picke rgw34t by coolkdei2

AND WON! Issue

30 January 2020

MY BLIND BABY CAN FINALLY SEE

F U PUZZ

LEFT IN A COMA

because her e e r f d e k l a w r e k c atta

E F I W T N A N G E R P S HI uld ...so he co

We blew our wedding fund on

OUR DOG!

I gave mum a kidney for her birthday

Contents On the cover 6 Left in a coma because her attacker walked free 20 My blind baby can finally see 24 I fought the menopause… and won! 30 I gave my mum a kidney for her birthday 32 We blew our wedding fund on our dog! 42 Cheater drowned his pregnant wife …so he could watch porn

MILLI

Thisweek,we’rerecognisingtheamazing workofLindaJones, 1 fromBirmin ham. Shewrotetosay…

WORDSBY HANNAH POON PHOTOS: SWNS

eturning from a trip to New York, I felt utterly exhausted. Before going on the holiday, I’d been suffering with short-term memory loss, headaches and extreme tiredness, but now, I was burnt out. As a businesswoman, wife and mother-of-two, I just didn’t understand. Curled up in bed, I basically spent the next four months wrapped under the covers. My whole body hurt – even having a shower felt like rocks hitting my skin. Soon, I was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome, but there was no help. I had to give up my job, and my home-life broke down. But soon, I decided enough was enough. If no one else was going to help me, then I would have to help myself. I looked at all aspects of my condition and worked on creating a healthy and balanced lifestyle. I’d always

More real life We all support each other

loved being rushed off my feet, but that had to stop. people who suffer fatigue as a And soon, I started to feel result of fibromyalgia, cancer, loads better. brain injuries, PTSD, That’s when I knew I could hormone problems, anxiety help others, too. and depression. Putting out an advert, I I’m also setting up a second invited people with chronic business called life4changing. fatigue to my house. It aims to bring health and Soon, my living room was wellbeing programmes into filled with strangers – all of the workplace. whom I could relate to. Since starting Salus From there, the in 2007, I’ve seen a I knew support group distinct pattern in I could continued to grow and personality traits. help that’s how Salus Most people who others Fatigue Foundation suffer with chronic was born. fatigue are Once a month, a group of us over-achievers, hard workers all meet in Birmingham and and adrenaline junkies. discuss chronic fatigue. So, I encourage everyone to From teens dealing with look after themselves and try exam stress to people in the to spot the signs early. dark place that I was. When I was diagnosed, I Salus now has an online could barely walk by myself, website, too. but I made a positive change It gives advice for people and you can, too! with chronic fatigue, as well as 

Bitesize! 1

5 6 7 ACROSS 1 Severe, stern (4) 5 Distinct air (4) 6 Billy ___, 1980s singer (4) 7 Jamboree shelter (4) DOWN 1 Manner of walking (4) JUST FOR 2 Bad mannered (4) 3 Make smooth (4) 4 Variety of whisky (4)

Like me, you can turn it all around!

Sneaky peek at this week! P26 Prints charming

10 17 28 50

Lucky 11 Double blow Bingo winner A Messi mix up

From you 3 One in a million 12 Your brainwaves

Feelgood 4 15 16 23 26 34 36 37 38 39 40 46 48

Your pick me ups Your dilemmas Your health Animal magic Your style Viral dangers Your telly Your home Genius or bonkers? Look amazing! Easy eats… Solve it in 7 Food and drink Your stars r: Gail Shortland r Writer: Laea Marshall re Writers: Rosie Crass, ah Poon, Nia Dalton r Designer: Victoria Elliott gner: Emily Kelford or Designers: Yazz Williams, lie Moxham, Mel Walter

P48 Tea for two

FUN

Read down the shaded squares for the answer. Answer on page 47.

P23 Puppy power

me Remember when…? elebrity style is outrageous – there’s no doubt about it. Whilst the high street is usually quick to follow trends, the celebrity outfits that not e fans are willing to follow. Taking a trip back throu time, we reminisce on the media headlines that hav sent the world of fashion into a frenzy. From Lady Gaga’s meat dress to JLo’s jungle dres fashion has defined the past few decades. Gone are Miley Cyrus’ pink and glitzy Hannah Montana days, now she is raunchy, rebellious and refreshingly controversia You didn’t think we’d fo about the risqué naked w ball now, did you? In the 90s, Victoria Beckham love low-rise jeans, Madonna rocked a mini dress and Sarah Jessica Parke was a shoulder pad icon. Remember Britney Spears’ VMA performance in the denim hot pant and albino snake? Iconic. It’s safe to say we love a nose at the hottest red carpet looks. Geri Halliwell’s notorious Union Jack dress has a special place in our hearts – which gown do you wish you owned?

WORDS: SWNS STOCK IMAGES: GETTY AND ALAMY

GET IN TOUCH

Sendusyourstoriesand photos, including all names and ages, a daytime phone number and full address. E-mailhello@pickmeupma .co.uk WRITE TO Pick Me Up! Media Centre, Emma-Chris Way, Abbey Wood Park, Filton, Bristol, BS34 7JU PHONE 01174400607 FACEBOOK facebook.com/pickmeupmag SEE OUR WEBSITE lifedeathprizes.com TI Media Limited reserves the right to reuse any submission sent to Pick Me Up! magazine, in any format or medium. Unfortunately, we can’t return photos without a stamped sae. Letters/photos must not be sent to any other publication.

Why didn’t we think of this? L

ooking back over the past 10 years, we’ve probably all uploaded hundreds – if not thousands – of pictures to social media. But what if we could have all those photos compiled into one book? My Social Book transforms your social media content into physical books in just one click. Whether documenting a family holiday or celebrating a special relationship, My Social Book’s automated web-based platform allows anyone to print 10 years of Facebook and Instagram memories in as quickly as 45 seconds. Reliving your favourite posts, remembering your honeymoon, printing your pet’s Instagram page or creating a heartfelt Valentines’ gift are some of the many reasons so many people are using this already. Visit www.mysocialbook com to print your own yearbook.

n’t We ca hese t forget les! sty

hether you’ve got sensitive teeth, don’t like the taste of ice water, or just like a good swig of your drink - it’s annoying when ice hits your lips and teeth. When your paper straw goes soggy, what do you do? IceBloc is a brand new, ecofriendly gadget that stops the ice in your drink from hitting your lips and teeth. Made of plants, the clever design slides onto the edge of any glass to make your drink swiggable! It’s easy to clean, reusable, and can be composted when you’re done. Simple. IceBloc, £4.99 for 6, Amazon

UNU SUA BUY L

My granddaughter looks fabulous wearing her New Year glasses! Mary dley Heath

This is my Nanny Von on her 80th birthday! Bless her, she’s still a right old laugh! Alexandra Low, Halesowen

DON’T MISS THIS!

et back to the jungle sooner than you think! ITV have released first artist impressions of the brand new I’m A Celebrity... Jungle Challenge, which will open at MediaCityUK in Manchester later this year in autumn 2020. The I’m A Celebrity... Jungle Challenge will be a 2,500 square metre indoor entertainment feature with all your favourite show bits - from the Outback Shack to the Bushtucker Telegraph in the ultimate jungle encounter. The action-packed family entertainment centre promises to take campmates into the heart of the jungle, where you’ll

need to navigate a series of obstacles and challenges. Face your fears, test your nerve and agility, and venture into the jungle canopy, collecting stars as you go to be crowned King or Queen of the jungle! Visitors can expect a 90-minute action packed challenge through jungle ziplines, parachute drops and vertical climbing walls; the perfect day out for all the family! Advanced play tickets are now available to purchase online. Bag your star pass and be one of the first to play the challenge when the attraction opens for just £15 at www.itv.com.

Grant, 35, has my whole heart especially in this mask.

SLTETATERR

Stacy Gibson, Wordsley

My lovely granddaughter had this mermaid outfit for her birthday recently, she couldn’t wait to pose in it Patricia Cordon, Cheltenham

Feelgood buy

nspiring Bobby Latheron is a 24-yearold who lives with autism. He has produced an autobiography to raise awareness of autism, and help other people understand what a person with autism goes through on a daily basis. ‘We have feelings like normal people, we think differently and there are certain barriers we have to overcome, but enjoy fulfilled lives,’ Bobby says. You can find My World in my Words for £9.99 at Waterstones.

my daughter Mia shopping on the weekend and she thought it was hilarious to take this pic of me being eaten by a T-Rex Lisa Adams, West Midlands our letter makesStar Letter of the week, you will receive some beautiful blooms from Flying Flowers. With over 30 years’ experience of helping celebrate life’s special moments and FREE delivery by post, a gorgeous bouquet by Flying Flowers is a lovely way to celebrate sharing smiles and happiness. See lyingflowers.co.uk for more details. 5

R F L L A F When Sheridon , Newcastle, opened up to her meahnim she never imagined it would b she ended up running from…

THE

G I BREAD WORDS BY HATTIE BISHOP AND LAEA MARSHALL PHOTOS: SWNS

entatively popping the wine cork, I was grateful when my boyfriend, Samuel Ford, 24, took over the pouring duties for me. ‘I’ve always been a bit clumsy and you’ve got white carpets!’ I explained with a laugh. Samuel smiled and leaned in to give me a kiss. ‘You’re too beautiful to be clumsy,’ he told me, sitting back down on the sofa and handing me a large glass of red wine. ‘Right, where were we?’ I asked, leaning back and settling into my story. I’d been confiding in him about my struggles with anxiety and depression, and although we’d been talking all night, there was still so much more to say. I’d never felt able to talk to anyone so honestly before, but I loved how open and sensitive he was to my needs and I really felt that he was listening. It was what had really attracted me to Samuel after

approve of. It would make him moody and aggressive. ‘You’re not wearing that, go and change,’ he’d nstruct me if he didn’t like my outfit choice. At first, I ried to fight my corner, but I quickly realised that t was better o just do as he said. He had a violent emper, too, and more often than not, it just wasn’t worth he hassle Samuel had of arguing seemed so kind with him. ‘You never wear makeup anymore, we’d met in a club in Newcastle trying a more natural look, are in August 2017. ‘He’s just seems so kind and I you?’ my friends would joke. ‘Yeah, just trying something quite like that he’s a bit shy,’ I’d new, girls,’ I’d laugh back. told my best mate, Steve, 26, I was desperate to the next day. tell them what was Things moved fast between going on with us, and before long, Samuel Samuel, but I was was declaring his undying love too scared. for me. He’d kill me if I We’d spend all our time ever said anything, I together, either at my flat, or at thought to myself his house. whenever I felt At first, I really liked how tempted to blurt it caring he was, and felt secure out to anyone. with him. After a month or two, But it wasn’t long before I though, I realised that I noticed that Samuel could be couldn’t carry on anymore. quite controlling. I was becoming increasingly He was also using cocaine on isolated from my family and occasion, which I didn’t

friends – and my anxiety and depression were being exacerbated by being around someone so volatile. ‘I really don’t think this is working,’ I said to Samuel one evening that October, after plucking up the courage to be honest with him. I started packing up my things, but he ripped the bag out of my hands, went over to double lock the door, and then started watching TV again. ‘You’re not going anywhere without me,’ he said without even looking up. Not knowing what to do, I tried to just get on with it and see if maybe he’d change, but things just got worse. In October 2018, I tried to talk to him again about breaking up. ‘I told you not to speak about this, you don’t get to decide these things,’ he raged, his face turning red from shouting. I tried to leave, but he caught up with me, grabbing and twisting my arm right back. ‘Owww,’ I cried out in sheer agony, as my arm painfully contorted. It felt like he had broken it, but I couldn’t be sure. Before I had time to think, Samuel had pushed me violently to the floor. ‘Call an ambulance, I think my arm is broken,’ I begged him. ‘No, you’re fine, stop moaning,’ he replied coldly. I lay there sobbing as he went to the bathroom for a shower, acting as if nothing had happened. Suddenly, seeing my chance to escape, I rushed over to the bedroom balcony. It was two floors up, but it

I knew he’d broken my arm

R G M O R o his riend s house at around I was desperate to get away 1am and walked around alone from him. Just as I was lowering myself for a bit before some kind strangers took pity on me and over the edge, preparing to called the police. jump to safety, I heard a noise ‘No, it’s nothing at all, I’ve in the room behind. just argued with my boyfriend,’ It was Samuel. I tried to tell them, ‘What are you doing?’ he raged, dragging me back in and downplaying the situation. But the police didn’t seem to chucking me back on the floor. Eventually, after I’d begged him for hours, he rang an ambulance and I was finally treated for a broken shoulder at Newcastle Freeman Hospital. I was forced to lie to all my friends and family – even to my mum Karen, 52 – and say that I’d fallen down the stairs. Samuel was there with me, acting like a concerned boyfriend. But when we were left alone, he went back to his old ways. ‘You better not He had total tell anyone about control over me this,’ he hissed. Despite everything he’d done, I still couldn’t escape his clutches – he just wouldn’t leave me alone and I felt like there was no way out. ‘If you ever try and escape me again, you will seriously regret it,’ he’d tell me menacingly. I was still too scared to confide in anyone, and so I couldn’t find any way of leaving the hellish life I’d now found myself in. In mid May 2019, with my arm still healing, we went to see some of Samuel’s pals on the other side of town. After drinking in the sun all day, we got into a big row after he told me I was a ‘slut’ for wearing shorts. I was livid and

REAL LIFE

Upset, drunk and tired, I forgot to double lock the door before passing out on the sofa. At 6am, a huge bang woke me with a start. Before I had a chance to work out what was happening, Samuel was in my flat. He’d broken in, and was hovering over me. ‘Don’t you ever run away from me again,’ he screamed, dragging me from the sofa. ‘What

Back for more

VIOLENT

had only just started to heal, break again. It was total agony. He then threw me back down and tried to strangle me, before shoving his fingers down my throat, ripping the inside of my mouth to shreds with his nails. I tried to scream for help, but Samuel just turned the music on his phone up on full blast to drown out my cries. His loud gym music was blaring loudly as I begged him over and over again to stop. ‘You’ve grassed me up to the police, haven’t you?’ he kept shouting, his wild eyes bulging out of his sockets. ‘Get out of my flat, just get the hell away from me,’ I told him, trying my best to fight him off. I reached for my phone, but he took it from me and bent it clean in half. He was like a wild animal. He started to strangle me again until I felt faint. He’s going to kill me this time, I thought, petrified. Thankfully, phone rang just as I was uggling for breath. He took the call outside the om, giving me time to think. glanced over at the balcony ain and thought that maybe s time I could do it. t’s just a little jump, I tried convince myself, trying to pare my body for the fall…

RN PAGE FOR MORE 7

WORDS BY HATTIE BISHOP AND LAEA MARSHALL PHOTOS: SWNS

REAL LIFE

R E T T E AB PLA

s I was about to climb over the railings, I saw my neighbour walking by, and screamed at him to call the police. Samuel, who’d come back into the room, turned on his heels and ran. With him gone, I managed to carefully put my sling back on over my shoulder. A few minutes later, the police arrived, and after giving them a statement, I was taken to hospital to have my shoulder seen to. After that, fearing Samuel would be after me, I went to stay with my mum. I was told a few days later

that the police had caught up with him. He was arrested while staying at his sister’s house, and he’d been charged with assault and false imprisonment. I began to look forward to his day in court, knowing that justice would prevail. And not long after, on a night out with pals, I met my now boyfriend, Adam Appleton, 29. ‘He’s everything that Samuel wasn’t, he’s the real deal!’ I told best mate Steve, over the moon. In June 2019, prosecutors at Newcastle Crown Court had agreed ccept a guilty plea from muel for controlling d coercive behaviour – aning he could walk e from court. He was given just 200 urs of community vice and a three-year straining order. Didn’t they believe e?’ I cried to Adam hen I found out. I was so angry. The weight of verything was finally atching up with me and

I tried to take my own life

Healing slowly 8

R O F E V I L O T H C U M SO I sank into a deep depression. I was petrified to leave the house in case I saw Samuel. My anxiety was off the scale, and one morning after Adam had left for work, I decided to take an overdose, swallowing a cocktail of tablets. I text Adam to say goodbye and to tell him I loved him. After that, I passed out. Thankfully, Adam called an ambulance and alerted my mum, and I was rescued just in time. My heart stopped beating a few times in the ambulance and I was in a coma for over five days in Newcastle Victoria Infirmary. Waking up, Adam was sat next to me, tears in his eyes. Looking around, there were cards and teddies from loved ones in my room, and when I read them, I burst into tears. ‘I’ll never do it again,’ I promised Adam. Luckily, I’ve had no longterm issues, and I’m feeling a

lot better now. I have my down days, and I worry about bumping into Samuel in the future. I still suffer with anxiety and sometimes have panic attacks, but I’m getting better at coping with them – especially with the help of Adam. I’ve got too much to live for, and I’m not going to let Samuel ruin my life. I’m just glad I finally got away from him when I did. I attend regular counselling sessions, and I’m hoping to do a counselling course in the future so that I can help others. I wouldn’t want anyone to go through what I have. It just goes to show, no matter how bleak, there is always help out there if you look hard enough.

I suffer with panic attacks

 Are you experiencing domestic abuse? Call the Refuge 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.

FUN Follow it! R O F T S U J

signed be easily moved

Baking chamber

Old Russian ruler

Eternally

Solve the puzzle to spell out a term related to the picture. The arrows show you where to put your answers. The answer is spelled in the yellow squares. Answer on page 47.

Rayburn-like cooker

Helen of , legendary beauty

Silent acting

Knock gently

Fruit’s skin

Flat round plate

Rodent often kept as a pet

Edge of a roof

Longoria, US actress

Ensigns

Posed (for an artist)

Used a keyboard

Frozen sweet

Stylish

Blyton, writer

Not at all tempting

Frenchowned Med island

Sprinkle (with powder)

Kids’ card game

Old stabling yard

Shade of brown

Drink of the gods

Outlaw

The Seven Year , Monroe ﬁlm Go one better than

Oval food items

Fizz, verve

Bonjour doormat , £19

Snack bar

Say ‘th’ for ‘s’

Designed for, or using, singing

Pierce with a tusk

Will Smith boxing ﬁlm

Divans, couches Amphibian of lizard shape

Psychic power (inits)

All hings right!

Coat rack , £12.50

RED CANDY! I AGES: GETTY

Sleeveless T-shirt

Inside info

See photo

Watchful

Classroom table

Salesman

Hot Trend!

Noise made when sleeping

Breadth

Trim, snip

Court romantically

Some

Wheel cover

Stolen goods

Bread grain

Computer screen pointer

Abode

Young female

Padded lingerie item

Release (a knot)

Assembles

Very deep sleep

Extra good

Famous fountain in Rome

Neglect, decay

Invalidate

Smart , know-all

Make changes to

Get very hot

Check thoroughly

Boy

Paper fasteners

Seed of the oak

Classical piece

Assert

Mini eclipse mirror, £21

Four glasses, £28

Planter , £6.50

Leopard hanging planter, £10 9

y l i m a f r u o m y e S e Th

urrying the kids into Frankie & Benny’s, I smiled at the waiter. ‘Table for 11 please,’ I said, pointing at the kids. As our excitable troops followed to be seated, I could see a roomful of eyes counting our family. Along the table, we had Taylor, 21, Oliver, 18, Morgan, 16, Aston, 14, Jensen, 12, Tristan, 10, Gemma, eight, Xavier, four, and Radleigh, two. Chatting away to my husband of 21 years, Layden 49, we ignored the whispers We are used to people judging and watching us – there’s a stigma around big families, after all. Many people think large families are miserable, caus havoc, treat their children unequally and struggle to keep up with the demands. But our children are happ healthy and respectful. We feel like the luckiest parents alive. When Layden and I married in 1998, we never planned to have children. We fell in love at 15, and neither of us were brought up in big families. It wasn’t something we’d even considered. Then after having our firstborn Taylor in 1999, everything changed. ‘She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me,’ Layden Layden comforted me. said, loving being a dad. Feeling blessed to have our Layden began travelling less beautiful children, we tried for work, and I left my banking once more for a baby. job to be at home. And fortunately, Radleigh, Two years later, we had our now two, was welcomed into son Oliver, and started the world. working for ourselves. Although, it wasn’t as And every two years after smooth a labour as the others. that we had a son, until our Radleigh was breech, so I seventh baby came along – our little girl Gemma. I had a natural childbirth every time, I love being a mum and I loved pregnancy. ‘Morgan is exactly like you,’ Layden said, admiring his blue eyes and blonde hair. ‘And Oliver is a mini version of you!’ I laughed – his dark hair and dark eyes were exactly the same. Jensen is the only one that’s a mixture of us both, with gorgeous green eyes. We had our baby boy Xavier, and then I suffered a miscarriage. ‘We’ll try again,’

LUCKY

WORDS BY NIA DALTON PHOTOS: SWNS

Frances Seymou … n re d il ch e in n h it w fe li e th in ay d her busy

opted to have an emergency caesarean in hospital. And the following day, I was up and out, driving the car. As a mum of nine, there was no time to sit still! At the time, Layden had retired, but we were struggling to make end’s meet. Selling our business, we downsized and moved from Essex to Suffolk. We invested in play centre, and 4 Fun became our next family ompany. Then Channel 5 reached out and started filming us for Me and My 10 Kids. Whilst the kids worked hard at the play centre, threw tent sleepovers with their friends in the back garden, and cooked casseroles in the kitchen, the cameras followed our every move. During filming, I noticed a mole on the

right side of my chest. ‘It’s itchy and irritable,’ I told the GP. ‘I certainly don’t think it’ll kill you,’ he advised. Opting for a second opinion, I had a biopsy on the mole at a dermatology clinic. Holding Layden’s hand, we waited for the results. ‘We’ve got the results, unfortunately they came back positive,’ the dermatologist said seriously. ‘However, I’ve got a course of action planned that is even more positive,’ he explained, reassuring me. ‘Does this mean I’ve got cancer?’ I said, taking it all in. ‘Yes, carcinoma is a common form of skin cancer,’ he said, confirming it. Staying calm, we decided on photodynamic therapy treatment (PDT). PDT uses a light-sensitive drug and a laser to destroy cancer cells. Going home to the kids, I

I noticed a mole on my right chest

REAL LIFE

4 Fun play centre

My amazing husband

11 ! carried on as normal. Packing their school lunches, Layden looked at me. ‘I’m amazed by you,’ he smiled across the kitchen. Months on, I’m waiting for the results, but everything looks positive. When people ask me what a day in the life is like with nine children, I tell them: ‘It’s organised chaos!’ Radleigh and Xavier are always awake at 6am. Creeping into our bed, we have morning snuggles and then stick the kettle on and get breakfast out and ready for everyone. Croissants, toast, cereal, porridge – it’s safe to say we get through a lot of food. 60 litres of milk a week, to be exact. ‘We need a cow in the garden!’ Layden chuckles. At 8am, we rally the troops up for school. Rushing around in my bathrobe, I put a load of washing on whilst Layden irons the kids’ uniforms. ‘Who needs lunch money?’ he calls, loading them into our 12-seater Land Rover Defender. We end up doing six

school trips back and forth a day. Half of the children go to school, and the other half are home-schooled when it suits. We put every child through the education system, and then let them make their own decision when they hit secondary school. Jensen, 12, recently decided that school wasn’t for him, but Aston, 14, loves to go. Morgan, 16, started homeschooling too, and now he’s working for Epic Games, successfully creating gaming maps for Fortnite. ‘It’s the school of life,’ Layden says, teaching the kids at home. Everyone helps out at 4 Fun

different times. You’ll see them ressed in their polo irts, cleaning uipment and serving ffee and cake. Oliver, 18, is director Planet Pizza, the zeria in the play ntre, and even little by Radleigh is our oduct tester! At home, the kids are ways playing and king a mess, or as Layden likes to call it – making magic. ‘Can I bake cupcakes?’ Gemma, eight, asks most days. She’s usually got her nose in a bowl, covered in cake mix by 10am. Layden and I sit down and have our breakfast mid morning and then either spend the day at work or cleaning the house and shopping for food. We cook everything from scratch and need to go to the shops daily. Sometimes it’s just to grab a few bits, other times it’s a £200 full trolley. A quick dinner for us would

e spaghetti olognese. If we’re not making homemade pasta, we boil different types of dried pasta for different kids. ‘Can I have fusilli, please,’ Tristan asks, whilst Morgan and I choose spaghetti. We cook two types of pasta auce, one with mint and one without, and lots of garlic read and dough balls. And we always eat tea ogether around thetable. Although it sounds cliché, very day feels like Christmas Day in our house. I wouldn’t change the chatty, giggling table conversations for the world. We openly talk about everything, including the ins and outs of the family business. ‘Thanks for food,’ Aston says, hugging his dad before he clears his plate. Our evenings are full of films, books, games and usually the kids’ friends visit. We haven’t got a strict bedtime routine – instead, they all self-regulate within reason. All the kids have their own bedrooms, and the youngest two share a room. As you can imagine, Layden and I hardly ever manage to fit couple time into the daily mix. We value the rare moments we get to ourselves. Standing outside the front door on an evening, we watch the twinkling stars and hug, taking in the peaceful silence and view of the beach. Some mornings, Oliver, 18, will stay in charge whilst the two of us pop out for a coffee at our favourite café. ‘I can’t remember the last time I went on holiday,’ Layden says, whilst we try to plan a trip just us two. For the past three years, myself and my eldest daughter Taylor, 21, have taken the older kids away, whilst Layden stays at home with the young ones. Life is too short to not enjoy every moment. We feel so privileged to have the family that we do. We work together, play together, eat together. For us, family always comes first.

Our home is crazy, fun and full of love

They mean everything to us

Tune in to Me and My 10 Kids on 5Starat9pm everyTuesday through January and February. 11

Your We share your brilliant tips!

Sew tip!ing

Needlework storage Be a winner !

I use a scourer as a pin cushion. It’s much cheaper than buying one and just as safe. Angela Garvin, Romford

Tip

This week, our tip of the week will receive a great product from Addis! The Easi Airer (£39.99) is ergonomically designed to make loading your laundry a breeze. The specially designed rungs are angled to ensure easy loading of clothes and offers 15m of drying space. For more ways to make your life easier, visit addis.co.uk.

Homemade light

I created this unique light by using an empty wine bottle and themed tissue paper. Simply paint whitewash glaze over the surface, then use PVA glue to stick the paper, and place a set of cork lights inside Connor McGuire, Cleethorpest

of the

week

par ng w

Spritz and smell

It’s hard to find the hole in an aerosol perfume spray bottle, so I put a dab of brightly coloured nail varnish under it. Now, I spray my perfume in the right direction. Colleen Brunton, Enfield

To wash trainers, put them in a pillowcase with a few towels. Use liquid rather than powder detergent and wash on a cooler setting. Richard Adams, West Midlands

Bathroom hack

My curtains won’t hang right, so I cut toilet roll tubes in half and then slipped them over the curtain pole and in between each eyelet. They can’t be seen and now hang perfectly even! Leeanne Maginn, Coleraine

ior r e t In gic! ma

COMPILED BY NIA DALTON

...

Remember, these are YOUR tips – we havent tried them ourselves

R O F T S JU

Fill it! N U F 1

ACROSS

7 ___ ship, captain’s warning (7) 8 Letter salutation (4,3) 9 Removes the cargo from (7) 10 Let loose, set free (7) 12 Strong beer variety (4,6) mplete the grid then read down the shaded 13 Small infant (4) ares to reveal the name of a cheese that inates from the Netherlands. Answer on page 47. 15 Hobby requiring an album (5,10) 18 Rubber wheel covering (4) 3 4 5 6 19 Foaming suds for the tub (6,4) 21 Tilted (7) 8 23 Fragile, easily snapped (7) 24 Bumped, collided (7) 25 Sports judge (7)

DOWN

11 12

1 In great quantity (10) 2 Walking (2,4) 3 Framed pop group’s award (4,4) 4 Vaccination pioneer (6) 5 Strictly ban (8) 6 Stereo equipment (2 2) 11 Quiet gentle song (7) 14 Night at the Museum star (3,7) 16 Submissive behaviour (8) 17 Item of darkroom equipment (8) 19 Ale manufacturer (6) 20 Pancake mixture (6) 22 Tempt, entice (4)

Your answer ______________________________

______________________________

JUST FOR

Strik On your bingo card, cross out all the numbers that appear on the balls. Read the letters beside the remaining numbers on your card from left to right to spell out your answer word. Answer on page 47. A

19 48 41

Which one of the listed numbers won’t fit in this mini grid? Answer on page 47.

13 22 35 41

4 77

FUN Number fit! 35

70 81

59 65 74 88

1354/1418/4538/4543/8315 13

CONCERT BREAKS BY AIR OR EUROSTAR™

André Rieu

The Johann Strauss Orchestra

The Vrijthof Concerts, Maastricht Book by 31 Jan and Save 5%! Plus choose 6 free bottles of wine or a free hamper!*

Don’t miss André Rieu the – ‘King of Waltz’– performing live in his hometown of Maastricht! Acknowledged as one of the world’s greatest living musical legends, Dutch-born André Rieu was classically trained, and is now an accomplished violinist, an excellent conductor and a truly great showman. With his orchestra, choir, soloists and special guests he brings a delightful and innovative approach to his concerts, recreating the atmosphere of 19th-century Viennese Dance Halls. Rapt audiences sway with the music, hum along and even dance in the aisles – it all happens! During these concerts – the highlight of your break – you will hear music from across the star’s repertoire, from his ﬁrst major hit album, ‘Strauss & Co’ to his current hit album, ‘Romantic Moments ӀӀ’. They will be wonderful not-to-bemissed experiences!

Three-day air-inclusive break, departs 2, 4, 9, 11 Jul 2020 Prices now from £489pp Five-day air-inclusive break, departs 3, 8, 10 Jul 2020 Prices now from £632pp Three-day Eurostar™ break, departs 1, 3, 10 Jul 2020 Prices now from £493pp Five-day Eurostar™ break, departs 30 Jun, 2, 9 Jul 2020 Prices now from £636pp

Visit pmu.newmarketholidays.co.uk or call 0330 160 7988 quoting code PMU Price per person is based on two people sharing a twin. Single supplement applies. Subject to availability. Prices can be withdrawn at any time. These holidays are operated by, and your resulting contract will be with, Newmarket Holidays Ltd ABTA V7812, ATOL PROTECTED 2325 – a company wholly independent of Pick Me Up published by TI Media Limited. Standard phone charges. Prices correct at time of print 8/1/2020. *5% discount and free wine or hamper offer applies to bookings made by 31/01/2020. Visit newmarketholidays.co.uk/offer-terms for full terms and conditions. Price shown includes discount. Offer may be withdrawn at anytime.

...

Your

ce vi ad d oo g e m so r fo ! p U e M k ic P Stuck for what to do? Write to I betrayed my friend by sharing some confidential things she’d said to me, and now we’re not speaking. I know I was wrong. How can I make it right? Bella,Stafford

Q Sue Tappenden (www. headspaceforchange. com) is an experience coach and people expert who helps her clients become more effective in all that they do.

Would it be so wrong? I’m 45 and I’d love to have another child. When I told my friends, they said that it would be really unfair on the baby. Am I being selfish? Jenny, Oxford

You can’t change what happened, so what you do now is important. Honesty is the best next step, so find a way to tell your friend that you know you have made a mistake in doing what you did, that you are sorry, that you know it was wrong, and whatever else you want and need to say to her. Face to face is best, but if she doesn’t want to speak to you, you may need to write her a text or a note. Unfortunately, you aren’t in control of her reaction to your apology, but hopefully, if

Everything has changed I’ve started dating a guy and he’s recently admitted he fell into a wrong crowd and has a conviction for stealing. He says he’s a different man now – and was relieved when I said it didn’t change anything. But it does! I’m really disappointed. Nicky,Hull

PHOTOS: GETTY

Many women are having babies well into their 40s these days, and it isn’t as unusual as it used to be. There are many children growing up with the varied pros and cons of having an ‘older’ mum, and being a good mum isn’t age-related! Having a baby is a huge privilege that doesn’t come easily to all women, and having a baby at any age is such a personal experience. There is never going to be a clear answer to your question about being selfish (whatever selfish means to you), but think through the physical and emotional impact on you, your family, and your new baby to help figure out what feels right. Talk to health professionals as well as to those close to you, but listen hard to your instinct. Nature and our own body have an uncanny way of knowing what’s right for us, so trust them, too!

you are good friends, she will understand that it was a mis-judgement that you won’t repeat. If not, time can be a great healer, and she may feel able to forgive you and move on in the future. Ask yourself why you betrayed her confidence – was it to impress the person you told or to get your own back on your friend? Understanding why might help avoid the same situation in the future.

GETTING HELP If you’d like advice from our Pick Me Up! expert, email us at hello@ pickmeupmag.co.uk or write to us at the address on our contacts page (pg4). If your problem affects your mental wellbeing, you can call the helpline run by the charity Mind on 0300 123 3398, open 9am to 6pm weekdays.

He’s been open and honest with you early on, and that’s a good thing – but it’s no surprise that the news has left you feeling differently about him. If you wanted to be with him until the point he told you, you now need to decide the extent to which you can accept him with his past. Go back and talk to him about how you feel now that it’s sunk in. If he cares about you, he’ll understand, and being able to talk openly will be building a healthy relationship based on trust. If he has genuinely changed, rejecting him for a past mistake may feel harsh, and you may choose to put it behind you and move on together. Or you may feel you simply can’t stay with him because he’s overstepped a mark that goes too far. The more you talk, the more you will know whether your feelings for him can survive this or whether you need to move on.

Dealing with change

hroughout our lives we experience change, and for some, it’s scary. The unknown can be a pretty daunting thing to face, whether it’s a new job, a new town, or the end of a relationship. But there are ways to cope better. Ask yourself what is the worst that can happen? Imagine all the likely

YOU’VE GOT THIS

outcomes, and by thinking them through, you’ll see that nothing is as bad as you are imagining. Figure out how much of it you can actually control, and try not to fight the things you can’t. Seek support and tell yourself that ‘things are changing and that’s OK.’ Accepting change will reduce the fear factor.

Your

Disclaimer: Medical advice provided is for interest only and should never be substituted for seeing a doctor or seeking medical advice. If you have specific medical concerns please seek advice from a qualified medical professional.

Health

INSTANT

appointment

HOW TOÉ

Tony G Founde

Treat constipation

s are y t, and a or ist can n ne is t iate. ne of sing d effective ying (especially in etween the digits) is essential, and frequent sock and shoe changes will My 11-year-old son reduce the likelihood of the keeps getting athlete’s fungal infection returning. Fungus thrives in dark, foot. What’s the best warm and moist way to get rid of it for good? environments, so try and Jen, Blackpool deny them these key elements for the best success There needs to be an and try and encourage your approach that both reduces the fungal load on son not to scratch the the skin and also prevents it from affected skin, as this can spread the infection. thriving in the future. Topical

Back again

Q A

Reason to worry?

My four-year-old daughter has flat feet. Should I be worried? Ria, Leeds

A low arch profile is quite common in children, and if your child’s walking and running development is normal then there is no need for you to be worrying. It takes the foot many years to fully develop, but a podiatrist can assess and let you know if there’s something to worry about.

Sore point

After years of wearing heels I’ve got terrible bunions. The pain is awful. Is there anything I can do? Leah, Somerset

Bunions are often painless, and their cause is likely to be genetic and usually not from wearing high heels for long periods of time. If heels are causing you pain then a change of shoe type or heel size is likely the best place to start. A visit to a podiatrist will help in assessing the best footwear option, but wearing wide shoes with a low heel and soft sole could help deal with the pain. You could also buy bunion pads to place in your shoes to help. A podiatrist may also suggest using a splint to help support the toes. There is no evidence that splints can reverse the progress of bunions, but footwear changes and orthoses can reduce any pain that is experienced. If conservative measures don’t work , then an opinion from a podiatric surgeon may be needed.

CONTACT US For advice, contact us via one of the methods below. Letters and emails are selected randomly for publication. Sorry, doctors can’t reply personally. WRITE TO: Pick Me Up! Media Centre, Emma-Chris Way, Abbey Wood Park, Filton, Bristol, BS34 7JU. EMAIL: hello@pickmeupmag.co.uk 16

Stay hydrated Constipation is related to dehydration, so drinking plenty of water is key to relieving and preventing symptoms.

Eat lots of fibre Increasing the fibre in your diet will prevent constipation and help digestion.

Get active A daily walk or run can help reduce the symptoms of constipation and help you go to the toilet more regularly.

Improve your toilet routine Keep to a regular time and place and give yourself plenty of time to us C the toilet. w hoos

e h like bolegrain to ad rown ri s ce d your fibre to diet

My treatment was gruelling

DOUBLE Helping others

BIG heal stor th y

Tracy Holden, 46, from Blackburn, returned from holiday with a devastating diagnosis...

without a mum? ‘So what do we do now?’ I asked, wiping my tears. being tested, I knew deep The first step was a single down that something was mastectomy, which I very wrong. underwent that November. And I was right. Thankfully, it was a success, A week later, I was back to and I was home the same day. see a consultant. But it felt odd – my ‘I’m so sorry, but once full breast had you have breast cancer,’ she said. Cancer been taken away and now flat down to That wasn’t all. covered was my ribs. She went on to say The following that I actually had my entire month, I started two types of breast breast chemotherapy. cancer – lobular and The sickness that a ductal carcinoma. came with it was One was on top of unbelievably horrible. the other, and together they I was throwing up every day, had covered my entire breast. my hair fell out, and everything ‘It explains why there was no I ate tasted horrible. lump,’ she said. By my fifth session, I lost my My mind was racing, but eyebrows and eyelashes. now, my main concern was for ‘I look like a monster,’ I cried. Losing the hair on my head had been one thing – at least I could cover that up. But losing my eyebrows just made me look so ill. Still, I tried to stay I did it for positive for the kids. my family In March 2017, I

FACT FILE

revent Breast Cancer is the Pfunding only UK breast cancer charity groundbreaking

WORDS BY LAEA MARSHALL PHOTOS: SWNS AND GETTY

dmiring my tan in the mirror, I grinned proudly. It was June 2016, and I was on holiday in Gran Canaria with my husband Phil, now 45, and our kids Reece, 14, and Annabelle, seven. ‘You’ve done well,’ Phil winked, admiring my bronzed skin. ‘I’ll get ready for dinner,’ I said, taking off my bikini. Just then, looking in the mirror, I noticed that my right nipple was completely flat. That’s odd, I thought. Feeling my breast, I couldn’t feel a lump, so I put it to the back of my mind. But to be safe, when we got home a few days later, I went to my GP. She couldn’t feel any lumps either, but referred me to the breast clinic at Burnley Hospital. Two weeks later, I had a mammogram, an ultrasound and a biopsy done. As I lay on the table

y kids. as I o die? e left

finished chemo. That was followed by 15 sessions of radiotherapy – which was a walk in the park n comparison. After that, a mammogram showed o evidence of disease. I felt like a prisoner nally released from jail. In January 2019, I had econstructive surgery, aving me feeling so uch more confident th my body. I was finally healthy d ready to move on th my life. After everything I’d en through, I felt I eded to help others. o, in October last year, gned up to take part in BreastFest campaign. Run by the charity vent Breast Cancer, it a campaign to make ple more breast aware. igned up as one of 100 men who had been ted by breast cancer – were advocates for the paign and called elves BooBees! We visited local businesses, educating staff about breast cancer, and hosted an ‘afternoon bee’, where we performed a catwalk show in our underwear! It was all to raise awareness and have some fun. My message to other women would be to check your breasts once a month, and if you feel something, no matter how small, get it checked out. And remember, it’s not always a lump you’ll feel. Having breast cancer has completely changed my life. I appreciate things more and I’m so grateful to be here.

research solely aimed at preventing the disease for future generations. Their mantra is ‘predict, prevent, detect’. They predict – by identifying who is at risk of breast cancer. They prevent – by offering interventions to stop breast cancer before it starts. They protect – with a goal to shield future generations from breast cancer. Visit preventbreastcancer. org.uk for more information. 17

s w e n h t l a He One peop in thre from le suffe e r S the UAD in K

erman scientists have found even more evidence to suggest that regular exercise can protect the brain from damage and helps keep it healthy as we start to age. The team of researchers discovered that cycling halted age-related decline in hundreds of volunteers with an average age of 52. But, they also found that just about any physical activity that gets your heart pumping would have the same effect on your health. Strenuous exercise like running, swimming or cycling could all do the trick, with the researchers recommending two-and-a-half hours of moderate exercise every week to keep the brain healthy.

Expertdsoing t suggersength st es two exercirse days a or moweek

300…

That’s the number of patients in A&E every week after being injured in DIY related accidents. At least one person a day is hurt mowing the lawn according to new NHS figures.

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TIP

with podiatrist Tony Gavin

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

1 2 3 4 5

HEALTH

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Men’s health

TRUE E S or SADissometimes knownas ‘winter depression’  True  False Feeling lethargic and sleeping during the dayaresymptomsof SAD.  True  False Thereareno treatmentsforSAD.  True  False Theexactcauseof SADisunknown.  True  False SADiseasyto diagnose.  True  False

1 TRUE This is due to the

I always seem to have smelly feet. Is there anything I can do to help? Tom, Plymouth

The odour from feet is caused by the bacteria that lives on all of our skin. Reducing the bacterial load and creating an environment where it doesn’t get out of control is key. Frequent cleansing with a suitable antimicrobial preparation, frequent sock and shoe changes and wearing a shoe that’s appropriate for your needs are key. Ideally materials will be breathable and offer the correct support and protection for the activity.

symptoms being more apparent during the winter months. 2 TRUE Other symptoms include a persistent low mood, craving carbohydrates and gaining weight. 3 FALSE A range of treatments are available including light therapy and talking therapies. 4 TRUE It is often linked

to reduced exposure to sunlight during the shorter autumn and winter days. 5 FALSE It can be difficult

to diagnose as many other types of depression have similar symptoms.

WORDS: ROSIE CRASS PHOTOS: GETTY

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Journey through America’s musical heartland, from the birthplace of jazz and the cradle of rock ‘n’ roll, to the capital of Country Music.

Discover two of America’s most famous cities and experience one of the world’s most breathtaking natural wonders, the Grand Canyon.

Tour Highlights & Inclusions

• Montgomery is the resting place of country legend Hank Williams • Journey through the sleepy countryside of Alabama • Spend two nights in New Orleans, the laid-back ‘Big Easy’ • Take in the fabled ‘French Quarter’ and Tupelo • Discover Nashville, world capital of Country Music

• Spend two nights in Memphis at the Guest HouseTM at Graceland, right next to Elvis’ famous mansion • Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced tour manager • Seven nights’ room-only touring hotel accommodation, plus one night on the aircraft, return flights and transfers

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• Spend three nights close to glittering Los Angeles, California’s star-spangled Pacific Coast city • Visit Hollywood – movie capital of the world • A tour to sun-kissed San Diego • Enjoy a four-night stay in extraordinary Las Vegas – the most spectacular desert ‘oasis’ on Earth

• The Grand Canyon is one of the most breathtaking, eye-popping sights on Earth – we stay for the night to catch sunrise • Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced tour manager • Eight nights’ room only hotel accommodation, a night on the aircraft, return flights and transfers

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India – Tigers & the Taj Mahal

Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam

Explore northern India’s greatest cities in this perfect introduction to one of the world’s most fascinating and alluring destinations.

Take a ‘journey-of-a-lifetime’ through South East Asia’s verdant lands, experiencing unforgettable ‘must-see, must-do’ highlights.

Tour Highlights & Inclusions

• Discover the sights of New Delhi – the Red Fort & Jama Masjid Mosque, the India Gate and the ruins of the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque • A rickshaw ride through Old Delhi • Visit Amber Fort and the Taj Mahal • See the ‘Palace of the Winds’ • See Chand Baori stepwell

• Go in search of Ranthambhore’s tigers • Stay in the beautiful resort of Vanaashrya • A guided tour of Agra • Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced tour manager • Eight nights’ half-board hotel accommodation with six lunches, plus one night on the aircraft, return flights and transfers

Flying from an airport near you, departs Feb 2020 to Jun 2022

• A guided tour of Bangkok including the Grand Palace and the Golden Buddha • Journey to the Cambodian border and Battambang • Cruise across Tonlé Sap • Two full days’ at Siem Reap include phenomenal Angkor Wat • A city tour of Phnom Penh • Journey along the Mekong River by fast passenger boat

• Enjoy the floating market at Cai Rang • Visit ‘HCMC’ – the former Saigon • See the Cu Chi tunnel complex, Viet Cong hideaway • Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced tour manager • 12 nights’ bed and breakfast accommodation, eight dinners, six lunches, plus two nights on the aircraft, return flights and transfers

Flying from an airport near you, departs Mar 2020 to May 2022

Visit pmu.newmarketholidays.co.uk or call 0330 160 7988 quoting code PMU Price per person is based on two people sharing a twin room. Single supplement applies. Subject to availability. These holidays are operated by Newmarket Holidays Ltd ABTA V7812, ATOL PROTECTED 2325 a company wholly independent of Pick Me Up published by TI Media Limited. Standard phone charges apply. Prices correct at time of going to print 8/1/2020. *5% discount and free wine or hamper offer applies to bookings made by 31/01/2020. Visit newmarketholidays.co.uk/offer-terms for full terms and conditions. Price shown includes discount.

SIG

Lois Bennett, 35, f got to witness her little boy see for the first time…

WORDS BY ROSIE CRASS AND LUCY BRYANT PHOTOS: SWNS

s the boys pushed their little brother, Theo, along in the pram, I could tell they both loved helping out. ‘He’s asleep, Mum!’ my eldest son Noah, nine, shouted over to me. ‘Well done,’ I smiled. It was March 2018, and me and my husband, Joe, 37, had just welcomed our third baby boy into the family. Both Noah and Toby, seven, were thrilled about being older brothers and despite arriving three weeks early, Theo seemed to be doing well. He had a little bit of jaundice, but nothing for us to worry about. As the months went on, the boys remained just as smitten with their baby brother. ‘He should start to recognise you when he sees you soon,’ I told Noah one afternoon. But so far, Theo didn’t see to recognise any of us. He responded to tickles, b never to one of us walking in the room. I thought it was unusual but tried not to worry about it too much. ‘They all develop differently,’ Joe said, reassuring me. ‘You’re probably right,’ I thought. Besides, I was a 20

midwife and Theo seemed to be perfectly healthy in every other way. Only, when Theo was seven months old, I was feeding him in the lounge one day. Looking at him, I noticed something unusual. There appeared to be some clouding over both of his eyes. Panicking, I jumped up and took a look in the mirror at my own eyes. Was it normal? Or had I only just spotted it? I didn’t have the same clouding over my eyes, but I wasn’t sure if it had always been there for Theo. Grabbing my phone, I started videoing and immediately sent it over to my friend who's a doctor. Take him to see the GP, she messaged back. The fact that she hadn’t said much else worried me, but I

With his big brother

Theo didn't recognise us

got an appointment with the doctor as soon as I could. ‘I think Theo has childhood cataracts,’ the doctor explained to me. ‘If it’s left untreated it could result in blindness.’ I was terrified and immediately called Joe to explain what had happened. all makes sense I told him. e just thought Theo wasn’t miley baby, but it turned t he’d been having trouble ith his vision all along. After being referred to a pecialist in Leeds, we found out Theo needed to have an operation as soon as possible. It would get rid of the taracts and prevent any her damage. Within a

matter of days, we were in Leeds Royal Infirmary and Theo was having the surgery. Waiting in one of the cafés in the hospital, both Joe and I were worried sick. We’d been handed a buzzer to tell us when Theo was out and ready for visitors. ‘It’s like what you’d get waiting in a restaurant queue,’ Joe said, trying to keep things light-hearted. We tried our best to take our mind off Theo, hopping from café to café, until the buzzer finally went off. Walking into recovery, I could see Theo had big bandages over his eyes. ‘Poor thing,’ I cried. The surgery had taken four and a half hours and I was so

I noticed something unusual in his eye

REAL LIFE

Our beautiful family

y l r a e l c g n i e e S relieved to see him, but it was heartbreaking at the same time. ‘Everything went fine,’ the nurse assured us. The same day, Theo was allowed to go home, but the following morning we returned to have the bandages over his eyes removed. As the nurse removed patches, Theo’s whole f seemed to light up. Immediately, I could tell he could see me. ‘There’s that smile!’ I

cried, as I watched him take everything in. ‘I wish I got that on camera,’ Joe said. ‘You can film it when he gets his glasses,’ the nurse explained to us. ‘His vision will be even better

Giving back

Our smiley boy

I’m so glad we filmed it. It was like a fog had finally been lifted for him. At home, Theo was able to engage with his brothers properly and his vision was much better than before. It was wonderful to see him start to develop. But the surgery hadn’t quite removed all of the cataracts and some of the cells had started to grow back. In June, he had to have a second surgery to remove the cells, but we hope this time they’ll be gone for good. We’re still not completely sure what it means for his vision in the future, but we do know that he’ll need some extra support as he makes his way through school and probably won’t be able to drive when he's older. But he’s such a happy little baby, you wouldn’t even know that he struggles sometimes. We’re just so grateful to all the brilliant staff at Leeds General Infirmary. They were incredible. Joe even took part in a huge cycle ride to raise money for the hospital’s charity, Leeds Cares. Next, he’s taking on a gruelling triathlon to raise even more money for the hospital. Physically it will be tough, but Joe couldn’t think of a better reason to get involved. The doctors saved our little boy’s sight, and we He's such a couldn’t be more grateful happy baby for what they’ve done.

w weeks later, when Theo t his new glasses, we made re that we had our camera at e ready. Holding Theo in my arms, e nurse placed the glasses er his eyes. Slowly we watched him look ound in wonder. Can you see your Daddy?’ I oed to Theo, as he stared straight at Joe. For the first time, it seemed like he could finally recognise his dad. ‘Look at that little smile,’ Joe cheered. Gazing around the room, Theo was taking everything in. It was incredible to see and

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WORDS BY NIA DALTON PHOTOS: SWNS, @LIZZIE.BEAR AND GETTY ALWAYS CONSULT AN EXPERT IF YOU ARE PLANNING ON MAKING SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO YOUR ANIMAL’S DIET OR ROUTINE

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ways to bond with your dog

et Teezer shares the best ways to build a strong bond with your four-legged friend. 1. A loving touch with every brush stroke Home grooming is a special bonding experience. Brushing your dog’s fur can make them feel relaxed and calm. Maximise their canine chill by doing this in a quiet environment. 2. Enjoy a dog-friendly holiday together Away from life’s daily distraction

Did youkes a know snsee can their h g u o r th ? eyelids

stresses, your dog will love the abundance of one-on-one time with you. Make them feel special! 3. Make time for fun Just like us, dogs love to let their ‘fur’ down. Whether it’s a game of hide ‘n’ seek with their favourite treat, learning a new trick or agility training, find time in your day for some fun.. 4.Take aim for their tummy guaranteed way to win your dog’s affection is to b the source of all things good and mulate n by g them to trick – just sure not to ver-feed!

PET NEWS Insta love

@lizzie.bear Lizzie and Ally are two golden retrievers spreading happiness one photo at a time. The best friends from Canada love to play in the snow, snuggle together and go for a paddle on the beach. Doggie goals!

ere is my beautiful American ulldog Bella. Her favourite food is fish which means she has a lovely shiny, healthy coat. Rachel Maccuish, Scotland

My cat Vincent enjoying a bit of winter sun! Sarah Whitehead, Warrington

My boyfriend and I visited a farm the other day and saw these cute calves! Louise, Gloucestershire

I was worried how Dotty would feel about our new puppy Coco, but they’re already the best of friends! Natalie Trice, Devon

P OF TET WE HE

Mabel at the beach with h ears blowing the wind. H. Rose-Gale, Bri

Amy Lightowler, 32 fro … m u m a e b to le b a e b r e ev n ’d e sh t h g u tho

ood

had a rough time of it believe it - time seemed to ooking around the lately,’ he soothed. stand still. room whilst at my He was so kind and ‘What do you mean?’ I asked, understanding and from friend Mark’s house party, my eyes fixed on a trying to find the words. then on, we became I was only 26. familiar face. inseparable. The doctor explained my ‘Hey Amy, how are you?’ Mark was exactly what FSH hormone levels were Mark beamed. I needed, and our high, and my chances of having friendship soon It was summer 2014 and I children were limited. hadn’t seen him in years. blossomed into I was heartbroken. He was an old friend and I something more. By the time I rang my mum only really caught up with him Before long, he was when one of us organised a get- Gill, now 64, I was hysterical. joining me at all my ‘Calm down, it’s going to be together with everyone. hospital appointments OK’ she reassured. We had lots to catch up on with fertility doctors. But I couldn’t and as the night ‘There’s only a one per help it. went on, we didn’t cent chance you’ll have All I ever wanted stop talking. children naturally, but to be was a mum, ‘What have you you could try IVF,’ the and the thought of been up to?’ he specialist explained. that not happening asked me. ‘If you’re going to try, was devastating. ‘I’ve been living in it’s now or never.’ To make matters London,’ I told him. It was a lot to take in. worse, my ‘But I’ve had to Mark and I had only relationship was only hanging move back home to my mum’s been together for a couple on by a thread. house now.’ of months. My partner and I decided to Earlier that year, everything Most people in our call it quits, and I moved back seemed to go wrong for me. situation would be to Bedfordshire with Mum. I’d just bought a house with enjoying the honeymoon In the space of a few my long-term boyfriend and stage, but we didn’t have months, I’d lost my was working freelance in TV. that chance. house, my relationship Juggling the move and my But I knew Mark and my chances of job all at the same time, I was was the one and he having a baby. feeling incredibly stressed. felt the same. As Mark and I I hadn’t had a period for ‘Let’s do it,’ he chatted away at the nearly three months, but encouraged. party, I told him assumed it was down to With that, we everything. everything that was going on. started the process. ‘Sounds like you’ve I went to my GP just to I wasn’t entitled to double check. treatment on the ‘We’ll run NHS because I hadn’t some blood fully gone through tests to be menopause yet, so sure,’ the Mark and I had to doctor said. pay ourselves. I thought Each month little more of we made our it until my way down to doctor called a the clinic and few weeks I was later. scanned ‘You’re for eggs. going ‘You don’t into early have any this menopause,’ I couldn’t help month so we he explained, but worry can’t try yet,’ I bluntly. was told the first We tried everything I couldn’t time. I heard the

WORDS BY ROSIE CRASS AND LUCY BRYANT PHOTOS: SWNS

Being a mum was all I ever wanted

Proud new parents

same thing every time we went. After months of scans, we both finally gave up. We’d spent over £4000 and were feeling pretty drained from it all. ‘We’ll try something else,’ Mark said, gently. My sister kindly volunteered to donate her eggs, but she didn’t have enough either. ‘I’m going to go down the natural route instead,’ I said to my mum. ‘I’ll be as healthy as I can.’ With that, I tried everything I could to give my eggs the best possible chance. I didn’t eat meat, only ate organic food and was taking all sorts of supplements. Wincing as I knocked back another wheatgrass drink, I never gave up hope. Month after month, I kept taking pregnancy tests. Each one was negative. ‘It’s never going to happen is it?’ I asked Mark, thoroughly depressed about it all. ‘It will,’ he’d say, trying to

REAL LIFE

Double trouble

Our little miracles

the moon. Cooking Mark a meal that night, I handed him a gift box. ‘What’s this?’ he d, confused. reassure pen it!’ I beamed. We couldn’t Althou opened the box, he believe it wasn’t convinced. found the positive test. But getting ready for work ‘Is this a joke?’ he said, in one morning in September complete shock. 2017, I realised my period still ‘No!’ I laughed, choking back hadn’t arrived. happy tears. Probably to do with the We were both thrilled, but I menopause again, I thought couldn’t help but worry. to myself. I’d wanted this for so long, I I decided to take a pregnancy was terrified something would test just in case. go wrong. I had a bathroom cabinet full But as the months went on, of them after all. everything seemed to b f Only this time, the test A few days after my d looked different. my waters broke in the Two blue lines. middle of the night and I couldn’t believe it. were rushed to hospita Grabbing my phone, I rang my And after 32 hours o mum straight away. the triage ward, I’d got ‘You won’t believe this,’ I said an infection. hysterically. It meant I couldn’t ‘I’m pregnant!’ have the epidural I’d Mum rushed round as soon planned on and as she could. ended up having an ‘Let’s get a test from the emergency C-section. chemist, not one of the cheap The infection meant ones you’ve got,’ she laughed. I had to be put to sleep, We jumped in the car and so I missed the birth bought another, which entirely, but when I cam confirmed the news. I was over around, Mark was crad

r baby boy. Despite the umatic th, I was totally in love. Zachery was 7lb 6oz and absolutely perfect. Gazing at him, I felt as though I had to pinch myself. ‘I can’t believe he’s finally here,’ I smiled. Once we brought him home, Zachery and I soon got into a routine and although motherhood had its challenges, I loved it. As he neared 5 months, I started to think it was strange that I still hadn’t had a period. Had I finally gone into the menopause? Or could I be pregnant again? Surely not this time, I

Daddy’s helpers

thought to myself. I took a test just to be on the safe side. Positive! I couldn’t believe it. When Mark came home from work that afternoon, I couldn’t wait to tell him. I’d put Zachery in a t-shirt and written the words ‘big bro’ across it. ‘What’s this t-shirt?’ Mark asked, pulling it straight so he could see what it said. ‘You’re joking?’ he asked. ‘Nope!’ I laughed. ‘I can’t believe it.’ ‘We’ll make it work,’ Mark said, hugging me tight. This time round, we decided to find out what we were having and discovered we were expecting a little girl. ‘ ne of each!’ I cried. ater that year, we omed our little girl, Theia b 6oz. e completed our perfect e family and Mark and I ven got engaged. After everything, I hought I’d never be a mum, but here I am with two beautiful babies. My health is still a worry nd my condition means m at a higher risk of certain ncers, but despite it all, I dn’t be luckier. y little babies are a miracle e true! 25

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8 f om

WORDS: EMMA ROSSITER. PHOTO (NOT ACTUAL HOLIDAY): GETTY

arking the date on my 2020 calendar, I gave a little squeeaal. ‘We’re going to New York!’ I smiled to my partner David, 51. It was March 2019, and we’d decided to book a treat for ourselves. I’d always dreamt of seeing the Big Apple. I wanted to do all the touristy things – ride in a yellow cab, see the Statue of Liberty and stay in the heart of Times Square. The beauty of booking the trip now was that we had a year to plan lots of exciting activities. Counting down the days and weeks until March 2020, we couldn’t be more excited. To add to the thrill, I had a huge surprise in June 2019, when I won £1,000 on Pick Me Up! Bingo. The day had started out like any other Saturday. I’d done a shift at my job in a supermarket, before coming home. And now I was looking forward to chilling out for the evening. David sat next to me on the sofa and flicked through the telly channels. ‘What do you fancy

We’re counting down the days watching, love?’ he asked me. ‘I’m not fussed,’ I grinned back. David was always happy to watch anything on the box. But I liked to play on my phone or run a few errands around the house. I also liked to play bingo – there was always something new or fun happening. So, I logged on to the Pick Me Up! Bingo site on my laptop and clicked on my

favourite bingo game. I’d signed up in 2011, and there was one I liked the most – Blox Bingo. A game of 90-ball bingo, you can win a cash prize if you are first to complete one line, two lines or a Full House on your bingo card. It was the graphics I loved –

they made it stand out from the others. Plus it was so easy to follow, and the chatroom was such a good laugh. I’d often talk to the same people in the chatroom, the community on site was just amazing. Watching excitedly, the one, then two-line prizes were won, and I congratulated the winners. ‘I just need one number to win the Full House!’ I said to David. It was number 40. Moments on, my screen started to flash…WINNER! Staring at the screen in complete disbelief, I couldn’t

I clicked on my favourite game, Blox Bingo

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beamed, and hurried off to grab us a glass of something each to raise a toast. I watched my balance rocket up on screen, as I read messages of congratulations from other bingo players. But still, I just couldn’t believe it! I logged out and sat in stunned silence on the sofa for a little while. Then David asked what we were going to do with the surprise scoop. To be honest, I

didn’t really even need to think about it. I’d put my winnings towards our New York trip and use some of my win left over to plan loads of great extra activities. We might add a trip to the Empire State Building to our list… We’re off to the Big Apple very soon now, and we can’t wait. It’s the perfect way to spend my Full House win, and it’s just added to the excitement even more! New York here we come!

Iwatched mybalance rocketup –Icouldn’t believeit!

help but start laughing. ‘So what’s tickled you?’ David asked me. Still chuckling, I turned the

screen to him so he could see. I’d won the Full House – a whopping £1,000! ‘That’s incredible!’ he

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When Dishna Hirani, she found out her mum needed helpif,ic was prepared to make any sacr e...

WORDS BY HANNAH POON AND HARRIET ROSE-GALE PHOTOS: SWNS

itting on the sofa in October 2018, surrounded by my entire family, it was one of the happiest days of my life. My three sisters had thrown me and my mum, Prevanda, 63, a surprise party for both of our birthdays. It was a little early considering my 40th wasn’t for another two weeks in November and Mum’s wasn’t for another few days. But it was the only opportunity me and Mum had to celebrate. You see, on 31 October 2018, on Mum’s actual birthday, we’d be heading to Hammersmith Hospital to undergo surgery. I would be giving her my birthday present - a kidney. Mum had been diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease in 2006, after suffering with tiredness and fatigue. As her health deteriorated, she grew short of breath and had to take things slow. Only, as a mother of four and a grandmother to nine, she was completely resilient. ‘No, I’m fine,’ she’d say whenever one of us tried to help her. She was remarkable and she never gave up. Instead, she just took 30

things slow and steady. As the years went by, Mum had to go for regular blood tests at the hospital to check on her creatinine levels and general health. If her kidney became impaired for any reason, the creatinine levels in her blood would rise, so it was crucial that it was checked thoroughly. ‘She may need a transplant, but for the moment we just need to keep an eye on her,’ the doctors told us to begin with. Over time, we all became accustomed to Mum’s health. She never let it get her down, so we didn’t worry. Her skin started to look a little dull and she would get out of breath, but she was as strong

as ever before. Only, in 2017, at one of her regular blood tests, doctors noticed something alarming. I wasn’t scared ‘Your creatini levels are signifi higher than usu doctor told Mum ‘What does th asked, concerned. ‘She will need a transplant or her the best chance. So, I went home that night risk spending the rest of her life and discussed it with my on dialysis,’ he warned us. husband, Mehul, 41. Although we knew the risk ‘I think it’s a great idea,’ he was there, we never imagined beamed with pride. the day would come. I knew Mum was hesitant at ‘And how long will that the idea. take?’ I asked, knowing that Afterall, why would she want people can be on waiting lists to accept a kidney from her for years. own daughter? ‘I will be honest with you, As a mother of two he chances of boys myself, I could eceiving a donor understand how she rom ethnic felt, but I wanted to minorities are do this. lim,’ the doctor It was the only way. xplained. ‘Her Afterall, Mum was best option is a the best. iving donation.’ She’s always been As his words family orientated and unk in, I knew put everyone before herself. what I had to do. Now, it was my chance to ‘I’ll get tested to see if I’m a give her something back. match,’ I jumped in. So, that night, I phoned my ‘No you will not,’ Mum three sisters and spoke it fretted, but I’d already made through with them. up my mind. ‘If I don’t turn out to be a ‘There’s no harm in getting match, there is no pressure on the tests done,’ I told her. you,’ I told them. Mum was reluctant, but I wasn’t doing this to get one the doctor agreed that a up on them – I was just doing it living donation from a for Mum. And so, a few weeks family member would give

I knew I had to help my mum

We could see the effects instantly

REAL LIFE

L L A F O T F I G T S E T A E R G E TH later, I underwent blood tests to see if I was a match. And low and behold, I was! By now, Mum was coming around to the idea, too. She knew how much I wanted to do it for her, and she knew it would change her life for the better. After coming back as a match, I had to undergo a CT scan and further tests to make sure that my kidneys were healthy and suitable enough for the transplant. Thankfully, everything came back perfectly healthy and I was deemed good to go. The final stage of testing was to check that Mum’s body could handle the operation. Although she desperately needed it, her body might not have been able to take it. Thankfully, she got the all clear for the operation. By the beginning of 2018, Mum’s kidneys had declined even further. She was constantly out of breath and was exhausted all of

the time. Her creatinine levels had also risen further. So, the surgery was scheduled for 31 October 2018 – co 63r ‘I for,’ O maj littl her ‘W wor A the our T befo surp I tol boy 14 a Dhi ‘W be O aske ‘O Our family cou rallied around will

failure, that I just didn’t notice I’ll make Nanny better, what it was doing to me,’ she too,’ I smiled. admitted to us all. And then finally, on ‘I feel so much better!’ Wednesday 31, me and It was amazing seeing Mum Mum walked into so happy and it made it all Hammersmith Hospital. worth it. As my laparoscopic Then, the following Monday, keyhole surgery would have I was discharged, and Mum to go first, I was scheduled just a few days after me. o go down at 8am. We were both still in ‘I’ll see you on the other recovery and we needed the ide,’ I smiled to Mum as I support of our family. was wheeled away. Thankfully, everyone was I’d expected to be super understanding and overcome with nerves and helped us with anything that nticipation, but I was fine. we needed. In my heart, I knew I was I found walking particularly oing the right thing. hard, but it eased over time. So, I had no doubts or Overall, I was only off work worries and I trusted that as a civil servant for four he surgery would go well. months as me and Mum By 7.30 in the evening, I recovered together. as rolled onto the High As she was staying with my ependency Ward, where sister, we would ring each um was waiting for me. other every day and give The implantation of my mental support to one another. dney had gone smoothly, Mum is so much better now, nd Mum was doing well. and she’s got a new lease of life. ‘How are you feeling?’ I She can keep up with her ked the following day when nine grandchildren without e were more with it. You’ve given me a new life,’ getting tired. She’s a completely different e smiled. woman and the smile on her For the next five days, we face makes the tiny scars on my covered side-by-side. stomach worth it. Just like after any major I always like to treat my eration, it was a pretty mum on her birthday, but I ugh time, but I knew it don’t think I’ll t uld be worth it in the end. her 63rd Every day our family came isit the two of us at the pital, and almost instantly Making a ryone could s difference improvement in ‘Her skin looks much brighter,’ Mehul said to me one afternoon. ll of o l

E C I F I CR

WORDS BY ROSIE CRASS AND LUCY BRYANT PHOTOS: SWNS

Maria Grace, 39, from South dog… stop at nothing to save her sick

s Bella limped across the floor, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for her. ‘Not long now,’ I soothed, as I gave her a little bit of a fuss. Bella was our eight-year-old Shih Tzu and she was just about to go in for surgery. She’d ruptured her left cruciate ligament and injured her kneecap in the process. She needed an operation, but Bella was used to that. At the age of eight, she’d already had seven operations – almost one a year! She’d been prone to breaking bones in her legs or damaging the ligaments. ‘Will this one be too much for her?’ I worried, to my fiancé Gareth, 36. ‘Hopefully this will be the last time she needs any

surgery,’ he said, trying his best to reassure me. I didn’t like the thought of her going in for any more operations, but this was our only option now. Besides, Bella was such a happy little dog, there was no way we wouldn’t give her the chance to get better. In 2011, when we picked her out at the breeders, we’d been told she had a weakness in her left side. If anything, it only made us love her even more. My daughter Charlotte, now 18, had a weakness in her left leg like Bella and it felt like it was meant to be. ‘We have to get her, Mum,’ Charlotte pleaded. ‘She’s so cute.’ I was besotted and didn’t take much persuading. A d h Gareth

Bella as a pup 32

days before her eighth surgery, Bella injured herself again. Leaping off the sofa, she landed funny on her right leg. As she lay crying on the ground, I immediately called the vets. ‘It’s OK,’ I soo but it was awful her in so much p I rushed her t but it wasn’t loo ‘Be eme the v ‘She’s done the same on her right leg and this one seems worse.’ ‘Will she be OK?’ I worried. ‘We won’t know until after she’s had the operation,’ the vet explained. When she came around, all seemed to go well, but only time would tell. Weeks after, Bella was still no better and it was clear the surgery hadn’t worked. She was completely lame on her right side and couldn’t even toe tap on the floor. I wasn’t sure what more could be done. ‘We’ve got two options,’ the vet explained. ‘She could go for specialist surgery in Bristol. ‘They’ll be able to give her metal knees and a special kind

Our only other option was to put Bella to sleep

h h ogs became able. y were both m the same eders and ere brother nd sister. Although Bella couldn’t always keep up with Len, she tried her best and we loved them both to bits. They were our abies. But just

We’ve all chipped in g replacement for the cruciate. ‘It would be risky, and Bella would need physio, hydrotherapy and a lot of medication to get through it. ‘But if anyone can fix Bella, then these guys can,’ the vet reassured us. ‘Is there anything else we can try?’ I asked. ‘Your only other option is to put Bella to sleep,’ he explained, gently. I was devastated. Bella meant the world to all of us. ‘I’m not ready to give up on her,’ I said, determined. Bella was so happy and full of life, it seemed unfair to cut it so short. But the surgery wasn’t going to come cheap, and our pet insurance didn’t cover anything to do with Bella’s legs as she’d had the condition from birth. We’d have to find the

REAL LIFE

d n e m e h t n O y for n our e wanted d with it. urgery t aro

now going towards Bella’s op, but we didn’t need to think twice about it. I know it might seem crazy to spend that amount of

to do ‘Well, we’ll have to dip in the wedding fund to cover costs,’ Gareth said. We did have some savin but it was supposed to be f our wedding day. We’d been saving since w got engaged in 2018. We hadn’t booked anyth yet, but we’d planned on getting hitched in 2020. It was important to us, b Bella needed to come first Although, money was already tight for us. I’d just had a hysterecto after suffering with crippli endometriosis, and it mea had to take six months off to recover. We’d still managed to sa £7,000 for the wedding between us, but with everything else going on, w didn’t have enough for the surgery for Bella. Whatever we had was

sure Bella was OK was the most important thing to all of us. But, even after all that, we still didn’t have enough to spare. ‘I have an idea,’ I said to Gareth, as we discussed how else we could raise the money. ‘What if we start a GoFundMe page?’ ‘It’s worth a shot,’ Gareth agreed. With that I set up a age and before long, onations started ooding in. It started with family nd friends but after etting a bit of local press, rangers even started onating to us. People were so generous nd kind. I’d do the same for my g, one user mmented. Get well soon lla, another nator added. Every time I ecked on e page, the nations med to just be ng up d up. We couldn’t believe it. ‘This is all for you, Bella’ I said to her, as she curled up on the sofa one afternoon. Everyone’s donations

Bristol and took Bella in for the big op. I hated the thought of her having more surgery and hoped this would finally work. Thankfully all went well, and after a few days of being monitored, she was able to come home. We were all so relieved. Once home, Bella went from strength to strength. She soon started to move around, and before long she was running about in the garden again. It was wonderful to see her doing so well. We have to make sure she’s careful, as she still has more surgery to go, but so far, she’s doing great. Next, we’ve got to save around £3,500 for them to operate on the other leg. We just hope it finally does the trick for her. I’m so grateful to everyone who has donated to our GoFundMe Page so far. Without them, I don’t know where we’d be. For now, the wedding is on hold for a while, but we don’t mind at all. We’ve spent everything we had on Bella, but we’d do it all over again if we had to. The wedding will happen when it happens. Bella is like my baby, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Soon, strangers were sending us money to help Bella

 To donate to Bella’ssurgery fundvisitwww.gofundme.com/f/ bellas-specialist-surgery

Bella is like my baby

Best of friends

L A R I V S R DAN Peer pressure

The Blue Whale Game

WORDS BY NIA DALTON PHOTOS: GETTY AND ALAMY

of cinnamon, tasting How can we spoonfuls hot chilli peppers and following self-harm tasks. protect our With reports of children cutting, choking and kids from chemically burning themselves, parents have dangerous reason to worry. Jen Harrison, Parent and online trends? Child Anxiety Coach, discusses

t’s an age-old tale: we see people doing something exciting and new and we want to try it, too. Before the digital age, it might have been stuffing marshmallows into your mouth and struggling to say, ‘chubby bunny’, but now it’s chucking a full bucket of boiling hot water over your head on camera. New trends are forever emerging, and quickly proliferate among social media online. Children are copying daring, crazy and sometimes life-threatening stunts, with fear of missing out on the most recent craze. From inoffensive to

childhood pressures; ‘Children feel pressured to take part in online challenge trends because they want to be in with the crowd and popular with their friends.’ ‘Unfortunately, at times, children will do things tha they don’t actually wa

The unknown

approval,’ Jen says. ‘Children feel like they’re missing out on something if they don’t take part. It all boils down to their fears of friends not liking them.’ With worries about not fitting in, many youngsters are watching popular, viral challenge videos on YouTube, and then trying to imitate them at home. Some of these challenges are simple and innocent, such as the Mannequin Challenge, which involves a group of

The Mannequin Challenge has been adopted by families across the world, including celebrities Michelle Obama, Adele and James Cordon. Some internet phenomena intends to be harmless, but they can get out of hand. The Planking Challenge involved people taking photos of themselves planking in unusual, extreme locations. In 2011, the challenge claimed a victim when 20-year-old Acton Beale of

Some are harmlesss

Build trust

Stay current

videos o them partaking in the Australia fell from a highTide Pod Challenge, which rise balcony planking. involves biting into a pod of The Kylie Lip Challenge laundry detergent. encouraged children to The detergent can very suck a shot glass over their quickly cause chemical burns mouths to make their lips and kidney and lung problems. swell artificially, in an Likewise, a teen in Indiana attempt to replicate reality star Kylie Jenner’s fake lips. made headlines after his friends poured boiling water Whilst bruising and scarring may seem the only on him as part of the Hot Water Challenge, giving him consequence, doctors second-degree burns on his worried that partaking in the head, face and chest. challenge could worsen body But the most frightening of image issues and self-esteem. them all is nicknamed The Some eating challenges can Blue Whale Game. be harmful – the Cinnamon Rumoured to have begun in Challenge involves swallowing Russia, an anonymous cinnamon – which ‘administrator’ assigns often makes you Under 14 self-harm tasks, like cough and s cutting, until the choke – and a r e s p ending 50th day, when the the Hot o n participant is Pepper average supposed to Challenge 23 hours commit suicide. involves a w e e k Since the ‘game’ eating a hot on their has arrived in the ghost pepper. phones UK, schoolchildren Though most as young as seven people survive years-old have heard about unscathed, there have the infamous Blue Whale. been reports of kids ending up Many children across the unwell in hospital. globe have been caught One of the most well-known photographing themselves on challenges of time was the Ice rooftops and cutting their skin Bucket Challenge, where into the shape of a whale. people filmed themselves As the sick trend has spread, having a huge bucket of ice Instagram has now rolled-out ater poured over them to a warning to anyone who wareness of Motor searches the tag. ne Disease. The suicide challenge has st parents can lightalready been linked to some ly laugh and nag about 130 deaths in Russia, and f the challenges above, earlier this year, the parents of unts aren’t so safe… a 16-year old in Georgia, USA, year, a 22-year-old died blamed the Blue Whale Game nvincing his girlfriend for the death of their daughter. t him for a failed And Russian university be stunt. student Oleg Kapaev was t high or faint, kids saved by his parents when en found choking their planning to throw himself to complete the Passfrom a building to complete allenge. the ninth challenge. ren as young as five Oleg Kapaev told Sky News; d have also posted

‘I didn’t feel like I needed to kill myself. I felt I needed to complete the task.’ This chase to complete a challenge is fuelling the drive of many susceptible and vulnerable children. We all know what it’s like growing up and wanting to fit in with friends. Children are easily manipulated by immense peer pressure from peers and social media online. How can we protect them from actually harming or

killing themselves? Jen explains: ‘In today’s world, it’s vital that parents are not only fully aware of what’s going on in social media trends, but also have conversations with their children regularly.’ ‘We want our children to be aware that things aren’t always ‘real’ on the internet, and to help them be fully clued up and aware before they make their own choices,’ Jen says. As Jen stresses, open conversations and awareness are essential to tackling the wider problem. Due to the nature of viral challenges, the likelihood is that they’ll never go away. Whilst we can’t stop our children from joining in on the latest, irresistible fad, we can make them aware of the boundary between a fun, harmless risk and an inappropriate, dangerous one.

 If you’re worried about a child and need advice or information, call the NSPCC helplin 00.

EXPERT ADVIC athy Hassell runs www. teencalm.com – a box for anxious teens and tweens. We asked her how parents can navigate the often-explicable world of viral challenges… ‘The ‘dare’ between children has been around for years,’ Cathy explains. ‘But some of the new wave of viral challenges can be hazardous to your child’s physical and mental health. Teens and tweens who have grown up on YouTube are susceptible to peer pressure, and unfortunately self-harm is likely to be a subject not unfamiliar to them.’ Follow Cathy’s advice to help protect your children…

important to many children. 4. Gain trust Show you understand the allure of challenges, but try to get a promise that they will take to you about anything dangerous before doing it. 5. Keep in the know Show interest in their friends and find out what they think about the latest challenge – it might help you gauge interest better than talking to 1. Be there for your child your own child. Be available and non6. Mental health matters judgemental. Listen to them. Try to introduce mindfulness 2. Stay up to date with teen into your children’s lives and trends be aware of how to reduce Make it your business to anxiety which is everknow what’s going on both in growing in our schools. A the wider world and in your subscription box like Teen neighbourhood so that you Calm will help to introduce don’t get taken by surprise. activities and items which will help to lower anxiety. 3. Don’t be that grown up who dismisses the YouTube 7. Make your own safe world challenge It’s very real and very Maybe it will even go viral! 35

Your telly ts a e tr V T e s e th s is m to t n a w ’t You definitely won

DON’T ISS

Diamond Dealers and Cockney Geezers, Channel 4 Stockholm Requiem, Channel 4

Based on the brilliant Kristina Ohlsson’s novels, this gripping psychological thriller series follows unconventional criminologist Fredrika Bergman, who after a tragic car accident, accepts a job at Stockholm police’s special investigation unit to help tackle crime – but her presence is neither welcomed or wanted. On the same day Fredrika joins, a little girl is abducted from Stockholm’s Central Station and the reason behind it is far more complex than expected. It’s impossible to know who to trust.

Love Monster, CBeebies

PHOTOS: CHANNEL 4 AND BBC

Brand new to CBeebies, this quirky animation for pre-schoolers based on the best-selling books by Rachel Bright, is bursting with fun. It follows the adventures of lovable hero Love Monster as he searches for the right thing to do in a world where he’s one of a kind. As well as being entertaining, Love Monster, who lives in Fluffytown, highlights the importance of kindness and the strength in diversity. Star Trek legend George Takei is the voice of Elder Panda, and comedian and actor Tamsin Greig is the narrator. It’s colourful and utterly engaging.

Go behind the scenes at Trotter’s Jewellers in London’s Bethnal Green! It’s packed with big buck bling and is a magnet for the rich and famous. It’s run by best mates Alex and Kallum, along with Judd, 26, who inherited the shop from his dad. Whether you’re looking to show off your wealth or impress your other half with a gift, Trotter’s is the place to spend your cash. There might be some East End accents, but it’s definitely not a Del Boy venture.

Winterwatch 2020, BBC Two

It’s the major event in the nature TV calendar and it’s finally back on our screens. This year, Chris Packham, Michaela Strachan and Gillian Burke are heading to the highlands to bring us more incredible glimpses of animals in their winter activity across four live episodes. Afterwards, you can catch up with everything on BBC iPlayer. The series comes from the Cairngorms National Park in Scotland. It’s wild, remote, truly breathtaking – and full of creatures navigating a cold and challenging environment.

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BONKERS!

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O M I

22 16

24 16

25 22

8 4

13 1

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1

18 11

23 2

12 5

Work out which letter each number represents. When you’ve filled the grid, put the correct letters into the answer boxes at the bottom to spell out a word. We’ve given you four to start you off. Answer on page 47.

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anicals s, £6, Boots Introducing their most intensive conditioning formula yet. These masks are designed to hydrate or repair the look of hair in just three minutes. Endorsed by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, the masks are enriched with Aloe to nourish the hair with moisture and restore its vitality. Choose from: Coconut milk Hydrating Hair mask and Argan Oil of Morocco Repairing Hair mask. Justice Professional Smooth & Groom, £9.99, Just Cuts Lovingly created by respectable hair salon brand, Just Cuts, this bestselling conditioning cream will leave you with irresistible locks. Not only will this cream tame frizz and smooth hair, but it will repair any damaged ends and reconstruct the hair shaft. Containing Japanese silk proteins, it will strengthen and thicken hair and leave you with a remarkable shine. It is one for the bathroom cabinet! Simple apply to dry or damp hair and let it get to work straight away! No need to rinse!

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Do you need beauty advice? Write

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What is brow lamination?

uring the last decade, we saw many different eyebrow trends. And now, there’s a new kid on the block – eyebrow lamination. Essentially, it is the process of reconstructing the brow hairs to keep them in a desired shape. If you have hairs that grow in an irregular direction or have gaps, then this is perfect for you. It will allow you to achieve that groomed, bushy look that we’re seeing a lot of on the runway. The lamination involves two steps of first brushing the hair and then securing them in the new laminated position with lamination gel.

A pillowcase for your beauty routine

orget a ten-step skincare routine, all you could need is a change of pillow! Enriched with carotenoid-producing probiotics, this moisturising pillowcase by Yu-Nu will rejuvenate skin and reduce wrinkles. This organic beauty boost is effortless, working its magic while your sleep, by nourishing and repairing skin cells during the ni with 100% pure, crisp w cotton, this pillowcase be washed up to 12 tim at 40 degrees, still maintainin its skin-enhanc nutrients.

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and we ll try and help!

... an all-natur food that is packed with goodn and is deliciousfrom stem to tip.

recipes, visit rstem.co.uk

Tenderste broccoli and chicken burrito

t a e Trf the o k e we

FOR THE SALSA MIX:  1 avocado, chopped or sliced  3 tomatoes, sliced  1/2 red onion, thinly sliced  Small bunch coriander, chopped  2 tsp dried chilli flakes  2 tbsp olive oil  Juice of 1 lime  Sea salt and pepper FOR THE SPICED CHICKEN:  4 chicken thighs, skinless and boneless  2 tsp ground cumin  2 tsp ground paprika  1 tbsp olive oil  Juice of 1 lime  Sea salt and pepper FOR THE BURRITO:  4 chicken thighs, skinless and boneless  1 tbsp olive oil  200g Tenderstem broccoli  70g Cheddar cheese, grated  50g plain yoghurt  4 tortilla wraps  1 packet of spicy Mexican rice (250g)

For the salsa, combine all the 1 ingredients in a bowl, mix well and leave to one side. the chicken thighs as thinly as 2uminSlice possible and place in a bowl. Add the and paprika and then mix. Add the olive oil to a large frying pan d heat on a medium to high heat. Add n and leave for 2 minutes until i d lden, then turn and Finish with a Serves: 3 on with salt and en is cooked ol. an down and add d fry the Tenderstem broccoli leave to cool. Whilst you wait, structions. y, assemble the burrito dients still hot. If

you re preparing for tomorrow s lunch, make sure all the ingredients have cooled before assembling. Fill your tortilla up with a quarter of the rice, salsa, chicken, grated cheese, yoghurt and Tenderstem broccoli. Enjoy hot, or if assembling for lunch, tightly wrap in greaseproof paper and tin foil and refrigerate.

Serves: 4

FOR THE SAUCE:  2 tbsp coconut oil  2 lemongrass stalks, roughly chopped and leaves removed  Juice of 2 limes  3 garlic cloves  5cm piece of ginger, peeled and roughly chopped  2 tbsp fish sauce  4 tbsp red Thai curry paste  1 bunch of coriander stalks FOR THE SOUP:  1 red pepper, thinly sliced  1 red chilli, finely diced

Combine all the sauce ingredients with 4 tbsp of water into a blender and blitz to a smooth paste. Put a large deep pan onto a medium heat and add the smooth sauce mix, the sliced red peppers and the diced chilli. Cook for a few minutes until the peppers and chilli soften. Once softened, add the coconut milk and simmer for 8 minutes.

2 3

 400ml can reduced-fat coconut milk  A handful of unsalted peanuts  3-4 egg noodle nests (or around 150-200g egg noodles)  200g Tenderstem, sliced into bite-sized pieces  2 fillets of white fish, cut into chunks (seabass, haddock, cod and pollock all work well)  Small bunch of fresh coriander, chopped  Small bunch of Thai basil, torn

Meanwhile, toast the peanuts in a dry pan on a medium heat until they take on some colour, being careful not to burn them, and then take off the heat. Next, add the noodle nests, Tenderstem and fish to the coconut milk broth and simmer for 3 minutes so that they are soft and cooked through. Divide between 4 bowls and garnish with the coriander, Thai basil and toasted peanuts.

5 6

Maple and coriander chicken withgrilled Tenderstem Serves: 4

 1 tbsp oil  1 tbsp rapeseed oil, plus extra for brushing  4 skinless chicken breasts, butterflied & bashed until ½cm in thickness  250g Tenderstem  Sea salt and ground black pepper FOR THE SAUCE:  1 small red onion, peeled and Heat a large griddle pan 1 over a medium heat, brush with oil and arrange the Tenderstem across the base. Sprinkle generously with sea salt and allow to char for 4 minutes either side or until tender when pierced with a fork. If you prefer your Tenderstem even more tender, add a splash of water to the pan and cover with a lid for 1-2 minutes. Transfer to a plate and set aside. Melt the butter with the oil in a large frying pan over a high heat. Bash the chicken and season generously with sea salt and ground black

finely sliced  1 tbsp apple cider vinegar  4 tbsp maple syrup  1 tbsp light soy sauce  4 tbsp apple juice  1 tbsp wholegrain mustard  Large handful of coriander leaves, roughly chopped, plus extra to garnish pepper. Add the chicken to the pan and brown on both sides until cooked through. Remove from the pan and set aside. Add another drop of oil to the pan and add the onion and fry for about 5 minutes. Then pour in the vinegar, maple syrup, soy sauce, mustard and apple juice and heat until the sauce is bubbling, then reduce until slightly thickened. Stir through the coriander and return the chicken and the Tenderstem to the pan, basting in the sauce. Once both warmed through, transfer them to a warmed plate and pour the sauce over to serve.

3 4

tem Tenderseloped was deJvapan in sing s o r c y b i and l o c c o r b kale! e s e n i Ch

While we try to ensure all recipes work, we cannot take responsibility for their success. STOCK IMAGES: GETTY

Thai fish noodle soup

Philip had a deadly addiction to sex…

WORDS BY GAIL SHORTLAND IMAGES: GETTY

hen Philip Grandine handed his pregnant wife Karissa a fruit smoothie, it would have seemed like a rather touching gesture. Philip certainly had a lot of making up to do. He’d been caught cheating, and as a pastor at the local church, it was scandalous. over, his wife wouldn’t be his Karissa had forgiven his first choice. seedy liaisons and was Blissfully unaware of his lack hopeful that their first baby of effort, Karissa threw herself would heal the hurt. into repairing their marriage But her good nature was and preparing for their baby. clouding her judgement. It was typical of Karissa, Karissa was in more danger who was always positive. than she could’ve imagined. She’d worked hard to obtain It was 2011, and Philip, 25, a university degree while was a pastor at Ennerdale working full-time, and had Road Baptist Church in forgiven her husband for his Toronto, Canada. infidelities, even though it had An upstanding member of humiliated her. the community. That October, two months He also worked as a senior after the affair was exposed, nurse in a retirement home – he was an all-round caregiver. Karissa had other worries. She’d been feeling dizzy, He was married to sick and unusually tired, and insurance underwriter Anne ended up in hospital for tests. Karissa, 29, who was known Doctors couldn’t figure out by her middle name and what was wrong and sent her came from the Philippines. home to rest. After three years of Three days later, on 17 marriage, Karissa was five October, Philip was making months pregnant and her a banana smoothie to couldn’t wait to be a mum. build up her strength. But her world had been Later that day, Philip shaken when she’d dialled 911 in a panic. discovered that Philip was ‘I was out running, and my having an affair with one of wife was having a bath, and his parishioners. when I came ho h s in Worse, the woman was a friend of hers. Karissa felt so betrayed. Philip had They were going to resign over to be parents the affair and the couple began marriage counselling. Kindhearted Karissa said she’d forgive him if he promised to end it – but within days, he was back having sex with his mistress in his car. Philip had

SINN THE S Karissa was trying to rebuild her marriage

the bath, but she’s under the water and she’s not breathing,’ he cried. When the operator asked Philip to try and get her out of the tub, there were sounds of splashing water and grunts. ‘I can’t do it,’ he said. ‘She’s too heavy. She’s too slippery.’ When paramedics arrived, they were surprised that he hadn’t even drained the water from the bath, or attempted CPR on Karissa. Philip had medical training – why hadn’t he tried to save his wife? Karissa died in hospital, along with her unborn baby. An autopsy revealed that she had the powerful sedative lorazepam, also known as Artivan, in her system. It had never been prescribed to her. The drug causes drowsiness and dizziness. Why would she

have taken it and then had a bath? Philip was brought in for routine questioning, but despite suspicions, the police didn’t have enough to charge him. It would later be revealed that while he was planning his pregnant wife’s funeral, he was still having sex with his lover. It would also emerge that while his wife was dying in the bath, Philip wasn’t out running as he’d claimed – he was on the phone to his mistress. The police started their investigation on Philip. They knew that he’d have access to drugs, including lorazepam, through his work as a nurse. They also discovered that in the lead up to his wife’s death, Philip had researched the effects of the sedative and had made disturbing internet

NER Makin g of a

p he stand. His defence argued hat Karissa took the edatives herself because he was suicidal over her husband’s affair. But she was a religious woman and would never have harmed herself or her unborn baby. They even suggested she may have slipped in a freak accident. In January last year, Philip Grandine showed no emotion as he was found guilty of manslaughter of his late wife Karissa. Superior Court Justice Robert Clark sentenced him to 14 years and eight months in prison, with one month served. Although it couldn’t be proved beyond doubt that he had planned to kill his wife that night, the judge was in no doubt tha have kille some poi The judge told Karissa was kind and considerate the woman who an affair with he ‘She was belov everyone, except who should cher most - you,’ he sa ‘If you were unhappy, all you to do was leave h He insisted th Philip’s actions h reached a ‘depth depravity that be the imagination of any rightthinking person Meanwhile, Karissa’s sister clutched a photograph of th victim and cried

ir a f f a s i h o t stop a t u p e f i w ... n o i His t c i d d a n and his por rid of her so he got searches, including; Would 100mg of Artivan be fatal? Experts concluded that Philip had spiked a banana smoothie with the drug – not enough to make Karissa overdose, but just enough to make her drowsy and very confused. He’d then carried or encouraged his wife to have a bath, then pushed her head under, or let gravity do the job. Karissa’s hospital visit before her death was likely down to Philip testing out the dosage he would need. Six months after Karissa’s death, Philip was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. He was placed on

house arrest at his parents’ home as he awaited trial. In December 2014, Philip pleaded not guilty. Prosecution said that he had drugged and drowned Karissa so he could watch porn and continue his affair – without any thought for his unborn baby. An hour before Karissa was discovered, the pornography filter on his computer was taken off. Philip knew his wife wasn’t going to object. ‘This act of the removal of the filter on its own demonstrates that Grandine had the intent to kill,’ they said. The jury heard that Philip

He drugged his wife then let her drown

the ruling, Karissa’s mum, Maria Darvin, said that Philip wasn’t sorry. ‘As a mother, I cannot express the devastation and anguish that was brought about by this terrible act of violence. The horrendous actions of Mr Philip Grandine have cost my daughter and grandchild their lives,’ she said. Karissa’s loved ones thought their ordeal was over, but they were crushed when Philip’s conviction was thrown out on appeal. It was decided that the judge made a mistake in answering a juror’s question – it was a legal technicality. Last year, Philip, now 33, was in court again for his second trial. His lawyers said that Karissa had taken the drug herself as she was depressed about her husband cheating. But would she have taken anything while pregnant? Again, Philip was found guilty of manslaughter, and this January, was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Straight afterwards, he sought a second appeal. Karissa’s family were heartbroken at the continued lack of closure. ‘There’s no rest for the family… this monster gets to play the system again,’ they said outside of court. In the eyes of the court, Philip killed his pregnant wife because he couldn’t give up his elicit hook-ups or love of pornography. Karissa had been willing to forgive him and had paid with

An innocent life taken away 43

ross it!

JUST FOR

FUN

Solve the puzzle to find a word. Fit the words back in the grid and the letters in the highlighted squares spell out the answer. We’ve put in one word to help. Answer on page 47. 8

s ’ k e e w t x e n n I FEELING SORRY FO MYSELF WON’T MAKE M

8 7

4 5

R O U T E

LIMBS GROW BACK

6 6

5 8 3

6 3 5

3 3 7

3 letters Alb Arc Emu Fun Irk Nub

6 letters Bishop 5 letters Quarto 4 letters Cream Unclad Blab Grump Upshot Cart Route Peck Therm Rip Tee

Ruby

MY SON HAS FORGOTTEN EVERYTHIN

7 letters Ambition Breadth Backchat Coxcomb Shanghai Mazurka

APART FROM ME

8 letters Accursed

POLE DANCING

Sudoku!

WHILE PREGNANT PAID OFF

To solve the puzzle, each 3 x 3 box, each column and each row must contain the numbers 1 to 9. Solve the puzzle, then read down the numbers in the highlighted squares for the answer. Answer on page 47.

9 4 1

1 7 7 6 2 8 3 4 9 4 8 6 5 6 7 1 9 8 6 2 9

PHOTOS:SWNS

TOGETHER

On Sale THURS 30 JAN

THIS W EE Over

your

Improve your life in just a we orror film IT Chapter 2 highlights the importance of facing your fears to be move on with your life! We spoke with leading psychologist Honey Langcaster-James to share 7 ways you can overcome your fears in ts i r B 020. (IT Chapter 2 is out now on 4k, Bluof ear % 5 4 eaf ay and DVD as well as Digital Download.)

Look to the past

ears are generally learned at some point in your life and the origins of them can be buried quite deep down, often in a key experience which you perceived as threatening at the time. Try to work out where your fear riginated from by thinking about hen you first remember having your ear, or asking family what might ave happened to make you afraid. Trying to recall a key memory d when you learned to be afraid help you get to the root of your ing

hav piders! of s

Gradual exposure

Leave it behind

ome fears are understandable. If you were in a life-threatening car crash for example, then being afraid to get in a car is your brain’s natural way of trying to keep you safe in the future. Honour your fear by trying to understand how it is trying to protect you. But then look at the evidence to see if there’s any real need to be afraid anymore, and if not, make a mental decision to leave it behind like an old pair of protective boots you no longer need.

d support t support from others. Find a group of people with similar fears so you feel less strange or weak for having that fear. Realising you’re not alone can help you feel more in control and then you can share tips as to how you can overcome your fear together.

Look at the evidence

Celebrate small successes

tay motivated by thinking about all the times in your life that you were afraid in the past. You survived those, right, or you wouldn’t be here reading this now! So doesn’t all the evidence point to the fact that you’ll survive anything you’re afraid of now? Thinking about how you’ve got over fears in the past can help raise your self-belief.

ducate yourself

STOCK PHOTOS:

ducate yourself on the facts. If your fear is flying, for example, watch e videos about turbulence, or go on a fear of flying course which will educate you as to how planes work and why it’s scientifically impossible to just fall out of the sky. Being educated will help you separate fear facts from emotional fiction.

our y e c Fa head fears nd be on a ud! pro

hen we’re afraid of something we tend to avoid it, but this only perpetuates the fear. Psychologists often use exposure therapy to help people get over things they’re afraid of. This is a way of gradually getting more and more relaxed in the presence of your fear. If your fear is spiders, start with a cartoon spider and do relaxation exercises until you feel OK. Then try a photo of a spider, then perhaps a video of a spider and so on, until you can cope with a spider in a corner of a room. Gradual exposure will help change your mindset.

Thisweek’spuzzle answers! Crackit!pg38 Verbal C L A N G A B L N O S T A L O O N N I L C O V E O V E R D I I E E C O N OM T A A P O P L A R R J K I MO N O O A R Q U I T A S H UM

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B B T M A Z U R K A E C E M E K A L B U N C L A D I O P H T T S H A N G H A I H T R O O U N T H E R M M M P E C K F U N A U I R K X C OM B T

O G A N D O N D F L L O A D S U O D L L T L I Q U O S L A M P C O L L E A R E B U B B K R Y A N T E D B E W A S H E D R S R

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R N Y G

Sudoku!pg45 5,9,7 4 8 9 7 6 3 2 5 1

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7 1 5 8 2 9 3 4 6

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5 9 4 1 7 6 8 2 3

Followit!pg9 Marsupial

Bitesize!pg3 Rain

G A I T

FUN

Number fit! pg 13 4543

Strikeit!pg13 Dashboard

Pick Me Up! will still be bringing you great puzzles to pit your wits against, but will no longer be offering prizes. All puzzle entries up to and including issue 26 will be processed as normal. Don’t forget, you can do puzzles for big cash prizes every week in our sister magazine, Chat.

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T M E R B I L O M T Y P E D A E I P L E R S A L E C N D B C U T B O O T Y R M R A W A K E O O V O C A L E A L I S O F A S T E S P

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gan Moroccan lafels, £2.25, ASDA, orrisons, ainsbury’s.

D O O F

nspired by an authentic Moroccan recipe, these bite-sized falafels are made with chickpeas, apricots, dates and agave instead of honey, making them ompletely vegan.

K N I R D

Elmlea PlantSingle and Double Alternatives to Dair Cream, £1 for singl and £1.10 for double, Sainsbury’s and ASDA

aZero, £3 (4x330ml), ASDA and Ocado. For those still committed to Dry January, Cobra Zero could be just the booze-free drink you need. The 0% alcohol offering has a delicate and malty taste with sweet and citrus flavours.

Whether you’re a seasone vegan or ditching dairy for Veganuary you’ll be grateful for this alternativ to dairy cream.

ngton s a Maple Syrups, £6.99, Waitrose. Bringing two new maple syrups to the UK, Billington’s are introducing Amber and Very Dark. Amber is perfect for pouring over pancakes, while Very Dark will suit both sweet and savouring cooking – great for the more adventurous foodies out there!

GO!

OUR

perami Beef Bar, .75 (3x20g), sco, ASDA, ainsburys. e latest member of e Peperami gang, is beef bar snack is acked full of protein nd just 69 calories. hey’re great after a workout or as an afternoon snack to beat those hunger cravings.

Galaxy Vegan bars, £3 (100g bar), Tesco, Ocado and Amazon. A great alternative to satisfy your sweet tooth, this vegan chocolate is as good as the real thing. Choose from smooth orange, sophisticated caramel and sea salt or luxurious caramelised hazelnut.

AFTERNOON TEA Treat yourself and a loved one to this selection of afternoon teas, all made possible by Buyagift Experience Days. Visit www.buyagift.co.uk

Afternoon Tea and Bottomless Bubbles at London Marriott, Marble Arch

Cream tea at the Harrods Tea Rooms Savour a delightful treat in this famous luxurious department store. Sit back and relax as you tuck into your delicious tea, complete with fluffy freshly baked plain and fruit scones with mouth watering clotted cream and homemade preserves. Quench your thirst with a refreshing pot of tea, choosing from a wide selection of varieties chosen by the store’s own in-house tea tailor. Perfect for any occasion!  £40 for two people

Situated in the iconic Free Trade Hall, the Edwardian Manchester is opulent and elegant. Indulge in their delicious afternoon tea in the stylish surroundings of the Manhattanstyle restaurant, complete with lofty ceilings and velvet red walls. Enjoy a delightful selection of sweet treats, fluffy scones with jam and clotted cream, and dainty finger sandwiches all washed down with a tea or coffee of your choice.  £45 for two eo le STOCK IMAGES: GETTY

Located in this iconic hotel, The Pickled Hen offers a modern take on classic British gastropub dishes and prides themselves on serving locally sourced food. Enjoy an eclectic mix of sweet and savoury dishes from fish finger sandwiches, and scotch eggs to traditional scones with Devonshire lotted cream, toffee opcorn cheesecake arts and white nd dark chocolate mousses served n egg shells with oasted brioche, all complete with two hours of free-flowing bubbles.  £49 for two people

Afternoon tea at Edwardian Manchester

7 days of hope & happiness with Claire Petulengro

ch re n ok

ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

CANCER

A ship in the harbour is safe. But that’s not what ships were built for. You’ve taken time out of life for long enough now, Aries. Try to focus on what you wanted your end result to be. Aspects suggest you’ve been putting time and energy into helping others this month, to avoid dealing with your own worries. Solutions fall at your feet by Friday. Stay alert and ready.

Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear. Try to take control of your emotions this week. Jupiter is on hand to help you see right from wrong. Conversations you have with people from your past this week makes sense of recent mixed messages you’ve been getting. You leave this week a wiser Taurus, my friend.

Prove them wrong this week, Gemini. You and I both know that lies have been told about you lately. The best way forward is to keep focused on the future and not the past. It seems that someone is enjoying getting a rise out of you. Actions you take and words you speak on Tuesday and Wednesday give you back control. Just make sure you use it where it is most needed, please.

Quality time spent with your loved ones this week can do much to finally bring you closer together. You will soon begin to see that you have actually been prioritising the wrong things as of late, Cancer. Using your well trusted instincts to know exactly what you need to do this weekend can bring someone who has been rather distant back into the inner circle of your life.

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LEO

VIRGO

LIBRA

SCORPIO

It takes a lot of courage to be yourself, but for a sign such as you, Leo, there really is no other choice. Money you pay out for things this week speaks volumes to those who have previously doubted you. You start to realise that the only thing holding you back was your own imagination. From here on in, you begin to ask for more, as you and I both know, you really are worth it.

Did you really fall for someone, or were you just infatuated? This is a question which you find yourself mulling over more than once this week. You start to realise who has been playing at being a grown up and you realise who has actually been there for you consistently. It’s a week of making and breaking the right relationships, and not a moment too soon.

There is a lot more courage which is evident in your chart than there was this time last month, Libra. You’ve done well. I know very well that the growing up you have had to do was rather painful, but I also see that it’s brought your life out to a much better place as of late. Flirtations which begin this week have the makings of something much more permanent than you had ever imagined, so be ready for it.

Try not to talk about others this week, as many of the signs are feeling more sensitive than usual and could take your words of wisdom as words of insult. It’s all about showing others that you can work as part of a team, even if you don’t always feel like it. News of a pregnancy or a birth soon shines a new spotlight on familiar faces. Be careful. Wait and listen before you judge.

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SAGITTARIUS

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

Many of you have been accused of things that you did not know of. Rather than throwing your toys out the pram, try to keep your cool and remember that it is those who stay calm in these situations that gain the ears of those who are watching. An accidental meeting this week sees you going somewhere which will soon become a regular part of your weekly routine.

Try not to speak for the sake of it, as many of the signs are feeling more sensitive than usual lately. You would be far better to focus on the amount there is to be gained by tying up loose ends financially. It seems especially relevant that you can now gain back the trust of someone you had previously lost it with. Don’t waste this unique opportunity. Time is precious, my friend.

Don’t tell people your dreams, rather show them Aquarius. You have spent far too long trying to do what looked right, when all that others really wanted was to see you happy. Time you spend being outspoken about your future aspirations can see you finding a shortcut midweek. Friday’s events can also see you making contact with those people who can better your finances.

Who seeks shall find. There is an element of game playing in the days ahead. Try not to get caught up in emotional games which you know can only slow down your progress. The less of a reaction you show, the better, especially on Friday. Time spent with older family members helps you to feel more secure about where you come from and where you’re going.

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21 April–21 May

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*Starlines updated every Thursday. Calls cost 80p per min plus your telephone company’s network access charge and last approx 4 mins. Callers must be 18+. You must have bill payer’s permission. SP: Spoke 0333 202 3390.

REAL LIFE He was soo smiling ag

My football lad

MESSI He loves Lionel Messi

t s p m a H m o fr 7, 4 , h it m S Laura ... ss e N ch Lo e th n re d il ch r e h w o wanted to sh

WORDS BY SWNS PHOTOS: SWNS AND ALAMY

oarding the plane, we were so excited to finally get away. Me, my husband, Douglas, 36, my daughter Charlotte, seven and my son Andrew, five, were on our way to Scotland for our summer holiday. ‘Are we all excited?’ I smiled to the kids as they watched the clouds go by. ‘Yeah!’ they cheered. We have family in Glasgow, so they always have a really good time and get spoilt rotten whilst there. I love getting to show them where I grew up and go to all the tourist attractions with them, too. On our two week trip, we’d planned to go to Aberdeen, Nairn, Dunfermline, Lanarkshire, Glasgow, Renfrewshire and Ayrshire. Whilst in Scotland, we rented a hire car. It was going to be a busy couple of weeks, but there was one place we knew we had to take them! ‘We’re going to see 50

someone really special today,’ I around the house, packing his things to leave. told them a few days into our ‘Wow, we’ve done something annual trip. right,’ Douglas laughed. ‘Who!?’ they buzzed. Andrew was so excited and Now that they’re a was bouncing off the walls all bit older, me and morning, waiting for us to go. Douglas wanted to ‘Come on, let’s go!’ he take them to the shouted from the door as we Loch Ness, so we put on our shoes. could tell them all ‘Alright calm down,’ I told about the Loch Ness him, bustling him in the car. Monster, ‘Nessie’ As we drove to Loch Ness, and take them around Urquhart ‘Nessi!’ I beamed I knew they’d be such a fun day out, was thrilled. It was a ‘Oh my God!’ he Messi screamed. He star mistake! We couldn’t wait to take them there!

We thought he was too excited!

– he was so excited. He was singing and waving his arms around in the back seat of the car. Then, as we pulled up by the Loch, Andrew jumped out of he car and started ooking around. ‘Well, she’s going to e in the water, isn’t he?’ I told him, ointing over the cliff. ‘What?’ he said, his ce suddenly dropping. Where’s Messi?’ As realisation hit us, had to desperately. d b ck our laughter. rew is a massive ball fan, and rcelona’s Lionel Messi is his avourite player. ‘No darling, not Lionel Messi, but Nessi the Loch Ness Monster,’ I smiled him. s little face so miserable, but it was just so funny. ‘Oh…’ he sighed, clearly heartbroken about the messy situation upon us. ‘But we’ll still have such a fun day,’ Douglas told him. Struggling not to laugh, we both tried to comfort him, but little Charlotte couldn’t control herself and burst into a roar. Luckily, after about five minutes, we were all laughing, even Andrew, but we could see he was far from impressed. ‘I hope we haven’t let him down too much,’ I told Douglas, doubtfully. Thankfully though, as soon as we got to the castle, Andrew was all smiles again. hilst we were there, we did im a Scotland football to cheer him up. may not have been the celona one he wanted, he loved it all the same – t like we knew he would. Andrew still holds it over r heads, so I think we’re ng to have to get it in the next time. don’t think I’ll manage to et a private meet and greet with the man himself, but we did get him a Barcelona strip for Christmas last year. Although our little football fanatic was devastated that he didn’t get to meet Lionel Messi, we all had a ball!

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