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

Just like this cute angel Spike, we're barking mad for Christmas, and we're sure yule agree that this month's mag is packed with some real crackers! On p20, read about premature triplets Travis, Erin and Evie. The babies' parents feared their little 'uns may not see their first Yuletide, but the tale had a very merry ending. Elsewhere, meet brothers Paul and Lee (p42), whose festive fiesta of lights is giving Blackpool's Illuminations a run for its money! Meanwhile, it's Crimbo all year at Amber's house (p30), as her fella, Josh, and his brother, Sam, run a Christmas tree business, supplying stars including Madonna. Sadly, ‘goodwill to all men' meant nothing to evil Michael Matthews (p6). He gatecrashed a family's New Year party and unleashed a savage knife attack. Plus…

‘Andrew wasn't being punched – he'd been stabbed!’ Zooming around the house like a human whirlwind, I gathered everyone together and ushered them outside. As it approached midnight, we all stood in the street, ready to welcome in the New Year with our neighbours in Mayhill, Swansea. It was 31 December 2012, and for 13 years we’d been enjoying the countdown together as a street. It had become a real tradition. ‘Five, four, three, two, one... Happy New Year!’ we all cheered, as crackling fireworks lit up the sky. My hubby, Andrew, 44, wrapped his arms around me, kissing me, while I gave my sons, Andrew, 17, and Cameron, 16, both an affectionate squeeze. Surrounded by my loved ones, this was a magical night. ‘It’s freezing out here,’ I shivered,…

Meet the expert: Lauren Hoyal is creative content and social media manager for Hobbycraft, the arts and crafts superstore Shop this year’s Christmas range in store or online at www.hobbycraft.co.uk RIGHT ON TIME Georgie, 30, London  Lauren says: This is the bauble of someone who loves tradition. They love nostalgia and watch White Christmas every year. This person has a clear idea of what Christmas should be and, come early December, will have a wreath on the door, mince pies on standby and stockings on the fireplace. Georgie says: I am a stickler for tradition – especially when it comes to Christmas. Whether it’s advent calendars, my fave Christmas films or putting the Christmas tree up on a certain day (in a certain way), I like to tick…

‘They carried on raining blows down onto Nuno’ Flicking through a stack of old photos, my hand hovered over one of my favourite snaps. Posing, proud as punch, next to a snowman they’d built, were my sons Matthew, now 8 and Alexander, 7 - with me stood behind them. All smiles, in their woolly bobble hats, the boys were the picture of festive cheer. A grin was also plastered across my face, despite being propped up on crutches. Sadly, for me, 25 December wasn’t like it used to be. Not since July 2011 - a day that changed my life forever. Due to jet off to Portugal with my partner Nuno Da Costa, 44, and the kids, we couldn’t wait. Nuno was Portuguese and we were staying with his mum,…

‘Battling anorexia since I was 10, food was my enemy’ ‘I started to eat regular, healthy and filling meals’ Anxiety prickled my skin, as a pungent waft of boozy gravy hit me. ‘More turkey, love?’ my mum Margaret, 45, asked, smiling. ‘I’m stuffed’, I lied, politely pushing the food around my plate. It was the same every year. The very thought of Mum’s cooking filled me with fear. Battling anorexia since I was 10, food was my enemy. My sister Roxanne was bullied at school for being chubby and, petrified the same would happen to me, I’d made sure it never would. ‘I’ll make my lunch today,’ I’d say at breakfast. ‘You’re a very helpful daughter,’ Mum would joke. But my ‘helpfulness’ meant I could control what I was eating.…

‘200 people came to watch our families play’ Losing a loved one is always painful, but especially at Christmas. On 18 December 2013, my then boyfriend, Oli Smith, 24, received awful news. His dad, Martin, had died suddenly from a heart attack. Due to turn 60 on New Year's Day, his family had planned a big party. Instead, now they were organising his funeral. Martin had been a big Leicester City fan so, in his memory, Oli arranged a charity football match at Salts FC football ground. At 11am on New Year's Day 2014, family and friends gathered for a game, and Oli took donations for the British Heart Foundation (BHF). 'It felt good doing something positive,' he smiled. That night, I gave my dad, Mike Perry, 51, a big…

‘Soon I was lying awake at night waiting for his visits’ What would you buy if you won the Lottery?’ my dad asked me. ‘I’d build a giant assault course,’ I giggled. Me and my dad, Derrick Day, were like best friends. Well, it was just the two of us after all. Sadly, I never really knew my mum. She’d passed away from breast cancer when I was just 2 years old and, from then on, Dad had looked after me. It was Mum’s final wish for us to stay together. Dad and I moved around a lot, so he could find work. I soon lost touch with my brothers - who had a different dad - and Mum’s side of the family. We didn’t have a lot, but Dad…

Nothing tugged at my heart like a lonely dog at Christmas. An animal welfare assistant at Lewknor Blue Cross shelter, Oxfordshire for almost four years, you’d think I’d be used to it. But, when Archie, the lurcher, was brought in back in July 2015, he really won my heart. Poor thing had too much energy for his owners and their kids to handle. So, we kept him in our kennels, hoping to find him a new owner, where he could be finally happy. ‘I know you want to find a new home,’ I cooed, stroking his beautiful eggnog-coloured fur. Those big, brown eyes were hard to resist. When, come Christmas, Archie still hadn’t found a home, it was heartbreaking. ‘He’s so cute,’ people had commented on the photos we posted…

Tudor Father Christmas, Trerice, Cornwall Hear festive stories and tall tales from Father Christmas, Tudor-style at Trerice, an Elizabethan stately home in Cornwall. There will be mince pies and mulled wine to tuck into, and every child will go home with a prezzie! Santa will be there on weekends until 18 December – there’s no need to book. • Visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/trerice Marsh Farm Animal Adventure Park, Essex Meet Father Christmas and his gaggle of cheeky elves at Marsh Farm’s Winter Wonderland, Essex, throughout December. Little ones can collect their elf passport, learn all about toys at elf school, see a snow laboratory and even hang out with some cute reindeer! • Visit www.marsh farm.co.uk Speke Hall, Garden & Estate, Liverpool Head back in time for a Victorian Christmas at Speke Hall…

‘Despite my hands, I took to styling like a duck to water’ A snip here and there, and a waft of hairspray. All smiles, I showed off my work in the mirror. Just days away from the Christmas break, everyone seemed to be after a new style. My hair salon in Parson Cross, Sheffield, had never been busier. ‘What are you doing for the holidays?’ I asked, chatting away to my next client. ‘It’s going to be mince pies and mulled wine with the family for me!’ She left grinning, the up-do I’d created for her work bash looking sensational. ‘Oh, I wish it could be Christmas every day,’ I sang along cheerfully to the radio, using my hairbrush as a makeshift mic. Just then a gust of cold Yorkshire…

• THEY SAY Sip this aromatic tea, made with a blend of herb and plant infusions – including liquorice root, chamomile, cinnamon bark and lavender –before bedtime for a much more restful night’s sleep. • YOU SAY ’I loved the soft, warming flavours of this tea, and found it helped me unwind before heading to bed.’ Andrea, Milton Keynes • WE SAY With 17 bags in a box, we think this tea’s great value – and all you have to do is pop the kettle on and enjoy!…

‘He strolled through reception with an AK-47’ Christmas is supposed to be a time of festivity and cheer. A time to spread joy. On 25 December 2000, software tester Michael McDermott, 42, was in good spirits. ‘I’ve never seen him cheery, but he was acting cheery on Christmas,’ his neighbours said. Even though he had to work the following day. On Boxing Day, he got to the internet consulting firm at 9am. Dressed in a checked shirt and jeans, still feeling jovial, he joked with colleagues and chatted with them about video games. But, just after 11am, he strolled through the reception with an AK-47 assault rifle, a shotgun and a semi-automatic gun. ‘Where are you going with that?’ a panicked colleague asked. ‘Human Resources,’ he replied. McDermott then shot…

 Gillian Williams, 65, Plymouth ‘I couldn't have had a better birthday. I've been spoilt!’ I’d been a member of Pick Me Up! Bingo since last January. I loved the chatrooms. The ‘roomies’ had me in stitches! I enjoyed the bingo games. Sapphire and Emerald 90-ball were faves, and I played slot games, too. I had a few small wins, but I played for fun, winning was a bonus. The site also gives prizes and inApril, you could win VIP passes to Epsom Downs. You just had to think up a name for a horse - I entered with Hot To Trot and won! This June, me and my hubby Roger, went to Epsom Downs and had fantastic day Weeks on, I bought tickets for three Emerald Linked games. I left…

Snow joke Here’s my daughter, Lily, 11, making the most of the snow in her onesie! Samantha Priestley, Sheffield How funny!   What does Santa suffer from if he gets stuck up the chimney? Claus-trophobia! A snap with Santa! Last winter we decided we’d had enough of the cold, so we took our daughter, Willow, 4, to Florida. We even saw Santa! Sophia Payne, Hampshire How funny!   What happened to the man who stole an advent calendar? He got 25 days Knock knock... Not by the hair of my chinny chin chin… my cat George is guarding his gingerbread house and won’t let anyone in! Michelle Underwood, Woking Little voice This is my daughter, Libby, 9, singing carols in our town with her Brownie pack. Dawn Ware, Basingstoke How…

‘An MRI scan revealed traumatic brain damage’ Looking at a photo of my daughter, sitting proudly on her horse, tears prickled. The proud mum had so much going for her. But in a split second, a group of mindless thugs had changed everything. Now I was taking her boy and girl on a Christmas trip-of-a-lifetime without her. You see, back on 17 May 2014, she was out trotting in Wickersley on her horse, Murphy, when some young yobs tossed stones at him. Stunned, Murphy had bucked, throwing Lindsey off. Luckily, her friend, Sarah Jane Binder, was there and phoned an ambulance. ‘Val?’ she’d cried down the phone, as my daughter was taken to Rotherham Hospital. ‘Lindsey’s been in an accident.’ My retired hubby Frank, 64, headed up to the hospital…

Tinsel and fairy lights by the crate load, I really loved Christmas. ‘Let’s get the tree,’ I’d pester my twin lads, Tlhale and Emo, now 9, as soon as November hit. ‘Mum,’ they’d laugh. ‘It’s too early!’ Any excuse for some family fun! Raising a glass together, before tucking into a festive feast, we’d cheer ‘Happy Christmas!’, before popping crackers and laughing until dawn. But in December 2012, things were very different. Not my usual bubbly self, in January 2013, I’d been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder following my mate’s sudden death in 2010. ‘In the war they’d call it shell-shock,’ the doc explained. ‘It can hit months or years after an event.’ Given antidepressants, I started feeling more positive about the future. But just weeks later, I woke up…

1 www.rnib.org.uk The Royal National Institute Of Blind People is offering a free email from Santa. Just send your child’s letter to santa@rnib.org.uk before 16 December to get your reply. 2 www.royalmail.com Check the last posting dates on the Royal Mail website. If you get your gifts ready early, you won’t have to stump up for extra charges to make sure they get there in time. 3 www.paperless post.com Filter for free Christmas cards here, pick your design and then email them out to your mates. No stamps, no licking envelopes, no fuss! 4 www.parcelmonkey.co.uk If you want to make sure you’re being offered a fair price, head to Parcel Monkey, where you can add the weight and details of your delivery, and they’ll compare costs so…

‘We knew we'd been given an incredible gift’ Watching our little one trot off to his first day of nursery, my husband, Nick, 31, turned to me. ‘Ready for one more?’ he asked. We’d always talked about having two children, and it felt like a good time to give Lyndon, 2, a little brother or sister. I was soon pregnant, and as I made my way to the first scan, I guessed that I must be at least 14 weeks gone - I had a big bump. To my surprise, I was only seven weeks pregnant. ‘It’s twins!’ the sonographer said. Nick was at work, so his mum, Alison, 53, was with me. We gasped as the sonographer checked to make sure everything was OK. Then it was her turn…

‘I set a new record, buying everything by 1 July’ We all love a bargain, don’t we? I’ve been a savvy shopper ever since I began buying Christmas presents myself, aged 16. Then a student, working part-time in a shop, cash was tight. That summer, I decided to buy presents each week, so my budget would stretch. ‘Very sensible, you bore!’ my mate, Holly, then 17, teased. I noticed the shops bump up prices in the run-up to December. Buying last-minute has never really appealed, though. Especially as I’ve now got my boyfriend, Abe, 25, mum, Jane, 48, dad, Richard, 50, brother, Jack, 23, grandparents and all my mates to buy for. Instead, I hit the January sales, buying stocking fillers and reduced designer clobber ready for the following year…

1 Smarties Chocolate Figures, £1, Poundland We love this jolly chocolate trio. Not only is it purse-friendly, but the chocolates come with mini Smarties in them too… 2 Cadbury small selection pack, £1, Sainsbury's You can't beat a Cadbury selection pack and this mini one doesn't disappoint. With a Freddo, Chomp, Curly Wurly and Fudge, it's got everyone's favourites! 3 Lindt Santa Sleigh Pack, £2.59, Tesco These reindeer and Santa-shaped treats have to be the cutest chocolates doing the rounds. The chocolate is super creamy and moreish!…

‘Glancing down at the dial, my mouth fell open’ ‘Now I'm 14 stone – just 8lb away from my goal weight’ Yummy... Eyeing the tin of truffles my sister was holding, my tastebuds were twitching. ‘Fancy a choccie?’ Kitika, 35 asked. Stuffed full of turkey roast, any sensible person would have waited. Not me... ‘Go on then,’ I laughed, swiping a handful. ‘As it’s Christmas!’ Truth was, though, I didn’t need a special occasion to binge. A size 34, I happily scoffed my way through every date on the calendar. Heavy for as long as I could remember, even at 10 years old I wore a size XXL. You see, I was what’s known as an emotional eater. Every time life threw me a curveball, my response was to munch…

A delicious aroma of cinnamon and tasty fruit tickled my nostrils. My hubby, Michael, 40, was cooking his signature dish. mince pies. It was Christmas morning 2015, and I couldn't wait to try one. 'Oh they smell good,' I said to Michael, a mechanical engineer, seeing them cooling on the kitchen table. Then we piled into the living room with our kids Jordan, 22, Luke, 17, twins Jacob and Thomas, 13, and Erin, 11, to open our presents together. As we ripped off wrapping paper and played charades, we didn't notice our American bulldog cross, Lagertha, 3, creeping out. Popping back into the kitchen at 11am to check on the turkey, I was shocked to see her mouth wedged open by a mince pie. 'Drop!' I ordered. Oh no! I…

‘Over 2,000 people gather for the big event’ While our mates are desperately buying presents on Christmas Eve, me and my brother take our festive preparations very seriously. Paul and I are already planning way before Halloween. Because we sort out Christmas for our entire town! You see, for the last 22 years, we’ve been decorating our mum Rosemary’s house, in Brentry, Bristol, so spectacularly that it gives Blackpool Illuminations a run for its money. We include everything from a sparkling life-size nativity, to trains, snowmen, toy soldiers, reindeers, twinkling Santas and a snow machine. Our fiesta of lights was born on Boxing Day in 1994, when me and my now-wife Emma, 37, were walking around our local DIY shop as teenagers. ‘Shall we get this little Christmas tree to…

Donna, 36, Walsall Until recently, my 12-year-old daughter enjoyed her food and had lots of confidence. But since she’s started high school, she’s lost interest in meal times and compares herself to the other girls in her class, saying they’re all much skinnier than her, even though she’s a healthy weight. She hates PE because she doesn’t want to get changed in front of the others. Worst of all, she’s told me that she’s going on a diet for her New Year’s resolution. My heart sank, as I really struggled with body image and eating disorders in my teens. I have no idea how to talk to her about this and I don’t know how to build up her confidence, while at the same time making sure she’s eating healthily.…

‘Rudolph made from carrots, with a radish nose...’ Standing on tiptoes, I put the star on the top of my tree. ‘Ahhh, almost there,’ I sighed. Wearing a Santa hat and a cosy Christmas jumper, I was feeling festive. I’d bought all my prezzies and stocked up on mulled wine. Now my flat looked like a magical grotto. But there was one thing left to do before everything was perfect. ‘Will you meet me at Brixton market?’ I said, phoning my friend, Roisein McNulty, 36. Sauntering along to the vegetable stall, Roisein knew exactly what I was after. Gathering up 2kg of carrots, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, peppers and more, my basket was overflowing. ‘Big Christmas lunch, love?’ the veg man asked. I smiled... You see, while most people will be…

WASH & GO Have dyed locks? Head to Well Pharmacy, where 200ml bottles of Herbal Essence Ignite My Colour shampoo and conditioner will be on offer for £1, instead of £2.25 until 27 December. SMILES AHEAD Get your gnashers in good shape the cheap way with Colgate Cavity Protection Toothpaste which will be £1 for a 75ml tube at Well Pharmacy until 27 December. Hair today… Head to Superdrug, where there’s a third off Jolen original and mild bleach until 1 January. FEELING FRUITY? If you've had enough of festive chocs and crisps, these fruit bowl flakes could hit the spot, on offer at Morrisons for £1.75 until 1 January. Tasty deal Take advantage of Boots’ 3 for 2 deals on stocking fillers, including Reese’s Cup bauble. Good…

‘I was a lad on the outside, but a woman at heart’ Presents piled high around me, I sipped my mulled wine. ‘Did you get everything you wanted?’ my mum, Tina, 53, asked smiling. Jeans, books and aftershave... It wasn’t a bad haul. But there was something I wanted even more. Ever since I was a little boy, I’d dreamt of being a girl. Sadly, that was one gift Father Christmas couldn’t give me... From the age of four, I’d known I was different somehow. Staring into the mirror at my flat chest, small hips and Adam’s apple, I knew something was wrong. I lusted after my older sisters’ dresses, imagining what it’d feel like to wear the frilly outfits. By the time I was 10, I was regularly sneaking…

Hang your bras on coat hangers to keep the cups in shape. Beverley Lindfield, Hextable A tangle-free way to store Christmas lights is to cut a H-shape out of cardboard and wrap the lights around. A Cairns, Colchester Put garlic cloves in a jar, screw on the lid, shake hard and the skins will come off by themselves. No more smelly fingers! Jacqueline Wilkins, Frome Shiny sweet wrappers made a colourful outfit for our Christmas tree’s fairy! Claire Harding, Norfolk Don’t throw away old birthday cards – they make fun dinner table place mats for the kids! Judy Iles, Longwell Green If you’re short and find it hard to reach the high shelves of your kitchen cupboards, use a pair of tongs to get what you want! Tricia Walker, Manchester…

Tips This month… New Year party time 1 Sparkling idea Bubbly is expensive, so cut the costs by offering cava or prosecco to toast the New Year. 2 Dress the room Some simple streamers, a string of lights and some candles will set the scene. 3 Get quizzical Make your own quiz of the year. Think surprising celeb splits, the biggest hits and TV shows. 4 Selfie-involved Ask your guests to bring any wigs and fancy dress accessories along for a best selfie of the night competition! 5 Festive leftovers Make use of all that festive chocolate by tipping it into tempting bowls. 6 Fortune favours Do your own spin on the fortune cookie by printing out predictions for 2017, adding them to a hat and offering out to guests.…

Meet the expert: Judi James is a TV behaviour and body language expert WORK IT OUT There’s a great promotion going at work. How do you let your boss know how much you want it? It’s all about persuasion, not putting up a fight, Judi says. ‘Skip all the points about how much you want or need the promotion and instead list all the good things you can bring to the job,’ she explains. ‘Of course you should show you’re keen, but they will be looking for solid skills too.’ Don’t threaten to quit if it fails – ask what you should do next time. FOR BETTER, FOR WORSE... Your mother-in-law is always meddling. How do you tell her to back off? Perhaps the most awkward of dilemmas, this one!…

Your house is The Chocolate Factory!’ my best mate, Melissa, 13, grinned as we slurped thick, hot chocolate topped with fluffy marshmallows. For a sleepover, my dad, Gerry, 47, had transformed into my very own Willy Wonka. In 1999, he’d bought one of the first commercial chocolate fountains, then Mum hired it out for events and weddings. Business boomed, and Dad bought more fountains to hire. He quit his day job as a party organiser, and my mum, Roo, 44, left her trinket shop unit. Dad soon qualified as a chocolatier. My sister, Polly, 11, and I helped out at functions and, at 16, I went to catering college to learn chocolate making. Then, in 2006, my parents launched The Chocolate Boutique Hotel, Bournemouth, offering workshops and themed rooms for…

‘He planted 60,000 trees at his dad's farm’ Settling into my superflexi yoga pose, I glanced across at one of my students. Dreamy. Hmm...he was a natural yogi, and a good-looking one. A regular at my class for weeks, his Scottish charm had completely won me over. And he was doing us a favour. You see, Josh Lyle, 37, and his brother, Sam, 35, owned a business selling Christmas trees. It was December 2011, and with the festive season coming up, he was giving us one at mates’ rates, for our Christmas party. When Josh delivered the 6ft tree personally, I was chuffed. Then he handed over a sprig of mistletoe with a mischievous wink. Cheeky… A fortnight later, with our gorgeous tree bedecked with baubles and flashing lights, I…

Serves 6 Prep Time 15 mins Cook time 20 mins 1 Preheat the oven to 180°C/Gas Mark 4. Slice the Swiss roll and arrange with the apricots in a 1.25 litre ovenproof dish. 2 Blend the custard powder, egg yolks and 1 tbsp of the sugar, together with a little of the milk. Heat the rest of the milk until nearly boiling, then pour onto the custard mixture and stir well. 3 Return to the pan and bring to the boil, stirring continuously until thick. Pour over the apricots. 4 Whisk the egg whites until stiff then fold in the remaining caster sugar to make a meringue. Pile this on top of the custard and sprinkle on the almonds, if using. Bake for…

On a trek to Sabah, North Borneo, in April 2009, I was shocked to see hundreds of stray dogs - many wounded, in pain. ‘It’s terrible,’ I told my partner, Rick, 45, back home. Since training as a veterinary nurse, I fundraised in my spare time for animal welfare. Researching Borneo’s strays problem, I had to act. So, weeks on, I founded the International Aid for the Protection and Welfare of Animals (IAPWA) charity. Travelling back, I took over the city dog pound in July 2014, and now run a successful neutering programme there. On a recent trip, I joined the team at a dump, rescuing strays. There, I heard a whimper from a tattered cardboard box. Inside was a 10-week-old pup, covered in dirt. He was terrified and shrieked…

‘It felt like we were part of an ongoing street party’ ‘Our pilot swooped over the Statue of Liberty’ I’ve always dreamt of going to New York, and was really excited when I arrived with five friends for a weekend break before Christmas. We didn’t have long to tick off all the things on our ‘see and do’ list so, determined not to waste a minute, we’d pre-booked tickets before we left the UK through Attraction Tickets Direct. It meant we not only saved money, but could also jump the long queues at the popular tourist spots. Our base for the stay was the Marriott Residence Inn on Broadway, which claims to be the tallest hotel in North America. I certainly felt a little giddy when I first gazed at…

INSTANT Appointment With Dr Stroma Macfarlane The psychiatrist from the Priory Wellbeing Centre in Southampton advises on your anxiety worries... Worry woes Q Sometimes I can’t stop imagining awful things happening to those I love. Is this normal? Lydia, Glasgow A It’s normal to have fears and concerns. But if these are affecting day-to-day life and are out of context, you may be suffering from an anxiety disorder. Generalised anxiety causes anxiety about a wide range of things, rather than one specific thing. It can have a significant effect and may need treatment, such as a talking therapy like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, and antidepressants. It’s a rail fear Q My new job means getting the train – but I’m so anxious on public transport. What can I do? Rebecca, Surrey…

Tummy ache Most of us will experience some bloating over the festive period with all those tasty treats around! While it's normal to experience discomfort after a heavy meal or booze, it's not always easy to tell whether stomach aches are cause for concern. If symptoms are persistent – with diarrhoea or constipation too – get it checked with your GP. They'll be able to reassure you or refer you for tests; it could be anything from IBS or an allergy, to an inflammatory bowel disease like Crohn's. Stress can wreak havoc with digestion too. Severe pain, especially if accompanied with other symptoms, like fever, should be checked out urgently.…

Sleep it off While going to bed might fill you with dread, as that’s when pain can be most difficult, not getting enough sleep could make it even worse. Sticking to a regular routine of going to bed and getting up at the same time should help. Also, make sure you have the right firmness of mattress. Bathe away Not enough magnesium in your diet can apparently make muscles contract, which causes pain. Good sources of magnesium include bananas and avocados. Minerals can also be absorbed through the skin, so soaking in a bath with two cups of Epsom salts (magnesium sulphate) can soothe muscles. Cod liver oil These shiny yellow food supplements are packed with essential vitamins, including vitamin A, vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids, which have anti-inflammatory…

VIRGO 24 Aug-23 Sept There's a particularly playful emphasis to this year's festivities for you, Virgo. Whether it's joining in with traditional party games, enjoying unlocking the mystery of a gift or planning your strategy for the year ahead, you'll likely see that a lightness of spirit can propel you forwards best. The key to progress is the role of Mars, which occupies your sector of relating throughout Yule. This is going to give you more appetite to interact with people, and if you are faced with someone you don't know well or perhaps have never met before, you can more readily enjoy the moment and feel able to be at your best. Mars also forges a delicious link with the Sun, and if you are fortunate enough to have…