Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2019 i Pick Me Up! Special

Hearing a knock at the door, I knew who was on the other side and raced to open it. ‘Are you coming out to play?’ my friend Rebecca McManus, then 10, smiled. ‘Yep,’ I replied, matching her happy grin. Beccy and I had met in Reception class, aged five, and had become instant best friends. We only lived two roads apart, and were always knocking for each other. Time passed and Beccy and I went from playing with skipping ropes and dolls to helping each other with maths revision and liquid eyeliner. But we stayed so close through it all. And I knew we always would. First jobs, getting married, becoming mums… Whatever life threw at us, I knew we’d tackle it side by side. When we were 18, we…

Finding our seats on the plane, I couldn’t wait to get to sunny Spain. After a year of being together, I was off on a four-day holiday with my partner Ritchie, 31, and his four-year-old daughter, Taylor. ‘Get ready, Taylor,’ Ritchie laughed, as he buckled his little princess into her seat. ‘You’re going to have lots of fun,’ We were so excited, but unfortunately, the weather wasn’t on our side. Taylor was so excited to get into the sea and swim around like a mermaid, but it rained the whole time. She’s obsessed with mermaids, and regularly tries to convince me that she is one herself. So, by the third and final day of our trip, she was gutted. We tried to cheer her up, but she was having none…

Cosy bed I place a hot water bottle in my bed a little before I am going to sleep. It warms the covers up before I get in it and they stay toasty until I doze off. J. Jeffers, Middlesbrough Prepare the night before To get those few extra minutes in bed on a winter morning, I prepare my lunch and work clothes the night before. I choose my outfit, pack my bag and prepare my lunch so that there’s less to do. Julie, Manchester Wipe away I keep a packet of wipes on my desk at work so that I can keep my space tidy. My colleagues share them around, so we never have dirt or crumbs on our desk. Rosaline, Newquay Salt 'n bicarb If your oven or…

Kids love to cook, and Little Cooks Co is making it easier for the whole family to make memories. Each month they'll send you a cooking kit which includes a healthy recipe and all the dry ingredients you need to bake a delicious treat. A Little Cooks Co subscription would make a perfect gift! Each box pays for a vulnerable school child in the UK to receive a healthy breakfast through the charity Magic Breakfast. Courgette egg cups Makes 12 2 medium courgettes Around 2 cups worth of chopped veggies – we used sweetcorn, cherry tomatoes, spinach and red pepper 6 eggs ¼ cup of milk (almond or oat milk also work well) 1 cup of cheese (around 70g) salt and pepper METHOD: 1. Preheat your oven to 170°C (180°C…

Go for something discreet that can be worn all winter Wear bright and fun colours Help make the world better with a sweater! On Friday 13 December, thousands of people up and down the UK will start their day by pulling on a Christmas jumper for a great cause. Whether you join in at work, at home, at school or down the pub, it’s all about getting everyone together for some serious silliness. By donating £2 each to Save the Children, you’ll help create a brighter future for children across the world. Wear your best, brightest, loudest and most festive knit! Sign up at www.savethechildren. org.uk/christmasjumper-day/register…

Opening up a bag of Dreamies, I heard the paw-steps of my grey tabby tearing through the house. ‘You’d hear your treats opening up even if you were in the next town,’ I laughed, as Hatty nuzzled at her bowl of cat food. Me and my husband Gavin, 41, bought Hatty when she was just a little kitten. She was always a free spirit The moment we met her, we fell head over heels in love, and we knew we had to take her home. At the time, our house was overrun with mice, so Hatty stepped in straight away to clear out the riff raff. But, it wasn’t long before Hatty started bringing us her chosen catch of the day from the great outdoors. ‘What have you got now?’…

Tourists for a night My boyfriend and I decided to be tourists in our own city and explore Bristol! We went for a drink and a walk at the suspension bridge, it was lush. Jennifer, Bristol How funny!  Why don't you ever see Santa in hospital? Because he has private elf care! Never too cold Who said it's too cold for ice-cream? I loved this blackcurrant flavour! Harriet, Plymouth Date night My husband and I spontaneously went to a local Thai restaurant when the kids were out one evening. We had the best food and chill time! Elena, London Weekend away The gorgeous scenery in Brixham harbour in Devon. L. Marshall, Somerset Lift off My dad did a skydive for his birthday! This is the plane about to take…

Flopping onto my sofa, I pulled my iPad on to my lap and helped myself to another slice of pizza. It was late 2016 and this was my second greasy takeaway of the day. Yet I still wasn’t full. I’d always struggled with my weight, even as a kid. As a child I’d realised I was transgender – a woman trapped in a man’s body. I kept it to myself and the secret ate away at me. So, I started to comfort eat. By the time I was 18, I had reached 18st. Desperate to shed the pounds, I’d tried lots of diets. In summer 2008, with the support of my friends Claire, then 40, and Kimberley, 30, I began hormone treatment and started living as a woman. I wore…

Pulling out a slice of Tesco's own brand ham, my little cat Kev came purring at my feet. ‘Would you like a bit?' I smirked. Kev came into our family during Christmas 2015, thanks to my step-daughter, Hannah, 19, and although he was very well loved, he was one fussy eater! No matter what I tried to feed him, he would only have Tesco's own brand ham to eat. Not even the fancy expensive kind! He was the fussiest eater ‘At least he's saving us money,' my husband, Steve, 42, would laugh. Other than his diet, Kev was a low maintenance cat. He was always off exploring. But he was an affectionate cat! He loved it when my daughter, Bobbi, two, cradled him. Then, one afternoon in August last year,…

LEARN TO SKI MANCHESTER Have you always dreamed of skiing down the French alps or snowboarding in Switzerland, but have no idea where to start? Well, we may not be able to whisk you off on a snowy getaway, but we can give you the next best thing. With a qualified instructor, at the Manchester Ski slope, you will learn the solid foundations and fundamental skills to get you started on your ski adventure. Get a feel for the snow, learn how to steer yourself and have lots of fun in the process. This beginner lesson will help you on your mission to glide down the snowy slopes. • Price: £70 • Ski or snowboard beginner lesson, www.buyagift.co.uk LITTLE ONES ICE HOCKEY LONDON If your little ones have always wanted to learn…

It had been a tough few months for Jovi Pilapil with the breakdown of her turbulent marriage, but she was feeling more determined than ever to start building a new life for herself – whether her estranged husband, Alexander Villaluna, liked it or not. New Year, New Beginnings! she’d posted on her social media on 1 January, 2016. It was to be a fresh start. Nurse Jovi, 39, had separated from Alexander just two months earlier. Both originally from the Philippines, they’d met in New Zealand while studying nursing. Jovi had two children from a previous relationship. She and Alexander married and settled in Sydney, Australia, where they had a son. But the marriage soon started to fall apart. Alexander was possessive, jealous, and had been known to hit Jovi…

Don’t be afraid to mix and match silver and gold tones! Invest in something special that you can keep for years! Glittery accessories can be worn all year round. FASHION GADGETS YOU NEED With the party season fast approaching, we're all thinking about what we are going to wear to the office party and family get-togethers. Whilst it might be easy to find the perfect dress or heels, lasting the night in them and finding suitable undergarments is not. We've tracked down the most useful fashion gadgets to get you equipped and dancing the night away. This boob tape creates the effect of a surgical breast lift. Perfect for  any backless tops and v-shaped dresses, and ideal for the lady that hates wearing a bra out on a night! These…

A pair of best friends could end up in a sticky situation if their rough-and-tumble goes too far - because a sausage dog is pals with a baby porcupine. Porcupette Diablo made friends with little puppy Fig under the watchful eye of surrogate mum Estelle Morgan, who is hand-rearing the spiny little critter because he got rejected by his mum. Zookeeper Estelle took the tiny porcupette home to give him the best chance of survival when his mum Hannah rejected him at Cotswold Wildlife Park. When Diablo was just a few days old, Estelle introduced him to her puppy Fig for some company and essential social interactions to help his development, and the pair soon became best friends. The prickly pair now spend all day playing together. Estelle said; ‘It’s…

Walking into the cinema in Reidsville, North Carolina, I was on another chaperone job. I was with my little sister Hannah, 13, and her boyfriend, Brian Minter, also 13. But luckily, I wasn't chaperoning the two of them alone. Brian's older brother, Ben, 19 was also with us. ‘They're very sweet together,' I admitted to Ben one night. Although it wasn't the best thing in the world – making sure my little sister and her boyfriend didn't get up to any funny business – Ben was good company to be around. Coincidentally, we'd actually been speaking on MySpace before we found out that our siblings were dating. It was 2007 and soon, the four of us got in a good routine. We'd all go to the cinema or bowling together.…

For many people, Christmas can be the most wonderful time of the year, but it can also be expensive. Some families save all year round, just to make ends meet during the festive season. So, this month, we are here to help you cut back the costs and enjoy Christmas in an affordable way. DIY christmas cards Christmas cards are a super fun way to get into the festive spirit, but with family, friends and colleagues, the price can soon creep up! So why not make your own? It’s cost effective and is a great family activity. With the help of Hobby Craft (www.hobbycraft.co.uk), you can make these two Christmas cards for less than 50p each! MERRY CHRISTMAS POM POM CARD YOU WILL NEED: Navy blue card and envelope -…

Throwing our suitcases on the bed, we did a quick change of clothes and headed to the nearest bar. Me and 31 of my closest friends and family had just arrived in Magaluf in Majorca for my hen party. I was so excited, and it felt like I’d been waiting so long for it to come around. Enjoy yourself… and stay safe, my hubby to be, John, text after we arrived. And that’s exactly what I planned to do. I clambered up onto the bar for a dance As we excitedly danced down the main strip, I was wearing my custom hen T-shirt that the girls had made – it was white with the words MC Hammered on it. And the girls were wearing a black version which read; Can’t…

As I stood in the doorway of my living room, gazing down at my brood of four playing happily together on the floor, I smiled. I’d only ever planned on having two kids - one boy and one girl would have been just fine - but I couldn’t help but feel grateful for each and every one of them. Still, I was relieved to be finished having babies. I’d had my first child, Nicola, with my ex-boyfriend when I was just 19 years old and she’d been a massive surprise - not to mention completely life-changing. Now 11, she was joined by Ryan, nine, and Bobbie-Leigh, five, and my newborn Cooper, with my husband Pankaj. The kids were great and all mucked in to help look after their little brother.…

ALICE IN THE PALACE AT CHRISTMAS AT BLENHEIM PALACE , OXFORDSHIRE Enter the magical world of Alice in Wonderland as part of an enchanting new daytime experience at Blenheim Palace this Christmas. Step between the pages of a larger-than-life storybook and into your very own festive family adventure as you venture through the looking glass. Wander down the rabbit-hole, through the Hall of Mirrors, along the Hall of Doors and into the Palace's historic rooms. Magical sights and sounds conjure up a crazy assortment of curious characters; the White Rabbit is in his sitting room – he mustn't be late, you know. The Caterpillar's garden is filled with flowers, foliage and, of course, a rather large mushroom. With so much to do and so many characters to meet, this Christmas…

Sitting at the dinner table for Sunday lunch, I gazed down at the veggies. I was 14, and veggies were not my favourite. Diving into the Yorkshire puddings, I avoided eating Mum’s mashed swede. And, she’d spotted… ‘It’s good for you,’ my mum, Donna, now 45, said sternly. ‘Someone needs to eat it!’ She looked at me and then to my sister, Sophie. And I knew just who would… Our Jack Russell, Sally, sat at my ankles eagerly. ‘Shhh!’ I whispered, sneaking her my swede when Mum looked the other way. I grinned at my dad, Andy, now 43, across the table. Sally wasn’t fussy, she loved veggies just as much as meat. She’d nosh broccoli, carrots and even spuds. Mopping up leftovers was Sally’s skill. After every meal, she’d…

1 Lung cancer isn't common. 2 There are usually no symptoms in the early stages of lung cancer. 3 Lung cancer mainly affects young people. 4 Smoking can cause lung cancer. 5 Exercise can help lower your risk of developing lung cancer 1. FALSE Lung cancer is the third most common cancer in the UK and accounts for 13% of all new cancer cases. Since the early 1990’s, lung cancer cases have decreased by almost a tenth across the UK. Rates in females have increased by more than a quarter, while rates in men have managed to decrease by around a third. 2. TRUE There are often no signs or symptoms in the early stages of lung cancer as symptoms often develop as the condition progresses. The main symptoms include…

Myth – You'll get ill if you go outside with wet hair You might remember your parents and grandparents saying you'd catch a cold if you went outside with wet hair, but there is little evidence to suggest that this is true. Colds are caused by viruses and therefore cannot be affected by whether or not your hair is wet. You might feel a little chilly, but it won't do much else. Myth – A cold can turn into the flu It is simply untrue that a cold can turn into flu. They are both caused by different viruses, which means if you have a cold, it cannot develop into the flu. However, it is possible to have a cold and the flu at the same time. This is rare,…

Derek told the world what he’d done with a picture on his Facebook page Tapping on the photograph he’d just taken of his wife, Derek Medina uploaded it to Facebook. He’d posted images of Jennifer many times before – snapshots of them on holiday together with her daughter, or smiling for a selfie. But this family moment he’d captured couldn’t have been more different. I’m going to prison, Derek typed as a status update. You will see me in the news. As loved ones innocently flicked through Facebook, they were horrified to see a photo of Jennifer slumped on the kitchen floor, covered in blood. Above the picture, Derek had written RIP Jennifer Alfonso. He considered himself to be a relationship guru Everyone prayed it was a twisted joke. Why…