Innholdsfortegnelse for June 2023 i Pick Me Up! Special

Hello there sunshine – we are welcoming in all things summer as the season is well and truly in full swing! So, dust off your beach towels, grab your flattering swimsuits and immerse yourself in everything that Pick Me Up! has to offer this month. Tackling every day head-on is something that Bobby (pg28) does with determination and strength. At first, life certainly threw him a curve ball – but he’s not hanging up his footie boots just yet, especially as he has a summer of playing ahead! And after learning a new hobby during lockdown, Faye (pg62) has a lot of support, with strangers supporting her from behind a screen instead. Taking inspiration from some of the nation’s favourite villains, Faye uses her makeup wizardry to transform herself in…

International Executive Coach of the Year and confidence & human behaviour expert, Jo Emerson, answers your questions. Jo’s new email course can help you build confidence – visit jo-emerson.com. Listen to her podcast – Tell Me Who You Really Are. Find Jo on Instagram: @jo_emerson_ Fighting the urge… My new partner had only been single for a few months and the urge to keep tabs on his ex on social media is all too overwhelming. I feel like I need to compare myself to her and that I will never live up to what or who she was. Is there something wrong with me? Natasha, Durham YES Pick Me Up! reader Janet from Sunderlandsays: I hate to say it but this behaviour is obsessive and you NEED to stop – what…

INSTANT + APPOINTMENT With Dr Deborah Lee from Dr Fox OnlinePharmacy (doctorfox.co.uk) Bedroom issues Q Sometimes I find sex painful – my husband is great, but it’s making me scared to even initiate anything. What’s wrong with me? Imogen, Sutton Coldfield A This must be very distressing for you. Sex can be painful for many different reasons: Lack of lubrication – Due to not having enough foreplay, hormonal factors, or sometimes medication such as antidepressants or certain types of hormonal contraception. Infections – Thrush, STIs such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea and herpes, and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Gynae conditions – Endometriosis is a condition in which endometrial tissue are found outside the uterus, in the pelvic cavity, resulting in internal bleeding and scar tissue. Other possible causes could be ovarian cysts and fibroids.…

Give something new a go!…

Keeping it Greek I’m trying to go on a bit of a health kick but love Greek food. So I made this delicious souvlaki salad bowl. I even made my own tzatziki! This is going to be my summer staple. Corrine, Hull What is brown, hairy and wears sunglasses? A coconut on holiday! How funny! Secret garden I took my twins, Jack and Jessie, to visit this beautiful garden. They were in awe of the snake – and I was, too! Not scared one bit, they even wanted to go over and touch it. I had to remind them they couldn’t swim yet!  Emily, Lincoln What did the beach say to the tide? Long time no sea… How funny! In paradise Here I am relaxing on the beach in Spain for my…

What have both Jennifer Aniston and Orlando Bloom done in the past to spice up their private lives? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the letters in the shaded squares to find the threeword answer. ACROSS 1 Hot pepper sauce (7) 5 Building material (8) 9 Coin-making factory (4) 13 Jockey (5) 14 Hauled (7) 15 Famous waterfalls in the Great Lakes (7) 16 UFO pilot, perhaps (5) 17 Strict vegetarian (5) 18 Traditional story (6) 20 Made a choice (5) 21 Hard palm fruit, often found in a fairground shy(7) 23 Midwest state of the USA (4) 26 Restaurant list (4) 27 Easy way to the top of the piste (3,4) 30 Study of the past (7) 34 Type of power station that has a reactor…

This month… HOLIDAY SEASON Planning a holiday can seem like a full-time job in itself – especially on the cheap. So Nick Drewe, expert at Wethrift, has provided some easy ways to save some cash – take note… 1 Check different places By checking comparison websites like Sky Scanner you may find you can secure a better deal on your flights. Top tip: download the Chrome extension Cheaper There. When booking online through comparison sites, click on the extension, this will find you the best price overall. 2 A non-direct flight Flying non-direct and stopping through another country can be a great way to save a little bit of money. The great thing about choosing this option is that flights are normally a lot cheaper and you have the chance…

It’s BBQ season and we’re soaking up every second of it. Pimp up your platter with these mouthwatering bites. BBQ Shallot and Lamb Flatbreads INGREDIENTS: ☐ 600g lamb leg steaks, cut into bitesized pieces☐ 2 tbsp olive oil☐ 1 lemon, zest and juice☐ 3 cloves garlic, crushed☐ 2 tsps dried oregano☐ 6 shallots, peeled and quartered through the root☐ Salt and freshly ground black pepper TO SERVE: ☐ 6 flatbreads, wraps or pitta bread☐ A tub of tzatziki☐ Some slices of tomato and cucumber Top tip: You also need six skewers to thread the kebabs onto. If using wooden ones soak them in water for an hour so they don’t burn on the grill. METHOD: 1. Add the lamb to a bowl and mix together with the olive oil, lemon…

If you’re looking for a different kind of holiday this year or simply want to avoid a bustling airport lounge or having to wait around in security, perhaps interrailing is the way to go instead. It’s the new way of travel and it’s for everyone! Although it launched back in 1972, its popularity is still soaring across generations. As well as being perfect for couples, it also makes for a great family holiday. Due to unprecedented demand, airlines have ramped up their prices to meet the demands in recent years, with flight prices for the most popular summer holiday destinations, such as Spain and Greece, increasing by 150%. And with the cost of living crisis, how are our savings supposed to stretch this far? That’s where interrailing comes in –…

It’s going to be a scorcher – remember to lather on that suncream, bring a wide brimmed hat, a sunbed page-turner and get your toes in the sand. Every body is a beach body – feel confident all season long… THE PERFECT MATCH Made from 100% recycled plastic bottles, Kind Bags are an eco-friendly beach option loveit COVER UPS BEACH BUM! Don’t be afraid to strut your stuff on the sand – confidence really is key! THRIFT FLIP It is said that one in four people in the UK do not own pre-loved items in their wardrobe, according to the British Heart Foundation – something that they are pledging to change! As part of their Reuse Revolution, BHF are calling on you to shop and donate pre-loved. If you’re not…

Packing my overnight bag, the pain in my chest was getting even worse. I felt so out of breath. With my English Literature dissertation due to be handed in to Durham University in just a few days, I placed the tightness in my chest down to final year anxiety. But still, I was going to spend some time in Cornwall with my boyfriend Keilan, 22, and felt that would help relieve my worries and ease my mind. At least my dissertation will be handed in soon, I thought. Then I can relax a bit. But as I headed downstairs to say goodbye to my parents and brother Michael, 24, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was not just university anxiety at all. ‘My chest feels really strange,’ I said…

 Don’tforget it’s Father’s Day on 18 June! THRILL SEEKERS, UNITE! What says summer day out more than a theme park trip? And Thorpe Park’s summer Carnival is one you won’t want to miss! As well as all of Thorpe Park’s adrenaline-filled coasters, watch vibrant stage shows and enjoy awesome live entertainment. Don’t forget to check out this year’s new rides, too – the classic tea cup ride has been given a Dobble makeover, and if your nerves can handle it, take a ride into the realms of darkness on the new Ghost Train, where death is always waiting just one stop ahead… What’s more, you can save £30 when you book your tickets in advance – what are you waiting for? • Thorpe Park Carnival on from 21 July to…

Lifting another pile of washing onto the sideboard in the utility room, I glanced over at my daughter, Hollie, now three. She was sat content in her sandpit, giggling and shrieking with her toys. It’s lucky I can keep an eye on her from here, I thought, as my mind drifted back to the task at hand. She had spent the morning playing with our rabbits. She was so gentle with them – it was lovely to watch. Hollie, my partner Chris, 25, and I are animal mad. In fact, it has always been Chris’ dream to own a goat! Last summer, Hollie became obsessed with a spider we saw on holiday and wanted to take it home. ‘My spider, Mummy,’ she told us. Acouple of tantrums later, she compromised…

Best of friends I took my daughter Hallie on a walk and we bumped into this pretty peacock. Well, the bird was very interested in Hallie’s cookie – it was lucky there was a fence in the way! But she didn’t mind and now keeps asking when we can get a pet peacock. Hope, Glasgow Staring match I recently went to check out my friend’s new pad and her cats would not stop staring at me. I just wanted to be nosy and drink my wine in peace! I’ll always be a dog kind of girl. Misha, Croydon That’s quackers! Whenever my son and I go fishing, these pesky ducks are waiting for us at the bank. Maybe it’s because three-yearold Tyler insists on giving them the crusts of his…

Putting pencil to paper, I smiled as my masterpiece slowly came to life. Shading in corner shop signs, the bright lights of the local chippy and dogs roaming around the streets – I was drawing the council estate where I grew up. It was a passion that had reignited in 2020 when lockdown hit. Growing up, I had always been into my art. My nana Dorothy had been an artist, so creativity was in my blood. As long as there was paint, glue or glitter on the floor, I was happy. Only, having kids, Elliott, 26, and Billi, 32, with my partner, Colin, 62, and getting a fulltime job in retail, life had taken over and I’d pushed my art aside. It wasn’t until I found myself with not much…

Cutting up veg for dinner, I started bopping as a song came on the radio. I love this one, I thought as I hummed. Girls Aloud were one of my favourite bands – I loved them on Popstars: The Rivals back in the day, and I’d seen them live. I danced around the kitchen, singing along to Sound of the Underground as I finished making tea before my kids Eva, 15, and Charlie, 12, got home from school. That night, back in September last year, I was sitting watching TV with my husband Rob, 39, when the news came on. ‘Sarah Harding has passed away after a battle with breast cancer,’ the newsreader said. My hand flew to my mouth. She was only 39. I knew she’d been sick, but…

With adulthood just on the horizon, teenage years should be fun and carefree – and for most high school students, that’s the case. Kara Kopetsky, 17, had a contagious smile that made people gravitate towards her. She loved music and animals, and her friends and family were the centre of her world. But while it seemed like Kara was a regular high school student, she’d met a boy who was causing her nothing but problems. In 2006, Kara from Belton, Missouri, met Kylr Yust. While Kara was laid-back and friendly, Kylr, 18, was intense and had a temper. They dated for nine months before they broke up in April 2007, and things turned nasty. Kara went to the police and reported that she had been leaving her part-time job at…

Glancing at the café menu, I couldn’t decide what to have. ‘Do you know what you want sweetheart?’ I asked Jamie, then three years old. ‘Yes Mummy,’ he replied. ‘I’ll have chicken and chips please!’ It was then I noticed other parents looking over at my son – I hadn’t even had to read out anything on the menu to him – he was acting three times his age. ‘How old’s your little boy?’ one parent leaned over and asked me. ‘He’s just turned three,’ I replied. ‘He’s a genius!’ Only, it certainly hadn’t always been this way… At 21 weeks pregnant, I was told my placenta had stopped functioning and that my baby wouldn’t survive. Having had a normal pregnancy up until that point, it was a complete shock…

As my son laid back on his bed, he wanted to listen to some music. ‘Hey Alexa, play some music!’ Benjamin*, 14, called out. He didn’t even have to move! His favourite playlist started and a smile lit up on Benjamin’s face. Benjamin has Down’s syndrome and lives with his mum while our eldest Aaron*, 15, lives with me. Benjamin comes to visit every other weekend and I always make sure to have the Alexa by his bed. He loves music, so having Alexa nearby means he can listen to his favourite playlist whenever he likes. I’d also use it to set an alarm to wake him up on Sunday morning. He loved it. One weekend, Benjamin was due to come, but Aaron had just got over Covid and I…

Carers week falls between 5 and 11 of June – an annual campaign to raise awareness about the amazing work unpaid carers do. This year the focus is on recognising and supporting carers in the community – so here’s what you can do to support the carers in your life. • For more information, support and advice, please visit: carers.org REACH OUT Carers Trust’s CEO Kirsty McHugh said: ‘There are millions of unpaid carers across the UK, but lots of people just don’t think of themselves as one. ‘If you spend time looking after a sick or disabled relative or friend, there’s support on offer which you could be missing out on. ‘If you’re unsure where to turn, Carers Trust has a network of local organisations all over the country…