Innehållsförteckning för 21-Jul-2016 från Pick Me Up!

What A… Shut Uppp! The Only Way Is Essex is my guilty pleasure. I never miss an episode. I scored 14 on The Ultimate TOWIE Quiz – see if you can beat me. Go to www.lifedeathprizes.com  and search ‘TOWIE’. 31... That’s how many handbags I’ve recently cleared out of my closet. I still have 21 left, mind. What can I say, I’m a babe who loves a bag! What A Treat! Boyfriend Darren and I love ice cream. So when a dessert restaurant opened, we couldn’t wait to try its sundaes. The Ferrero Rocher one won hands down! What A Knit! My tortoise, Murtle, is actually really fast on her feet. I nearly lost her in the garden recently, so my nan made her this fancy…

‘Tom and I held each other as we watched Edie’s plane take off’ My daughter Edie, then 2, pressed her ear to my tummy. ‘Tummy telephone,’ she giggled, listening for the baby. I was heavily pregnant and Edie was so excited to be a big sis. We’d snuggled up together on her bed to read her favourite book - There’s A House Inside My Mummy. And Edie chanted along as I read the story to her. ‘There’s a house inside my mummy,’ I began. ‘Where my little brother grows. Or maybe it’s my little sister, no-one really knows...’ Edie giggled, gently stroking my bump. A bundle of energy, she had the cheekiest smile. My husband Tom, 33, and I doted on her. Ambulance Then, in April last year, Edie was…

No More Stains! Get stubborn stains out of even your most delicate clothes with an ACE For Colours. 1litre bottles are now £1.50 (normally £2) at Morrisons until 8 August. Spinning Around It’s time to say goodbye to soggy salad as the Oxo Good Grips Mini Salad & Herb Spinner is now just £14.99 (normally £19.99) at Lakeland until 31 July. Now pass the dressing! Bargain Beauty! Superdrug Health & Beautycard holders can now save 20 per cent on all beauty services to get them summer-ready! The offer runs until 16 July and includes discounts on glitter lips, nail treatments, brow treatments, lash treatments and hair styling. Get Back Out There! If you (or your parents!) are thinking about getting back into the dating game, we’ve got just the deal!…

‘I’m so glad they got their happy ending. It goes to show that perseverance pays off, and you should never give up. Now they can enjoy spending precious time together.’ Colette Mellor, 43, Thurnscoe, Rotherham ‘Sixteen months is a long time to spend away from your new husband, especially when time is so precious. She has such a positive outlook, which is inspiring.’ Tracy Castano, 36, Coventry ‘I know someone with CF, and it’s heartbreaking that the life expectancy of sufferers is so limited. It’s not fair she had to waste so much time fighting to be with Ramiz.’ Jenny Pierpoint, 44, Merseyside…

Impetigo 1 There are two types of impetigo. 2 The condition is hereditary. 3 This infection is highly contagious. 4 Impetigo is a lifelong condition. 1 TRUE Non-bullous impetigo causes quick-bursting sores around the mouth and nose that leave a yellow-brown crust, whereas in bullous impetigo, fluid-filled blisters develop on the upper body, bursting after a few days. 2 FALSE Impetigo occurs when bacteria infects the outer layers of skin damaged by cuts, insect bites or even other underlying skin conditions. 3 TRUE It’s spread through direct physical contact or by sharing towels and flannels. If infected, you should avoid touching the sores, stay home for 48 hours and wash your hands regularly. 4 FALSE Most cases are no longer contagious after 48 hours and start to clear after one…

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 have 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…

‘What happens naturally for some women is a struggle for others. Every woman deserves the chance to be a mum – and, as long as she has love to give and can provide, I see no problem.’ Michelle Lander, Chesterfield ‘Pregnancy puts a massive strain on the body – it isn’t something to take lightly. It’s difficult to cope with infertility, but sometimes it’s wiser to accept and move on.’ Sophia Payne, Church Crookham ‘IVF is expensive and not quick or easy to get on the NHS. Everyone deserves a chance to start a family. But I do think older women who just want a second family are being selfish.’ Michelle Underwood, Woking ‘I’m really not surprised that women are going abroad for IVF treatment – the need to have…

Food Swaps Take 3... Cocktails Try this…. Weight Watchers Spicy Mediterranean Vegetable Pasta, £1.99, Asda, Nisa Dieting needn’t mean you have to sacrifice flavour! With just 220 cal, this pasta pot heats in just a min or two in a microwave. Easy! SlimFast Meal Replacement Bars, £5.79 for box of four, Amazon, Ocado Ideal for when you’re on the go, with 217 cal, one of these bars contains all the vitamins you need. Choose from Yogurt Fruit Crunch, Chocolate Crunch and Nutty Salted Caramel. Flattering Fashion Team soft, floral trousers, £22, with a simple white top, £22, and a waterfall cardigan, £18, and you’re ready to go. All in sizes 16-30 from M&Co, www.mandco.co.uk THE SECRET OF MY SUCCESS NAME: Juliet Wright, 62, Wilmslow, Cheshire. 12 VITAL STATISTICS:…

Growing up, my grandmother taught me how to knit. Only, soon, I got bored and gave up. Years passed and, after my hubby Fred, 39, and I had our daughter Roxana in November 2012, I was searching for a fresh hobby. Then, in June last year, browsing the Internet, I spotted an amazing thick, woollen scarf. With deep, huge threads, it looked really beautiful. There and then, I discovered the phenomenon of ‘arm knitting’. I researched it, and learned how it was done. I was mainly self-taught, as there weren’t many tutorials online. Using your arms instead of needles to knit, it’s simple and quick. You can create a scarf in five minutes and a large rug in about an hour. Stocking up on wool, which costs £40 a kilo,…

‘I realised we had the same eyes, nose and face shape’ ‘Being Gaga really brought me out of my shell’ I was never the pretty, popular one at school. In fact, I was the complete opposite. Small, skinny, with braces, I was a bit of a geek. Being quiet made me an easy target for bullies, too. ‘Oi, fishlips, you’re so ugly!’ my classmates would cruelly mock. Their words hurt and I retreated into my shell. I didn’t have any friends and soon the daily teasing became too much. ‘I hate school,’ I sobbed to my mum Pauline, now 64, and dad Frank, 59. When I was 13, my parents agreed to home-school me. As I got older, the nasty comments stayed with me, though. Then, in 2008, I started…

1 Stepchange.org  (0800 138 1111) The UK’s largest debt-help charity provides advice on lots of problems. Tools include a 60-second debt test, a payday loans calculator and a benefits calculator. It also assists in reducing debt by helping to create a budget, and advising you of your rights. 2 Debtadvice  foundation.org (0800 043 40 50) This free, confidential phoneline offers impartial support and advice. Online, you’ll also find a budget planner and debt analyser. 3 Community money advice.com  (01743 341929) There are 160 centres in the UK offering advice on all sorts of issues. Services include face-to-face advice, talking to creditors on your behalf and help filling in benefit forms.…

‘During the five-hour op, Isla’s heart was stopped’ She’d just come into the world - wasn’t even a day old - but already our daughter Isla had a fight on her hands. ‘We’ve found a heart murmur,’ the doctor told us after her paediatric test. It was 12 April 2013. The day before, my husband Jamie, 33, and I had been walking on air. So had our lad, Isla’s big brother Zac, 2. Now, all we had was worry. After two days in hospital, we took Isla home. Five weeks later, she had a heart scan. Straightaway, the doctor knew what the problem was. ‘Isla has tetralogy of Fallot,’ he said. ‘She’ll need surgery.’ Shocked, I burst into tears. The doctor explained it was a congenital heart condition. Isla had…

‘Part of my womb lining was growing outside my uterus’ My periods have always been excruciatingly painful, ever since the first one. But they’ve got worse as I’ve got older. At 17, I went on the Pill to regulate them. And, when that stopped being effective, I had Depo-Provera injections - another form of contraception that’s also used to treat heavy bleeding - which stopped my periods altogether. Then, in 2002, my partner Aaron and I decided to try for a baby, so it was time to end my injection treatment. My painful periods returned with a vengeance and, before long, they were unbearable. For three days every month I’d be in so much agony, I’d be completely out of action. All I wanted to do was lie in the…

Chocolate Guinness Cake Serves: 12 Prep Time: 30 min Cook Time: 1hr • 125g lightly salted butter, plus extra for greasing • 125ml Guinness • 115g self-raising flour • 50g cocoa powder • ½tsp bicarbonate of soda • 125g caster sugar • 50g dark chocolate (72%), cut into small pieces • 1 medium egg, beaten • 75ml whole milk • 1tsp vanilla extract To decorate: • 25g lightly salted butter, softened • 25g white vegetable fat, softened • ½tsp vanilla extract • 100g icing sugar 1 Preheat oven to 180C/ Gas 4, and grease and line Find more recipes at: www.oetker.co.uk a deep, 15cm round cake tin. 2 Put butter and Guinness in a saucepan and heat gently, without boiling, until melted. Remove from heat and…

‘I was clueless that his behaviour wasn’t normal’ I was a baby when my birth mother tragically died in a car crash. I knew nothing about her or my real father. Essentially an orphan, I was taken into a foster home at just 9 months old. My foster parents were Carol Brett, then 32, and her husband. I shared a room with their daughter, who was 5. The boys - Tim, 8, and another two brothers, 7 and 2 - shared the other room. They were my only family, and I called my foster parents Mum and Dad. We were all frightened of them at times. They were stern, belonged to a very strict Christian church. It was a cult-like upbringing. Mum dressed me in frumpy, old-fashioned dresses and we…

‘I got the hang of the games, loved the chat rooms’ Keeping It In The Family Wendy joined up after her daughter won big Wendy Pritchard, 55, Salford If Estelle can win, so can I! That’s what I thought when my daughter won the tidy sum of £1,000 on Pick Me Up! Bingo last October. Estelle, 37, had only been a member for a few months. ‘It’s so much fun, Mum,’ she told me. I wasn’t very good at using computers, though, so I thought I wouldn’t get the hang of it. When Estelle won again, just a few weeks later, I was thrilled for her. She’d scooped another jackpot of £4,200. ‘I’m putting it towards a holiday,’ she beamed. I decided to give it a try, so this…

CANCER 22 June–23 July You’re slowly but surely starting to enjoy your life again, and you’re no longer acting as others expect you to – you’re willing to be different. Unexpected visitors and meetings make this week an unforgettable one. Call: 09058 170 713* LEO 24 July–23 Aug Although the week starts off a little slowly, it picks up speed very quickly – so try to have a list of your priorities at hand, mentally. This’ll help to ensure that the main jobs on your mind get tied up to your satisfaction. Call: 09058 170 714* VIRGO 24 Aug–23 Sept Venus and Pluto lock heads, which makes it hard for you to see the difference between friend and foe. Try not to be angry with those who upset you, but…

‘The runt of the litter,’ explained the breeder, in October last year. As the 4-month-old pup stared up at me, all mournful eyes and saggy chops, I didn’t think twice about it. ‘I’ll take her!’ I declared. Me and hubby Paul, 41, had wanted a British bulldog for years. Our kids Georgia, 18, Lottie, 15, Freddie, 7, and Charlie, 4, all adored Dolly. Even better, she quickly settled into a routine with our Labrador Sam, 8. On 18 December last year, I let them into the back garden. Ten minutes later, Sam began whimpering, pawing the door. Dolly walked in slowly, choking. Plunging my hand into her mouth, I felt a twig.Next minute, she swallowed it. Panicked, Paul drove me and Dolly to Vets Now, an emergency animal hospital in…

‘I begged the doctors not to contact police’ When I first met Marc Harbison in May 2014, I couldn’t believe my luck. I thought he was gorgeous and we exchanged numbers. ‘Can I take you out?’ he asked. ‘I’d like that,’ I said. A true gent, Marc bought me flowers, took me out for romantic meals and to the pictures. He always made me laugh and we were both confident, sociable people. ‘I think he’s a keeper,’ I told my best mate. Besotted She wasn’t convinced. ‘There’s something about him I don’t trust,’ she said. But I was besotted. Soon Marc, 27, introduced me to his family and his mum, Val, to whom he was close, and she welcomed me into the family. After that, Marc and I barely spent…

1 Chill out Instead of ice cubes, put frozen grapes in whit e wine – it keeps the wine cold without watering it down. Lauren Saunders, Crowborough 2 Supper saver Freeze leftover red wine in ice-cube trays – then pop a couple in dishes t o make them a bit tas tier! Ginnie Shearing, Brist ol 3 Storage tip Surplus red wine should be kept in a fridge – just take the bottle out an hour before to bring it to room temperature. Peter James, Woking 4 Take a breather  Red wine (and some whites) with corks should breathe for about 30 minutes after opening. But with screwtops, you can drink it im mediately! Ann Pullum, W indsor…

‘My eye soon caught that of our gorgeous waiter’ ‘We should’ve been enjoying married life’ Coughing and spluttering, I sunk deeper under the duvet. ‘Oh, love, you don’t look well,’ my mum Nancey, 52, said, concerned. I’d been in and out of hospital with a chest infection, and was feeling pretty rubbish. I was used to it, though. See, at 20 months old, I’d been diagnosed with cystic fibrosis (CF). It’s a progressive condition that causes the lungs and digestive system to become clogged with thick mucus. Sufferers are prone to chest infections, and most don’t live past 41. I’d accepted the outlook. ‘I’ve just got to make every moment count,’ I’d say to Mum. She and my dad Bayram, 50, had split years ago. And in 2010, Dad had…

Nipple surgery Q I’ve always had inverted nipples, and nothing I’ve tried brings them out. Will I be able to breastfeed or should I have surgery? Georgina, Widnes A Inverted nipples have ligaments which are too short. Surgery releases them, but ‘disconnects’ the nipple, making it impossible to breastfeed. However, when babies feed, if the latch is good the milk still comes through. Cholesterol query Q I take statins for high cholesterol. But I’ve read they’re not linked to heart disease. So can I come off them and eat what I want? Annie, Sandy A Definitely not. A healthy diet benefits many other conditions, too, and statins can protect your heart even if your cholesterol is normal. If you’re still unsure, ask your GP to clarify the pros and cons…

1 Morrisons Cake Shop 5 White Chocolate Chunk Cookies, £1 Five thin but huge cookies with a great chocolate flavour. Perfect with a cup of tea as an after-dinner treat. 2 Aldi Specially Selected Luxury All Butter Cookies With White Belgian Chocolate Chunks, £1.25 Eight small, chunky cookies, with a buttery flavour and melt-in-the-mouth texture. The big lumps of choc are an added bonus. 3 Sainsbury’s Taste The Difference 4 Belgian White Chocolate & Raspberry Cookies, £1.50 These cookies are massive. Thick and moist, we loved the fruity addition of the raspberries. Make ’em yourself... Makes: 20 Prep Time: 15 min Cook Time: 15 min per batch • 125g butter, softened, plus extra for greasing • 175g plain flour • ½tsp baking powder • ¼tsp salt • 125g light brown…

Kind-hearted Creatures In 2000, Kevin Hines tried to commit suicide by jumping off San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge. He survived thanks to a sealion bumping him upwards repeatedly, which prevented him from drowning. As police were in hot pursuit of men who’d kidnapped a 12-year-old girl in Ethiopia, a group of lions beat them to it, staying with the girl until the police arrived, at which point the lions retreated. When 5-year-old Levan Merritt slipped into the gorilla pen at Jersey Zoo and was knocked unconscious, male gorilla Jambo stroked the boy until he came round, and also shielded him from the other apes. 5 Of The Punniest Shop Names Ever! 1 For kids’ clothes and shoes: Look Who’s Walking. 2 For the pampered pet, head straight to Pet-a-pawter. 3…

Want the perfect… Anti-ageing sun lotion? Try one of these… Save: Solero Anti-Age Facial Sun Cream Part of the new budget suncare range from Lloyds Pharmacy, this defends against UVA, UVB and IR-A rays. Amazing value and very moisturising. Splash: Nivea Sun Anti-Age Face Sun Cream Sun exposure is one of the main causes of premature skin ageing, so a sun cream is essential. This SPF-30 one is water-resistant for the pool or sea. Splurge: Soap & Glory Make Yourself Youthful Sunshield Superfluid Provides skin with SPF 50 against UVA and UVB rays, and comes in a lovely, light formula to keep skin both matte and smooth. Perfect for wearing under your make-up all year round. TRIED & TESTED This week: Sun-protect hairspray 1 Soltan Head & Hair Dry-Touch Transparent…

‘I couldn’t stop myself panicking. Would the lump keep growing?’ ‘Doctors expect Mila’s tumour to disappear eventually’ I was already a mum to gorgeous little Harvey when I found out I was expecting another baby. My partner and I were both so excited! Run off my feet looking after Harvey, then 1, I barely had time to think about my pregnancy. But, thankfully... ‘Everything looks good,’ we were told at my 12-week scan. It wasn’t long before we discovered we’d be having a baby girl. ‘One of each,’ my partner smiled. I was thrilled, thinking about all the pretty clothes I could buy her. We decided to call our daughter Mila. Everything was going smoothly until, in late November last year, when I was 32 weeks gone, Harvey caught a…

‘At first, I laughed with shock. Then I burst into tears’ ‘I’m so grateful the chemo has bought me a bit more time’ From the days when I’d twirl around my bedroom with a pillowcase on my head to the moment I met my boyfriend Des at 15, I’d dreamed of one thing - my wedding day. But I was sensible enough to know we were far too young for a serious commitment. So I kept that particular dream tucked away and focused on my others. Then, at 17, still with Des, I was doing my A levels and loved singing and acting. Back at school after the summer holidays, I came home bursting to tell my mum Donna, 55, exciting news. ‘I got the part!’ I grinned. I’d been…