Innholdsfortegnelse for Best Of 1 2018 i Pick Me Up! Special

Things don’t always turn out the way you plan. You can’t help but feel sorry for Kathryn and her new husband James (pg24). The newlyweds had booked themselves a honeymoon of a lifetime, but it turned into the holiday from hell. Eve decided to treat herself and her mum to a bottle of bubbly, but a freak accident left her needing major surgery (pg36). We celebrate amazing mums this month with Mother’s Day coming up. Kate (pg22) has battled for answers ever since her son Cohen was born, while Ana (pg26) could never have imagined the challenges her daughter Jasmine would have to face. But both mums couldn’t be prouder of their remarkable children. Cassie (pg8) is speaking out about the abuse she suffered at the hands of her neighbour.…

I WAS GROOMED AS I TRIED TO MAKE SOME POCKET MONEY He'd catch me walking home from school Making pocket money made me feel grown up. I’d do any odd jobs around the house to make some extra money to spend on sweets at the local shop. I was only 12, so too young to get a proper job. ‘Mum, any chores you need me to do?’ I’d ask her constantly. ‘You’ve done them all!’ she’d laugh. My neighbour, Fredrick Skinner, was a local mechanic. ‘You can wash a few cars for us if you like?’ he said one day. ‘I’ll pay you.’ I jumped at the chance. Mum was so impressed I was trying to pay my own way. ‘I’m so proud of you,’ she said. I started…

‘What if he slips?’ Flicking on the kitchen light, I gasped. Smeared across the floor was the remains of a full carton of 12 eggs. Yolk dripped from the wall and shells crunched underfoot. ‘Cooper!’ I bellowed. My four-year-old Rottweiler just wagged his tail, admiring his work. ‘Look at this mess,’ I snapped. He’d been shy as a pup, but had grown into a mischievous mutt. As he got older, he’d snaffle meat pasties from the fridge. We had to padlock it whenever we went out. My bedroom door was bolted, too, as he loved chewing my socks. But me and my dad Mark, 53, wouldn’t have it any other way. Coop was a big, nosy softie! As we headed to the pub on a Sunday evening, we made sure…

‘The smell came from Buddy’ BUDDY'S LARGE APPETITE ALMOST PROVED FATAL We all know that dogs will do just about anything for food. You only had to open a pack of crisps and our Jack Russell, Buddy, 13, would appear, his snout in the air. He would wolf down his dinner every night. Yet there was always room for a little more! But I never thought Buddy’s insatiable appetite could put his life on the line... One day, my hubby Steve, 48, was home all day with Buddy. When I came home from work that evening, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing in the kitchen... ‘It looks like a murder scene!’ I gasped to Steve. ‘I was making us a chicken casserole in the slow cooker,’ he said. ‘I…

‘He writhed around in agony’ My new husband was severely dehydrated and so weak Our guests had treated us to two weeks in the sun Settled in a comfy chair in the VIP airport lounge, I was beaming with excitement. Outside, the rain was lashing down. ‘Won’t be sorry to leave this weather behind,’ I said happily to my husband, James. ‘I’m so excited!’ ‘I can’t believe we’re off on our honeymoon,’ he grinned, checking the departure boards. We’d been married for four months and we’d asked our guests for Thomas Cook vouchers instead of presents. So grateful, we’d booked a dream two-week holiday to Cuba. It cost £5,000 for our all-inclusive break in a five-star hotel. We jetted off in November 2016, leaving the kids with family. Nine hours…

Then I needed a transplant My love for them is equal, but they face different challenges Finding out that my partner, Stu, 43, and I were expecting twins was a big shock. I already had two boys, Tom, now 26, and Jordan, now 22, so when two heartbeats appeared on the scan, I knew straight away. ‘Can you believe it?’ I’d said to Stu, joy and panic washing over me. Stu had been speechless. So had my mum, Carol, 69. I loved the idea of bringing two more little people into the world. But when I was five months pregnant, I started to feel unwell. ‘Did you just run a marathon?’ Stu asked me as I got into bed. ‘Just climbed the stairs!’ I replied. Then came swelling of the…

‘The ground was a river of blood’ THE SHATTERED GLASS CUT MY FLESH DOWN TO THE BONE Standing in the alcohol aisle of my local Tesco, I scanned the shelves for a bottle of something special to crack open with my mum. ‘That’ll do!’ I smiled, pulling down a bottle of Lambrini. Well, I wasn’t made of money! My Mum, Paula, 49, was down visiting for the weekend, and I wanted to have a fun girls’ night in. A friend had taken my two children, Callum, six and Chloe, two, to see Beauty and The Beast so that me and Mum could spend some time together. ‘Pizza, nibbles and bubbles,’ I planned, heading to the check-out at the Tesco Metro in Plymouth. While paying, I asked the cashier for a…

Won't Give Up I hate that my husband smokes and he's failed every time he's tried to give up. How can I make it different this time? Kay, London It is so hard to break the smoking habit, so try not to let him feel too down about past failures. Most people need a number of quit attempts before they are completely smoke free. The great news is that now he has some experience and can understand what it is that he will find most difficult, and so he can talk to a stop smoking advisor about the best ways to tackle them. Using a stop smoking service offers the best chance of success; they are up to four times more effective than quitting by yourself. You can get these…

Nearly half of Brits fail to brush their teeth twice a day, according to research by teeth whitening brand White Glo. Dental expert James Buchannan explains, ‘while trapped food particles can contribute to bad breath, the most common cause is the build-up of plaque on the teeth. Not enough people are keeping up the required oral health routines. Brushing your teeth twice a day should be the first step to reduce bad breath.' He also recommends drinking a glass of water first thing in the morning to wash away any bacteria, having a high-fibre breakfast, and snacking on celery sticks and apples during the day. For more information, visit www.whiteglo.com.…

‘There was simply no stopping it’ Just days after James, 38, and I got married, I missed my period. I did a test and… ‘I’m pregnant!’ I screamed. Already parents to Archie, two, we were thrilled. And at nine weeks, I discovered we were having twins. At my 20 week scan, I learned we were having a boy and a girl. But by that October, I was on crutches with pelvic pain, hardly able to walk. In February, I went into Asda with my sister Kerry, 24, and just about made it round. ‘My back’s in agony,’ I said to James that evening. ‘I’ll have a bath.’ But as I settled down, I felt worse, and soon I was having contractions every minute! James rang an ambulance. ‘I need to…

I DON'T WANT MY ALOPECIA TO BE A SECRET ‘I thought my hair would grow back’ ‘I wanted to mark my journey’ Playing with my hair one day, I noticed a small patch about the size of a 5p coin was missing at the back. It grew back months later, so I thought nothing of it. But, a few months later, it happened again. ‘So weird!’I told my partner Ross, 36. Working full time, and with three kids – Yasmin, now 13, Joshua, 10 and Darrah, six, I didn’t have time to worry. But, a few months later, while on a medical placement for my job… ‘Do you know you’ve got alopecia?’a dermatologist asked. He said it was an autoimmune condition causing hair loss. My small patches had always grown…

This month... SPRING CLEANING YOUR HOME 1 Make a plan List every room in your house and each task that needs to be done in each room. Then assign a time when you will do each task - and stick to it! 2 Take your time Break down tasks into manageable chunks. Estimate how long each task will take and where you can add them on to your every day routine. 3 Get ready Make sure you have everything you need before you start - all-purpose cleaner, oven cleaner, silver polish and wood oil. You'll also need a good mop and broom. 4 De-clutter first Set up three boxes - keep, toss, and donate. With each item, ask yourself what this particular thing is doing for you If the answer…

MEET THE ANIMALS Get ready to meet some adorable animals at the British Wildlife Centre in Surrey. Make the most of the Centre's keeper talks, which give you the chance to see the animals - including red squirrels, foxes, wildcats, otters, and red deer - up close, while learning more about them. Talks take place every half an hour and last about 15 minutes, so there's always something to see, whatever the weather! The Centre is open every Saturday, Sunday and bank holiday, and during state school holidays. • Tickets from £8.50 • www.britishwildlifecentre.co.uk SPRING IN TO SCOTLAND To make the most of the Spring weather, head up to the Loch Lomond National Nature Reserve in Scotland, where you can go for a walk on a wooded isle, admire…

‘I can't even hug it all better’ We try to give her a normal childhood and nothing holds her back Giving one last push, I groaned in pain. My husband Iain, 40, squeezed my hand. ‘It’s another girl!’ said the nurse. It was August 2012, and I was lying on the bedroom floor, towels all around me. We’d planned a home birth, after our first daughter Amelia, then three, was born in hospital. Our new baby had arrived safely, weighing 9lb 13oz. But when Jasmine was handed to me, I noticed what looked like a burst blister on her knee, and little scratches around her mouth. ‘We’ll make a note to have them checked,’ said the midwife as she left. Hours later, she phoned and asked us to take Jasmine…

Shards of glass flew everywhere THE 50FT HIGH BLAZE COULD BE SEEN FROM MILES AWAY The sun was out and my fella David Lewis, 48, and I were driving along happily. We were off to grab some dinner, then walk our Jack Russell, Pepsi, in the park. It was 7.30pm on a July evening. But, as I turned into a car park, suddenly the warning electrical fault light started flashing up on the dashboard… I’d bought the second-hand 2006 Renault Scenic a few weeks ago. The private dealer said it had been fully serviced when I handed over £2,000 thatApril. Must’ve overheated, I thought. Spying a space, I nipped in and turned off the engine. Then I rang RAC – and it was a good job I did, too. Suddenly,…

I wanted to see bones stick out I WAS SURVIVING ON AN APPLE A DAY It was hard not to be competitive with my sister. In lots of ways, we were complete opposites. Lauren skived school, while I went without fail. She had black hair, while I was blonde. But being twins meant we were always compared. ‘Do you think Lauren is looking a bit thin?’ Mum asked, as I buttered toast in the kitchen one day. She looked worried and suddenly I lost my appetite. There it was again. Lauren was the skinny twin. A few weeks earlier, we’d got back from an all-inclusive holiday to Tenerife. We’d all indulged in the delicious buffets there. ‘Do you think I’ve put on weight?’ I’d innocently asked Mum. ‘Maybe a little,’…

Travel braggers Almost 23% of Brits admit they spend over three hours a day on their phones while travelling. This equates to 21 hours over a week’s holiday, meaning spending almost two days glued to the small screen instead of the beach scene. New research by Hotels.com  Mobile Travel Tracker reveals that the new trend of ‘travel bragging’ on social media has 37% of Brits purposely checking in to cool locations and almost 50% uploading envy-inducing pictures of their trip. Turn up the heat Take a culinary trip to India as you tuck into Jake & Nayns’ Naansters. These hand-held light and fluffy naan breads are filled with a range of delicious, authentic curries, including Balti chicken, beef madras, chicken tikka, and chickpea. They are the perfect healthy…

‘My bowel had come apart inside me’ Clutching my tummy, I just managed to make it to the loo. It was October 2007, and I was on holiday in Spain with my mum, Marza. I felt constipated, and then I noticed blood down the toilet. It must be something I ate, I thought, brushing it off. That December, though, I had similar stomach cramps. This time I was at work, so a colleague gave me a laxative and I was sent home. But while driving, I had a bad urge to use the toilet. I had to run into a pub to use the toilet, but nothing came out. Arriving home, I ran myself a hot bath and rang my GP to make an appointment. Examining me the next day,…

HAVE A HOME SPA DAY Pour some bubbly and get together all your mum's favourite beauty products. You can do her nails, indulge with a face mask and have a proper catch up. SNAP HAPPY Make an album of photos for her that you can reminisce over together. Pick ones from your childhood and recent ones to show how your friendship has grown. GET IN THE KITCHEN Chances are, your mum has spent a lifetime in the kitchen! So return the favour by cooking her a meal. Choose courses that will spark a memory, like a dish from a holiday you went on together. SHARE YOUR TIME Flowers, gifts and trips to a restaurant are all very lovely, but most mums just want your undivided attention. Arrange to go on…

In May 2008, tipping the scales at over 20st, I was having severe heart palpitations. Rushed to hospital, I was relieved to be told that I wasn’t having a heart attack. ‘Try to lose some weight,’ the nurse advised. I felt defeated before I began. Slimming pills, the Atkins diet... I’d tried everything. I’ll always be fat, I’d managed to convince myself. I continued scoffing three bowls of cereal for breakfast, double ham sandwiches with crisps for lunch, followed by huge portions of stodgy fast-food at night. As a busy single mum of two boys – Daniel, three, and Tyler, two – I never found the time to cook for myself as well as the kids. A size-26, in October 2009, Daniel and I went on the dodgems at a…

He told me I'd made him do it Pain exploded as my boyfriend Kris’s fist smashed hard into my face. It was March 2015, and I’d stormed out after a petty row. But Kris had chased after me. Then… Crunch! He hit me. Sobbing, I held my face. ‘I’m sorry,’ Kris muttered. ‘But if you hadn’t run off, I wouldn’t have snapped.’ In the six months we’d dated, Kris, then 21, hadn’t shown any signs of violence. Was it my fault? I thought. We’d got together at a Halloween party in 2014 – Kris was quiet, shy. And gorgeous! He was into martial arts, and very protective. We’d fallen in love and things were perfect. Until now. The next morning, we pretended it’d never happened. But I couldn’t hide my…

‘I had a great response’ In May 2015, my daughter Hannah, then nine months, wanted to chew everything in sight – and it was my necklaces that took the brunt! Reluctant to stop wearing them, I researched non-toxic beads online and ordered some from abroad. Made from the same material as a dummy teat, they’re ideal as they can be washed and sterilised. A week on, the prettily coloured beads arrived in bulk. I had enough to make myself four bright bold necklaces. ‘They’re fantastic!’ my hubby Graeme, 36, said to me. They proved popular with Hannah, too, who really loved chewing on them. Enjoying my new project, I ordered more beads and began selling them online. Before I knew it, Num Bum Teething Jewellery was born, with dozens of…

I HAD 13 LITRES OF FLUID DRAINED FROM MY BODY ‘Why was I still so big?’ ‘It was the size of a watermelon!’ Before I started university, I wasn’t exactly what you’d call slim, but by the end of my first year, the combination of homesickness and stress had seen me drop four stone. I wasn’t tiny – I still weighed a healthy 14st – but compared to the 18st I was pushing pre-uni, the difference was obvious. But when I returned for my second year of studies, the weight slowly piled back on. My relationship with boyfriend Richard was going great and we’d often enjoy a meal together. ‘Honestly, it’s not fair,’I’d complain over dinner to him. ‘You can eat five Big Macs and it doesn’t touch the sides.…

‘My boy was skin and bones’ Dipping the spoon down into the thick peanut butter, I scooped up a load from the jar and handed it over to my 18-month-old son. ‘Yummy, Cohen!’ I encouraged him. ‘Eat up!’ Cohen licked away happily at the spoon, thrilled to be allowed such a sweet treat. It was March 2012 and I’d been told by a dietician to get as many protein-rich, fatty foods down him as possible. All in the hope that my little boy would grow. Cohen weighed a healthy 8lbs when he was born, but right from the start, he refused to take milk from my breast or from a bottle. For a while, we fed him milk through a small syringe, drop by drop, but it wasn’t long before…

Pea and Chicken Jambalaya  Serves 4 1. Heat the oil in a large pan and add the onion, peppers, garlic, chorizo and chicken pieces, and cook for 5 minutes. Add the chilli pepper, celery and rice and stir well. Add the chilli powder, turmeric, and Cajun spices, and mix well. 2. Add the chicken or vegetable stock and bring to a simmer. 3. Add the frozen peas, mix well and cook until the rice and chicken are cooked. 4. Taste and add more Cajun and seasoning according to taste.If a little dry, add more stock. Pea Hummous  Serves 6 500g frozen peas 1. Add the peas to…

Nessie had collapsed in agony She was a part of every moment THERE WAS NO WAY I WAS GETTING MARRIED WITHOUT HER A brand new pink top lay on the bed. I didn’t normally treat myself, but it was my 30th birthday after all! Trying it on, I heard commotion outside the bedroom door. ‘I’m getting changed!’ I yelled. Suddenly, the door crashed open and my boyfriend of eight years, Scott Alexander, now 27, burst in and dropped to one knee. ‘Rebecca, I love you, our kids and our crazy life. I want to prove that I’ll be here forever. Will you marry me?’ he said. In his hand was a box with stunning ring. ‘Yes!’ I cried, within seconds. I’d always thought marriage wasn’t for me, but as Scott…

‘He refused to take his calls’ The loan came at a price AS HIS MUM BEGGED FOR HELP, GETTY REFUSED TO PAY THE RANSOM In 1973, Jean Paul Getty was the richest man in the world. The billionaire had made his fortune through his oil empire and was addicted to making money. But despite his wealth, Getty didn’t like spending it. He was frugal and famously fitted a coin-operated pay phone into his sprawling mansion. Getty, then 81, was tough on his family, too, and when they didn’t meet his high expectations, he’d cut them out of his life – and his will. His son John suffered the fall out of his disapproval. He struggled with drug addiction. His marriage to a woman named Gail had failed, and he was…

‘Everything went dark... then came the pain’ WE WERE TRAPPED UNDER THE TREE AS IT CRASHED DOWN Fresh air, exercise and a chance for a natter with my friends. Taking my black Labrador Jasper to the local park was the highlight of the day. In fact, Southwick Recreation Ground in West Sussex was where I’d first met my mates Viv Bailey, 45, and Annette Williams, 36, while they were walking their dogs Hugo, a collie, and Magic, another black Labrador. Now we strolled together as often as we could. With two kids each – I was a single mum to Bethany, 18, and Joseph, 13 – we’d get together after the school run. Getting outside was something I never took for granted. Eleven years earlier, I was diagnosed with multiple…

•THEY SAY: This fast-acting gel contains a highly effective combination of natural ingredients for instant pain relief, working to soothe any joint, muscle, ligament or tendon pain. • YOU SAY: 'I suffer with arthritis in my knees, which is so painful. This gel is a godsend for immediate relief. I don't know how I would cope without it.' Sheila, Bridgend •WE SAY: The menthol provides a cooling effect, while capsicum offers anti-inflammatory properties to get to the root of your muscle and joint pain for instant relief.…

www.tasteandsmile.com Preparation: 1 hour, plus 1-2 days soaking. Cooking: 2 hours 1kg mixed dried fruit 200g glacé cherries, halved 100ml dark rum or brandy 150g butter 150g Tate & Lyle Light Soft Brown sugar 4 large eggs, beaten 200g plain flour ¼tsp salt 2tsp ground mixed spice 75g ground almonds Finely grated zest and juice of 1 lemon and 1 small orange Decoration: 250g ground almonds 250g Tate & Lyle Icing sugar 1 large egg white, lightly beaten 1tsp lemon juice 2tbsp sieved apricot jam 1. Put the dried fruit and glacé cherries into a mixing bowl. Pour over boiling water to cover, then soak for 5 mins. Drain then return to bowl and stir in the dark rum or brandy. Cover and leave in a cool place for up…

As I wedged myself into my seat, the velvet armrests dug into me. ‘Not made for pregnant women,’ I puffed to my mum, Sue. Two-and-a-half hours in a tiny theatre seat wasn’t ideal three days before your due date! But I’d booked the tickets for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, starring funnyman Jason Manford, at the Bristol Hippodrome monhts earlier, before finding out my third child was on the way. My girls, Mollie, 11, and Abi, eight, were so excited, I couldn’t let them down. So I’d roped Mum in and here I was, awkwardly wedged on the edge of the row. About an hour in, though, being squashed into the teeny chair was just too much to bear. ‘Just going to stretch my legs,’ I whispered, hobbling to the back…

Rattling the biscuits in my cat’s feeding bowl, I called out for her: ‘Daisy, dinner time!’ She and her brother, Sparky, were usually like clockwork – turning up and twirling around my legs while I dished up their food. But when Daisy didn’t appear, I started to panic. ‘It’s really unlike her,’I fretted to my husband, Paul. I searched all of the rooms in the house and the garden from top to bottom, hoping she’d curled up and fallen asleep somewhere, but Daisy was nowhere to be seen. Then I started to panic. She’d always been adventurous and I had a bad feeling something had happened to her. Hours passed and it started to get dark outside. ‘She’ll turn up,’Paul tried to assure me. Reluctantly, I climbed into bed. I…

‘I bought myself a new TV, and treated the family’ As my grandson, 21, chatted away on the phone, he explained to me that he had lots of exams coming up.’ He was studying for a degree in Applied Sports Science with Management at university. ‘Just do your best,’ I told him. And, when he told me he’d passed with flying colours a few weeks later, I was thrilled. ‘You get your brains from me,’ I teased, when he visited one afternoon for a cup of tea. After he’d gone, I settled with my computer for a few games of bingo before bed. I’d been a member of Pick Me Up! Bingo for 10 years. I really love the slot games like Diamond Bonanza, Tiki Island, and Winstones... Over the…