Innehållsförteckning för 27-Oct-2016 från Pick Me Up!

What A Frame! As a huge fan of classic US show Friends , .I had to visit the FriendsFest event. I wandered around iconic sets like the Central Perk coffee house and Monica’s apartment. Recognise the door..? 7 …much-missed celebs. Sad face. These stars all passed doing what they loved – see www.lifedeathprizes/ www.lifedeathprizes/entertainers-who-died-performing entertainers-who-died-performing What A Sweetie! My girlfriend’s nutty kitten Oreo loves attention so much, she’ll do her best to stop us getting up the stairs. And it works – who wouldn’t want to play with such a cute kitty? What A Mystery Not one, but two pineapples were sent to me at work this week from a mysterious stranger. I’ve no idea why, but they’re my favourite fruit, so thanks – whoever you are! What A…

‘I pushed it to the back of my mind, tried to forget about it’ Playing happily in my room, I tried to ignore the racket coming from the kitchen. Two of my six older brothers were chatting and laughing away with our cousin Richard Watkins, then 17. They were talking about the usual teenage boy stuff - girls, cars, parties... Aged 8, they didn’t pay much attention to me. I was just a kid and they were all in their teens. Richard was often at ours, hanging out with my brothers and staying the night on the sofa. A shy lad, he was a lot quieter than the others. ‘He’s a bit odd,’ I overheard one of my brothers saying behind Richard’s back, but I thought he was OK. Then,…

1 Keep Mum  Don’t use a any significant information. Your cat’s name, for instance, can easily be discovered by doing a little digging. 2 Fox the crackers Take the first letter of each word of a memorable phrase as your password. Eg, My Birthday Is In August Not September would be MBIIANS. Now change letters to similar-looking numbers (‘A’ for ‘4’, ‘S’ for ‘5’) to make MBII4N5. Tough to crack! 3 Mix it up Think about adding symbols, where allowed, and more numbers. 4 Go large! Make your password at least 8-10 characters long if possible. 5 Shh… Do not ever share passwords. Just don’t.…

Pre-pregnancy diet Q I’m trying to get pregnant. What’s the best dietary way of boosting my vitamin levels? Heidi, Suffolk A Make sure to eat a varied diet, including as many different-coloured veg as possible. In particular, boost your intake of folate-rich veg, such as broccoli, peas, sprouts, asparagus and chickpeas. Shingles jab refused Q My brother-in-law has been quite unwell with shingles. I’m 86 and would like to have the shingles jab, but my doctor tells me I’m not eligible. Why’s that? Herbie, Cheshire A After the age of 80, the vaccine becomes less effective, so there’s little need or point in having it the older you get. Motion sickness Q My daughter gets carsick, but I’m not keen on giving her drugs. How else can we prevent it?…

1 Sainsbury’s Taste The Difference Mixed Root Vegetable Crisps, 100g These are not only crisp and tasty, but they’re perfectly seasoned with lots of salt, too. 2 Tesco Finest Hand Cooked Root Vegetable Crisps, 100g Lovely, big crisps of sweet potato, beetroot and parsnip, you can taste all the individual flavours – and we loved this nice big bag for sharing. 3 Morrisons Signature Hand-Cooked Vegetable Crisps, 100g Very lightly seasoned with salt so those natural vegetables flavours really shine through. What a tasty change from plain potato crisps! Make it yourself... Serves: 4 Prep Time: 15 min Cook Time: 15 min 1 Preheat oven to 180C/Gas 4. 2 Peel the veg and then, using a mandolin, thinly slice them and dry thoroughly on a…

‘I called customer services to check that it was real’ You know how it is when you’ve got children. The most exciting thing that could happen on a Friday night is a bag of crisps in front of Coronation Street. I liked it like that. Me, the kids and my husband Richard, 34... Altogether, safe and sound. It hadn’t always been that way - Richard had been a soldier. Over the years, he’d been to places like Afghanistan. Last year, he’d left the Army. So he was back at home with me and our two kids, aged 7 and 4. On one Friday night, we were relaxing, with the kids tucked up in bed, Richard had decided to play on his games console, so I got my laptop out to…

Vanish Dash Button, £4.99 for Amazon Prime members only, www.amazon.co.uk Thanks to Amazon, dash buttons (also for Andrex and Ariel) you’ll never run out of everyday essentials again! Just press the button on the Wi-Fi-connected device when you’re running out to reorder at the same low price. The AMPware Power Generating iPhone Case, £69.99, www.thefowndry.com Never have a flat phone battery again with the world’s first hand-cranked iPhone battery case. It turns 10 minutes of winding the pull-out handle into around two hours of mobile use – perfect for camping! The Library of Fragrance New Baby Cologne Spray, £15, www.thelibraryoffragrance.com It’s taken 15 years to develop this fragrance – and it doesn’t disappoint! Just one sniff will have you feeling all nostalgic thanks to…

Ultimate Scary Movie Quiz 1. What’s the name of the house in The Woman In Black ? 2. In which year was US horror film Jeepers Creepers released? 3. What’s Jason’s surname in the Friday the 13th films? 4. In Sleepy Hollow, which body part is missing from all the murder victims? 5. The Blair Witch Project focussed on three student filmmakers – Michael, Joshua and who? 5 Things We Miss About Record Shops… 1The joy of browsing, with no rush to choose something. 2 The promotional cut-outs you got to take home – free. 3 You had something physical to show for your money. 4 You could listen first, then decide if you’d buy. 5 The staff knew your music taste and made suggestions! DEAD FAMOUS When you’re…

At a schoolmate’s 18th birthday party, in 2004, I clicked with Jonathon Hammett, then 22. Jon said he had several snakes and an iguana, while I kept one snake. We shared a passion for horror films, too. Soon an item, Halloween was our favourite time. After our son Jensen arrived in October 2013, we got engaged, but busy parenting, we’d still not set a date by Christmas 2014. Over drinks, Jon’s sister Zoe questioned me. ‘What day is the next Halloween?’ I mused. It was a Saturday. ‘You could do fancy dress!’ she enthused. We couldn’t believe that we hadn’t thought of it! So we booked Plymouth register office, followed by a reception in the Stonehouse Creek Leisure and Social Club. I wore a bespoke black wedding gown and had…

‘I had drains in my chest to remove blood and fluid’ I was just 17 when I lost my beloved mum Lorraine, 51, to ovarian cancer. I missed her desperately. I wish she’d been there to wave me off when I went to uni to study Podiatry, and to give her approval to Tom, now 27, when I fell for him aged 24. When I got older, I became aware of the BRCA1 gene, which makes cancer run in families. My grandma - Mum’s mum - had also battled ovarian cancer. ‘You can have a test to see if you’ve got the gene,’ my uncle Stuart told me. So in January 2014, I had a blood test, then went to St Mary’s Hospital, Manchester, to get my results. It wasn’t…

‘When two blue lines appeared, I caught my breath’ We knew it wouldn’t be easy. But me and my partner Ann, 32, were determined... ‘We want to be mums,’ we told friends and family. Ann and I had been together for two years after meeting on a dating website. We both wanted a family. And we knew our only option was to use a sperm donor for IVF treatment. But, when we looked into the price of it, our dream was crushed. It’d cost thousands - money we didn’t have! And there was no option of a free treatment cycle. Still, undeterred, we did some research online and learned about DIY insemination. ‘We could find a sperm donor and use a syringe to get pregnant,’ I suggested. Done correctly, it…

‘Doctors were stumped – antibiotics didn’t help’ Lying in bed, I could feel my tummy rumbling. Even though I was a big girl, I never normally touched breakfast, so it was odd to wake up so hungry. ‘I feel really weird,’ I said to my boyfriend Damian Parkin, 31. Then, as I sat up, I felt sick. I rushed to the loo and made it just in time. I thought I might just have a tummy bug, but the next day, the same thing happened. And the day after that... In fact, it was getting worse. Within a week, I was vomiting several times a day, every day. I went to see my GP in July last year, who thought I had a stomach parasite. She prescribed antibiotics - but…

1 Rickets affects bones. 2 The condition is contagious. 3 Rickets is incurable. 4 Children are more at risk than adults. 1 TRUE The condition causes soft, weak bones, as well as poor growth and skeleton deformities, such as bowed legs, curvature of the spine and thick ankles, wrists or knees. 2 FALSE Children usually develop rickets due to a lack of calcium or vitamin D. However, rarer forms of the condition have been found to have been caused by a genetic defect. 3 FALSE If the cause of the condition is resolved quickly and there’s no permanent bone damage, it can often be cured by maintaining the correct level of vitamins and minerals, like calcium and vitamin D. 4 TRUE Children aged 6-36 months are at the highest risk…

‘Suddenly, Malaika went into cardiac arrest’ ‘I’m trying to raise awareness so parents can spot the signs’ I waited at the school gate for my daughter Malaika, 7. Usually my bubbly girl bounced over, eyes twinkling. But today, 13 May last year, her face was pale. ‘I don’t feel well,’ she said. Struggling to walk, I carried her most of the way home. I gave her some Calpol, put her to bed. ‘All better soon,’ I comforted. Only, next morning she started vomiting. Worried, I phoned the GP. Hallucinations With no available slots, we were booked an out-of-hours appointment at Thurrock Community Hospital. At 4pm, my stepdad Terry, 51, drove us. By now, Malaika was so lethargic, he carried her inside. ‘She has severe stomach pains and vomiting,’ I explained…

Back in , a friend told me about winning on Pick Me Up! Bingo online. So I signed up – and I’d won some nice amounts, too. One Friday, I noticed on my laptop that Pick Me Up! Bingo had sent £5 to play with. I logged in and bought 60 10p tickets for the brilliant Bejeweled Bingo game. My numbers came up quickly – and soon I’d filled two lines and won £565! The game continued, and my numbers were automatically dabbed off. Minutes later, I’d won the £2,000 jackpot! ‘You won’t believe this!’ I phoned to tell my husband who was out that night. Later, we got together and started to discuss what we were planning to do with the winnings. ‘Kitchen first!’ I insisted. See, we’d recently…

ASK JESS QI’ve been invited to a Halloween party, but am struggling to think of a good idea for what or who I should go as. Where should I look to get some inspiration? Emily Clark, 19, Middlesbrough A Save yourself some money on a costume and paint your face instead! Search Pinterest for amazing ideas and inspiration before searching for step-by-step tutorials on YouTube. READER’S TIP Try applying some gold or silver glitter to the roots of your hair this Halloween – it’ll give you a spooky makeover with added sparkle! Lucy Morgan, 27, Southend Jess’Beauty Hero Transform your bath into a tasty pumpkin pie this Halloween with this Pumpkin Bath Bomb, £3.95, Lush! TRIED & TESTED This week: Red lipstick 1 Mary Kay Semi Matte Lipstick in Poppy…

‘Shirley drugged his bottle, strapped him to her chest...’ CANADA: MURDERER MUM A‘psychotic b*tch.’ That’s what one of Andrew Bagby’s friends recalls him saying about his ex-girlfriend Shirley Turner. Andrew had broken up with her in November 2001. But Turner couldn’t accept it was over and turned up at Andrew’s home in Pennsylvania, USA, demanding to talk. Then, on 6 November, Andrew’s body was found in a state park. Many believed it was Turner who’d shot him in the face, chest, buttocks and back of the head. While an investigation was launched, Turner, a Canadian citizen, flew back to St John’s in Canada. Eventually, she was arrested, but bailed while she awaited extradition. Then she announced she was pregnant with Andrew’s baby. In July 2002, Turner gave birth to Zachary.…

My dad sadly passed away when I was 14. Back then, I’d thought about becoming an undertaker as ours had been so kind. But I ended up in retail. Made redundant in 2006, I followed my dream and trained as an undertaker with a local firm. Ultimately, though, I wanted to run an intimate business. At 7, my daughter Stephanie started asking about my work. I didn’t want her to be scared of death, so I explained the trade. 'When I grow up, can I learn, too?' she asked. So, four years ago, I founded Robert Shipp and Daughter and at 10, Stephanie began visiting the parlour occasionally. ‘If anything upsets you, just walk away,’ I assured her. At first she was apprehensive but, one day, she approached a recently…

'I love this story. It's great that three people have had the opportunity to become parents. And what a lucky child Micah is to be born into such a loving family.' Colette Mellor, 44, Rotherham ‘It sounds like that little girl is going to be incredibly loved by so many people! I think it’s great they broke with the norm and found a way to have a family.’ Gillian McKinnon, 53, Warrington ‘It’s a sensitive subject for me as I can’t have children. But I’m happy it worked out for them, and they’re lucky Jarrad didn’t change his mind and demand more involvement or custody.’ Lorna Young, 41, Isle of Mull…

‘I told him to sleep downstairs – I had to get up early’ It was a Saturday afternoon in August. I’d just got in from work when I noticed a beautiful smell coming from the living room. My boyfriend Lewis Little, 25, had lit some fancy, scented candles. ‘What’s all this for?’ I asked him. ‘Just thought I’d be romantic,’ he smiled. He was always doing sweet things, and we often talked about getting married. We’d even picked our wedding song, Starship’s Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now... But, right now, I had more practical things on my mind. ‘How’s this for romantic? We need to do the food shop!’ I laughed. Plus, our little boy Tyler’s second birthday was coming up soon, and I wanted to get a head start…

‘When I walked into our local, everyone was great’ My hair was always my pride and joy. Dark-brown, thick, and reaching halfway down my back, my boyfriend Liam, 25, adored it, too. It was one of the things that caught his eye when we met in 2007, working at the same hotel. Two years on, we became an item. But, after my home was burgled in November 2013, my hair started to thin, coming out in clumps whenever I brushed it. After a week, it was getting really sparse at the sides, so I went to my GP, but it was put down to the stress of the burglary. ‘Give it time, it’ll grow back,’ she said. But it just got more noticeable. I’d wake up to find my pillow…

‘A scan showed Millie-Ribbon had stopped growing…’ There’s more than one in there,’ the sonographer said at my first scan in January this year. I couldn’t believe it - I was expecting identical twins! I’d come a long way since 2006, when my first son Morgan was delivered stillborn due to undetected pre-eclampsia. My partner Scott, 29, and I had been devastated. A year later, I was amazed to learn I was pregnant again. I was terrified we’d lose the baby, but our gorgeous son Cyprus arrived safely in 2007. Our lovely daughter Lillie-Sue followed in 2010, and we were over the moon to finally have a happy family. So I was shocked to learn I was having twins! I couldn’t wait to break the news to Scott and my…

Bloodshot Eyeball Cakes Serves: 32 Prep Time: 1hr 1 Break Madeira cake into chunks and whizz to crumbs in a food processor. Add 6tbsp of syrup and process. Tip into a bowl, mix until it sticks together, then divide and roll into 32 balls. Set aside. 2 Roll out 500g icing on a surface dusted with icing sugar. Cut circles with an 8.5cm cutter and cover cakes with icing. Keep trimmings. 3 Colour half remaining icing blue and half green. Roll out and cut 16 small circles from each to form irises and score with radiating lines. Mix green and blue trimmings with 1-2 drops of red colouring, roll out and cut out circles for pupils. Position both on cakes, fixing in place with a…

‘My heart melted and we started going out together’ Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve adored all types of monkey. ‘That’s because you are one!’ teased my twin sister Kayleigh. Over the years, I’d collected monkey toys, key rings and other knick-knacks. Working as a Special Needs Teaching Assistant, in summer 2010, I went on various day trips with children and staff from the local area. It was there that I met Jamie, 26, our team leader. He was sweet, with a good sense of humour, but after a team night out in August, I didn’t see him again. First date Then in May 2012, he sent me a Facebook message asking if I wanted a catch-up. I thought it was work-related, and when Jamie said we should…

Try this…. Arla Protein pots, £1 With the same protein as five egg whites or a medium chicken breast, these are low-sugar, reduced-fat and 140 cal per pot. Choose raspberry, blueberry or strawberry. Healthy Scale With App, £39.95, www.prezzybox.com Measures all types of food, from liquid, powders, granules and meats, and connects to an app to instantly record your daily eating routine. Food Swaps Flattering Fashion If you only buy one jacket, make it a blouson – it’s THE shape of the season! We love this glam satin one. £99 Tefal Actifry now online at The Original Factory Shop, www.tofs.com  (was £199.99) Get Moving! Fancy covering the 1,083 miles from Land’s End to John O’Groats? Now do it virtually! Just log on, set yourself a timescale…

I met Tim Browne, 36, on a Facebook wrestling app. After chatting online, in March 2012, we travelled to a gaming event in Leeds and clicked. My children - Kobe Jones, 14, and Chelsea Campbell, 12 - adored Tim and I got on with his 15-year-old son, too. Wanting another baby, I decided to come off the Pill and, last January, I fell pregnant. I’d kept the gender a surprise with my first two. ‘I’d love a daughter,’ Tim said. So, at my 20-week scan, we asked to know. ‘It’s a girl!’ the sonographer smiled. Delighted, at 29 weeks, we paid for a private 4D scan, too. Seeing her features was just magical. We chose the name Destiny, and bought her some pretty, pink outfits. Prepping her cot with a…

ARIES 21 March–20 April Lies you tell will come back on you, so don’t even think about speaking untruths. Time is of the essence in business and, if there’s something you were going to say yes to but haven’t yet, do it before Thursday. Ring now for insight. Call: 09058 170 710* TAURUS 21 April–21 May Love is well-starred, and you start to better understand why a certain person was blowing so hot and cold. Gifts you recieve come with a hidden message. Ring now to hear why this is an exciting time for educational plans. Call: 09058 170 711* GEMINI 22 May–21 June Try to slow your pace and take in all that’s going on. You’ve been rushing through life, so you’ve missed out on hearing or taking note…