Innehållsförteckning för 10-Nov-2016 från Pick Me Up!

What A Sort-Out! We’ve been clearing the loft – and you wouldn’t believe the number of trips to the dump it has involved. Not to mention how many offcuts of carpets, boxes of photos, bags of old clothes, plus chairs and dining tables (yes, really!) we’ve uncovered. What A Change! Our daughter headed off to Southampton Uni a few weeks ago, and the house has never seemed so empty. Or quiet… On the plus side, we’re going out more as a couple. This week? Cocktails and dinner with friends! 6 That’s how many weeks, plus a few days, there are until the shortest day – 21 December – when there’ll be only 7hrs 49mins and 44secs between sunrise and sunset! Roll on, spring (but only after we’ve enjoyed Xmas)! What…

‘Doctors discovered Kye had a second type of cancer’ No matter how old kids get, mums can’t help worrying. In May 2012, I noticed my son Kye, then 20, had a lump on his neck. I marched him to the GP, who thought it was a swollen gland. But, months on, it hadn’t reduced - and more lumps appeared. Kye was constantly fatigued. It didn’t seem right... So, I insisted on a second opinion, and Kye was referred to Castle Hill Hospital, Hull. They took a biopsy and, two weeks later, on 7 December 2012, Kye got a call with the results. ‘I’ve got Hodgkin’s lymphoma,’ Kye told me. Cancer! I was speechless. Hodgkin’s lymphoma starts in the vessels and glands known as the lymphatic system. A PET scan revealed…

‘They went into the living room, eyeing up the pups’ As two shiny black eyes looked up at me, I was instantly smitten. Poppy the pug was so playful. I wanted some of that puppy love for myself! I took my new pet home and watched her grow into a gorgeous dog with her sweet, wrinkly face and stout little body. When Poppy turned 3, I was chatting to a breeder friend of mine, Cath. She had six dogs and it got me thinking... Was Poppy lonely on her own? After some thought, I decided to find Poppy a boyfriend. Soon enough, she was pregnant. And she was a trouper, delivering her litter of five in August 2015. I’d planned to keep one or two, so when they were 8…

Catheter concerns Q I have MS, and use an intermittent catheter to pass urine. But I’m prone to recurrent infections, although I never re-use my catheters and I wash my hands every time. Why? Suzie, Bristol A Tap water isn’t sterile, and the usually harmless bacteria cause problems if introduced directly to the bladder, so ensure your hands are also completely dry every time you’ve washed them, too. Nausea with chemo Q My husband is having chemo and it’s going well, but he’s plagued with nausea. He’s been given various pills for it, but none work very well. Is it possible for him to combine them? Katie, Glasgow A Anti-sickness drugs can be combined with good effect, but ask his doctor to discuss the options with him. Chickenpox again? Q…

‘Young friends on a shopping trip, a doting grandad...’ It was just after midday on Sunday 8 June 2008, in the shopping district of Akihabara in Tokyo, Japan. Home to mainly electrical stores, the area was particularly popular with young people buying gadgets. Suddenly, a two-tonne truck careered through the packed streets, scattering pedestrians like skittles. Except, the truck wasn’t out of control. The driver was deliberately running people over. Then the truck screeched to a halt and the driver jumped out, clutching a five-inch dagger. Dressed in a beige suit, black T-shirt and Converse trainers, he looked like another shopper. But he’d come to kill. Running around, screaming, he began knifing passers-by. Jumping on top of a man he’d hit with his truck, he stabbed him repeatedly. Then he…

Choc-Nut Brownies Makes: 32 Prep Time: 10 min Cook Time: 25-30 min • 125g butter, plus extra for greasing • 125g 70% dark chocolate • 3 large eggs • 300g soft, light-brown sugar • 2tsp vanilla extract • 150g self-raising flour • 25g cocoa powder • 125g mixed shelled nuts, roughly chopped 1 Preheat oven to 180C/ Gas 4, and grease and line a 16cm x 26cm baking tin with baking paper. 2 Put butter and chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water, making sure base doesn’t touch water, and allow it to melt slowly. Stir, then set aside to cool a little. 3 Whisk eggs, sugar and vanilla extract in a bowl until thick and mousse-like. Sift flour and cocoa over, then pour chocolate mixture…

Under Pressure These impossible interview questions would make even the calmest interviewee sweat… 1 Can you calculate how many tennis balls are used during the course of Wimbledon? 2 Estimate the number of cars in the UK. 3 How many calories are in a supermarket? 4 How would you sell a fridge to an Eskimo? 5 Is Batman a superhero? NOOOO! SAY IT ISN'T SO… We’re still gutted about these seemingly trivial traumas • Zayn left One Direction • Wagon Wheels stopped being bigger than your head Clooney got married • Marathon became Snickers • CDs replaced vinyl • Visits to Blockbusters stopped being a family treat Could You Win The Great British Bake Off? What ingredients would you need to make a meringue? What goes inside a traditional Victoria…

‘I trusted Darren, told him what I’d been through’ Growing up, I was a sporty kid who loved my food. Made sense, seeing as I burnt off so much energy playing hockey, netball and athletics. We lived abroad and moved around with Dad’s job in finance. Then, when I was 12, I’d moved to North Yorkshire with my brother Andrew, where we attended boarding school. Three years later, my cousin died suddenly in a car accident. I was utterly devastated. We’d been so close. I felt so lost, wanted some control in my life. It wasn’t even a conscious decision... But I started skipping lunch every now and then. I cut down my portion sizes and carried on exercising. ‘Have you lost weight?’ friends soon asked. ‘You look great.’ I’d…

My hubby Gerry, 47, and I love Bruce Springsteen’s music. So our kids Lucy, 17, Ross, 15 and Anna, 9, grew up listening to all The Boss’ albums. Anna’s forever singing away in her room. She loves dancing, too. In January this year, Gerry booked us front standing tickets to see Bruce play Glasgow’s Hampden Park on 1 June. Anna’s birthday’s 31 May, so it’d be a perfect treat... ‘I’m going to sing on stage with him!’ Anna enthused. She’s watched dozens of YouTube videos of Bruce, and spotted that he often plucks kids from the crowd during Waitin’ On A Sunny Day. ‘It’s unlikely he’ll see you,’ I warned. Just in case, she practised the song for a month. That week, I bought her a baseball cap decorated with…

SPAM-TASTIC FACTS There’s more to the legendary pink lunchmeat than you might think... • There are 15 different varieties available around the world, including Teriyaki and Jalapeño. • The first can was produced in 1937. • There’s a book of haiku poems about SPAM. • There’s a museum dedicated to SPAM. • You can turn it into delicious cupcakes. How Much Do You Know About The London Marathon? 1 What year did the first official London Marathon take place? 2 What’s the title music used by the BBC every year during coverage? 3 Which celebrity chef has competed in the London Marathon eight times? 4 The top temperature ever recorded on marathon day in ’96 and ’07 was what? 5 Which former stuntman did the London Marathon by walking the…

‘What a sad story! This sort of thing happens far too often. I dread to think what some nasty people do to poor dogs. I feel sorry for Liz, too – she was just trying to protect her pups.’ Tracy Castano, 37, Coventry ‘I feel terrible for her, what a horrible thing to go through. This kind of crime is just the lowest of the low. I’m so glad the police managed to track down the stolen puppy, though.’ Alexandra Nicolaou, 45, Surrey ‘There are some awful people out there and I really feel for Liz. But I can’t help wondering what she was thinking letting a strange man into her house...’ Jade Loughrey, 32, Birmingham…

Waking up one day in February this year, I let out a pained groan. I often awoke feeling rubbish, and today, my left hand was numb. Aged 6, I’d been diagnosed with scoliosis, syringomyelia and Chiari malformation. It meant I had a twisted spine and fluid build-ups around my spinal cord, causing bone pain and headaches. On bad days, I’d have chest pain and sickness, too. As a child, I had countless operations, but nothing worked. And, after a gruelling four procedures in six days, I was left temporarily paralysed and in a wheelchair. I did recover, but I needed a walking frame at 16. By 18, though, I was back in a wheelchair for good. That’s when I was diagnosed with syringobulbia, which can cause paralysis and weakness in…

Do I look a bit familiar? 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 bingo. We’d have such a giggle, and if one of us won, we always shared. Tradition It was a tradition that I intended to keep going when I joined Pick Me Up! Bingo. The site was so easy to use and the choice of games was great. I wanted to try them all, so I played a few demo games first. Emerald bingo - a 90-ball game - soon became a favourite. I had a few small wins over the years. And, each time I won, I shared the…

1 Asda Baker’s Selection Banoffee Pie, 445g This square pie with lots of biscuit base, topped with a mousse and a toffee sauce, cuts neatly into four portions. It’s very sweet, with a delicate banana flavour. 2 Sainsbury’s Banoffee Pie, 470g A digestive-biscuit base topped with a thick layer of well-flavoured toffee-and-banana sauce topped with fresh cream. This is very good, and also very naughty indeed! 3 Tesco Finest Banoffee Pie, 415g It’s best to take this out of its container while it’s still frozen, as it’s impossible once it’s defrosted. The thick biscuit base, topped with sliced banana, toffee sauce and whipped cream, is totally delicious! Make it yourself... Serves: 8 Prep Time: 10 min Cook Time: 30 min • 100g butter, melted • 250g digestive biscuits, crushed •…

‘By next morning, we’d clocked up 31,000 views’ Things hadn’t been going well for me... Last March, I suddenly lost my job as a sign maker. ‘Everything will be fine,’ I told my lads, Jake, now 23, and Connor, 15. Truth was, I was struggling to make ends meet, had been for a while. I’d fallen behind on rent, couldn’t find work and the cupboards were bare. Ashamed, I went to a local food bank for help. But everyone was so welcoming, and it was a huge relief to be able to feed the kids properly. My landlord was incredibly understanding, too, but I knew it was only a matter of time before his patience wore thin. He’d already mentioned the dreaded word ‘eviction’. Terrifying. Then, I received an e-mail…

Get Long Legs, £24, www.getlonglegs.com Want to get the pins you’ve always dreamt of without setting foot in the gym? Just slide these innovative, sloping innersoles into your flat shoes to give you longer-looking legs in seconds! Verdict: GENIUS! A really fun idea! Onion Goggles, £6.95, www.prezzybox.com Protect your peepers and say goodbye to tears with these hilarious goggles! We guarantee you won’t chop onions without them again… Verdict: BONKERS ...so funny, though! The Original Ostrich Pillow, £64.99, www.firebox.com Get ready to nap in style! This comfy cocoon hat has room for you to rest your head and hands for a little snooze anywhere, from your desk to the train. Only problem is, we’re just not sure it’s all that subtle… Verdict: BONKERS A…

‘She’d given birth alone, then strangled the babies’ SOUTH KOREA: BODIES IN THE FREEZER Veronique Courjault appeared a devoted mother to her sons. Married to Jean-Louis, the family had moved from France and settled in Seoul, South Korea. In July 2006, the Courjaults made their annual visit back to France with their boys, aged 11 and 9. Jean-Louis returned early to Seoul for work. But, when he did, he made a sickening discovery in the family’s basement freezer. The corpses of two babies. Jean-Louis returned to France, where he and his wife held a press conference declaring that they were not the parents of the dead infants. But DNA tests back in Seoul said otherwise. And, under questioning from French police, Veronique confessed to having hidden pregnancies from her husband…

I remember the day I got my white and ginger kitten. I already had Meg, a black and white moggy, and in May 1988, a friend of a friend had some Maine Coon-cross kittens that needed homing. Then 19, I lived alone in a flat, so I had room for more! I named him Rubble. Playful but independent, he was very stubborn at times. But he was loving, and he could eat for England! Best of pals, if he and Meg weren’t outside exploring, they’d follow me around the house. Sadly, in 2009, Meg passed away, aged 21. ‘It’s remarkable Rubble’s still going,’ I said to my now hubby Steve, 62. The average domesticated cat lives up to 20 years. Rubble’s deaf, with arthritis in his legs. He’s very sleepy,…

‘He punched me in the face, gripped my throat’ Gently closing the bedroom door, I tiptoed away. Peace at last, I thought, relaxing on the sofa. My daughter Maisy, then 8 months, was finally asleep. A single mum, she kept me busy. I’d fallen pregnant when I was just 16. It was a complete surprise. Things hadn’t worked out with her dad, but I was excited to be a mum. When Maisy was born in January 2016, I had to grow up. Nights out with my mates were swapped for midnight bottle-feeds and nappy changes. Not that I minded. I loved being a mum. And, luckily, Maisy’s dad’s mum Carla Dixon lived nearby, so she was always on hand. Tonight, though, it was just me and my girl. But as…

Safety First Koochi’s 1-2-3 Car Seat, Motohero, is designed to grow with your little one and protect your child from baby to booster-seat age. Even better, it’s now £80 (normally £100) at Mothercare, Argos, Toys R Us and Boots until 30 November. Freshen Up Leave your washing machine sparkling with Dr. Beckmann Service-it Deep Clean Washing Machine Cleaner – £2.12 (normally £3.30) at Asda until 24 November. Good Hair Day Pick up any Phil Smith shampoo or conditioner in Sainsbury’s for just £2 each (normally £3.50) until 22 November. The range is filled with plenty of great products, so you’re sure to find something to suit your hair type and needs! Great Gift Letterbox Gifts are the perfect pressie as they fit straight through the letterbox with no need to…

‘As she was born, a small part of skin on her bottom tore off ’ Walking around the supermarket with my daughter, I could see people staring at us. I was used to it. Strangers often shot me dirty looks when we were out and about. Are you looking after her?’ a woman even asked me once. ‘She has a skin condition,’ I sighed. ‘Epidermolysis bullosa.’ Not that anyone had heard of EB. I hadn’t myself until Izzabell arrived, back in September 2011. As she was born, a small part of skin on her bottom was torn off. Doctors soon diagnosed her with EB, a rare, genetic condition that causes her skin to be so fragile that it could break and blister at the slightest impact. Tragically, there was no…

Tuberculosis 1 TB is caused by a virus. 2 It’s contagious. 3 Night sweats are a symptom. 4 TB is incurable. 1 FALSE The infection is caused by a type of bacteria known as mycobacterium tuberculosis. The immune system is sometimes able to destroy the bacteria before it can infect the body, but not always. 2 TRUE TB is spread through inhaling droplets from coughs and sneezes from an infected person, but usually only after prolonged exposure.TB of the lungs is the most contagious type. 3 TRUE Usual symptoms include night sweats, weight loss, fever, fatigue, appetite loss, swellings, bloody phlegm and a persistent cough. If you bring up blood or your cough lasts more than three weeks, see your GP. 4 FALSE The condition is serious and potentially fatal…

I’ve always loved playing bingo, but over the years, with two kids aged 8 and 11, I had less time to play. ‘You should join Pick Me Up! Bingo,’ one of my pals suggested. She’d won £1,000 playing it. So this May, I decided to join. I checked out the games and talked to people in the chatroom. Sapphire - a 90-ball bingo game - was great fun. I bought a few tickets and had a couple of games. A few hours later, after clearing up at teatime, I had another quick game of bingo. I liked that the game dabbed off my numbers automatically. Soon, I realised I needed just one more number. Then... I’d scooped £1,250! I phoned my hubby. ‘I’ve just won £1,250 playing bingo!’ I screamed,…

‘It all happened so quickly, didn’t make sense’ ‘He was one in a million – we’ll never replace him’ ‘The usual!’ one of my regulars requested. A hairdresser, Gaylord Howlett, then 31, ran his own business, and often popped into The 1066 pub where I worked as a barmaid in September 2003. He had a great sense of humour and was a good listener. We became friends and, when I split from my husband in 2004, Gaylord was a shoulder to cry on. Suddenly, I was a single mum to Chloe, then 15, Megan, 13, Jessie, 9, and Lois, 3. As we grew closer, I realised Gaylord was the love of my life. We became an item in April 2005. He was great with the girls, and Lois even started…

TRIED & TESTED This week: Microbeadfree Face Scrubs 1 Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Micro Fine Exfoliating Facial Scrub, £5.99, Superdrug This is free of parabens and dyes, using natural exfoliants to buff away dead skin. My face looked loads fresher after using it! 2 B. Refined Exfoliating Cleanser, £5.49, Superdrug The exfoliating particles in this were teeny tiny, but the creamy scrub worked well to leave my skin feeling soft. 3 Dr Organic Manuka Honey Face Scrub, £6.29, Holland & Barrett This felt like it gave my skin a really good, deep-cleanse – but without stripping it of moisture. Want the perfect... CURLING TONG? Simple: Carmen by Samantha Salon Glamour Curls It might not look like your standard tong – but this curling contraption is so easy to use! Decide…

‘I pictured a beautiful baby carriage, but none existed’ My pal Sean Bourke, 27, had been a friend of the family for years. But, in time, Sean and I grew closer, getting together in September 2011. Sean got on great with my kids Ellie, 12, and Charles, 9. And in September 2014, he proposed. Soon after, I discovered I was pregnant. In May 2015, Darcy arrived. We’d set our wedding date, 26 March this year, at Belleek Castle in Mayo, Ireland. Ellie was excited to be a bridesmaid, while Sean asked Charles to be his mini best man. ‘I don’t want Darcy left out,’ I fretted. ‘Pop her in a wheelbarrow and push her down the aisle,’ Sean joked. Suddenly, I pictured a beautiful baby carriage. Looking online, none existed…

ARIES 21 March–20 April Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill with today’s problems, but try to play them down. You’re about to find out that you have friends in high places in your career. You can and should ask for more. Financial aspects become exciting. Call: 09058 170 710* TAURUS 21 April–21 May You start to look at the past differently and rather than worrying how things appeared to others, you begin to tune in about how they really felt to you. For some of you Taureans, this could see you calling up those you want back in your life! Call: 09058 170 711* GEMINI 22 May–21 June This is a great week for new challenges. You’re finally beginning to understand where your strengths lie. Don’t take any…

‘The condition meant his organs would shut down...’ Saying goodbye to your baby is something no parent ever expects to do. But that’s exactly what me and fiance Steven, 25, found ourselves faced with in April this year. We were watching telly while our son Taylor, then 16 months, played with his toys. Just like any other evening... Until Taylor started crying again. He’d been cranky all day, so I picked him up for a cuddle and let him play on the tablet. When I popped him back down to play half an hour later, he started crying again, as if he was in pain. He was shivering, couldn’t even lift his head. ‘What’s wrong with him?’ I yelled, terrified. Panicked, I called for help and an ambulance was sent…