Innholdsfortegnelse for January Special 2017 i Pick Me Up! Special

Sick of the bleak midwinter days? Our story about OAP penguin (p24) will cheer you up! Adorable Chuff Chuff still ruffles a few feathers in the penguin pool at the grand old age of 30! And if you're feeling a tad tubby after all the Christmas nosh, feel inspired by Tori's incredible weight-loss (p14 ). While Marta ( p38) looks sensational after overcoming her eating disorders by bodybuilding. We also have some chilling crime stories in our fab January issue. Poor Rachel was boiled alive by her jealous ex, who poured the contents of a kettle over her head (p22). And read about brave Chanel, who turned detective to track down the fiend who'd tried to rape her (p52). Plus, we have a wealth of puzzles and five pages of…

‘Lunging forward, he just missed me with the blade’ “He'd killed her with a carving knife and fork” Elizabeth Kemp, 44, Port Talbot, Neath Sitting around a pub table with my family and an old mate, I’d been looking forward to catching up with her for ages. But, as my daughters, Ceri*, now 13, and Rhiannon*, 8, chatted away, my hubby, Mark Stephens, interrupted everything my friend and I said. Together since I was 19, I’d been drawn to Mark’s playful character, when we’d met in a club in Bridgend, Shropshire. Back then, I didn't know he was a complete Jekyll and Hyde… Now though, in October 2012, the thought of enduring another winter with him was pushing me to breaking point. We’d been together for…

‘I had to start embracing life as a psoriasis sufferer’ Emma Lawson, 22, Brisbane, Australia Every woman moans that she has nothing to wear, but in my case, it was true. Rifling through my wardrobe, everything showed too much skin. For me, that was a disaster. You see, even in the glorious Aussie sunshine, where I lived in Brisbane, I always covered up. And I didn’t mean a sensible blouse, to protect me from the sun’s harmful rays. I meant long sleeves, jeans and high-necked tops - even in 30°C heat! It was the only way I could hide my terrible secret. From childhood, I’d struggled with psoriasis - an unsightly condition caused by the skin producing too many cells. Diagnosed when I was three, there was…

Emma Whitten, 22, Wivenhoe, Colchester I’d been on tenterhooks since New Year’s Day. I was expecting my first baby and by 13 January 2014, I was still waiting. My mum, Sharon, 41, said I could face a lengthy labour. ‘You took your time!’ she said. At 11am that day, the midwife came to my home to give me a cervical sweep. Later that evening, I started getting really bad backache. ‘It’s starting!’ I exclaimed, phoning Mum, my birthing partner. My nan, Margaret, 61, drove Mum and me to Colchester General Hospital. Examining me at 4am, the midwife said I was too bubbly and comfy to be in labour and was told to go home for now. We went back to Mum’s but I couldn’t settle. To and from the toilet,…

Dundee, Scotland If you like boats, shortbread and haggis, Dundee on the east coast of Scotland, just a bit further up than Edinburgh, is the place to go. Check out the sea views, climb aboard the RRS Discovery – Captain Robert Falcon Scott’s ship from his famous polar expedition – and tuck into proper Scottish grub. • Visit www.dundee.com Leicester, England Good old Leicester in the East Midlands is still reeling from the city’s football team miraculously winning the Premier League last season, but there’s more than footy going on here. It’s also got the National Space Centre, quirky markets and you can find out about King Richard III, whose remains were found underneath a car park in the city! • Visit www.visitleicester.info Swansea Bay, Wales Go for a chilly…

‘We had a nail-biting wait as she went under the knife’ Christie Puyk, 27, Melbourne, Australia Open mouthed, I looked over at my hubby. Total shock and disbelief was etched across his face. It was Christmas Day 2015 and we’d just received the greatest gift of all - a baby girl. But as doctors wiped tiny Michaela’s head, moments after her birth at 40 weeks, we saw an avocado-sized hole right on the top of her baby bonce. This 10cm by 4cm gap was like a porthole - giving us a bird’s-eye view of our 6lb baby’s brain. Only a membrane separated it from the fresh air! It seemed that her skull hadn’t formed properly. Keith, 26, a painter, and I looked on aghast as medics at…

‘I've raised £1,800 and I'm having the op this month’ Tori Swan, 20, Cramlington, Northumberland As the door swung open, I heard a swell of music and laughter. The party was now in full swing. I desperately wanted to join in - to chat, giggle and dance with my pals. After all, it was my prom. And I’d spent months looking forward to the big night. Yet, here I was, locked away in a toilet cubicle, hidden from the world. I was too ashamed of my 22st bulk to join in. Just 18, while the other girls in my year had arrived at the prom in delicate, strappy gowns, my dress was a size 26 - specially made to disguise my flab. Unsurprisingly, my size made school…

1 www.vouchercloud.com Use this nifty site to check out discounts on top attractions like Cadbury World, Alton Towers and also on ticket retailer ATG for money off big-name shows and musicals. 2 www.myvouchercodes.co.uk Take the sting out of eating at restaurants by logging on to this discount-friendly website. There are regularly great deals for Toby Carvery, as well as Nandos and Frankie and Benny’s. 3 www.hotukdeals.com It’s well worth glancing at Hot Deals before making a trip to the shops. They list loads of the best offers in store at all the major supermarkets, as well as notices of big sale events and discounts on electricals. 4 www.vouchercodes.co.uk Visit this site for deals on a wide range of shops and services like National Express, Boots and Café Rouge.…

Caroline Patey-Johns, 48, West Sussex Our whippets - Basil, Seb, Luna and Flippit - are definitely family. I love the breed, have kept them for over 20 years. But it’s often difficult to get away, as whippets are sensitive pooches. They suffer separation anxiety, and don’t do well in kennels. ‘Other whippet owners must have the same problem,’ I said to my partner, Ben Arter, 45. I’d run a dog home-grooming business for three months, and I had an idea. We have access to 300 acres of land, with lots of extra room in our bedroom where our four pals sleep... So, in January 2013, I offered whippet home boarding. It was so popular, by March I quit grooming to dedicate my time to boarders. We offer hand-made…

THE DOCTOR WILL SEE YOU Ever wanted to have your photo taken with the Tardis from Doctor Who ? Now’s your chance! Head to BBC Birmingham’s visitor centre, which is open seven days a week. You can take a selfie with a Dalek, play at being a weatherman and see radio presenters host their shows! • Visit www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours/tours/ birmingham PARK LIFE The brilliant thing about Wicksteed Park is that it suits everyone – scaredy cats who hate rollercoasters and total adrenaline junkies! If you like keeping your lunch down, just explore the free adventure play area, but if you’re feeling braver it’s possible to buy individual tokens to go on the rides, including a pirate ship and go karts. • Visit wicksteedpark.org ART ATTACK It used to…

1 Chicken & Sweetcorn filling, £1, ASDA This is creamy and so filling! It made a delicious sandwich spread in a chunky brown bread roll. 2 Egg mayonnaise, £1.35, Tesco The mustard in this filling really offsets the richness of the mayonnaise. All the taste of an eggy sandwich, without peeling any eggs stinky ! £1 3 Cathedral City Spreadable, £1.75, Tesco, ASDA and Morrisons We loved spooning this on crackers and toast. It's also nice with a jacket potato on chilly days.…

‘I missed food, but couldn't handle it being in my belly’ Tucking into a plate of steamed fish and vegetables, washed down with a fruit smoothie, I smacked my lips with delight. Delicious! The perfect meal for a chilly day. I loved my food, eating up to six times a day. But things hadn’t always been this way... At 14, I’d started struggling with eating disorders. All summer, I’d binged on ice-cream - like any normal teenager. When I’d started the September school term, though, I’d stuck out like a sore thumb. I’d gained 8lb! It wasn’t until a friend compared me to an overweight woman on the telly did I realise how different I looked. Mortified, my face flushed red and I vowed to lose weight. Swiftly swapping ice-cream…

‘She would scream and shout death threats’ ‘San Marco was smiling and toting a 9mm handgun’ On Monday 30 January 2006, a former postal worker opened fire at the city’s Postal Service mail sorting plant in Goleta, California. Seven people were slaughtered before the killer went on to commit suicide. Next day, the killer’s neighbour, Beverly Graham, 54, was also found shot dead. But what made this mass shooting different to any other in the last 30 years of American history? Largely, the fact that this killer was a woman - Jennifer San Marco, 44. Born on 6 December 1961 in New York, little is known about San Marco’s early life, other than it seemed unremarkable. In 1989, she went to California, and was hired as a guard at Chuckawalla…

Take a walk You can’t beat a bit of fresh air sometimes. Going outside for a brisk walk will clear your airways, get your blood pumping round your body properly and help release tension in your muscles – all of which should sort your head out! Try clearing your mind of any worries or negative thoughts for an added boost. Hot stuff If you’re a fan of spicy food, up the amount of cayenne pepper you use in your cooking. The capsicum in it has been found to relieve severe headache pain. Dilute a quarter of a teaspoon of cayenne pepper in a glass of water for a quick fix. Drink up Headaches can often be brought on by dehydration, so drink between six and eight glasses of plain water…

VIRGO 24 Aug-23 Sept Keeping all of the people happy all of the time is one of the things we learn pretty early on in life is rather hard to do, and yet there are times when we all fall into this trap. January can prove to be a challenge for you in this regard Virgo, but probably most of all because so many people will want to have a piece of you. This is rather a lovely position to be in, but managing your time and popularity is going to be the trick. If you move into the New Year in the clasp of an exciting new relationship, things can certainly seem rosy, especially from the 3rd. But stay attuned to domestic and family needs because there could be…

1 Think ahead Before you splash out on new storage containers, take stock of what you have. You might have useful items at home already. 2 Feet first Over-the-door shoe storage holders are an inexpensive way of tucking away shampoo bottles and hefty shower gels. 3 Pot luck Pots and pans can take up valuable room in your kitchen. Get some sturdy hooks or a rack, and hang them above the hob instead. 4 Belt it up Roll up belts and keep them neatly packed in a shoebox under the bed or in the wardrobe. 5 Picture this Task the kids with making scrapbooks of all their paintings. Frame their favourites and file the rest away on a bookshelf. 6 Plug in Put all your phone cables and chargers in…

‘My skin turned red raw and I felt it start to blister’ ‘I looked like something from a horror film’  Rachel Halliwell, 41, Nelson, Lancashire Exhausted after a long shift at work, I turned my key in the door. As I flopped onto the couch, I was hoping my boyfriend, Vinnie Vernon, would be ready with a smile and a glass of wine for me. Instead, he just glared at me. ‘You’re late,’ he snapped. ‘Where have you been?’ I sighed. While I worked long hours in a sofa factory, Vinnie was at home all day, with too much time on his hands. And he was becoming possessive and unreasonable. When we’d met, in May 2009, he’d seemed like a nice bloke. I was keen to settle down, and…

Karene Thorne, 39, Pontypridd, Wales Cooing over her newborn sister, my little girl was besotted. As a mother, watching Megan and tiny Mia together, I was bursting with pride. My lovely girls… Their dad Robert and I were really lucky. But when Mia was 3 months old, something about her changed. 'Why doesn't she play with me,' Megan, then 4, cried. I'd noticed little Mia was barely moving the right side of her body. 'She's just a slow developer,' my Mum Gayna Davis, then 58, said. But by 9 months old, Mia found she couldn't hold her own weight, and I became worried. Doctors referred her for a scan, and in September 2007 she was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Her prospects weren't good. She'd struggle to walk and…

‘Every day was plagued by a nagging, constant dread’ ‘Andy's camera started flashing… just like me!’ Kellie Harvey, 19, Pickhill, North Yorkshire I’d always been shy. But, by my teens, it became crippling. I couldn’t order a coffee or even walk to the toilet in public without my mam, Sharon, 46, coming too. Every moment of every day was plagued by a nagging, constant dread. I was terrified something bad would happen to Mam, my dad, Phil, 56, or my brother, Daniel, 16. And I performed daily rituals to help relieve my fears. When walking, I’d internally count 18 steps. I’d count up over and over, and always have to finish on 18 - it’s always been my favourite number. Every night, I arranged my shoes to…

Serves 12 Prep Time 30 mins, plus chilling overnight Cook time 25 mins 1 Pre-heat the oven to 180°C/ Gas Mark 4. Spray a 23cm/9in, round, loose-based, springform cake tin with cooking oil spray and line the base with baking paper. 2 Bring 80ml water to the boil in a saucepan. Add the cocoa powder and coffee, and stir until smooth. Add the chocolate and vanilla extract, then stir again. 3 Put the eggs, egg whites and caster sugar in a heatproof bowl and rest it over a pan of gently simmering water. Whisk for about 5 minutes, using an electric mixer, until it becomes thick and doubles in size. Remove from the heat and whisk for 15 minutes until it…

‘It's one of the weirdest days out I've had’ ‘I fell in love with a colony of gentoo penguins’  Karen Bowerman, 42, Surrey Hull? Why the heck are you going to Hull?’ That was one of the responses I got when I mentioned where I was going for the weekend. The biggest problem with this East Yorkshire city is that people pass judgement without bothering to visit! Admittedly, being ‘crowned’ Crap Town of the Year in 2003 can’t have helped, but I’m always willing to give anywhere a chance. Luckily, my mate, Phil, isn’t troubled by image either. He wants to head to Hull too. We visit during the Freedom Festival, the city’s flagship cultural event. Because in 2017, humble Hull will be flying the flag as the UK’s…

INSTANT Appointment With Naomi Sofer The senior physiotherapist at Boost Physio offers advice Knee needs Q My GP said I have early arthritis in my knee. Will this impact my exercise regime? Lyndsay, Croydon A No - the best treatment is often gentle, low-impact exercise. Swimming, cycling and walking can all help keep the knee strong. Exercising three times a week is generally a good aim, but it’s important to avoid aggravating factors, like high-impact exercise such as Zumba, football and running. Seek advice if you’re experiencing pain. Bumpy ride Q Bunions run in my family. I really love jogging – but will this lead to worse foot problems? Cara, Yorkshire A Not necessarily - but in order to run safely, you need to have good biomechanics of the foot.…

‘He was on top of me, pinning me to the ground’ ‘A jolt hit me as his face suddenly popped up on screen’  Chanel Purchase, 21, Sheerness, Kent Dabbing on some lippy, I headed out to meet my mates at the local nightclub. It was April 2014, and I was looking forward to having some drinks and a boogie. Only, as I waited in the cold, dark town centre, time was ticking by. ‘They’re late,’ I sighed. Sorry! Still getting ready, one friend texted. Typical! Shivering, I’d wandered over to sit on a nearby bench when a stranger approached. ‘Can I borrow a lighter?’ he asked me. He was medium height with ginger hair, about my age. We got talking and he seemed friendly, so when he asked me…

‘I could play Pick Me Up! Bingo at home in my slippers!’ Helen Hibbitt, 50, Newcastle It was a Sunday last October. After running the vac over the carpet, I got my duster out. After a busy week at work in a school kitchen, it was when I did my chores. ‘Put your feet up, Mum,’ my grown-up kids said - but a mum’s work is never done! Later that evening when I’d finished, I finally took their advice, settling on the sofa with a brew and my laptop. ‘I’ll have a few games of bingo,’ I said to hubby Richard, 46. I’d joined Pick Me Up! Bingo four years ago in 2012. I loved going to the bingo halls when I was younger. But, after having the kids,…