Innholdsfortegnelse for Best of 3 - 2016 i Pick Me Up! Special

This month's amazing Best Of Pick Me Up focuses on relationships - the good, the bad and the very ugly! The loving bond between mum Kerry and her son Hanaki (pictured), born with Down's syndrome (p42), is a relationship guaranteed to warm your heart. Not like some of the despicable duos in our 12-page Partners In Crime mini mag (p29) - especially the husband-and-wife cannibals (p30 ) who cooked their victim and fed her to their son. Read how love blossomed for childhood sweethearts Donna and Phil ( p14) - reunited by chance after 30 years, when they met in a charity shop! And goth twin terrors Lynsey and Cathryn (p60) have capitalised on their love of everything spooky by writing horror novels under a joint pen name. Plus there…

‘Mum shook her head and I just knew. Kamran was gone’ With two kids from two failed relationships by the time I was 20, I didn’t think anyone would want me. So when I met Nicholas Kirnon, 20, on a night out back in 2006, I thought I’d struck gold. He was a natural with my sons, Thierry, then 3, and Kamran, 1. We’d only been together a few months when he was playing on the floor with the boys one day. ‘Dadda!’ Kamran beamed. To my relief, Nicholas smiled. After six months together, Nicholas offered to help with childcare. He was unemployed, while I worked part-time at a local bookies. ‘Thierry’s at nursery most of the time anyway,’ Nicholas said. I was nervous at first. But, a few weeks…

Liz Hedges, 22, Gloucester Tears streaming, I locked myself in my room. ‘What’s wrong, love?’ my mum, Lorna, asked worriedly. I simply couldn’t tell her, or my dad, Andrew, that I was being bullied. Most days, cruel taunts included ‘ugly’ or ‘four eyes’. Sometimes, the girls attacked me. One day, aged 14, I snapped. Barricading my door, I refused to come out, having awful panic attacks. Mum took me to the GP, where I finally broke down and told all. Horrified, Mum found me a new school, arranged counselling sessions. Slowly, I started to get back on track. Interested in beauty therapy and hairdressing, I studied both hard, and passed my Maths and English GCSEs. Meanwhile, I’d three jobs and made good, supportive friends. In December 2014, I…

‘Phil had the exact same grin he'd had 30 years earlier’ At school, the days seemed to last forever. Age 13, I’d stare at the clock waiting for lunchtime to come. See, I got to spend the lunch hour with my boyfriend, Phil Wiggin, then 15, in May 1982. He was warm-hearted, with a gorgeous smile and a stylish Afro. A month earlier at school... ‘Go out with me?’ he’d asked, sheepishly. He was my first boyfriend, and my heart fluttered at each stolen kiss we shared at Adams Hill School. We had no money for expensive dates, but we’d walk hand-in-hand through the park after school. Soon, though, Phil had to revise for his O Levels. ‘I never see you!’ I moaned, petulantly. Slowly, we drifted apart. Phil left…

‘My first video has now had almost 400,000 views’ Leaning towards the mirror, I quickly applied a layer of dark eyeshadow to create a smoky look. ‘Ta-da!’ I exclaimed, stepping back. ‘Wow, very dramatic,’ grinned my sister, Alice, then 14. ‘You make it look so easy!’ We loved fashion and beauty, and enjoyed watching make-up tutorials online by vloggers like Zoella and Fleur de Force. Although I could apply make-up pretty well, I was actually blind in my right eye. I’d lost my sight when I was 11 due to a rare genetic condition called incontinentia pigmenti, which I inherited from my mum’s side of the family. Sadly, over the next few years, my other eye got worse. When I was 17, the vision in my left eye went completely,…

Nothing beats the smell of freshly baked bread. Growing up, Nan always had a doughy delight baking in the oven. I started to learn her recipes and, leaving school, I trained as a baker. At 21, I achieved Master Baker status at Bradford College. With a nose for business, I decided to go into the manufacturing process. In January 2014, I was hired as Product Development Manager for ASDA, in Leeds. My job is every bread-lover’s dream! I arrive each morning and a rack of fresh bread is brought to me from the on-site bakery. Tantalising toast is the first dish of the day. But I don’t scoff the whole slice! I take a bite from the crust, and one from the centre, so I get a good sample. Most…

‘Police found two bullets in each body, but no weapon’ Reading through her letter, Susan Edwards smiled as she scribbled the signature. Gérard Depardieu… Then the special French stamp. Satisfied, Susan, 54, couldn’t wait to show it to her husband, Christopher, 55 - ripping open the envelope in front of him. Bizarrely, for 14 years she’d pretended to him that she and French movie star Gérard Depardieu were pen pals. This was one of many odd things about this movie memorabilia-crazy couple… Housewife Susan, a former librarian, and her bespectacled hubby, a credit control officer, seemed like an everyday couple. But a letter arriving in the summer of 2012, for Susan’s dad, Bill, from the Department of Works and Pensions, threatened to blow their world apart. The DWP had written…

IAN BRADY AND MYRA HINDLEY   The depraved pair were responsible for the horrifying Moors murders, killing five youngsters. ‘The partnership illustrates a total disregard for humanity,’ says David. SARAH WILLIAMS AND KATRINA WALSK   Earlier this year, both were sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Sadie Hartley. During their trial, Walsh did her best to appear ‘the caricature of a fool’ to jurors. But prosecutor John McDermott said she took ‘almost gleeful participation’ in the murder. ‘This is an unusual case in that it was two women defendants,’ says David. ‘They had what can only be described as a twisted, bizarre relationship.’ Turn the page for the full story. FRED AND ROSE WEST   Arguably the most infamous serial killers in British history, Rose was found guilty…

Should I Say I’m Gay? Sophie, 23, South London After years of struggling with my sexuality, I’ve been in a wonderful relationship with another woman for the past six months. Recently, I came out to my parents and they were very supportive and happy for me, and got on well with my girlfriend when they met her. However, I’ve only got one grandparent still alive, my dad’s mum. We’re close and I want to come out to her, too. However, Dad has warned me not to and said if Nan heard I was gay, she’d be upset. She’s quite religious. Whenever I go round to visit, she asks if I have a boyfriend and I feel too guilty lying to her. Should I tell Nan that I’m gay? YES  …

I studied Animal Care at college, and since May last year, I’ve been working in the entertainments team at Brighton’s Sea Life Centre. I love being hands-on with animals. So, rather than rest on Sundays, I volunteer at Drusillas Park zoo, East Sussex, where I help out in the Lemurland enclosure. There, I fell in love with Scar. As his name suggests, he has war wounds, so isn’t the prettiest. At 14, he’s the oldest of 13 lemurs, and is often left out by the others. Bless him! So I spend extra time feeding him and offering my company. Wild, they can’t be petted, but Scar seems to like me being there. Each lemur has its own personality, and Scar’s an absolute sweetheart. He never shows anger -probably why he’s…

‘I didn't want to scare the kids, but I was worried’ Tuning into the news, my heart was thumping, my stomach churning. ‘Royal Marines invade Iraq,’ said the reporter. It was March 2003, and my husband, Lee, 34, was a corporal in the Marines - and part of the 3 Commando Brigade that’d been shipped out to the Middle East, waiting for orders. It had all been top secret. When he left, we’d had no idea if there would be a war. But now I knew. My husband was in a war zone. I’d met Lee at a youth club when we were both teenagers. He’d joined the Marines aged 23, just before we married. In 1994, aged 25, he’d completed his first tour of duty over in Northern Ireland.…

‘The odds are around four billion to one’ Sitting in the doctor’s office in March 2013, I held my hubby Christopher’s hand. I was 12 weeks pregnant for the second time, and it was my first scan. While the doctor was telling us about the baby on the screen, I couldn’t help but notice something else in the corner. A white, bean shape. ‘And here’s baby number two,’ the doctor said, pointing to the blob. ‘You’re having twins.’ Christopher, 39, and I stared at each other. ‘Twins!’ I squealed, smiling. Christopher was so stunned, he couldn’t speak! It was a shock, but I think on some level I must’ve expected it. My family has something of a history with twins... My grandmother, Joyce, was a twin, and she gave birth…

‘My favourite find's a Moschino belt for £2.60’ My arms were laden with skirts, tops and shoes. I plonked them down on the counter. '£11, please,' the cashier said. For a dozen outfits! Bargain hunting's given me a thrill since my mum, Sally, 50, took me to car boot sales as a kid. I'd feel rich buying five 'new' Barbies with my £2 pocket money. As a teen, I sharpened my discount-seeking skills, scouring eBay for frugal finds. I'd one rule: spend under £5 per item. I loved to share my thrifty finds, so my Pauper to Princess blog was born. My boyfriend, Ed, 25, is a tech entrepreneur, working worldwide, so we move a lot. Which means I've now visited five continents, scouring shops to find designer…

‘I treated myself to a new dress, then jetted off to Tenerife!’ Alexandra Malten, 62, Sydenham Relaxing on the sun bed, I soaked up the sun’s rays. ‘Heaven,’ I said, turning to my friend Steve, 69. It was November last year and we were enjoying an all-expenses paid trip to Tenerife. We’d spent the week staying in a luxurious, 5-star hotel. All-inclusive, it was incredible! We’d enjoyed cocktails on the beach, fancy meals, refreshing dips in the pool... Just for fun ‘Thanks for inviting me,’ Steve smiled. But it was all thanks to Pick Me Up! Bingo, really. See, I’d won the trip after playing a few of my favourite games online. I joined Pick Me Up! Bingo in 2012. I knew lots of people who played bingo online and…

Do you see my point? Walking along London’s Southbank, I suddenly felt very self-conscious. I can’t think why… Catherine Gibbs, Edgware Bedtime reading A bed built out of books – incredible, but not very practical, especially if you want to read one at the bottom! Corrina Williams, Mold Musical statues Strike a pose! Well, I tried to, but these Icelandic fellas had all the moves… Melvyn Griffiths, Llanfairpwll Facing your fears... Considering I’m petrified of spiders, I put on a brave front at Newquay Zoo. Jo Greasby, Bradford Just keep grinning... While snorkelling on my summer holiday in Fuerteventura, I was cheekily photobombed by this little chap, who seemed to be smiling! Ellen Rees, Swansea Beary friendly I grew up near a forest in Lithuania, and was always scared of…

‘He swept me off my feet and, by Christmas, moved in’ I met Danny Thomas at a kids’ Halloween party in 2012. Gorgeous, cheeky, charming - just my type! I was a single mum to Mason, then 3, and Harley, 2. ‘I’ve got two boys as well,’ Danny told me, proudly. And he was single, having split from his ex-girlfriend. When he took me out for dinner a few weeks later, we got on really well. Danny swept me off my feet and, by Christmas, he’d met my boys and moved in. Then, on Valentine’s Day 2013... ‘Marry me!’ Danny blurted, out of the blue. ‘Yes,’ I said, thrilled. It was very quick, but things felt right with Danny. We picked out a diamond engagement ring. Danny played footy with…

I was gutted my hubby, Tim, 34, was away and couldn’t make my 20-week scan of our first baby together. Skype you later, I texted him. But after my scan and an amniocentesis test, the midwife told me my baby had amniotic-band syndrome. A ‘band’ in the womb had wrapped around part of one of her hands, restricting the growth. ‘What if she can’t write, or feed herself?’ I sobbed to Tim, later. Abbi arrived on 14 April 2010, and was born with just a thumb on her left hand. As she got older, Abbi would look from one hand to the other, knowing that something was missing. At 18 months old, surgeons at Derriford Hospital took bones from Abbi’s left toes, and inserted them inside her palm and stretched…

Instead of a knife, peel fresh ginger with a spoon – you lose a lot less! Jesse James, Brentford Use ham instead of bread wraps for a low-carb snack! Jacqueline Wilkins, Frome For a handy tool to unclog a bathroom sink, try using an old mascara brush. Angela Garvin, Romford Smelly food container? Put some scrunched-up newspaper inside and leave it closed for a few days. The paper will absorb the unpleasant aroma. Ann Johnson, Runcorn When I have workmen in the house, I always leave out a lunch for them – that way, they get on with the job, without going out for a break! Judy Iles, Bristol Plastic eggboxes make great paint palettes for kids. You can throw them away afterwards and there are no messy pots to…

‘I tried to convince myself it was just a phase’ From a young age, I knew I was different. Found I loved girly things like My Little Pony, glitter and hair clips. The problem was, I was a boy. I'm not normal, I’d think, confused. I was too embarrassed to tell anyone, but as I got older, it became harder to ignore. Aged 13, I’d buy make-up with my pocket money, spend hours applying lippy. It became my little secret. As a release, I kept a diary. I wrote about my love of make-up and clothes. But, aged 15, my secret was suddenly rumbled... ‘We found your diary,’ my mum and dad said. Embarrassed, I wasn’t angry. They’d been worried about me, so had a sneaky peek. They were shocked,…

‘We're proof that funerals don't have to be sombre’ Meeting my hubby, Chris, 23, for the first time – on a night out back in July 2011 – I discovered he had an unusual career. 'I'm an undertaker,' he smiled. I was fascinated. On our first date two weeks later, Chris talked about how he'd lost his grandma, Joyce, as a boy. Frustrated by the funeral process, he'd disliked the impersonal service. 'Nothing showed Gran's personality,' he added. So, for work experience at 15, he'd applied to a funeral parlour. There, families could tailor the service, such as having a football team's logo on the coffin. Chris loved helping make coffins and dressing the deceased. After leaving school, he joined full-time, and, at 19, held his first funeral. We married…

‘Irina had grown from a little girl into a lady’ A beautiful young woman, with porcelain skin, perfect features and long dark hair breezed past me. When on earth had that happened? My little Irina - or Ira as we called her - had suddenly grown from a little girl into a lady. And a gorgeous one at that! It was hard saying goodbye to her, as I went off to a health farm to convalesce. But I was feeling worn out and had been told by my doctor to rest. Anyway, my husband, Slava was more than capable of taking care of psychology student Ira, 18, and our boy, Yaroslav, then 6. It was 2002, my eldest daughter, Lena, had recently married, and the rest of us had just…

‘They'd tap him up for money, hitting him’ Seagulls circled overhead as I waited for my dad. Since my parents parted, I’d been skipping school to meet him in Leith, Edinburgh, every Thursday morning. But I wasn’t skiving to go anywhere special, I was just going with him to collect his benefits. Still, I adored my dad, Kevin Bruce, and his face lit up when he saw me. ‘Hello love,’ he grinned, as we headed to The Vine pub, which was open already. Sadly, my lovely, gentle dad was a drinker. As I sat sipping orange juice on a bar stool, as he drank vodka, he asked about school and my older brother, Jamie. Never a violent drunk, he’d just get sleepy after a skinful. Once a factory worker, he’d…

It was the crime that shook the nation. A toxic love triangle saw Sarah Williams concoct a deadly plot to win back the man who’d stolen her heart… First came the revenge letter every cheating bloke fears. Furious that ex-fireman Ian Johnston had ended their affair, Sarah Williams had written an anonymous letter to his girlfriend, Sadie Hartley in September 2014. Businesswoman Sadie demanded to know who the mystery woman was. Ian admitted it was Sarah Williams, who he'd met in 2013, at Manchester's Chill Factore ski slope, where the pair worked. Sadie and Sarah spoke on the phone later. But the romance wasn't to be. Sadie and Ian, 57 – a couple on-and-off since 2005 – moved into a new home together in Helmshore, Lancashire. And Williams continued to…

Spice as nice Trying to lose weight? Add chillies to your food. Research shows they can stimulate your stomach nerves – making them think you’re full. Pork to perk up Feeling blue? Have a pork chop! It’s an excellent source of the amino acid tryptophan, which the body converts into serotonin, aka ‘the happy hormone’. Perfect timing Keep the same bedtime. A 30-minute difference in sleep on weekdays to weekends raises the risk of being obese by 17%. In the country Get out into the countryside. People who walk in the country do 20% better in memory tests than people who walk in cities. Just beet it! Drink beetroot juice before a workout. A US study shows it increases oxygen supply to the muscles, boosting performance in the gym. It…

My fella, James, 27, has a great sense of humour. Sadly, the same can’t be said for his rhythm! I’m a professional dancer, while James works in events promotion, so his two left feet aren’t usually an issue. Engaged in Mexico, in May 2013, we set a date for 21 July last year, and excitedly started planning our wedding. James promotes fairgrounds, so he arranged a carousel for outside our venue, Parklands Quendon Hall. I decided I wanted a nod to my job on our day, too, but I doubted James would perform... ‘Would you dance a routine with me?’ I asked tentatively. ‘Go on then,’ he agreed, grinning. ‘We’ll practise,’ I reassured him, feeling touched that James would go out of his comfort zone for me! Only, in June,…

‘I caught her eating hair from her My Little Pony’ All babies put things they shouldn’t in their mouths - it’s normal. That’s what everyone said when my daughter, Lily, started chewing the carpet and her cuddly toys. But unlike most toddlers, Lily wasn’t just having an exploratory chew on things - she was actually eating them! When I started finding chunks bitten out of inedible things, I knew something had to be wrong. My fiance, Liam Mullins, 26, and I first noticed Lily had a taste for the unusual when she chewed her bathtime sponge at 5 months old. Worried, I spoke to my mum, Gerry, 53. ‘She’s teething, the sponge must soothe her gums,’ Mum told me. I bought Lily teething rings and other rubber soothers, but she…

‘Our creative flair led us to write spooky stories’ Me and my identical twin sister, Cathryn, have always had a dark side. We’ve always loved reading twisted tales like Roald Dahl’s The Witches. And, growing up, we’d watch horror movies like Wes Craven’s A Nightmare on Elm Street. Far from scared, we craved more and more gore. Age 12, we wrote our own story about people getting chopped up. ‘It’s funny!’ laughed our mum, Lynette, now 58. Our elder sister, Sarah, now 35, was our opposite and hated horror. ‘Weirdos!’ she’d tease - but she loved us, really! As teens, our ‘goth’ fashion sense developed - anything black or PVC with studs. Both wearing size 8, we’d buy one outfit and share it. Our creative flair led us to write…

Furry much in love... They met, they kissed, and bunny Paddy and kitten Belle have been besties ever since! Kelly Ritchardson, Allenton Flower power Alan doesn’t look too happy with his hair accessory – it’s a bit too girly for him! Tracey Beckwith, Saltburn Guinea jig! Get down on it! My guinea pig, Dylan, busts a move on the dance floor. Well, on our sofa… Emily Fincham, via e-mail Hide and squeak I went to make myself a cuppa and realised where my hamster, Theodora, had been hiding! Rebecca Ashton, Leigh The hoppy eater The vet said Hoppy was overweight – time to cut back on the carrots! Carly Jones, Teignmouth…

‘Her nose looked as if it had been sliced in two!’ Glancing at the clock, I shouted up the stairs. ‘Come on, girls! Time to leave for school!’ It used to be just my eldest daughter, Georgia, 15, who took ages getting ready in a morning. But, since her younger sister, Chloe, had turned 13, she’d become more interested in how she looked, too. I shouted up again, and they came clattering downstairs in a cloud of hairspray. Looking at the weather, I wondered how long all their preening would last. It was June, but the weather reports said to expect rain and strong winds. ‘It’s horrible out there, so please be careful,’ I warned them. ‘We will,’ they chorused, kissing me goodbye before dashing out. After dropping off my…

‘I was jogging 5k after dark three times a week’ Staring out the window at Wycombe Rye park opposite my house, I wondered... Could I? A size 16 and out of shape, I'd been wanting to get fit. But the thought of exercising in front of people terrified me. So I came up with an idea. 'I'm going for a run,' I told my hubby, Lee, 29, one night at 10pm. 'It's late!' he replied. Stepping outside, there wasn't a soul around. perfect! I managed a 3k circuit of the park, alternating between running and walking. Soon, I was jogging 5k after dark three times a week. Then, this January, I saw a This Girl Can advert on the telly. All shapes and sizes, enjoying sport and, most…

1 Test yourself It's good to set yourself challenges. Why not try completing a charity walk or learning a new language? 2 Keep in touch Even if it's a quick e-mail, take the time to let distant friends know you're thinking of them. 3 Do good An act of kindness can be as simple as shopping for a sick friend, but it's always appreciated. 4 Read a book It's useful to keep informed, but take a break from news websites and read a good book instead. 5 Clear your head A brisk walk in the fresh air is a great way to take your mind off worries.…

‘Within 24 hours, the video received 130,000 likes!’ If you ask me, being a postie is the best job in the world. Getting out, meeting folk. I’d been at it seven years when I started delivering mail to Cranbrook in Exeter. I got paired up with Carl, 21, and we hit it off straightaway. ‘Get the tunes on!’ I’d say each morning in the van. We always listened to the radio while on our rounds. And I’d often have a boogie up the customers’ driveways! It made them smile. But it’d always been a solo performance until December 2014, when I danced up to an office block to the sound of Stand By Me by Ben E King. The employee, a woman called Nichola, was outside throwing shapes along with…

‘Everyone was so fit and toned, and I felt like a huge blob’ Mouth watering, I lifted the lid off the takeaway box nestled in my hand. Sweet-and-sour curry and chips, with a side portion of fried chicken balls, all washed down with a bottle of full-fat cola. It was my favourite snack, and I had it almost every day. Little wonder my pals had nicknamed me ‘Chickenballs’. Or that I hid my flabby frame under size-22/24 clothes. I’d always been chubby. I never let it bother me, though, and nobody gave me any stick. After leaving a beauty therapy course at 20, I did a few odd jobs. But mostly unemployed, living with my parents, I’d sleep in until early afternoon, then snack on chicken sarnies and toast, before…

They cooked her body parts on their stove On that fateful June day, he’d taken Ira by bus to a stop about a mile from his home. An attractive woman we now know was his wife, Svetlana, then 22, ran up and started passionately kissing him. ‘Who are you?’ demanded a horrified Ira, still thinking Vladimir was in love with her. ‘His wife,’ she sneered, before they forced Ira into nearby woods, at knifepoint, where Vladimir raped and tortured her. Worse, the fiendish pair were cannibals and removed some of her organs while she was still alive . They cooked some of her body parts on their stove - burying the rest in the woods, where police found them, after Ira died. The monsters ate slices of Ira’s flesh, even…

‘It's very seldom that they will turn on each other’ Top crime investigator David Swindle says partners in crime can be particularly dangerous. David, Senior Investigating Officer in the case of infamous Scottish serial killer, Peter Tobin, says these criminal pairings are known as 'folie a deux' – or the 'madness of two.' With Strathclyde Police for 34 years, he has first-hand experience of many criminal couplings. Here David, a TV crime expert, who now runs David Swindle Crime Solutions, considers some infamous double acts. FOLIE A DEUX Quite literally, it translates to the madness of two. A terrifying phenomenon, the phrase has been used by criminologists and psychologists to discuss the idea of an insanity shared by two people - an insanity which may even culminate in murder. While…

‘I looked closer at my baby boy and my heart sank’ ‘I'm ashamed to think I could barely look at him’ From the off, my fiancé, Damian, and I had talked about having kids - one day. We met in December 2008 in a salsa bar in Mexico City. He was Mexican and I was teaching English there. After that, our feet didn’t touch the ground! By December 2010, he had asked me to marry him. Then, two months on... ‘I’m pregnant,’ I told Damian. He was as shocked as me! Once the news had sunk in, though, we were thrilled. My pregnancy went well, apart from terrible morning sickness. I was worried about how I’d feel at our wedding in April 2011, but luckily it was a perfect day.…

‘Like me, he tires easily and needs to have lots of naps’ I was diagnosed with hereditary spherocytosis (HS), a rare blood condition, when I was born. Red blood cells can be destroyed, leading to anaemia, jaundice and gallstones. My dad, Neil, then 22, had it. Which is why I’d been tested. My parents didn’t let it get in my way, and I was happy, but tired, plus I’d catch every bug going! When I was 17, in 2005, my spleen became enlarged and had to be removed, which is common for people with HS. Unless it’s removed, it can protrude into the tummy. But without my spleen, I’d be on penicillin forever, as my immune system was compromised. But life moved on, and in 2007, I met Shaun, 34.…

My daughter, Lexie, 6, has an incredible spirit. She was born severely deaf in both ears. In January 2009, doctors told us hearing aids may help, but she'd never hear fully. At first, my hubby, Andrew, 34, and I felt lost, but with support from the National Deaf Children's Society, meeting other deaf kids attending mainstream schools, we realised she'd be fine. Lexie's big sisters, Kiah, 16, and Tayler-Leigh, 8, looked out for her, and learned sign language. At 2, Lexie had an op to fit two grommets – widening the tubes in each ear – so she could hear sounds. Surrounded by her family, Lexie's speech developed, improving tenfold when her baby brother EJ arrived in 2011. 'Hey, little bro!' Lexie cooed. Despite lots of painful ear infections, Lexie…

I DITCHED THE CRISPS Leona’s now a slinky size 10 NAME: Leona Quinn, 33, from Cumbernauld VITAL STATISTICS: I didn’t have a problem with my weight until after having my second daughter, Aylie, now 4. I’d reward myself with food when I was feeling down, and would have a sharing-size packet of crisps and a large block of chocolate every night after the kids had gone to bed. At my biggest I was 15st 1lb, a size 18/20. MY MOTIVATION: I couldn’t go on like that. I’d even get out of breath playing with my children. MY ACTION PLAN: I’d go to the gym and a bootcamp class. But then I’d go home and eat the wrong things. A friend suggested Herbalife. So, last May, I gave up crisps and…

Working in a local café, I’d often stare out of the window at passing lorries. What I really wanted was to be out on the open road myself, behind the wheel of a huge truck! But, taking the HGV driving test cost a whopping £2,000 - much more than I could afford! Then, my dad, Neil, 55, gave me some money. ‘Time to take that test,’ he said. ‘If you still want to...’ ‘Of course!’ I squealed. In May 2014, after a three-day intensive training course, I passed my Class-2 test. Over the moon, I signed up to an agency called Driver’s Hire, which I’ve been working for ever since. My job is to transport goods to link stations, where they’re distributed to van drivers. Needless to say, many of…

VIRGO 24 Aug-23 Sept Your words can have an impact this month, especially through to the 10th. Don't be surprised if others are swept along by your fine ideas and persuasive manner. The trick is not trying to pack too much in. Your naturally well-ordered approach to life should not be compromised by trying to be too virtuous, Virgo, so make and stick to your plans. Some of these could involve an upgrade on the home front or using your abode in a more enterprising way, such as renting out a spare room, running a small enterprise, or as a base for friends to pop into. Lively debates are a possibility and perhaps also some spontaneous travel on the back of the Full Moon on the 14th. A romance can…

‘Before I could stop him, he'd bought the flume for £266’ As I heard a gasp from the lounge, I knew my madcap man was up to something. A maintenance engineer by day, my partner, Mark Harper, 43, has always loved tinkering with cars in his spare time. And then there’s the mound of odds and ends cluttering up our garden - including two rusting dodgem cars he’d picked up from a reclamation yard and was forever threatening to renovate. What now? Wandering in, he glanced up at me from his laptop. ‘Look!’ he said. He’d found a 3.15 metre fairground log flume car on eBay, originally from Blackpool Pleasure Beach. ‘Wouldn’t it be great to stick some wheels on it?’ Mark rambled on. Had he lost his wheels? Once…