Innehållsförteckning för 13-Oct-2016 från Pick Me Up!

What, No Knickers? On a trip to Boston, a hiccup meant my luggage flew somewhere else. Though I was able to treat myself to a new wardrobe courtesy of the airline, initially all I could think was, I’VE GOT NO KNICKERS! What A Joy! Having just read Marie Kondo’s The Life-Changing Magic Of Tidying Up , it seems she might be onto something – I now have 16 black sacks of clothes that no longer give me joy. Who knew? What A Dessert! While in Paris for a long weekend, I saw this fantastic chocolate millefeuille. The table of six next to ours opted for one to share. Me? I scoffed the lot! 187 The utterly random number of pugs I’d like to have slobbering…

‘Utter horror and repulsion tore through me’ Smuggling her bed linen into the washing basket, my daughter Rachel, 10, looked embarrassed. ‘I spilled a drink,’ she mumbled. But it was the fifth time that week I’d washed her sheets. And as I bundled them into the machine, I smelled urine. She’s wetting the bed, I realised. She’d not done that since she was a toddler. Alarmed, I sat Rachel down. ‘Are you being bullied? Is something worrying you?’ I asked. ‘No,’ she snapped. I took her to the doctor’s, but tests came back clear. Still, Rachel was normally a happy girl, and now she’d become snappy, angry. ‘I wish you’d never been born,’ she’d scream at her little sister Katie, 5. Her stepdad Dan and I were beside ourselves. Then,…

Nice And Spicy Get ready to celebrate National Curry Week from 10–16 October with a tasty dish from Patak’s new frozen-curry range! They’re now just £1.50 (normally £2) at Tesco until 24 October. Banish Those Wrinkles! On your marks, ladies, as on 9 October, Aldi launches the Cuvee Royal skincare collection, with products that hydrate the skin as well as reduce wrinkles. Prices start from just £7.99. Breakfast Treat You can pick up a pack of six delicious Pains au Chocolat from Brioche Pasquier for just £1 (normally £1.95) at the Co-op until 11 October. Snack Happy Grabits Chicken On A Stick makes a great snack for little ones (and you!) asthey’re high in protein. Get them now for just £1 (normally £1.29) at OneStop and Costcutter until 31…

I already had six children, so when I got pregnant for the seventh time, I thought I knew what to expect. ‘Business as usual,’ I grinned to my partner Darren, 45. It was August last year, and everything was going well. Then, at 28 weeks gone, I started bleeding. At Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, doctors found part of my placenta had wrapped around my womb. Little Mackenzie arrived by emergency Caesarean four days later, on 22 August. During the birth, I haemorrhaged, lost 5.5 litres of blood. Surgeons gave me donor blood, as well as my own, using a machine that cleansed the blood I’d lost. Doctors explained it was most likely caused by the toll seven pregnancies had taken on my body. Six days later, Mackenzie’s blood test came back.…

Polio 1 This is a rare condition. 2 Polio is a bacterial infection. 3 Long-term symptoms include muscle weakness. 4 Polio can be cured. 1 TRUE Polio has been rare in the UK since routine vaccinations started in the 1950s, with the last cases reported in 1984. It’s still found elsewhere in the world. 2 FALSE It’s caused by a virus spread through contact with contaminated food, water or faeces, as well as through the air via coughs or sneezes. 3 TRUE Though 95 per cent of sufferers have no initial symptoms, long-term issues include muscle weakness and shrinking, and deformities such as twisted legs or feet. 4 FALSE There’s no cure, but treatment for long-term problems includes physiotherapy, occupational therapy, or the use of splints.…

Chocolate Torte With Blackcurrant Compote Serves: 12 Prep Time: 15 min Cook Time: 45 min 1 Preheat oven to 180C/ Gas 4, and grease and line base of a 23cm, nonstick, springform tin. 2 Melt chocolate and butter in a bowl over a pan of simmering water, then leave to cool slightly. 3 In another bowl, whisk eggs and 350g sugar with a pinch of salt for about 10 min until pale and thick. 4 Lightly fold chocolate and almonds into egg mixture, then pour into tin, place on a baking tray and bake for 45 min. 5 Put blackcurrants, stem ginger, ginger syrup and remaining sugar in a pan and heat gently until sugar dissolves and blackcurrants begin to release juices.…

It’s not surprising young children are so worried about how they look. Our society seems obsessed with it. All the focus is on weight and size, when it should be on health. Jessica Powell, Cwmbran I’ve struggled with my weight since I had my daughter, now 13. I never mentioned it in front of her as I didn’t want her having body issues. She’s happy and confident. Michelle Underwood, Woking Social media plays a massive part in how children see themselves. Kids are learning ‘fat is bad’. We need to educate them. Jacqueline Wilson, Basingstoke Children are sponges when it comes to copying adult behaviour – weighing themselves, diets and calorie counting. It’s a parent’s duty to instil a positive body image. Gemma Davies, Gloucester I think young children should…

‘I’d never used a sunbed and didn’t like to sunbathe’ ‘Now I’ve qualified as a teacher and am clear!’ Saturday was payday and I was going to treat myself to a new piercing at the top of one of my ears. I was 20 and in my final year at university, but I had a part-time job in Argos, too. Looking in the mirror, I noticed a mark at the top of my right ear. It was almost the size of a 5p piece, and it was dark and lumpy, too. Strange. But I didn’t think any more about it until my mum Wendy, 47, spotted it a few days later. ‘You need to get that checked out,’ she said. So I went to the GP, who didn’t think it…

Try This… Actislim with Satiereal, £29.95, www.healthy2u.co.uk This saffron extract could help to decrease hunger, reduce sugar cravings and snacking urges between meals. It’s worth a try if you lack willpower. Honest Tea drinks, £1.59, Co-op, M&S Simply Food at BP petrol stations Three organic herbal teas that are ‘just a tad sweet’. With 80-100 cal each, choose from Orange & Mango, Pomegranate & Blueberry or Lemon with honey flavour. Get Moving! Body Sculpture Tummy Action Rower, £12.99, Superdrug Use this simple piece of lightweight kit to help you trim and firm the abdomen and waist, and tone your upper body muscles. It can be used both sitting down or standing up, too. Flattering Fashion Depending on what the weather’s doing, layer this pinny-style frock over a cami,…

‘My youngest boys thought I was just playing’ You could say I had my hands full... Me and my hubby Henry, 29, had just moved house and every room was full of boxes. Henry was at work, and our baby girl Darcy-Beau was asleep. But I didn’t think she’d stay that way for long. ‘Calm down, boys!’ I said to my sons Harvey-Joe, 8, Archie, 6, and Alfie, 4. They thought moving was an adventure and were running about excitedly. To make matters worse, I felt a sudden jab of pain in my side. I’d been getting them since I’d had Darcy-Beau by Caesarean nine months earlier. They came and went, so I hadn’t been too worried. Now, though, I was shaking in pain as I tried to unpack. I…

ARIES 21 March–20 April The need to see those you’ve not been able to spend time with for a while could well see you telling lies to those you were already committed to. Money can be made via phone calls midweek. Call: 09058 170 710* TAURUS 21 April–21 May There’s so much progress and work that can be achieved when it comes to home affairs. You felt like you’d arrived at some sort of a standstill earlier in the month, but this no longer needs to be a problem. Call: 09058 170 711* GEMINI 22 May–21 June There seems to be a need or desire to put on an act to impress those around you, but it really can’t earn you any new admirers, Gemini. Promises made to the older…

It’s every parent’s worst nightmare. It’s easy for predators to pretend to be someone else. Ten years isn’t enough. That little girl will be affected her whole life. He should get life, too. Elizabeth Williams, Llanelli It’s sickening. Parents need to know how to protect their children, and what signs to watch out for. With her family’s support, I hope Rachel can move on and start enjoying her childhood. Lorna Young, Isle of Mull This story is utterly heartbreaking and a parent’s biggest fear. I occasionally check my two sons’ phones. This girl has been so brave, hopefully she’ll get all the help she needs. Julie Collins, Sunderland…

‘I couldn’t shake the feeling something was wrong’ ‘It breaks my heart to know Charlie didn’t make it’ Staring at the pregnancy test, I couldn’t believe my eyes. ‘Well, this definitely wasn’t the plan,’ I smiled nervously, as my boyfriend Joe, 25, hugged me. Although we’d talked about having children, we lived in a tiny fourth-floor flat - hardly ideal for a toddler to run around in. But our shock quickly turned into excitement, and we couldn’t wait to welcome the new addition. ‘I’ve bought the baby something,’ my mum Helen, 50, said excitedly when I was four weeks gone. ‘You shouldn’t buy anything yet!’ I said. ‘We’ve not even had the first scan!’ A week later I started suffering from a tight pain in my stomach. ‘It feels like…

Most mums can sit back and relax when the kids are playing outside. But when my 2-year-old Izzie goes out into the garden, I’m on high alert. She has ataxia, a neurological condition affecting her balance and co-ordination. It means she’s always bumping into things and falling over. And that means lots of cuts and bruises. She’s also epileptic, which, together with the ataxia, is a very dangerous combination. ‘Be careful!’ I always call after her as she potters around. Our garden’s concrete and sloped. I can’t take my eyes off her for a second while she’s out there, just in case she has a fit and bashes her head. Sadly, it’s happened before. I’ll never forget the day she fell. The hard ground cut her skin. Her crying broke…

‘People ran frantically around – it was chaos’ At 1pm on Saturday 17 August 1991, Wade Frankum, 33, walked into the Coffee Pot cafe in Strathfield. The Sydney suburb was brimming with visitors, local schoolchildren and shoppers enjoying the weekend. Unprovoked Over the next two-and-a-half hours, Wade Frankum drank four cups of coffee. Then, suddenly, at 3.35pm, without warning, Frankum stood up and plunged a 20-inch bowie knife four times into 15-year-old college student Roberta Armstrong’s back. The innocent 15-year-old, who’d been enjoying a catch-up with a friend, died at the table. But the brutal, senseless killings didn’t stop there... Leaving the knife in Roberta’s back, Wade pulled out a rifle and fired it into the air. All hell broke loose as he twice shot Joyce Nixon, 61, then fired…

1 Heinz Mulligatawny Soup, 400g This is beefy and meaty, with a surprisingly hot curry kick. Serve with your choice of warm naan bread for an authentic lunch or supper. 2 Morrisons Mulligatawny Soup, 400g This thick, rich soup has plenty of beef and rice, but tastes just like tomato soup with an added kick of curry. A nice change from traditional flavours, but not as authentic-tasting as some. 3 Sainsbury’s Mulligatawny Soup, 400g If you like curry, this soup is the one for for you, because it tastes just like a thin, mild, beef curry. Nicely aromatic with a little kick of heat, plus loads of rice to fill you up. Tasty! Make it yourself... Serves: 4 Prep Time: 10 min Cook Time: 25 min…

Eleph-antastic! We Love ’Em… Despite their size, these incredible beasts can sit down and even swim! GAMES WE LOVED AS KIDS! Hopscotch Skipping Rope Hula Hoop Mother May I? Simon Says 3 SERIOUSLY SPOOKY HAUNTED OBJECTS 1 The Anguished Man A painting made partly with the artist’s own blood! 2 Robert The Doll He wreaks havoc on those who don’t ask permission to take his picture. 3 Eerie Wedding Dress Haunted by the bride who never got to wear her frock – it sways from side to side… Match The Telly Doc To The Hospital Celebs With Super Sexy Voices The first phone calls were answered with 'Ahoy!'…

Podo Stick & Shoot Camera, £59.95, www.cuckooland.com This teeny-tiny camera can be stuck to any surface and then synced to your smartphone via Bluetooth, so you can capture anything from group shots at a distance, to video inside a bird house! Verdict: GENIUS! Photography buffs will love it. Beer Champagne, £19.99, www.firebox.com Perfect for die-hard beer drinkers who want to feel a little more fancy, this Belgian-style golden ale – made in a wine estate – could be a huge hit for stag nights! Verdict: BONKERS! The world’s gone mad! Boombox V2 Portable Speaker, £19.99, wowzr.co.uk Turn pretty much any object into a speaker by sticking the ball attachment on this gadget to it! It works brilliantly with pizza boxes and coffee cups. Verdict:…

WHAT’S YOUR PIZZA PERSONALITY? Cheese and tomato Worrier! You panic about silly stuff and overanalyse situations. Chill out and have another slice. Pepperoni You’re feisty! You’re bursting with charisma and ideas and are a real force to be reckoned with! Ham and pineapple So chilled! You hate confrontation and prefer to keep the peace. You never hold a grudge. 5 Mint Choc Chip Foods That We Love 1. Mint Viennetta 2. After Dinner Mint Muller Light 3. Baileys with a Hint of Mint Chocolate 4. Teapigs Chocolate & Mint Tea 5. Belgian Choc Mint Options. 90s Boybands We Still Lurve (Remember these?!) Famous Octopuses – yes, really! FANGSTASTIC BUFFY QUIZ 1 What’s the name of Buffy’s school? 2 What was Spike’s name before he became a vampire? 3 Which club…

In November 2011, I couldn’t wait for my wedding to John, 30. But turns out there was even more to look forward to... Two days before the ceremony, we went to the venue - HMS Trincomalee - to make final preparations. On the way, I felt queasy. I’d been feeling sick for a while... ‘Let’s buy a pregnancy test,’ John suggested. We did, and at the venue, I headed straight for the ladies’. Soon, I saw a clear blue line. John and I were both thrilled. Two days later, after saying our vows, everyone noticed I wasn’t drinking, and the cat was out of the bag! As we sat down for our meal, a wave of nausea hit me. I barely managed a morsel. But later, I was peckish. ‘I’m…

‘I went completely bald, then my body hair fell out, too’ My long, dark locks were my best feature - my crowning glory. I loved experimenting with styles, looked after it using the best products. In the past, hairdressers had even used me as a model. And friends always said they wished they had a mane like mine. Then, one day in May 2014, I was combing conditioner through my hair in the shower and noticed I’d shed more than usual. ‘Everyone moults a bit,’ my pal said when I confided in her. But, putting my hair up a few days on, I touched what felt like bare scalp at the back of my head. Using two mirrors, I saw a bald patch the size of a 20 pence piece.…

‘A video of Galaxy and his new Ôtoy’ went viral’ Pulling up to the house, I spotted chocolate Labrador, Galaxy, waiting for us at the window. ‘He’s excited for his walkies,’ his owner, Ami Harrison, 30, smiled. It was August 2016, and I’d been running professional dog walking company, Ruby’s Walkies, since 2012. Ami was working from home that day, so me and one of my dog walkers, Amy Brown, 20, were picking up Galaxy, 3, for his lunchtime stroll. We had four other pups with us that afternoon - cocker spaniel-poodle cross Barney, 2, Cavalier King Charles spaniel-poodle cross Wilson, 1, Jack Russell-poodle cross Skeeter, 4, and cocker spaniel Poppy, 8. That’s no stick! We took them to our usual route in the Parkside area. Galaxy was a sweet,…

“Had Adam meant it? Was he as upset as I was?’ When people hear my story, they think I’ve been unlucky. But I don’t see it like that... In May 2009, I was competing in a British eventing competition. I’d been riding horses since I was 7 years old and my dream was to compete professionally. On that day, me and my horse Maisy were doing brilliantly. But metres before the last jump, everything went black... I’d woken up in Hull Royal Infirmary with my parents Ian, 56, and Sue, 62, beside me. I couldn’t talk or move. ‘You fell off Maisy,’ Mum said. ‘You landed on your head.’ Despite wearing a helmet, I’d had several bleeds on the brain. I was in a coma for three weeks, and doctors…

Scars in the sun Q I’ve just had an operation, and it’s left quite a large scar on my tummy. I’m about to go away on holiday. Should I keep it out of the sun? Diana, Scunthorpe A Yes, protect your sensitive scars from damaging UV rays with several layers of loose clothing while they’re still a highly coloured red or pink.UV rays can penetrate thin clothing, and are still present in the shade. Diuretic medication Q I take water tablets for my blood pressure. Though I’m happy that my BP is controlled, I find myself wondering if there are any risks associated with long-term use? Mary, Oxford A Taking medication to control your blood pressure is important, but not without risk, and can cause a loss of minerals. Make…

I know what you’re thinking... That woman looks familiar. See, I appeared in Pick Me Up! last year after scooping £2,600 in bingo wins. I joined eight years ago, after a friend recommended it. Me and my mum Marlene, 79, used to love going to the bingo halls together. We’d have such a giggle, and if one of us won, we always shared. It was a tradition that I intended to keep up when I joined Pick Me Up! Bingo. The site was so easy to use. And the choice of games was so incredible, I wanted to try them all out, so I played a few of the demo games first. Emerald bingo - a 90-ball game, soon became a favourite. I had a few small wins over the…

PACEY PACEY is a partner of the Be Real campaign, aimed at changing attitudes to body image and putting health first. Stage one – Schools Body Confidence Campaign launches this year. See www.pacey.org.uk/  bodyconfidence Eating disorders are life-threatening, body-ravaging mental illnesses that typically affect teenage girls. Yet cases of anorexia in young children are rising at an alarming rate. In fact, eating disorder charity B-eat says it’s aware of sufferers aged just 6. And a shocking new poll reports kids as young as 3 are showing signs of being unhappy with their bodies. According to the survey of carers, by the Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years (PACEY), almost a third of nursery and school staff have heard a child label themselves fat, while one in five…

TRIED & TESTED This week: Gel Effect Top Coat 1 Mavala Top Coat Gel Finish, £14.15, feelunique.com This may seem pricey for a little bottle, but Mavala products are always really good quality – this made my normal polish last for ages! – and you can use the whole bottle before it goes gloopy. 2 Seche Vive Instant Gel Effect Top Coat, £9.95, Boots I’m already a big fan of the original Seche Vive top coat, so I couldn’t wait to try this! It didn’t disappoint, leaving my nails really shiny and touch-dry in next-to-no time! 3 Maybelline Super Stay 3D Gel Effect Plumping Top Coat, £4.99, Superdrug So easy to apply in seconds, thanks to the wide, rounded brush. It did take a little longer than the…

‘I’d heard he had a violent past but I didn’t believe it’ Lucky... That’s how I felt when I met Myles Leyden, 27, in 2014. We were introduced through mutual friends and really hit it off. A single mum to twin boys Benny and James, 6, as well as Tommy, 5, I had my hands full. But Myles wasn’t put off. ‘It’s guy time today,’ he’d wink. ‘No girls allowed.’ The boys loved hanging out with Myles, playing computer games and footy. Then, last summer, I fell pregnant. Myles was over the moon. And a few weeks later... ‘Marry me?’ he asked, after ordering me a juice in our local. ‘Yes!’ I cried. I was head-over-heels. I’d heard whispers that he had a bit of a violent past. But Myles…

There I was in my garden, in September 2014, when I noticed a tiny hedgehog. Poor mite seemed just weeks old, and sickly. I searched online for a rescue centre... But one was full, and another had closed down. So I researched caring for hedgehogs. Then I popped him in an old guinea-pig pen, weighed him. He was just 3.8oz. ‘He might not last winter,’ I told my sister Tara, 37. I’d recently been through a bad break-up, was suffering panic attacks and agoraphobia. Naming my prickly pal Snuffles, we quickly bonded. A week later, Tara turned up with four more hedgehogs from her own garden! Unable to resist, I took them in. My local vet’s clinic MacArthur Barstow & Gibbs supported me in advising and performing care and medication…