Innehållsförteckning för 27-Apr-2017 från Pick Me Up!

What A Coincidence! I recently bagged a date with a lad I met on happn. We’d crossed paths close to home, apparently. Though it turns out he’s my neighbour…bit too close for comfort! What A Dream Come True! Chocolate is one of my fave foods, so when I saw this pic on @spoonfulsugar Instagram account, I debated booking a one-way ticket to Glasgow, and pitching up at Eusebi Deli. What Specs Appeal! Separated at birth? The hair, the glasses… Here I am with my friend Lauren. Can you tell which is me?! What A Hoot! Whether you’re having a bad day, or a tip-top one, pics of elephants will make it even better! Check them out at www.lifedeathprizes.com/ amazing-elephants 14 Our offices recently upped sticks for pastures new…

‘The abuse became regular, whenever he got me alone’ ‘At 9, I’d no idea what Geoffrey was doing. But he did’ Growing up, I was always fiercely independent. With two siblings who were much older, I made friends with the local kids. Geoffrey Skinner, then 46, lived opposite. He’d no kids, but he’d often be out front pottering while we raced round on roller blades or kicked a footy about. My mum Mary, then 41, and dad Daniel, 52, trusted Geoffrey and his wife. As my parents didn’t drive, Geoffrey often offered to take me along on his day fishing trips. All close friends, no-one questioned it. I was 9 in August 1996 when Geoffrey took me on a trip. ‘Have as much pick ’n’ mix as you like,’ he…

Snap Me Up! We’ve done the research – you save the dosh! Kids Go Free! Channel your inner ninja at the new LEGO® Ninjago™ City Adventure feature at LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre, at the intu Trafford Centre, Manchester. Kids go free with a paying adult during 2017. Take this page and online booking confirmation for adult tickets to gain entry. Full t&cs at www.legolanddiscoverycentre.co.uk/manchester/terms Beauty Bargain Spend £15 on any Max Factor products at Boots before 30 April to receive a free natural nude gift box worth £30. It includes a marble make-up brush holder, mascara, blusher and lip colour. Ready In A Jiffy If you’re short on time and reaching for a ready meal, make sure it’s a healthy one! Kirsty’s ready meals are naturally free from gluten, wheat and…

My Lucy always had such long, thick, gorgeous hair. But when I took her for a haircut aged 6, the hairdresser noticed a bald spot at the back of her head. We saw a dermatologist who diagnosed Lucy with alopecia. We tried many treatments, including having steroids directed at high pressure into Lucy’s head every month to encourage growth. It was beyond painful. And it didn’t work - no treatments worked. Lucy’s faster than it grew back. She had her locks cut into short styles to hide the patches, but she’d get upset if somebody noticed at school. ‘It doesn’t change how pretty and wonderful you are,’ I’d tell her all the time. Lucy wore a wig for the first time during her second year at senior school, which took…

We’d always wanted two children. So me and my husband Edward, 40, were so happy when I fell pregnant for the second time. A little brother or sister for our Esmee, 5. I was going to my midwife appointments and the doctors were happy. But there was one problem...the itching! It started when I was about six months gone. I couldn’t stop scratching my hands, feet and legs. ‘Ask the midwife about it,’ Edward suggested. But I didn’t want to look like a hypochondriac. Growing up, I’d had eczema, so I thought it was something to do with that. But the itching got just worse. I was starting to leave marks on my skin. Some nights, I couldn’t even get to sleep it was so bad. I tried various creams…

Giant Sharing Chocolate Cookie Serves: 6 Prep Time: 10 min Cook Time: 17 min • 150g plain flour • 60g caster sugar • 130g soft brown sugar • 90g unsalted butter at room temperature • 1tsp vanilla essence • ½tsp bicarbonate of soda • 25g cocoa powder • 1 medium egg • 25g milk chocolate chips • 25g dark chocolate chips • Ice cream and chocolate sauce, to serve 1 Preheat oven to 170C/ Gas 3, and line a large, ovenproof dish or a baking sheet with baking parchment. 2 Put all the ingredients except the chocolate chips into a food processor and blend until smooth. 3 Roll the dough into a ball and put in the centre of the tray, then roll or spread it out with your fingers…

‘I loved the thought of playing at home in my pyjamas!’ I was chatting to my sister-in-law back in 2011, and she told me that it was fun and I should try it! She was talking about Pick Me Up! Bingo! She said how much she enjoyed the site and chatting to fellow bingo players. I loved bingo, and the thought of playing at home in my pyjamas and slippers sounded too good to be true. After signing up, I played around on the site, getting to know the games. There were so many! I had fun playing the slots, but my favourite soon became Sapphire Bingo - a 90-ball bingo game. I had a few small wins over the years, most importantly, though, I enjoyed myself. ‘You’re right,’ I…

Want the perfect... Try one of these... MANUKA HONEY PRODUCT? Face: Good Things Manuka Honey Refining Scrub All skin types can benefit from this wonder scrub. Manuka honey moisturises, oatmeal buffs and kaolin draws out excess oil for a clearer complexion. Lips: Kind Natured Lip Balm with Nourishing Manuka Honey Natural balms are kinder to your lips and won’t dry them out. Apply this liberally for a soft pout. Hair: 7th Heaven Manuka Honey Rescue Masque Manuka honey is known to nourish hair and skin, so you really can’t go wrong with a £1 hair mask! Use once a week to treat hair and help repair damage. Jess’Beauty Hero I’ve been slathering on Dove Derma Spa Cashmere Comfort Body Balm, £8.79, Superdrug, before bed and my skin’s never been softer!…

My husband Ben, 42, and I were stunned. I was having identical twins... again! In 2008, we’d had Charlotte and Isabelle, now 9. Twins ran in my family. My grandad was a twin and my aunties are identical. These two would be children number eight and nine for me! I already had boys Noah, 7, and Tobias, 4. And girls Elizabeth, 11, Olivia, 10, Evangeline, 5, and the twins. At my 28-week scan, one of the twins wasn’t growing fast enough. I had steroid injections but, two weeks later, on 23 January, I had a big bleed. I was rushed to Raigmore Hospital, Inverness. I only expected to be in for the day, as the twins weren’t due until April... Plus, it was Charlotte’s and Isabelle’s birthday two days later,…

ARIES 21 March–20 April You’re currently feeling that you haven’t really had the support from close ones that you’d like, but I also see many of the other star signs have had more to deal with than they could easily cope with in recent weeks. Talks you initiate can help you find common ground. Call: 09058 170 710* TAURUS 21 April–21 May Someone you didn’t think you’d see again is going to get in contact. You realise you hold the power of attraction, and it can help you achieve great things. Make sure you treat those you meet with the respect you want to be shown in return when the time comes. Call: 09058 170 711* GEMINI 22 May–21 June Family has not made it easy for you to tell…

‘At just 4 days old, Reggie faced a nine-hour operation’ Parenthood’s such an incredible journey. ‘I’ve always wanted to be a dad,’ said my fella Lee, 35, soon after we met, in 2008. I was already a mum to my daughter Katelyn, then 4, so we started trying for our own. Only, after marrying in July 2013, a year later, we’d had zero luck. Fertility tests revealed that Lee had a low sperm count. He was crushed. It meant we’d just an eight per cent chance of conceiving naturally. As I already had a child, we didn’t qualify for IVF. We accepted it, though, and we focused on Katelyn. Pregnant! But as we never used protection, there was still a slim hope. And on 1 January last year, my boobs…

1 Turn It Off!  Leaving things on standby makes up as much as 10% of a yearly energy bill. So unplug appliances to save up to £86 a year. 2 Turn It Down!  Every degree turned down on your thermostat could save you about £65 a year. 3 Go Smart  Keep track of your energy usage and spend with a smart meter. You’ll be able to see how small lifestyle changes help you use less. There’s a smart meter roll-out now so contact your provider for free installation. 4 Simple Fixes  Know the tricks to cut down on energy usage. Washing clothes at 30C, putting the required amount of water in the kettle, turning lights off when leaving rooms – all this…

So many headaches Q I’ve had headaches for ages and I’m fed up. I take painkillers sometimes, but they rarely help, so I try to go without. Is there anything else I can do that might help? Shelley, Great Yarmouth A Chronic daily or tension headaches are more common in women and can actually be worsened with regular pain relief. Physiotherapy and addressing causes of stress can be helpful. Abusive parent Q My mum’s so cruel to me, she always puts me down, shouting and sometimes hitting me. I can’t tell anybody about it, because she’s my mum, but it’s making me really unhappy. I sometimes feel that I’d be better off dead. Jessie, Manchester A It can be especially difficult talking about an abusive parent, but please at least…

1 Mackays Raspberry & Rhubarb Preserve, 340g This has the flavour of a very mild raspberry jam – though we know it contains rhubarb, we couldn’t really taste it. However, it is rather good, especially on hot buttered toast or crumpets! 2 Wilkin & Sons Rhubarb with Ginger, 240g This has a very strong flavour thanks to little chunks of ginger – but it’s also lovely and sweet, and would make an unusual filling for a sponge. 3 Bonne Maman Rhubarb Conserve, 340g Just rhubarb and sugar, this soft set jam has a distinctive flavourm, and it’s delicious. Spoon it over ice cream or into rice pud. Make it yourself... Makes: 6 jars Prep Time: 40 min Cook Time: 40 min • 2kg rhubarb, washed, trimmed & cut into 2.5cm…

100-Calorie Gallery Food Swaps Try this…. Taylor’s Mix & Mist, £18, www.cookandbakeware.co.uk Fill the compartments with oil and vinegar to mist food with a blend of the two. Use as a salad dressing and on stir-fries. Weight Watchers British Favourites Yogurts, £1 for 4 in Morrisons Classic pud yogurts in Apple & Pear Crumble, Strawberry Cheesecake, Apple & Berry Pie and Rhubarb & Vanilla Crumble – just 54 cal a pot. Flattering Fashion Rock this summer’s folksy look with this pretty, embroidered, gathered top. It’s perfect worn over jeans or with a denim skirt, and is good value, too. Get Moving! Lace up for National Walking Month Living Streets, the UK charity for everyday walking, wants to get everyone walking for 20 minutes a day during May. Why…

‘Police attention turned to a handyman at the school’ ISRAEL – BATHROOM SLAYING On 6 December 2006, schoolgirl Tair Rada, 13, walked into the Nofey Golan High School bathroom in Katzrin, Israel -and into the hands of a killer. Shortly after, her body was found in a bloody bathroom stall. Her throat had been slashed, she’d suffered stab wounds to her body and blows to her head. The entire nation reeled with shock. Police attention quickly turned to Roman Zadorov, a Ukrainian immigrant who was working as a handyman at the school. Two weeks after his arrest, detectives announced Zadorov had confessed, and re-enacted Tair’s murder at the school. But then Roman Zadorov’s lawyers claimed the confession had been coerced by officers. Much debate about the case followed. None of…

‘He was ready to let go, though the rest of us weren’t’ Tears slid down my cheeks, my heart shattering, as I said goodbye to my fiance Tony. ‘I love you,’ I wept. It was September 2014, and we were preparing to turn off Tony’s life-support machine. The day before, police had called to tell me he’d been in a car accident. His car had hit a speed bump, and spun out of control before wrapping around a telephone pole. Tony had been resuscitated at the scene. I raced to the Royal Victoria Infirmary, where doctors had horrific news. Tony’s skull had been ripped from his spine. Now only tissue and muscle were holding his head on. Scans showed there was no brain activity. ‘It would be kinder to let…

1 Cauliflower Colour Squeeze a spoonful of fresh lemon juice onto your cauliflower before heating, so it stays white while you cook it. Bridgette Merton, Oxford 2 Deodorise The Rubbish To stop your bin from getting smelly, put leftover lemon peel in the bottom and replace it every couple of weeks. Jade Cartwright, Yeovil 3 Lighten Spots  Apply lemon juice to liver spots or freckles, let it sit for 15 minutes and then rinse your skin clean. Cassandr a Tell, Eastbourne 4 Make It Crisp  Make your soggy lettuce crisp placing it in a bowl of cold water and lemon juice. Leave it in the fridge for an hour, and be sure to dry the leaves completely before using. Shannon Marks, Scunthorpe…

Screaming with excitement, I ran from the bathroom all the way downstairs into the living room, waving the pregnancy test in the air. ‘Look!’ I yelled. ‘It’s positive!’ My partner Chris stared in amazement before throwing his arms around me. It was the moment we’d both been waiting for - and neither of us could believe it was finally here. Chris and I had first met in 2007 at work at a youth project. We just clicked straightaway. The following year, we began trying for a baby. At first, we didn’t give it too much thought. But as the months turned into years and nothing happened, we naturally began to worry. ‘What if it never happens for us?’ I said. In 2010, we were sent for fertility tests, which showed…

1 It affects the heart. 2 WPW develops during adolescence. 3 Chest pain is the only symptom. 4 Treatment isn’t always necessary. 1 TRUE WPW syndrome is a condition that causes the heart to beat abnormally fast at times. It’s not usually serious but, in rare cases, it can be life-threatening. 2 FALSE The condition is present at birth, and is caused by an extra electrical connection in the heart that allows electrical signals to travel in a loop, making the heart beat faster. 3 FALSE Symptoms include chest pain, dizziness, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, sweating, anxiety, fainting and exhaustion following physical activity. 4 TRUE Most cases of abnormal heart activity can pass without treatment, but regular heart check-ups are advised. Treatment includes medication and cardioversion. Next Week REACTIVE…

‘Being a jackpot winner feels really fabulous’ THE WIN CAME AT EXACTLY THE RIGHT TIME… Putting my children, then aged 5 and 3, to bed, I quietly tiptoed down the stairs. ‘They’re out for the count,’ I told my partner Paul, 30. I snuggled up next to him on the sofa. Feeling chilly, I pulled a blanket over me. ‘Is the heating on?’ I said. Paul got up to check. He came back and said the boiler was on the blink and would need fixing. In the meantime, I put extra blankets over the kids’ beds and put electric heaters on to keep it warm. The following day, I had a day off. The kids were watching TV and playing with toys. So I decided to have a few games…

‘I barely noticed my divorce when it went through, as we’d been separated for months by then. Maybe a party would have made it feel more momentous!’ Samantha Priestley, Sheffield ‘My feeling is that it’s airing your dirty linen in public and making fun of a very traumatic experience. But we’re all different and, if it helps others move forward, it’s their choice.’ Vivien McLaren, Alsager ‘I want to have one when my divorce is done! Why should I be sad when he isn’t? I’ll be celebrating getting my maiden name back and the beginning of a new chapter!’ Becca Simpson, Aberdeen ‘I don’t see a problem with making light of a sad situation and having some fun along the way. A party doesn’t have to be aimed at mocking…

Spellbinding... Do you remember Hocus Pocus ? 1. What are the witches known as? 2. What is the name of the talking cat? 3. Who must light the black flame candle 4. How many years ago did the witches die? 5. What song does Sarah sing while riding her broomstick? CLUCKING HECK! Keeping chickens is becoming popular. Here’s five things only those who keep chooks will know… 1 They’ll destroy your garden 2 Shop-bought eggs will never taste the same again 3 Not  all eggs the same colour 4 Chickens have personalities 5 The pecking order is brutal! GOT THE BLUES? Then get a-rockin’ with our fantastic Blues Name Generator! OH, HOW WE MISS 90S TV. REMEMBER THESE CLASSICS? 1. Gladiators 2. Sabrina the Teenage Witch 3. Byker…

‘We got to brush shoulders with some big names’ People couldn’t stop staring, but I wasn’t bothered. I just held my dreadlocked head high! Being a dog owner gets you attention. Especially if you’re a dreadringer for your pooch! I got my Hungarian puli Sanka when I was 30. Ten weeks old, with a big black Afro, he looked familiar... But it wasn’t until I spotted a photo of me at 5 that it clicked. He was my dog-elganger! And it didn’t stop there. As Sanka got older, his mane started to drop into long dreadlocks - just like the ones I’ve had for seven years. He even uses my special shampoo, too, when he gets twigs tangled in his locks. I once lost a pencil in mine! Now 4,…

Turning up the treadmill in the gym, I was sweating. Training to be a fire fighter was tough. It was January 2008. Later, in the steam room, a handsome bloke sat next to me. ‘Hi, I’m Mark,’ he said. I was shocked – I was dripping with sweat, without a scrap of makeup on! We talked like old friends, so I accepted his offer of a drink and soon we began dating. In 2010, we moved in together. Mark and I had two beautiful girls, Miya, 3, and Harper, 1, but never got roundto tying the knot. One day last September, the bells rang on my shift. ‘Someone’s got a ring stuck on their finger,’ my boss said. ‘Let’s get moving.’ As we set off, the rest of the crew…

Secret Weapons Stiletto Skins, £5.50, www.thebracloset.co.uk Transform your bog-standard heels into designer lookalikes for less with these bright sole stickers. Available in other designs, too! Verdict: GENIUS! We love these! SugarSin Sparkling Rose Gummies, £5.95, www.sugarsin.co.uk If you’re trying to cut down on the booze, then these sweets are for you! They taste just like the real deal with a slightly sour, sugary coating – totally delicious! Verdict: BONKERS! A bit bonkers, but dangerously moreish. Magic Mug, £9.95, www.printerpix.co.uk This might look like a plain mug, but the ‘wow’ factor starts when it’s filled with hot water. A personalised photo is revealed that disappears again once the mug is cool. Verdict: GENIUS! A really lovely gift idea.…