Innholdsfortegnelse for Holiday Special 2017 i Pick Me Up! Special

Whether you’re at home or away, we have plenty to inspire you this summer including two brides facing the biggest challenges of their lives. The kindness of strangers allowed brave Erika (pg12) to have the day of her dreams after the young mum was given some devastating news. While Tasha, (pg38) was days away from her wedding when a freak fall wiped all trace of her from her fiancé’s memory. Kelly (pg8) showed immense courage when she sat in court to hear the distressing details of how her boyfriend killed their baby and Lorne (pg24) shares the pain of losing his wife to warn others striving to be thin. Everyone loves a miracle and Helen’s (pg26) choice to stop for a sausage roll saved her family from a raging fireball!…

‘We tried to give her everything’ As the sonographer moved the cursor around my jellied tummy, a grainy outline appeared on the monitor and I was in awe. ‘There’s your baby,’ she said. ‘And a strong heartbeat.’ My boyfriend, Ben Roach, 23, squeezed my hand, beaming. ‘We’re keeping it,’ he whispered. I cried tears of happiness. We hadn’t planned on starting a family so soon. I’d panicked when I discovered I was pregnant. ‘What are we going to do?’ I sobbed to Ben so worried. ‘We’ll work it out,’ he soothed, stroking my hair. Neither of us had secure jobs so the thought of having a baby was terrifying. But as I saw Ben’s face light up at the 12-week scan, I knew that we’d manage somehow. We had been…

‘She was going round and round’ Grabbing the pile of dirty clothes from my nine-year-old daughter Jessica’s room, I rushed downstairs and stuffed them into the washing machine. I turned the dial to a 30 degree cycle and then walked off to carry on with the washing up. About five minutes later, I heard a strange noise coming from the machine. I looked around, and there was our nine-week-old kitten, Poppet, in the machine! She was just spinning around in there. My heart froze. ‘Poppet!’ I screamed. I ran over and quickly switched off the machine, but the unlock function wasn’t working, so I had to put it on again to try and open it. I still couldn’t get the door open, and Poppet was meowing on top of the…

‘I could feel the water sloshing’ Driving down a quiet country lane with my boyfriend, Mark, 30, I winced as the car hit a bump. ‘Be careful,’ I said. ‘I can’t take the pain.’ Mark hit the brakes and I could feel the water in my legs pooling in my feet. ‘Sorry,’ he said. ‘Do you want me to turn around?’ I was grateful to be out of the house, but the discomfort I felt as the car rolled over every little stone or hole in the road was just too much to bear. ‘I think we’ll have to. I’m sorry,’ I said wearily. For the past year, I had been turning into a human waterbed. It sounds funny to say, but if I didn’t laugh about it, I’d cry…

CITY FOR KIDS Have your kids ever dreamt of becoming a pilot, a firefighter, or the next award-winning singer? Let them take charge at KidZania London, a child-sized city for 4 to 14 year olds where they can take part in over 60 real-life adventures at the bank, on stage, or fighting crime on the streets as a police officer! The city for kids includes a supermarket, an estate agency, a hospital, a hotel, a police station, and even a radio station and theatre! • Tickets from £18 • www.KidZania.co.uk IN THE LAB Treat the kids to a full science experience at the Life Science Centre in Newcastle. Take them through the Centre's Brain Zone, where they can explore the human mind, and then into the Experimental Zone where they can enjoy…

Peanut Butter, Lemongrass and Pork Kebabs 1. Trim the pork fillets and cut into medium size chunks. 2. Put the peanut butter, honey, soy sauce, turmeric, garlic and lime juice in a bowl and mix well. Add the pork and coat. 3. With a sharp knife, cut the lemongrass stalks in half lengthways. Divide the meat into 4 portions, and using the lemongrass stalks as skewers, thread the pork onto them. 4. Pre-heat the grill to high. Grill the pork for about 10 minutes, or until cooked through, turning a few times as you cook. Serve on a bed of rice. Turkey Burgers 1. Wash and trim the spring onions, chop into thin slices. 2. Put the…

‘They said I had weeks to live’ The first inkling we had that our baby was going to be a boy was when he kicked the heart monitor off my belly moments before I was induced into labour. ‘I guess with legs like that, we’ve got our answer,’ chuckled my husband, Jason, 40, as he held my hand on the maternity ward. After a 17-and-a-half-hour labour, baby Jordan was born weighing 7lbs 2oz. The first few months went by in a flash of nappy changing, burping, feeding and sleepless nights. A few months later, I woke up to the sound of his crying. As I began to change his nappy, I felt a little nauseous. ‘Jason, can you give me hand, I don’t feel so good,’ I called. ‘I’ve got…

‘I told her she was beautiful’ Sitting at my computer, I nervously typed the words ‘When can I see you?’ Lisa and I met through an online dating site and chatted almost every night for a year, but she was still too shy to meet me in person. ‘I’m a larger lady, Lorne. You might not fancy me if you see me,’ came Lisa’s reply. She told me she had piled on the pounds after her first marriage failed and she was left raising her two young children, Sarah and Martin. She got through her painful divorce by comfort eating. ‘Size isn’t everything,’ I replied. Being only five foot six and rail thin, I wasn’t one to judge anyone on their size. After some gentle persuasion, Lisa finally agreed to…

Smita Joshi, Transformational Coach and author (www.smitajoshi.co.uk) says that learning to trust yourself is one of the most significant abilities that we as human beings can develop. It's also one of the most challenging. But it can be done. Follow her tips for a more confident you… BECOME SELF-AWARE Start by listening to your ‘mind monkeys' which are the negative thoughts we all have in our heads. Mind monkeys tend to chatter among themselves and give the impression that they are your thoughts, but they're not. Next time you're making a decision, be aware of this. For example, when your mind says ‘You never get it right!' know that this is not the real you, it's just your unconscious internal dialogue. GO DEEPER Visit the part of you that exists…

While we spend a lot of time spring cleaning our homes, we often forget one important place: the medicine cabinet. Research shows that one in three of us clear out our medicine cabinets less than once a year. Lloyds Pharmacy pharmacist Pareena Patel shares her advice on giving your medicine cabinet a spring clean. ‘Old medicines present a risk of being unsafe if taken past their expiry date, so if your medicine cabinet is stockpiling out-of-date ointments, vintage vitamins, historic bandages and curdling creams, you need to make some changes to ensure your health routine gets the spruce up it deserves.' She advises that you check the expiry dates of all your medicines every six months, and take all old or unwanted medicines to your pharmacy for disposal.…

Protect Your Pucker Wearing lipstick every day can cause your lips to crack, especially if it's a matte colour. Your lips are fragile and some products contain ingredients that help the colour to stay on for longer which is great, but this can cause the skin to dry out. Go for products that are as natural as possible and balance it out by wearing a tinted lip balm for the days in between. Even Vaseline can beautifully enhance your natural colour. Weather Permitting Your delicate pout needs to be protected from the elements so on a cold, windy day, tuck your mouth behind a high scarf. It might not be blazing sunshine in February, but you still need to watch out for the sun. Exposure to UV rays can cause…

He Said/She Said, Erin Kelly Kit and Laura pledge to travel the globe and see as many eclipses as possible, but after the first, Laura sees something terrible and tells a white lie which changes four lives irreparably. When the victim reappears, Kit and Laura have to run, but with another eclipse on the horizon, the past is closing in. The truth will cost Laura her marriage but the secret could cost them both their lives. The Darkest Lies, Barbara Copperthwaite Melanie appeared to have the perfect life in a pretty village with her husband, Jacob, and their teenage daughter, Beth. Then one day, Beth is found beaten almost to the point of death near their home. Someone in the village must have seen something. Why won't they…

Aries 21 Mar - 20 April Home will be a hub of activity in July and you might be feeling particularly sociable, so invite a few friends into your space. Around the 21st the focus switches to creative pursuits and pleasure seeking; reinvigorate how you have fun with new hobbies or passion projects. Note that towards the 8th you could gain some public recognition. Taurus 21 April - 21 May There is lightness and confidence in July, which will lend itself wonderfully to increasing your income! The 18th will be especially positive for seeing results in your role. Socialising will be high on your agenda until the 23rd when the focus shifts onto home; you can embrace an emotional re-set with fresh starts in your domestic spaces. Gemini 22 May…

‘Touche adapted so well’ As we waited at the Highcroft Veterinary Hospital, my three-year-old daughter, Lena, and I were worried sick. Our pet tortoise, Touche, had been in a nasty accident at home and we had rushed him straight in, so worried. Lena and Touche are best friends. She wakes up every morning and wants to play with him, kiss him and feed him. But the vet came out with bad news. ‘I’m afraid Touche has broken his back leg, and it will need to be amputated,’ she said to us gently. Lena was devastated. But luckily, the hospital’s creative staff had something in mind for Touche. They would fix the base of a Hotwheels toy car, including the rear axle, to the underside of his shell, it was so…

‘It was a fresh start for us’ Scooping up the torn wrapping paper from the living room floor, I did my best to tidy up. ‘Come on, we’re going to be late,’ I said to my partner, Andy. It was Christmas morning and we had been helping our one-year-old daughter, Eva, open all her presents in our front room. But we were due to head to my parents’ house for lunch soon. ‘They won’t mind if we’re running a bit late,’ Andy smiled. He’d been acting strangely all day. As I picked up Eva and turned around, I realised why when he got down on one knee. ‘Will you marry me, Erika?’ Andy asked. Bursting into tears, I squealed ‘yes’ and he stood up and flung his arms around me…

1 Keep them hydrated Give them plenty of water. Animals dehydrate quickly, so leave out lots of clean water in different parts of the house. 2 Provide some shade Keep your pets out of direct sunlight. Either keep them indoors when it's too hot or make a shady place for them in the garden so they can escape the midday sun. 3 Time your walks Take your dog for a walk early in the morning or in the evening when it has cooled down. Cooler air makes it easier for them to breathe and the cooler ground won't burn their paws. 4 Avoid the car Dogs and cats can overheat quickly in a hot car. As much as they may love the ride, it's better to leave your pets at…

Apple Wooden Bird Feeder, £9.95, Dotcomgiftshop Apples are a favourite for birds, and this wooden bird feeder is the ideal way to leave them a little treat. Gardman No Mess Seed Mix 2kg, £4.96, Homebase This blend of high-energy sunflower seeds and peanut bites are perfect for birds. All the ingredients are edible, so it leaves no mess! Seedbloom Butterfly Seeds, £6, nhmshop. co.uk These seedballs are a perfect way to attract butterflies. Scatter the pods and watch your garden grow. Hanging Ladybird Lodge, £8.49, Potterandrest.co.uk This cute lodge is a perfect home for insects and bugs in your garden, and is the ideal hibernation spot for ladybirds. Bug hotel, £5, Flying Tiger Copenhagen Give creepy crawlies a place to stay in these little…

‘Linda had her whole life ahead of her’ I caught my younger sister Linda about to dash out of the house. ‘Hey, that’s my top!’ I cried. It was brand new and I hadn’t even worn it yet. ‘I didn’t think you’d mind,’ she smiled, cheekily. Rolling my eyes, I sighed: ‘It looks better on you anyway.’ Linda flashed me a cheeky grin. Truthfully, I didn’t mind. We were more like best friends than sisters, just four years apart. We’d moved to the UK from Latvia in 2008 with our mum, Ginta, 50, sister, Indra, 20, and half-brother, Raivo, 30, after our parents got divorced. Linda was just 10 at the time and couldn’t utter a word of English, but within a year, she was fluent. Exceptionally bright, Linda passed…

‘It makes my patients smile’ Looking at all the different hair dyes, my eyes glance up and down the shelves in awe, and a sense of indecisiveness fills me with excitement. ‘What colour this week?’ I think to myself, peeping at the ends of my pink hair. I have been dyeing my hair for over five years altogether and I have spent close to £5,000 funding my colour-changing hair habit. I finally managed to decide on a shade and I rushed home to lather my hair in my new colour - the 30 minute process is always such a tease while I wait for the colourful result. ‘What colour have you chosen this week, Vanessa?’ my mum, Jackie, 51, said to me. ‘Lilac,’ I said, separating my hair into sections,…

‘I knew he was special’ It was life-changing the night I met Simon Moore. I went home after meeting him at a sign language class and I just couldn’t stop thinking about him or his dog, Foggy. I’d gone because I’d always had a fascination with signing – it’s such a beautiful and expressive language. Ever since meeting Simon there, I found myself daydreaming about him. You see, Simon isn’t your average bloke. He has a condition called Treacher Collins Syndrome, which means he is profoundly deaf and has a facial disfigurement. I’d met Foggy first, and as I stroked his head my heart just melted. When I looked up, Simon, 32, was staring down at me. ‘Hello!’ he said. I noticed Simon’s face straight away, but as soon as…

‘I'm just getting started’ As the clippers hummed into action, my friends and family cheered as they all crammed into my back garden. ‘No going back now!’ I thought, as our local hairdresser started to shave off my long brown hair. Within minutes I’d gone from having shoulder length hair to having a buzz cut. But how I looked was the last thing on my mind. My hair would grow back, but the £4000 I’d raised was my way of raising awareness for cystic fibrosis - a condition I knew nothing about until my three-year-old boy Rufus was diagnosed. My husband Scott, 41, and I already had two daughters, Lydia, 10, and Maeve, seven, when Rufus came along. He seemed like a perfectly healthy little boy when he was born.…

• THEY SAY: This 2-in-1 beauty tool boasts a razor with four blades and a pivoting head. Turn it around to use the disguised waterproof styling trimmer to get your ideal bikini style. • YOU SAY: 'The papaya and pearl infused conditioning strip on the blades is great for avoiding irritation in a place where I wouldn't want any itchiness! Jenny, East Midlands. • WE SAY:We love anything with a dual purpose – so a razor that's gentle on the skin and designed to conveniently take care of our intimate area is just up our street!…

Super Soft Skin Palmer's Cocoa Butter Original Solid Formula, £4, all major supermarkets This combination of cocoa butter and Vitamin E softens, nourishes, and relieves dry skin. Shea Body Butter Tube, £4, Tesco Promising to leave your skin feeling divine, this creamy body butter will nourish and moisturise your skin, along with providing a subtle nutty scent. Nivea Care Shower Silk Mousse with almond oil, £2.99, leading retailers Formulated with precious silk extract in a heavenly soft format, this mousse is a luxurious treat for your skin. Pink body glove, £2.99, Superdrug Jazz up your bathroom routine with this bright coloured body glove, perfect for all-over body exfoliation and gentle washing. Craving Coral Dusty Coral Nail Polish, £2.99, New Look Show off your stand-out manicure with this charming quick-drying polish.…

‘The duo deserve to be spoilt’ Kirsty McWilliam, 28, Faskally All eyes were on our fabulous ponies as they made their way down the cobbled street. They strut down the road with their smartest hats on, and made their way to an appointment they wouldn’t want to miss. My mum, Amanda, 51, and I decided to take our little darlings – Dexter and Dainty – for a day of treats, and the first stop was the salon! We do kids’ birthday parties with them, so they get their hair done fairly regularly, however we wanted to give them a more relaxing pampering session this time. Dexter and Dainty had a hard choice ahead of them as they decided which colours they liked. Of course, they wanted their hard-working hooves to…

‘Our games ended in tears’ Hovering by the living room window, I waited impatiently for the arrival of my older half-brother. ‘When’s he getting here?’ I whined to my mum. ‘That’s the third time you’ve asked,’ she laughed. Finally I saw a car pull up outside and when Daniel walked in, I flung myself at him. ‘Tag, you’re it!’ I shouted, nudging Daniel’s shoulder and running off. ‘Hey! That’s not fair,’ he said, dropping his overnight bag and chasing after me. Daniel was my dad’s son from a previous relationship and at 12, he was four years older than me. He lived with his mum, and visited at weekends and during holidays. Our games usually always ended in one of us telling tales on the other or in floods of…

‘He came flying over the fence’ Taking my seat on the train, I placed my bag on my lap, ready to head off to my job as a handyman. I had sent the kids off to school and left my four-year-old Labrador collie, Paddy, in his kennel in the back garden, like I always did. Suddenly, Paddy was sat on the seat next to me, wagging his tail excitedly. He just looked at me as if to say ‘where are you going?’ ‘How on earth did you get here?’ I asked, genuinely surprised. I always left Paddy in his kennel when I left for work. The garden is surrounded by a 6ft fence, so I couldn’t understand how he’d gotten out. I had no choice but to take him to…

‘Why wasn't he treated the same?’ Pottering around the kitchen, I did the dishes as my lovely 12-month-old baby sat up in his high chair. I’d given Asher some of his favourite musical toys, and he was in his element marvelling at all the different sounds. As I gazed down at him, his gorgeous smile lit up the whole house and I suddenly had a wonderful idea. People always commented on his cute face, so I made a decision then and there to submit some pictures of him for child modelling. ‘What you doing babes?’ asked my husband David, 31, after the kids were in bed one night. ‘Just looking through some clothes to use for Asher’s portfolio pics,’ I beamed. ‘I’m really excited!’Looking slightly concerned, he said: ‘I know…

‘Baxter was trying to tell me something’ Cradling the bundle of yellow fluff, I felt such love for the tiny puppy who was napping peacefully in my warm arms. From the moment we laid eyes on a new born Baxter, we knew he was a special little puppy. He had the kindest face and cheeky little lopsided walk that instantly melted everyone’s heart. As he settled into our family, each one of us grew to adore him, especially Olivia, six. ‘Mummy, Baxter wants his nails painted and his hair done too,’ she would often say. ‘I’m sure he doesn’t want that darling. All the boy dogs will laugh at him in the park!’ We had Baxter almost from the day he was born, and the girls, Olivia and Sophie, four,…

‘The meaty snack was a family favourite’ Driving along the motorway, my family and I belted out the lyrics to Grease the musical, a CD we all loved and always had handy in the car. We had just been on a great holiday to see my mum, Helen, 60, and we were taking her back with us to get her out of the house for a while. It was a long drive, and the kids, Jak, three, Zoe, 13, and Max, 14, were all starving and desperate for a snack. But my husband, Thomas, 50, was keen to push on and get back home as fast as possible.‘But Dad, I’m hungry,’ Jak groaned. ‘I want a McDonalds,’ Max said.‘I want a Greggs,’ Zoe cried. A few miles later Thomas finally…

‘Something always went wrong’ The song was known the world over. ‘Now I’ve had the time of my life...’ My partner, Mike, 36, grabbed my hand and dragged me towards the dance floor. ‘It’s our song,’ he shouted over the music. We drunkenly belted the lyrics to the Dirty Dancing track and danced like we always did. It was cheesy but we loved it. At 6ft 3ins, Mike would even scoop up my slight frame and re-create the famous lift - with a bit of a wobble. ‘We’ll have to request this track when we get married,’ I teased. Together for 13 years, Mike had never officially proposed. He wasn’t the romantic type. After having four children together, we had talked about it, but something would always come up and…

‘Our wedding was just days away’ ‘Aaron hadn't a clue who I was’ Butterflies fluttered in my stomach as I switched my laptop on. For Aaron Field in the UK, it was morning, but it was evening for me in Australia. ‘How about now?’ Aaron typed. It was the eighth time he’d asked me to marry him since we met in an online chat room in 2011. I smiled. ‘We haven’t even met yet!’ I typed back. I’d fallen for Aaron immediately despite being on opposite sides of the world. ‘Come visit me then,’ he insisted. Taking a chance on love, I flew from Queensland to Manchester. Aaron met me at the airport and whisked me off my feet. Not literally of course. Aaron suffered from ill health and rheumatoid…

Bugging me I've had the same mattress for over 20 years. Is there really any point in changing it? Jean, Cheltenham Even if your mattress is showing no wear and tear, I’d recommend changing it every seven to ten years. The average mattress contains 10,000 house dust mites, resulting in more than 2 million droppings, so it’s definitely worth changing yours on a more regular basis. Wakey wakey At night I'm utterly exhausted but the moment I get into bed, I'm wide awake. What can I do? Clara, Manchester It sounds like you’re over-tired and overstimulated. If you enjoy tea and coffee, it’s important to be aware of the ‘half life’ of caffeine, which is five hours. This means if you have a drink at 5pm you will still have…

Can I date my friend's ex?  Laura, 28, Cardiff My best friend dated her ex for six years and it didn’t end well. I was there to pick up the pieces and she really appreciated it. Of course, I took her side at the time – agreeing he was no good, but truthfully, they’d just grown apart and I always really liked him. Recently I’ve bumped into him a few times on nights out and there’s an obvious spark between us. He wants to take me for a drink but even though I think we could have a future, so far I’ve said no. I’m worried my friend won’t approve and I’d hate to upset her. Should I stay away? YES Pick Me Up! reader Jennifer from London says: Friends…

When it started two years ago as a small business venture in a back garden in Stockport, Clare Cherry, 32, and Jade Crumplin, 29, had no idea their sparkle empire would have been so successful, and that one day they would be glittering up stars from The Only Way is Essex and The Real Housewives of Cheshire. In 2015, the duo launched Wish Upon a Sparkle, offering dazzling designs and an amazing range of cosmetic glitter products. ‘I worked in Ibiza for a long time while Jade worked in Australia and we eventually decided to get together and make this happen,’ says Clare. ‘In the beginning, most weekends consisted of a huge amount of driving, attending weddings, corporate events, and even children’s parties. We knew our sparkle looks were really…

Q: My feet are a dry-skin disaster zone and I dread flip-flop season. What can I do? Don't panic, our tootsies always take a bit of a battering over the cooler months and then the sunshine season is upon us before we know it. Thankfully some bedtime beauty sessions can fix all your dry feet issues in a flash. Margaret Dabbs Treatment Night Socks, £9.50, marksandspencer.com, are cosy gel-filled socks that you wear at night. The magic gel gently breaks down flaky skin so your feet are baby soft. Continue the regime by smoothing on Titania Foot Butter, £5.99, each morning for a shea butter treat. Q: I'm going on my first holiday abroad this year and I've heard planes play havoc with your skin. Any tips? Planes are dreamy…

‘I was plunged into the water’ As I attached myself to my water-skis, I was full of adrenalin and ready to go. A few weeks earlier, Robin Hanbury-Tenison, 79, had asked me to join him in attempting to break the record of the youngest and oldest to complete a water-ski across the English Channel. Robin was raising funds for Survival International, a human rights organisation that supports the rights of Amazon tribes. I had only been water-skiing for two years, but this was something I really wanted to do. In preparation for our attempt, I had been doing a lot of training on the water, as well as land-based exercises, like going for runs, to build up my strength. Finally, the big day arrived. With my mum and dad, Cathy…

‘I loved the thought of playing at home in my pyjamas!’ Back in 2011, my sister-in-law said how much she enjoyed Pick Me Up! Bingo! and that I should try it. I loved bingo, and the thought of playing at home in pyjamas and slippers sounded great. After signing up, I played around on the site, getting to know the games. There were so many! I had fun playing the slots, but my fave was Sapphire Bingo - a 90-ball bingo game. I had a few small wins over the years, but mostly, I just enjoyed myself. Last December, my husband Peter, 40, was at work and I was home with our kids, aged 20, 18, and 14. They were all busy in their rooms, so I had a few…