Innehållsförteckning för 25-Aug-2016 från Pick Me Up!

What Lucky Kids! They’re enjoying a whopping six weeks off! How lucky are they? Bet it wasn't long before they started getting bored, though... 7   …that’s the number of weeks I’ve been dieting to get ready for my holiday. It was going pretty well until the ice-cream van turned up! What A Break! Talking of going away, see our 17 things to do on holiday at www.lifedeath prizes .com What A Sound! I love hearing the tune of the ice-cream van as it pulls up outside. Although, when I was a kid, Mum used to say if it played a song, that meant it’d run out of ice cream! What A Whiff! London’s Tube really isn’t a pleasant place in the summer. It’s hot and packed and can…

‘I was still only 25 weeks. Surely it was too soon?’ When I first met Bobby Higgins working at Leeds United in 1999, I knew he was special. He was fun, outgoing and thoughtful. We quickly became inseparable. A couple of years later, when we got our first car, I grinned. ‘Can you imagine when we’ve got a baby in the back seat?’ I said. ‘Can’t wait,’ Bobby replied. No sign It was what we both wanted. So, in 2004, the year before we married, we started trying. Our wedding day came and went, but there was still no sign of me falling pregnant. Three years later, lots of our friends were starting to have their second babies. We went through a battery of tests at our local hospital. ‘We…

1 Shop like a man  Most men’s toiletries like shaving foam and moisturiser can be used by women and are nearly always cheaper! 2 Save on hair cuts  Offer to model at your local hairdresser. Juniors need to practise – and it’s often free! 3 Collect points  Boots Advantage Card gives points for every pound you spend, while Superdrug’s Beautycard does the same and gives access to special offers. 4 Go online  Try www.feelunique.com, www.lookfantastic.com and www.fragrance direct.com for brand-name bargains. 5 Shop high street  Home Bargains, The Original Factory Shop, Poundland, Aldi, TK Maxx and HomeSense have great low-price skincare ranges.…

Breast-tissue query Q Where does breast tissue actually end? I’ve heard it goes up into the armpits. Is that right? Charice, Newcastle upon Tyne A Yes - your breast is teardrop-shaped with a tail of breast tissue going into the armpit. Check both your breasts and their ‘tails’ for breast lumps, and feel deep into your armpits for swollen glands. Fungal rash Q My husband has a circular, fungal rash that keeps coming back despite frequent use of antifungal creams. Is there anything else he can try? Helen, Ipswich A This is called granuloma annulare. It’s not fungal - it’s chronic inflammation of the skin. Antifungal creams won’t work, but steroid ones can, although stress and other factors will cause intermittent flare -ups. Double-jointed Q My daughter is very bendy.…

1 Sainsbury’s British Bramley Apple Crumble, 500g Topped with a fine crumble that bakes to a fairly solid layer, dig down to find nice, big chunks of juicy apple. 2 Tesco Bramley Apple Crumble, 600g A nice, big, good-value pud that feeds four. The very sweet apple layer is topped with lots of tasty crumble. 3 Co-Op Loved By Us Bramley Apple Crumble, 500g This is so good! Huge lumps of perfectly cooked apple with an excellent, buttery topping – pass the custard! Make it yourself... Serves: 6 Prep Time: 10 min Cook Time: 35 min 1 Preheat oven to 200C/ Gas 6. 2 Place apples, caster sugar and cinnamon in a large ovenproof dish and mix together well. 3 In a bowl,…

Want the perfect... BROW KIT? Try one of these… Splurge: Lottie London Arch Rival Complete Eyebrow Kit Everything you need for perfect brows – tiny tweezers, a taming comb, clear wax for taming and two shades to help you define and fill any gaps. Spend: W7 Brow Parlour The handy tin makes this the perfect size for popping in your handbag. It contains a highlighter as well as brow shades and wax. Save: Essence Eyebrow Stylist Set If you’re new to brow-trimming, then snap this up! This bargain kit includes two powders, a slanted brush for easy application and templates to help gain the perfect shape. ASK JESS QI’m really keen to try the trend for pastel hair but don’t know which products to use. I don’t want to spend…

‘Mary Bell had taken the lives of two small boys’ UK: THE PLEASURE OF KILLING An 11-year-old girl sobbed uncontrollably in a Newcastle court. The date: 17 December 1968. Not a victim of a crime. But a double killer, who’d just been sentenced to be detained for life. Mary Bell had taken the lives of two little boys. Martin Brown, 4, was found dead in a derelict house in May of that year. The remains of Brian Howe, 3, were discovered on waste ground two months later. The letter ‘M’ had been carved into his stomach. Mary’s playmate - who had faced the same charges but who had been acquitted gave evidence against her. The child told the court that Mary had throttled little Brian to death, ignoring pleas to…

Love arrives when you least expect it. Working as an account manager at haulage firm FreshLinc, I was friendly with the operations director Lee Juniper, 44. In 2013, our friendship turned into something more. It turned out Lee was passionate about lorries both in and outside of work. ‘Diesel’s in my blood,’ he said. His dad Peter, 68, and brother Wayne, 42, were all trained truck drivers. Romance moved fast and, six months on, Lee moved in with me. The following April, we moved house. All unpacked, on 22 May, we invited our friends Jo, James, Matthew and Liz over for a roast. I was in the kitchen when Lee ran in at 1.45pm. ‘Come and see!’ he exclaimed. Confused, our pals and I piled out front. The garden leads…

FREE TO KILL AGAIN Paul Brumfitt, UK In 1979, after a row with his then girlfriend, Brumfitt went on an eight-day spree of terror. He was given three life sentences at the Old Bailey. Yet, Brumfitt was released on licence 15 years later and, in February 1999, murdered one woman and raped another. He was jailed for life. Arthur J Bomar, USA Bomar was released on parole from a Nevada prison in 1990 having served 11 years for killing a man over a parking space. Despite being arrested for assaults, he was left to roam free. In 1996, he killed star lacrosse player Aimee Willard, 22. ANIMAL SEX FACTS 1 Flatworms are hermaphrodite and engage in 'penis fencing’ to decide who’ll become the female carrier of the next generation. 2…

‘Soon I took him back, but he fell into old habits’ ‘Nerve damage means I’ve got double vision’ Come out tonight, there’s a party,’ my brother Curtis, 18, said. It was July 2012. Then 22, I was a single mum to two kids, both under 5 - but Mum agreed to babysit. ‘Have fun,’ she smiled. On arrival, Carl Pearson, 17, greeted me with a drink. ‘Still gorgeous,’ he smirked. Curtis had many schoolmates, so I’d no recollection of Carl. He was baby-faced, but he seemed mature as we chatted. Next day, I received a Facebook friend request from Carl, and I accepted. Quickly, a notification that he’d ‘poked’ me flashed up. Cheeky! ‘He fancies you,’ Curtis teased. Chatting online, I warmed to Carl. ‘I can’t date with the little…

1 PCOS causes irregular periods. 2 It’s a bacterial infection. 3 The condition is linked to infertility. 4 PCOS can be cured 1 TRUE Irregular periods – or none at all – are a common feature of PCOS. Others include high levels of male hormones in the body, as well as enlarged ovaries. 2 FALSE While the exact cause is unknown, it relates to abnormal hormone levels and often runs in families. 3 TRUE PCOS is one of the most common causes of female infertility, as sufferers often ovulate infrequently or fail to ovulate at all. 4 FALSE There’s no cure, but symptoms can be treated with some medications and lifestyle changes or surgery. Treatment does help most women get pregnant. Next Week ATHEROSCLEROSIS…

‘She was in so much pain, then started walking with a stick’ ‘The six-hour op went smoothly. Next came chemo...’ The excitable little puppy gently nudged our daughter Annabel’s hand. Slowly, Annabel, 8, reached out, stroked her cautiously. ‘She’s perfect for us,’ my husband Matthew, 46, smiled. Our son Andre, then 14, had asked for a dog. But Annabel had been diagnosed with autism aged 6, and we worried a puppy would be too much for her. Only, during a trial introduction, the pup Tippy was so patient and gentle. Perfect. Although Annabel went to a special school, she still struggled - rarely talked and often lashed out in frustration. But then Tippy arrived... They became best pals - Annabel would play with her, chatting away. Gradually, she began talking…

‘Dialling 999, an operator talked him through what to do’ As I cooked the sausages and chips, I clutched my side. ‘You OK, love?’ my hubby Russell, 43, frowned. ‘Maybe the baby’s coming?’ ‘No,’ I said, adamant. ‘I’m just aching.’ In pain I was bang on my due date, but my first son Oliver, 5, from a previous relationship, had been 11 days late. So I was sure it’d be the same second time round. I’d even planned a nice relaxing water birth. This would be Russell’s first baby, so he was nervous. Unfazed, after dinner I dressed Oliver in his Ben 10 pyjamas and tucked him into bed. ‘Night, baby,’ he smiled, kissing my bump. But, once downstairs, my pain grew worse. ‘I think I’ll have a bath,’ I…

‘After the fight, my nursing instinct kicks in!’ Panting, sweating, exhausted... Triumphant! There’s nothing like beating your opponent. I began amateur kickboxing age 19, while studying Molecular Cell Biology at the University of Southampton. I collected dozens of trophies across the uni leagues. Not violent by nature, I’m caring, and decided to become a nurse. During my Masters degree in Nursing, I met my now hubby Tom Lindsall, then 20, at a jiu-jitsu class. Tom was studying to become an aerospace engineer. Graduating in 2008, I started work at Southampton General Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit. Nursing by day, kickboxing and jiu-jitsu became hobbies. But, after I’d had our kids - Amber, 8, and Soren, 5 - I wanted a challenge. I spoke with a trainer at Exile Gym, specialising in…

‘Peter came running at us, waving a hammer’ ‘There were 10ft flames licking the wall’ Rolling up my white chef’s uniform, I popped it in the wash. After a 10-hour shift, I was shattered. ‘I’m off to bed,’ I told my husband Peter. He grunted, but didn’t look up from his PlayStation. He seemed more interested in fighting zombies than talking. When we’d met 12 years earlier, Peter had seemed like the perfect match. I was 24, he was 14 years older. I’d grown up in care and didn’t have anyone to rely on. ‘I want to look after you,’ he’d said. That was exactly what I’d wanted to hear. In May 2008, we married. Afterwards, I began to feel unhappy. Peter didn’t have a job, yet I worked hard…

Say Cheese! Save on all varieties of Cathedral City Cheddar at Morrisons – 350g blocks are now just £2 (normally £3.50) until 27 August. Feeling Saucy? Pick up two Glorious! BBQ Sauce pots for £2.50 (normally £1.50 each) at Waitrose until 20 September. The Tennessee Chilli BBQ is amazing smothered on ribs! Hit The Road Visit www.driving testsucess.com/50DTS and enter the code 50DTS by 25 August for 50 per cent off a 12-month online membership at Driving Test Success Anytime online training station. Puppy Love Update your living room with this adorable pug cushion – it’s now down to £7.75 (was £15.50) in the sale at www.sabichi.co.uk. Be quick, though, as it’s only available while stocks last! Back To School! Morrisons has now launched a 200-day ‘no quibble’ quality guarantee…

‘I’d never seen any reason why I shouldn’t succeed’ It wasn’t the easiest start in life. From birth, I’d shown symptoms of epilepsy, was struggling to hit my milestones on time and had a rash on my face that wouldn’t go. At 18 months, I was diagnosed with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), an incurable genetic condition that caused noncancerous tumours to develop in my heart, lungs and kidneys. Doctors explained to my parents that TSC can also cause epilepsy, learning difficulties and skin abnormalities. And they said I’d need 24-hour care for life. But, even as a kid, nothing could hold me back. And, when I was 4, I said my first words. At 13, the rash was finally brought under control with laser treatment. School wasn’t easy for me,…

I clutched at my right shoulder. It didn’t feel right, it was so uncomfortable ‘It’s swollen,’ a friend said. ‘I think I must’ve pulled a muscle,’ I said. It was April 2013. I had my GCSE in Dance coming up, with difficult routines. The last thing I needed was a dodgy shoulder. Soon it became painful, so I went to the GP, thinking I’d get advice on pulled muscles. But the doctor had bad news. ‘This isn’t a sports injury,’ she said after taking a look. ‘We need to get it checked out.’ I was sent for an X-ray. ‘I’m afraid you have scoliosis,’ the doctor said. He said that scoliosis was an abnormal spine curvature and my spine had twisted so much that it was now an ‘S’ shape.…

Chocolate Victoria Sponge Cupcakes Serves: 12 Prep Time: 25 min Cook Time: 25 min 1 Preheat oven to 180C/ Gas 4, and line a cupcake tray with paper cases. 2 Place Stork with butter, caster sugar, eggs, flour and cocoa powder in a large bowl and beat together well. 3 Spoon mixture between paper cases and bake for 22-25 min until springy to touch. Allow to cool on a wire rack. 4 Remove cupcakes from their paper wrappers and split in half. 5 Whip together cream, icing sugar and vanilla bean paste to soft peaks and use to sandwich cupcakes back together along with sliced strawberries. 6 Dust lightly with icing sugar to serve. Find more recipes at:…

‘Sapphire, a 90-ball game, is so much fun to play’ ‘When I saw the Winner message, my jaw dropped’ Beverley Clark, 42, Nottingham I’m not going to lie, I was quite new to bingo and playing bingo online. But when a friend recommended Pick Me Up! Bingo to me in April 2012, she explained it was a lot of fun. ‘You’ll enjoy it,’ she said. She told me a lot of the games play out themselves, so you don’t have to worry about checking off your numbers. Days on, I saw an advert in the magazine offering a £30 Welcome Bonus if you deposited £10. It sounded like a great offer. ‘Why not?’ I said to my husband Paul, 47. So I signed up and tried out a few of…

Loogun, £34.99, www.loogun.com Welcome to the future of bog-cleaning! This battery-operated device sprays a jet of water into the toilet to get rid of marks. As it never actually touches the loo, it’s far more hygienic than a brush! Remote Controlled Moving Tails, £79.99, www. thefowndry.com Perfect for fancy dress (or for those days when you really want to stand out) you can now unleash the inner animal in you with a moving tail! Just clip one of the wolf, cat or fox tails onto your belt, and control the lifelike movement from the remote in your pocket! RAC 03, £159.99, www.racdashcam.co.uk As well as recording footage of the road while you’re driving, which you can then use if you’re ever in…

Crooning along to Be Our Guest from Beauty and The Beast, I giggled. Then 4, I wanted to be a princess like Belle, or The Little Mermaid’s Ariel. Growing up, always singing, I had vocal and acting lessons. My mum Peggy and dad David supported me, and I also learned to play piano and harp. Aged 19, I got a job at a kids’ summer camp teaching acting classes. Singing Disney’s classics, the old spark ignited in me. I graduated university with a Marketing degree in 2011, then a Marketing masters in 2012. Then, in January last year, my boyfriend Derek Van Schaik, 30, and I launched Princess Ever After, hosting parties with Disney princesses. My friend who’s a bridal-wear designer helped create my glorious gowns. To date, I’ve 20…

‘We scratched around for spare bits of cash’ As I stood in the queue at the supermarket, I watched a smiling mum cuddling her baby and felt a familiar pang. I’d been trying for a baby for three years but, month after month, the pregnancy tests were negative. ‘Maybe it’s time to see the GP,’ I said to my husband Stuart, 48. We made an appointment, felt optimistic they’d be able to help. But when I explained the situation, the doctor wasn’t very sympathetic. ‘Stop stressing. It’ll happen when it’s meant to,’ he told us. I left the surgery in floods of tears. ‘What are we going to do now?’ I sobbed. ‘We’ll find a way,’ Stuart said, holding my hand. I began to research the possibility of having private…

‘She didn’t ask any questions, just sat me in a chair’ ‘My dentist hadn’t seen anything like it’ Running my tongue over my top and bottom teeth, I couldn’t stop grinning. ‘It’s so nice to have them off!’ I said to my mum Catrina, 45. I’d had train-track braces on for the past year and, days before, in May this year, I’d finally had them removed. And there was one thing I’d promised myself when this happened - I’d get my teeth whitened. I always took care of my appearance and liked to be presentable for my bank job. I chatted to customers most days, so always did my hair and put on some make-up. Logging onto Facebook later that day, I saw that some people in my area had…

VIRGO 24 Aug–23 Sept Your social life is highlighted, and there’s plenty to make you smile over the coming days. Just remember to tie up past issues before you start on new ones – or your reputation could end up tripping you up in the weeks to come. Call: 09058 170 715* LIBRA 24 Sept–23 Oct Loved ones will be trying to test your dedication, but you’re not in the mood for playing games. Try to talk, not shout, at close ones who seem to have had problems letting you know how they feel. Middle ground can be found if you do. Call: 09058 170 716* SCORPIO 24 Oct–22 Nov Travel may encounter problems over the coming days, so leave yourself extra time if you can – and take spare…