‘The love of my life died six hours later. Gone forever’ If something’s right, it’s right. And what me and Chris had was exactly that. Yes, there were 33 years between our ages, and Chris’ children were older than me. But we truly loved each other. Chris and I met in 2013 through our mutual friend Hannah. I offered to cook him a roast one Sunday. And, after that, we fell into a routine. When I wasn’t at my care-home job, I’d cook for Chris. He made me laugh, always saw the positive. ‘When life gives you lemons, make lemonade,’ he’d say. He was a big kid, too. He loved The Twilight Saga films about American teenager Bella and her vampire boyfriend. ‘You’re 56, not 15!’ I’d tease. We quickly…

Return from rotavirus Q My daughter had rotavirus recently with terrible diarrhoea. She’s better, but when can she go back to nursery and restart her swimming? Mandy, Carmarthen A It’s safe to return to nursery 48 hours after resolution of the symptoms, but your daughter needs to stay off swimming for at least two weeks. Love confusion Q I was happily married until my husband died a few years ago, but now I’ve fallen in love with a woman. I have no idea what to do. Please help. Poppy, Winchester A People’s sexuality is more fluid than society assumes and can emerge, over time, from the rigid ‘boxes’ society imposes. Talk to an LGBT organisation about how you’re feeling. Cataract concern Q Lights at night seem brighter than they used…

1 Sainsbury’s Taste The Difference All Butter Simnel Cake, 740g, £9.50 A little fruity cake with a layer of squidgy marzipan in the middle, topped with harder marzipan and 11 balls (to represent the 12 apostles – minus Judas). 2 The Cake Academy Easter Simnel Cake, £10, Tesco Fruity, citrus flavour, light and moist, topped with soft marzipan… Perfect as a centrepiece for Easter tea. 3 Morrisons The Best Simnel Cake, £10 With a plump, toasted marzipan topping, this looks great! The light, fruity, sponge-like cake tastes fabulous, too. Make it yourself... Serves: 12 Prep Time: 35 min Cook Time: 50 min • 450g pack ready-made marzipan • 110g butter • 110g soft brown sugar • 3 eggs, beaten • 150g plain flour • Pinch salt • ½tsp ground mixed…

Reader Poll Stand Up To Mum? Christine, 56, Rotherham My elderly mother moved in with me after my dad passed away a few years ago, as she wasn’t in great health and struggled to manage on her own. I reduced my work hours to part-time so I could care for her. But she’s constantly making spiteful remarks and criticising everything from my appearance to my house, while being really nice to everybody else. She doesn’t even contribute to the bills, even though she has her pension and savings, while I’m struggling to stay afloat. It sounds awful, but I’m started to resent my own mum. I love her to bits, but she’s making life at home miserable. Is it time for me to get tougher with my mother? YES Pick…

Verdict: BONKERS! But we secretly really want one… Personalised Large Takeaway Tray, £18.99, www.gettingpersonal.co.uk If you’ve got a pal that’s on first-name terms with their local kebab shop, give them this – a reusable, personalised takeaway tray. It’ll definitely put a smile on their face next time they tuck in! Verdict: GENIUS! Great idea, shame it’s a bit pricey. The Studio Pillow, £49, www.silentnight.co.uk Make sure you always get a great night’s sleep by changing the firmness of your pillow to suit your mood. This has three different pillow pads – soft, medium and firm – that you can mix and match until you nod off! Verdict: GENIUS! Magic make-up that’s bespoke, too! Frog Prince Lipstick, £22, www.spacenk.com It might look like the last…

The Perfect Snooze What does the way you sleep say about your relationship? LIBERTY  What it means: Back-to-back, but not touching. What it shows: Shows you’re connected and secure in yourselves, as well as in your relationship. CHERISH  What it means: Back-to-back, with body contact. What it shows: Both partners are fully relaxed with each other. THE LOVERS  What it means: Face-to-face, with legs intertwined all night long. What it shows: Super-loving and intimate, this one shows you always prefer to be together. SPOONING  What it means: Curled up together front-to-back with an arm around your partner (see above). What it shows: The partner who’s behind is feeling protective. Money, Money, Money… If you were mega rich, what would you do? We’d... Only eat really posh food like caviar, lobster…

 Samantha Lines, 29, Rugby, Warwickshire ‘She’ll have a good set of gnashers when she grows up’ Being told I might not become a mum was absolutely heartbreaking. Aged 21, I was diagnosed with polycystic ovaries, which meant any dreams I had of having littl’uns could be shattered. So last year, when I fell pregnant after five years of trying, I was thrilled. My partner Jason, 42, and I had almost given up when my period was late. We’d just finished a six-month course of fertility treatment. Still wary, I took a pregnancy test... ‘I’m pregnant!’ I shrieked. I had terrible morning sickness, but Jason looked after me. Having suffered a miscarriage before, I was quite nervous, but when I had my eight-week scan, it began to feel real. Finding out…

Amy Thorley, 39, Worthing, West Sussex I’d always been a daddy’s girl, so when my dad Alan passed away when I was 21 years old, I was heartbroken. I didn’t get to say goodbye, as he’d died from a heart attack at 63. I couldn’t imagine life without him. My mum Carol, now 72, was really supportive. But I drowned my sorrows in giant portions and, gradually, I crept up to a size-26 and weighed 23st 11lb. I tried every diet – none worked. ‘Why am I this size?’ I wailed to my hubby Rob, 45. Married for 13 years, he fell in love with the bubbly woman I was. Not this grumpy lump! In January last year, it hit me… I was 40 in 18 months. And fat. Knowing…