Innholdsfortegnelse for Autumn Special - 2016 i Pick Me Up! Special

Anyone fancy some cucumber sarnies? If you're hoping to cram in a last-minute picnic before the nights close in, you could get some menu ideas from the gorgeous pair of guinea pigs here, Mantequilla and Burvil. We wouldn't want to be footing the bill for the doggy dinners gobbled up by Angie's giant mutt, though (p27)! And you'll need a strong stomach to look at the gory pictures of poor Lois' nose (p38), after docs discovered her face was eating itself! These are just a few of the fab stories in our bumper Pick Me Up! Autumn issue, which is packed with amazing real life tales, must-have fashion and beauty, handy tips and mind-boggling puzzles. Read about brave Victoria, who reveals how becoming a mum again, after losing her newborn…

‘He threw the lit flame at me. My skin ignited’ Coming down from a drug-induced high, I’d finally hit rock bottom. For months I’d papered over the cracks in my broken heart by partying... hard! Now 2012, it seemed like a lifetime since I’d been 15 and madly in love with Steve*. A year later, I’d fallen pregnant with Sarah*, now 8, who’d completed our perfect family. Sadly, though, I’d barely grown up yet and our relationship soon unravelled. Our divorce hit me hard. Growing up in a broken home myself, I desperately wanted better for my daughter. But with nowhere else to turn, I moved in with my sister, Athens, leaving Steve, 31, to care for Sarah. In January 2012, he filed for custody - and won. ‘I feel…

IN THE LINK Tony Nicholls, change and management expert, of tonynicholls.net , says: ‘Update your LinkedIn profile regularly. Write articles, comment on other peoples’ posts and connect with as many people as you can. This will help raise your profile [so it will appear] on any headhunters’ searches.’ PRIVACY IS KEY Potential employers, partners and nosey neighbours will all Google you. Check the privacy settings on all your social media sites and use a professional quality image for your LinkedIn profile picture. Also, Google yourself to see what comes up and take action to remove unwanted items. GET CONNECTED Take some time to reach out to any old mates who have fallen by the wayside. Make the winter brighter by arranging to meet up with them. ...NOT…

‘We could always count on each other for support’ ‘This vile thug had driven his lorry over Trevor's head’ Soaking up the rays on the sun-kissed Costas sounded far more inviting than shivering through a British winter. So, I couldn’t wait to meet up with my brother Trevor Allen, his workmates and some of my pals, for a pre-Christmas holiday in Benidorm. The bustling Spanish resort really was party central, with people of all ages having the time of their lives. And Trevor, 56, was in his element there. ‘I love you, Momo,’ he said one night - using the nickname he always gave me. ‘I love it here, I’m going to bring you back for another holiday in March.’ We were sat together, waiting for his taxi, after spending…

‘All I could think of was Ethan. Would he be left with no mum?’ Getting my boy, Ethan, then 7, into the car, I grinned at his outfit. It was a fancy-dress day at his school, with children asked to go as real-life heroes. ‘I want to go as a surgeon,’ Ethan had told me. So, we’d cobbled something together, and he looked very sweet in his scrubs and lab coat! ‘Love you, Mum,’ he said, as I dropped him off. ‘I love you, too,’ I said, before setting off. It was 14 November 2014 and, a foster carer, I was driving up the M3 to a work meeting in Bracknell, Berkshire. But, as soon as I got on the motorway, the heavens opened and the wind picked up. By…

You could say I'm a sucker for the underdog. As a manager for Birdline UK Parrot Rescue, I've adopted several pets over the years, from parrots to chinchillas. My hubby, Jed, 53, is used to me bringing home waifs and strays. In December 2014, I was browsing a Spanish Facebook page – Mastins For Adoption. A hefty breed, Mastins (Mastiffs) are often used as guard dogs in Spain. Unwanted strays are taken to kennels. But in Spain, there's a 12-day rule. If an animal isn't housed, it's destroyed. One poor pup's story drew me in. With 'tiger' stripes in his fur, Tigger was 10 months old. He'd been rescued in the nick of time by the organisation Protectora Pulgosas. 'He's gorgeous,' I said to Jed. Instantly, I fired off a…

‘Bailey went red, it was clear he couldn't breathe’ One, two, three, four, five... All present and correct! With five kids aged from 1 to 24, the morning school run was like a military operation. It was 22 April and I grinned as Bailey, 5, clambered out of our car at the gates of St Mary’s Primary school. ‘Be good,’ I cried, as he skipped away. A housewife, with my youngest, Blair, 1, Callia, 12, Caeal, 16, at home with me to look after, and my oldest Jade, 24, living in Writtle, Essex, I really had my hands full. Especially as there was a day packed with errands, food shopping and cleaning ahead of me. As I drove back from the supermarket, in the mid-afternoon, feeling frazzled, my phone rang.…

‘Ben didn't have enemies. Who had done this?’ Placing a hot cuppa in front of my lad, I watched him yawn. ‘Long day, was it?’ I asked. ‘Yeah, I’m absolutely shattered,’ Ben, 18, a trainee plumber, replied. He’d been working all hours, saving for a holiday with his mates. He gave me half his pay cheque to save for him. Mature for his age, Ben was fantastic with his brothers Ryan, 8, and Cole, 5, too. Always taking them to the park for a kickabout or giggling together at daft jokes. Then, in September 2014, he met Ashley Adedeji-Adebisi. Coy at first, he barely told me or my hubby Matt, 35, anything about her. ‘When are we going to meet this Ashley?’ I’d tease. ‘Soon, Mum,’ he’d reply. Months passed…

Theresa, 28, Newcastle Me and my hubby had a baby daughter six months ago and we love her so much. She’s our first child and we’re slowly getting our heads round everything there is to know. My mother-in-law started off being a big help. She lives nearby and would pop in to help out sometimes. Now though, she’s turning up every day! At first it was OK, but it’s all got a bit too much. I feel like she’s here all the time, trying to take over and is always telling me that her way is the best and everything I do is wrong. My husband’s tried to tell her a couple of times, saying we need to learn things ourselves and that we’ll ask for help when we need…

Wheel deal Here’s Jackson, 4, zooming to school. He’s obsessed with motorbikes but is happy enough on his pushbike so far! Lilly Taylor, Cambridge How funny!   What did the cake shout over to the fork? Do you want a piece of me? Little lamb We love a trip to the farm. Here’s my 1-year-old Teddy hanging out with the lambs! Holly Morris, Bedford How funny!   What's a tree's least favourite month? Sep-timber! Puppy love Look at this big ball of fur basking in all that attention! How could we resist giving him a stroke? Frances Wright, London How funny! What's the cutest season of the year? Awwtumn! Life's a beach... Me and my hubby went for a super chilly walk on the beach – you can see how…

‘Running a hand over my left breast, I froze’ Slumping on to the sofa, I curled up and grabbed the remote. Bliss. That was me done for the day. Nursing a much-needed hot cuppa, after a helluva week working as an early help practitioner, I was craving a lazy night in, snuggled up and watching the box. I idly flicked through the channels, scrolling past soap operas, news bulletins and game shows. And then... ‘Do you know the importance of checking your breasts?’ a voice rang out from the screen. It was a televised benefit called Stand Up To Cancer. Tuning in, at first, I didn’t think much of the report. Only 26, I was far too young to get breast cancer. Wasn't I..? A few days later, I was…

‘We spent hours creating a magical tail and a shell bra’ Growing up, I’d always been a water baby. During school holidays I’d plead with my mum Barbara to take me swimming every day as she’d taken time off from her work in hospitality. ‘I think you were a mermaid in another life,’ she’d tease me. That, and a Disney Princess, I’d think. You see, I was obsessed with the film The Little Mermaid too, sometimes watching it on a loop. Then in 2008, while at Edith Cowan Uni, Perth, I met a girl who shared my fixation. Stood behind me in the queue to register for my visual arts and photography degree was Amelia Lassetter, 30. ‘When I moved to Perth from Cornwall in the UK, when I was…

1 www.smiffys.com Get the party started with an online trip to Smiffys, where you’ll find a huge range of costumes – plus wigs, accessories and make-up. There’s also free delivery over £20. 2 www.fancydress.com Make an entrance with a costume from one of the largest costumiers in the world, Angels. With something for the whole family (including babies and dogs!), it really is a one-stop-shop experience. 3 www.cheapfancydress.co.uk The clue is in the name. Cheap Fancy Dress offers a wide range of costumes and accessories – but most importantly, ones that won’t blow the budget. 4 www.partyrama.co.uk If you’re prone to leaving it to the last minute, these party peeps will send your costume by courier so you get your threads the very next day! 5 www.partydomain.co.uk Gangster, cowboy, pirate?…

‘I learned his purr was as loud as a lion's roar!’ Cradling my rescue kitten, Merlin, then 8 weeks, I was in love. It was July 2002, and, nestled in my lap, he purred away - loudly! Seems he had a hidden talent... he was loud as a motorbike! ‘Turn the telly up!’ I told my daughter, Alice, then 9. Still, he didn’t purr when he was asleep, so he never disturbed me. And the sound wasn’t piercing, more a low rumble, and I found it strangely comforting, but visitors would comment. ‘He sounds like a drill!’ my pal, Dave, 30, gasped. One day, in 2011, I watched a TV news item about a record-breaking cat called Smokey, from Northampton, whose purr had registered 67.68 decibels. A typical cat’s purr…

Meet the expert: Books selected and reviewed by former Pick Me Up writer and psychological crime thriller writer, Barbara Copperthwaite. Her third novel, Dying Light , is out soon. BEST QUICK READ When She Was Bad by Tammy Cohen Publisher: Black Swan You see the people you work with in the office every day, but how well do you really know them? Amira, Sarah, Paula, Ewan and Charlie have worked together for years– they know how each other like their coffee, whose love life is a mess, whose children keep them up at night. Then an aggressive new boss arrives, and the workplace becomes murder… The office politics in When She Was Bad really made me laugh,…

3 of the Best We test 3 products so you don't have to. This issue, we try SAUSAGES 1 Butcher's Selection Pork and Bramley Apple Sausages, £1.50 for 8, ASDA The apple in these bangers really lifts the flavour and makes them sing. Serve with mash and gravy for perfect autumnal grub. 2 Ashfield Farm Butcher's Select Cumberland Sausages £1.29 for 8, Aldi These succulent sausages are a solid crowd pleaser and great for sarnies, stews and sizzling fry-ups. 3 Heck 'The Family Favourite' Chipolatas, £3 for 10, Morrisons These are more expensive than the others but are extra juicy and perfect for when you want your bangers to be the star of the meal! Self-Saucing Orange Pudding Serves 8 Prep Time 25 mins Cook time 50-60 mins…

‘What I had could eat away at my brain tissue’ More drama than a whole decade of EastEnders. And more ups and downs than a Big Dipper. That’s me. ‘All I want is a quiet life, a nine-to-five, a few nights out with my mates and, if I’m lucky, a bloke,’ I’m always telling my mum. ‘Well, they sound like very sensible things to work towards,’ she tells me. Very true. Except, I had all of those things before. My own place, a job I loved, friends I could count on for fun Friday nights. And a face. My normal face with two eyes, a mouth, a chin and two cheeks. If only. Back in 2004, I’d been in a car accident. Thankfully, no-one had been killed, and no-one was…

So weepy Q My eyes have been getting watery when I go outside. Is this normal? Leanne, Warrington A Eyes naturally water when they get dry, which can happen due to the cold, wind or sun, and some peoples eyes are more sensitive. If you’re suffering with this, try some lubricating drops, which can help. If it s sunny, sunglasses will also help protect eyes from the elements. Bit blurry Q I’ve started having blurred and double vision in one eye. I’m otherwise well. What could be the reason? Kerri, Anglesey A See your optometrist for a full eye examination. However, this could be due to digital eye strain and linked with eye tiredness and dry eye. Preservative-free rewetting drops may help alleviate symptoms. Flash fright Q I’ve had a…

Flatulence Some might deny ever passing wind – but we all parp, around 14 times a day apparently (and yep, that includes women). Just as our bodies get rid of waste when we go to the loo, we also need to let out gases that build up in the gut, a combination of swallowed air and gases produced during digestion. Certain foods can be extra gassy, such as Brussels sprouts, beans and broccoli. By itself, flatulence isn't generally cause for concern, but if you're also experiencing ongoing abdominal pains and changes to bowel habits, unexplained weight loss, blood in the stools or incontinence, see your GP. They might want to investigate further.…

Why nut try it? It turns out nuts might be your skin’s best friend. Brazil nuts are full of skin elasticity-boosting selenium, while macadamias help skin heal and stay young. Walnuts have omega-3 fatty acids, which can reduce puffyness and stop spots too! Stay hydrated H2O really is the answer to everything. Dehydration can make us look like we’re ageing quicker, so drink at least eight glasses of water a day to plump out those skin cells. Water also flushes out the toxins in our skin that causes inflammation. Add a slice of lemon for extra detoxing! You snooze... You win! We’re all meant to get around eight hours sleep a night, although it can be hard to get to bed early when there are so many distractions. When we’re…

‘I decided to do something positive – entering a 10k run’ Like mother like daughter, that was me and Mum. Best mates, we enjoyed spa days, country walks and girly nights in together. ‘I may be 53 but you’re as young as you feel, love!’ my mum, Sally, would say. Always fit and healthy, when she collapsed in May this year, after a family party, I was sure she’d soon recover. But I was wrong. ‘My arm’s gone numb,’ she cried that fateful day. ‘Call an ambulance,’ I screamed, as she suddenly collapsed. The 10-minute journey to Basingstoke Hospital was absolutely agonising. ‘She’s going to be alright, isn’t she?’ I asked my sister, Hannah, 23, desperate for reassurance. Taken to A&E, she was put in an induced coma. ‘Her brain…

‘Now I write to 23 pals in a total of 15 countries’ How many friends do you have? No, I don't mean on Facebook! Long before social media launched, I'd dozens of chums worldwide, using good old pen and paper. It all started in July 1994, through a magazine offering to find pen pals for people. Intrigued, I dashed off a note about myself. Soon after, I was thrilled when a reply came from a girl my age and with similar interests in sci-fi. Hooked, I wrote to three more people , and asked if they knew others who'd like to write to me. Now I write to 23 pals in a total of 15 countries, including the UK, Finland, Israel, Portugal, Sweden, Germany, the USA and Norway! As a…

SLEEP WELL Get a great night’s kip with a trip to Holland & Barrett, where there’s 25% off the Rescue Night range from 22 September to 16 October. Fruity! Help yourself get your five-a-day with Fruit Bowl’s Apple & Blackcurrant Bites, on offer at Sainsbury’s from 5-27 October. They’re now £1.50. CLEAN UP Head to Tesco where, from 12 October, you'll be able to pick up a free limited edition tea towel with every box of Clipper tea bags (£2.55). HOLE IN ONE Get down to Asda before the end of October to nab three packets of the new Sugar Free Extra Strong Polos for just £1. Chew on that Eat Natural’s tasty ‘Bars with Benefits’ are a bargain at Tesco this month. Until 16 October, get two packs of…

‘There for me as I grew up, he really was a good dad’ You don’t have to be biologically related to be family. That’s what my mum, Wendy, had always said to me. So when I’d found out, aged 12, that Dad - Nicholas Faux - wasn’t my real father, it hadn’t really changed anything. He’d been with Mum since I was 6 months old. There for me as I grew up, he really was a good dad. That’s what mattered. Related or not, I loved him no less. Then, in June 2009, Mum was thrown from her horse at the local stables and suffered a head injury. She fell into a coma. ‘The doctors say it doesn’t look good,’ Dad warned. We’d visit her at Colchester General, but Mum…

1 Witching hour Host your party post-dinnertime in order to avoid serving up a huge feast. Stick to pick-up food such as finger hot dogs and jellied ‘worms'. 2 Background noise To set the tone, play a run of spooky movies in the background! 3 Who wore it best? Up the fun factor and offer a prize for the best-dressed guest. 4 Eyes on the prize Invent your own Bake Off and ask your guests to each enter a terrifying treat. 5 Deck the halls Good décor is key. Melt a red candle over a white candle to create a blood-dripping effect. 6 Snap happy Devise your own ‘photo booth' by sticking lines of black tape on a white wall with heights, police line-up style. 7 Get the glow Buy…

‘I knew I was being unhealthy, but was too numb to care’ Summoning all my strength, I closed my eyes, determined to conjure an image of the azure waves lapping against the shore of an endless sandy beach. How time flies, I sighed. It was just days since I’d been splashing around in the warm waters of the Med with my kids Torres, 8, and Lexie, 6. But now our blissful week in the lively Spanish resort of Torremolinos felt like a million years ago. And looking down at my tummy beneath the sheets, even my tan was fading. Shame, a bronzed glow worked wonders at hiding a multitude of flabby sins! Or so I thought… Next morning, to cheer myself up, I started flicking through the pictures on my…

Forget kids wearing cute costumes. My golden-furred guinea pigs, Mantequilla and Burvil, were the fanciest dressers in my house! I loved putting them in fun outfits and creating little ‘sets’ for them to pose in. I’d pretend they were at the shops, or having a picnic, letting my imagination run wild before posting pictures of them online! I love the pirate hat! a fan commented. My pets were so popular! Then in March this year, watching Mantequilla grooming, as usual, so she’d look her best for the cameras, I noticed she seemed to be nibbling just one side of her glossy coat. Concerned, I picked her up, and felt a hard lump on her left-hand side. I took her straight to the vet. ‘She has breast cancer and it’s spread’…

‘We were hit with a cruel reality Ð we might never have children’ There were two things that me and my man, Dale, then 30, were very sure of. That we wanted kids and that we were going to get married. Simple. Well, actually, when we started trying for a baby in 2011, we soon realised it wasn’t quite so simple... After a year of trying - nothing! So our doctor referred us to Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham for tests. By January 2012, Dale’s sperm count test had come back fine, so they referred me for surgery to look at my female organs. ‘If I can’t have children, I understand if you don’t want to be with me,’ I gulped to Dale, tearfully. ‘Don’t be silly’ he said. ‘I’m…

‘Nothing quite prepared us for what was ahead’ Our three boys love animals, so my wife, Emma, and I jumped at the chance to travel up to Knowsley Safari Park, near Liverpool, for a fun day out. Little Alex, 2, and big brother Oscar, 7, both couldn’t wait. Dylan, 3, can get a little scared around dogs. Still, meeting new furry friends from behind glass, in the comfort of the family car - what could go wrong? We arrived in Knowsley at midday, having left London at ridiculous o’clock. We parked up to eat a packed lunch and to take a much-needed break but, with half the day gone, we were keen to start the five-mile long safari drive. Sadly, grey skies and the occasional drizzle shattered any illusions that…

‘It started with a small patch under my left eye’ Stepping out of my morning shower, I stared at my bare face in the mirror. Disgusting. Covered in white patches, like a Fresian cow. Without my usual concealing foundation, I looked totally unrecognisable from the model everyone was used to seeing. Still, it was my secret. You see, I never left the house without a full face of make-up. Foundation, concealer, bronzer, blusher, mascara, fake eyelashes, eye shadow, eye liner, lipstick... I wore them all. It was the only way to disguise my vitiligo - a rare condition causing pale, white patches to develop on the skin. ‘You look incredible,’ my friends would say on nights out, when I was all dolled-up. If only they knew. The truth was, for…

THEY SAY This new ‘stronger repair’ Sensodyne formula helps actively repair tiny holes underneath tooth enamel. YOU SAY ‘I avoided ice-cream all summer because my teeth are so sensitive to hot and cold substances. Sensodyne’s made a big difference, meaning I can relax more when eating!’ Anya, Bognor Regis WE SAY Suitable for everyday use, as well as reducing sensitivity using this toothpaste twice daily should develop long-term protection. It tastes good too!…

‘We shared the same daft sense of humour’ Born weighing 9lb 6oz, I was a right little fatty! Despite being the youngest of four kids, I was the heaviest. But, when I was a few weeks old, my mum, Marian, noticed something. ‘Her rib cage looks different,’ she said, worried. I was referred to various specialists and eventually... ‘Jayne has a form of dwarfism,’ one explained. No-one else in my family had it. I was also diagnosed with scoliosis - a curvature of the spine - flat feet, problems with my hips, and no bridge in my nose. Growing up, I just accepted the fact that I had loads of appointments at the hospital. At the age of 2, I had my hips realigned using a frog splint. When I…

Holding the camera still, I pressed click. My grinning girls sung ‘cheese!’ So proud! You see, my little ones - Matilda, 5, Ruby, 4, and Hudson, 1 - have become modelling sensations. It started at the end of last year after I posted a picture of Hudson on Instagram wearing a new T-shirt I’d bought him. ‘Such a cutie’ I’d written underneath, showing my adorable lad off to all of my friends. But I never expected him to catch the eye of the owner of the hand-made clothes designer, Little Lords. ‘I love his spiky hair’, she wrote. ‘Can he be a brand representative for us?’ Of course he could! Hudson and the girls would be sent free outfits every week. All I’d have to do was upload pictures of…

VIRGO 24 Aug-23 Sept Your finances could take a turn for the better this month, Virgo, but the trick is not to be too gung-ho about your resources. If you're someone who likes to be speculative in your approach to business or to snaffle any bargains, you may find that your self-discipline is on the low side and your desires run higher. Still, one or two treats may be in order. A tremendous amount of determination is going to be flowing through you from the 14th to the 24th. If there is a talent or skill that you feel you've never used as much as you could, this is going to be a wonderful window of opportunity to show people how formidable you can be. If you're a Virgo who…