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Pick Me Up! Special - 01 September 2022 PDF

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PPRRIIZZEESS WWOORRTTHH ££££££ TTOO BBEE WWOONN EEAACCHH MMOONNTTHH!! Enter now to win these and many more amazing prizes Find out more comps.lifedeathprizes.com HOW TO REGISTER Win a £50 Culinary masterclass with Masterchef Bart It’s FREE to enter and It’s so 10 prizes to be won! easy to do, just visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com and register by hitting the join Win an AlcoSense button and then you can enter Pro personal breathalyser as many competitions as you 4 prizes to like. Go on, have fun! be won! Win a pair of velvet dining chairs 1 prize to be won! Win the Repair Kit Collection by Sugru 15 prizes to be won! Win £500 worth of Instant Win a £250 Effects Skincare Gordon Ramsay Products Restaurant 1 Prize to be won Voucher 2 prizes to be won! For website rules of play, go to comps.lifedeathprizes.com/rules. Terms and conditions apply, UK only. 2 WELCOME TO YOUR MONTHLY SPECIAL OF 5500 September special On the cover 6 Horror knife attack A s the long summer nights start to draw to a 8 I found love with my close, make the most out of the sunshine and hubby’s best mate 4400 enjoy a jam-packed September. 30 Why our girl begged us to Make a list of everything you want to let her die achieve, as well as making sure the family are ready for 38 Cruel strangers judged us the new school term that is looming. for starting a family For Anita (pg12) enrolling her son on a new 58 Cheating preacher shot adventure helped him to excel in challenging times. his wife to hide his secret Dribbling the football, and having his own superstar kit, Louis was a natural in no time. life So much so, Anita had to keep buying replacement 62 How dreadful dinners socks for Louis, as he kept burning holes in them from made me famous! scoring too many epic goals! More real life Having an end target was something road trip couple 5544 Sophie and Mark (pg18) had in the forefront of their 12 Team Louis! travelling minds, too. 17 Teething problems Giving an ambulance some much needed TLC, they 18 Hit the road were able to revive the van into their very own home. 22 Cruel mother Although the idea that blood, vomit and more had 27 Totally quackers been in the back was enough to put some people off! S. Nothing would have been able to put Freya (pg27) 34 It takes two E N off her Ducky adventures. 42 Sleeping angel ZI A With flocks of ducklings following her every move, G Fun features A M she made a very special connection to one in particular. HER He’d even be invited into the family home for a spot 10 No place like home! T of afternoon lunch O 20 Easy eats N Caring for all animals, Freya’s grandmother, Mandy, D I 26 Get crafty E thought Duck-tor Dolittle had arrived! R EA As well as that and plenty more juicy real life, we’ve 28 Your home – bargain buys P P got lots to inspire you this season. 32 Rising costs A VE Whether that’s getting organised (pg66) with the 36 Your style – dress to 5566 A H latest stationary, adding Belfast to your travel checklist impress Y MA (pg52) or finding out how you can beat the price cap 40 Days out – lovely lidos S increase in the upcoming months (pg32). E 48 Act fast L Z If you need to keep yourself entertained on a rainy Z 49 Look amazing U 4499 P day, learn how you can turn your home from drab to fab D 50 What’s trending? N (pg10), keep the kids busy with funky crafts (pg26), A 52 Travel – 24 hours in S and check out some brand-new foodie buys (pg54), too. E RI Make a note to grab a copy of Pick Me Up! October Belfast O ST special – out on the shelves on 8 September with all 54 Supermarket sweep E M your autumn needs in mind. 56 Your style – bold and O S Until then, we hope you enjoy the last of summer! brave E: OT 66 Getting organised N E Your favourites S A E L P Y. 4 Your Pick Me Ups T T 14 Brainwaves E S: G Hide and seek 24 Your dilemmas 6666 E G A 45 Health and happiness M K I 60 Your stars C O On which page in 64 Pick Me Up! Quiz T S Y. this month’s Pick T ET Me Up! can you find G O: this pot of paint? T Editor: Gail Shortland. Features Editor: Hannah Poon. O H P Answer on pg61 Feature Writers: Hannah Crocker, Anaïs Seely and Kezia Reynolds. Senior Designer: R E V Stacey Black. Designer: Georgia Macmenemey. Junior Designer: Mary Heenan. O C 3 YYoouurr ppiicckk mmee uuppss Hitting milestones My granddaughter Rosie has just turned nine-months-old! Isn’t she just adorable? They grow up incredibly fast... Mared, Bromley At long last I’m so proud of my beautiful daughter Make it a Shannon for graduating from Falmouth September to University. They do say it’s work hard, remember! w play hard. Eleanor, Bude WWahkaet m dei d Au Opu egwcntuhodsebstn!?e S r e spatye mt ob e r fH uo n n y! sTduhameym sla oesfrt ! Summer nights There is a pop up beach in my local park serving cocktails, food, and sand, too! I don’t need to close my eyes to think I’m on holiday! I just hope the nice weather lasts through September! Jasmine, Bath Picasso in the making If the seat fits! There’s nothing better than bringing I can’t believe that my little boy is the chalkboard out into the garden. It now big enough to sit in the swing keeps the little ones entertained for a chair. His giggle is adorable when we while at least! Tiegan, Devon start moving! Gabby, York 4 AANNIIMMAALL MMAAGGIICC Our readers have captured their adorable animals on camera... Taking the chop! My kind daughters decided they Big yawn! would donate their hair to the Are you even from the UK, Princess Trust for other children if you don’t say ‘that’s a in need! They thought of the idea big yawn’ on behalf of your all by themselves – it’s amazing! pooch?! Meg is a super tired Hillary, Rochdale pup. Elva, Coventry Where do sharks go w o H on holiday? f u n n y ! Finland! Birdseye view! Cream of the crop Jetting out to my sunny holiday I couldn’t help but feed this in Turkey, I was lucky enough to super cute cat that turned up spot my hometown on the way at my back door. I’m trying to out. I could even see the pier from persuade my partner to let us high in the sky! get our own little kitty! Rhiannon, Weston Sherry, Lyme Regis Back to school season! Chip off the old What’s a tree’s least block favourite month? H o w HIt oinwv ictuetde i itss ethlfi sto c hoiuprm puicnnki?c Sep-timber! f u n n y ! on the beach in Spain – I wanted to take him home! Rose, Cornwall New leash of life Our boy, Zeke, loves a long walk in the countryside. I’m not sure who is the main star Great heights of this photo, the view or our Somehow my friends convinced me paw-fect poser! to climb this wobbly pole! It was Irene, Oxfordshire the most frightening experience of my life and I’m never doing it again. Rose, Newport 5 WWAAYY OO U T NN OO Serena Maiden, 22, from Alness, Scotland, feared for her unborn baby as her evil ex’s reign of terror came to a head… A our favourite films. pplying my makeup, I Who needs money? I thought. was a bag of nerves. It seemed we didn’t need ‘He thinks you’re anybody else. really fit,’ my cousin But Greg took that literally, and Allanis, 21, beamed. soon became more possessive. She had been telling me all about Everything I did seemed to Greg Sutherland, 32. irritate him, and he hated me being ‘You’ll like him,’ she said. on my phone. It was July 2015, and we were ‘Stop talking about me behind getting ready for a party that my back,’ he snapped. Allanis was hosting, sipping on When he stopped me glasses of wine before seeing friends, I should all the guests arrived. I thought I’d have left, but then Greg Allanis had We were met the one would treat me like a mentioned Greg D instantly princess, making me E before, after she met G N him through a friend. joined at dinner and running me a A H ‘He saw you on your bath. I was well and N C picture on Facebook the hip truly under his spell. to hit me during our rows, but I was at me, then disappear for days. E BE and said you’re pretty,’ ‘I want to have a baby scared of leaving him. Sometimes I saw him lose his VE she told me. at some point,’ I said We eventually managed to find a temper with our friends. A one morning. H That evening, when Greg flat of our own, but soon after that, I When I watched it from the S He already had four kids from a E walked into the party, I blushed. lost my job because I couldn’t outside, I realised how horribly he M previous relationship, although he A ‘Hi, I’m Serena,’ I shouted over concentrate at work. was treating people. N didn’t have contact with them – they * the music. From then on, I was trapped at Then I realised – I didn’t deserve S. lived with their mum. N ‘I know,’ he winked. home with Greg. it either. W I didn’t think he’d want any more, S Greg was very attentive. My body was bruised like a peach One day in October 2017, when I S: He was 10 years older than me but he was happy and we stopped from where he’d lashed out, and I was four months pregnant, Greg E G using contraception. A and it made him seem very mature. started wearing baggy clothes that stumbled into the house, drunk. M We started looking for a place of Almost immediately after we covered me up. We had exchanged a few angry LL. I met, we were joined at the hip. our own, but continued to argue all After Greg was violent, he would messages that evening, so when he A the time. Then, in April 2016, Irene H He lived with his mum Irene*, so try and make it up to me by running came home, he was ready for a fight. ARS I’d be there all the time, too. asked us to move out and we moved me a bath. Straight away he started shouting M Before long, I was practically around staying where we could. His eyes would scan over my slurred words at me, and we soon A I was ashamed when Greg started E living there. beaten body and it felt like he was got into a row. A D L He had a part-time job with a admiring a trophy. I was too scared to speak. N scaffolding company, but when he About a year after we got But he just got angrier. A I wanted to N lost his job a few months later, I together, I fell pregnant. Slamming his fist down on the be a family O T ended up paying for a lot. ‘Oh my God, Serena, yes!’ he bed, a feeling of dread washed over L WA Still, that was part of being exclaimed, kissing my belly. me. I didn’t even notice when he R- in a relationship. As time went on, I felt more and first punched me. E TL I was an admin clerk at more lost and alone. My cheekbone ached and I saw U B a children’s charity, so But Greg was going to be the his angry expression, then I realised MH we got by. father of my baby, and I was what he had done. A We spent time desperate for us to be a proper ‘Have I got a lump?’ I gasped. NI Y walking his dog family. But things got worse. ‘You’ll soon have another!’ he B S Bruno, riding on his ‘You’re disgusting,’ he spat screamed. And like a monster, he D R motorbike, and staying one evening, in a foul mood. launched at me. O W in bed, binge watching Greg would often hurl abuse Greg pushed me down onto the 6 VVIICCIIOOUUSS RREEAALL LLIIFFEE WAY OO UU TT N O I feared for my life him upstairs, while Irene lot longer than that. Greg could stood between me and Greg, I could finally relax and raise my have killed me trying to stop him. son stress free and put all of my love so many times Greg tried to lunge at me, and energy into him. so I kept stepping backwards, I don’t know how I stuck it out for and eventually, the three of us so long, as there were so many times had backed into the kitchen. when Greg could have killed me. March 2018 at Raigmore Hospital Greg grabbed a knife and pointed But I left him, reported him, and in Inverness, and I thought things it at me. I had to escape. put him behind bars. would change. ‘Go away!’ I screamed, before Today, I’m doing much better But of course, they didn’t. making a run for it and am starting to move Greg was always out drinking through the door. on with my life. bed, and I lay on my stomach as he with his friends, so I had to take care I ran down the road to Greg My little boy is now grabbed my hair and repeatedly of all the nappy changes, feeds, and my friend Nadine’s four and doing well, all grabbed punched me in the head. sleepless nights. house and frantically things considered. It seemed to go on forever, and I That October, Greg walked banged on her door. a knife in For the first time in remember him punching me a total straight into the living room of his ‘Serena, you’re not what feels like forever, the fight of 59 times. mum’s house, where Liam and I going back this time,’ I’m actually enjoying He then grabbed his motorbike were playing. she said. my life again. fork, a huge piece of metal, and hit We’d been visiting for a few days Later, my mum went Sometimes at night I the wardrobe with it. so that Irene could spend time with round to Irene’s to pick up my son. get flashbacks and have to push ‘I’m sorry!’ I cried, trying to calm her grandson. After that, Liam and I moved in them out of my mind, but when I him down. ‘Come and tell your son that you with my dad Tony*, and also spent look at my little boy’s angelic face, I I cowered down, shielding my love him,’ I said to Greg. some time in a women’s refuge. know I have to be strong and move pregnant belly. I saw a flicker of anger in his eyes For five months, I was too scared on for him. Just then, Bruno leapt to my as he sat down in front of me, stared to call the police, worried about He’s my entire world. rescue and started barking at Greg, straight at me. what Greg would do to me. who he was usually fiercely loyal to. ‘There’s no way out of this,’ he Thankfully, he didn’t try to With that, Greg punched Bruno in spat. ‘You’re a sh*t mum.’ contact me, and eventually I the face, sending the poor thing With that, Greg flipped, and I saw found the courage. scuttling under the bed in fear. evil in his eyes. I called the police and Greg Then, almost as if nothing had ‘This is the day you’re going to was arrested. happened, Greg suddenly lay down die,’ he said. He had 11 charges against on the bed and drifted off to sleep, I tried to reach for my phone to him, but he only pleaded guilty leaving me bleeding, crying, but not call for help, moving my hand to three counts of assault, and daring to make a sound. underneath a pillow. one of threatening behaviour. When he saw my bruises and cuts But he saw me, and all of a At Inverness Sheriff Court in in the morning, he looked shocked. sudden became a wild animal. September 2019, Greg was ‘What have I done?!’ he gasped. ‘Greg, please!’ I gasped, as he jailed for a year. Despite being the one in agony, I grabbed me and punched me hard in The thought of having him felt sorry for him. the ribs. away from me was amazing. I am finally As time went on, I tried to forget Irene and her partner John*, were But considering the physical enjoying my about what happened that night. there and ran downstairs. and mental damage he has left life again I gave birth to our son Liam*, in John scooped up my son and took me with, I think he deserved a 7 JJUUSSTT TTHHEE TTHHRREE Luana Ribeira, 41, from Anglesey, North Wales, slept with her hubby’s best mate – and then they all shacked up together! S miling at the handsome were such a tight-knit group. man across the table, I felt James and I had our bickers, butterflies in my tummy. but our relationship was solid. My friend had set me up But in 2015, things started to with James, and we were change. I had some trouble with on our first date in the pub. my business, and I ended up When we said our goodbyes, I losing my company. knew then I’d met the man I was I took it hard. going to marry. As I battled to build myself We’d been dating for a few back up again, I started to mto ohnisth bse wst hfreine nJadm, Aels. introduced me negI wlecotr kJaemd 2es4./7, and we were I’m dating my husband’s mate! ‘Nice to meet you,’ I smiled. like ships in the night. Al was lovely, and his girlfriend One night in December 2017, was sweet, too. The four of us got on after putting the kids to bed, James person I thought of was Al. some trouble, so I together brilliantly. came and found me in my office. He was James’ best friend, but invited her to stay with us and they James and I went from strength to ‘We need to talk,’ he said. we’d grown close over the years – ended up hitting it off. strength, and in November 2009, Following him into the living and as he’d been living off-grid in I was happy for them. after a year of bliss, we tied the knot. room, I had no idea what it was Portugal for a year, he hadn’t seen us But after six months, I needed Our two daughters, Seren and about. But as we sat down, I could gradually growing apart. some space to clear my head. Ellie, came along in 2009 and 2010. see on his face that something He knew both of us so well, and I And there was only one place I They completed our little family, wasn’t right. thought he’d be a supportive ear. wanted to go. Portugal. and we were so happy. ‘Things aren’t working between ‘James and I have Calling Al up, I told Al and his partner had a little girl us,’ he said. ‘We’ve drifted apart.’ split,’ I told him when him I was flying over. the same age as Seren, and our kids I felt a jolt of shock. he picked up. Our lips When I arrived, he were all the best of friends, too – we But as I processed ‘I’m sorry,’ he said. came to visit me – and touched what he said, I realised We chatted for a ended up staying with he was right. while, and it felt nice to and I felt me for a week. I still loved James, unload. Al had split We chilled in the sun a jolt but I now loved him as from his partner, too, so all day and stayed up all a friend, not a husband. he knew what I was night talking. S The realisation took going through. And as the days N W me by surprise, but I Thankfully, things passed, something S S: wasn’t upset. between James and I were amicable. shifted between us. E G ‘I’m sorry,’ I said. ‘We need to tell the kids,’ he said. I have feelings for him, I realised. A M ‘Don’t be,’ he ‘You’re right,’ I agreed. ‘But let’s I thought he might feel the same, R. I smiled, giving me a not make it into a big deal.’ but I didn’t know for sure. E K hug. ‘We’re just Sitting them down on the sofa, we But one night, we were sat by the C O R going in different told them Mummy and Daddy were pool after a few drinks when Al C H directions now.’ divorcing, but were still best friends. leaned in for a kiss. A I felt at peace. They took it really well. As our lips touched, I felt a jolt of N N Needing someone Not much changed for them, as electricity run through me. A H to talk to, later that James and I continued living As we broke apart, I saw the Y B James and I realised we night I picked up my together – just in separate bedrooms. worry and confusion in his eyes. S D were friends, not lovers phone – and James even got a new girlfriend – ‘Oh my God, what have we R O W strangely, the first one of my friends had been having done?’ he said, freaking out. ‘What 8 BBOONNKKEERRSS RREEAALL LLIIFFEE THRREEEE OOFF UUSS business, Dauntless PR. After a while, James got an amazing job offer back in the UK that he couldn’t refuse. ‘We’ll see you all the time,’ I said. But then the pandemic hit, and I knew we needed to move home. Not only did I want the girls to see more of their dad, but Al and I missed James, too! We’re one big So Al and I packed up our lives in happy family! Portugal and moved to Anglesey, Wales, where my parents live. James was up in Leeds, which was further away than we’d like, but we saw each other most weekends. It’s unconventional – but James and I now have a better relationship than ever. We never called it a break-up – we called it an evolution. People find it hard to understand our dynamic – all three of us are best mates, and we’re all happier for it. At the end of 2020, Al and I found out we were expecting a baby. The very first person we told was James – and when we did, he couldn’t stop laughing. ‘You always said you were completely done with kids after the girls,’ he chuckled. He was right – I never thought I’d get broody again. But as soon as I saw those two blue lines come up on the test, I realised a baby with Al was exactly Al and I are what I wanted. meant to be Our little boy Celyn was born in June last year, James dotes on him. ‘I’m so happy for you both,’ he about James?’ smiled when he first met him. A wave of guilt washed over me. him. ‘Do you want to come?’ for him and his girlfriend. Celyn is completely obssesed Yes, we’d split up, but Al was his I wanted him to say yes, because But me, Al and James lived with James, too! best mate. of the girls. But actually, I wanted together with the girls, and oddly James and I are still waiting for It felt like a betrayal. James there, too. enough, it worked perfectly. our divorce to be officially finalised ‘We need to speak to him before ‘Go on, then,’ he laughed. It might sound weird to some – and when it is, we’re going to have we go any further with this,’ Al said. We’d always talked about it, but I people – living with my ex and my a big party to celebrate! ‘Oh God,’ I said, starting to fret. never thought that would be how it new boyfriend, who also happens to It might seem bonkers to some – ‘I’ll call him now,’ Al said. happened – with James and I be my ex’s best mate! but our three-way relationship He went back into the villa, while separated, and me dating his mate! There were definitely people that works for us! I stayed by the pool. I flew back to the UK to sort a few judged us when we told I was so nervous. things out. them about it. There was obviously chemistry ‘It’s so good to see you,’ I said to But it worked for us. between me and Al, but I didn’t the girls, hugging them tight. ‘Guess Don’t get me wrong – it want to hurt James. what – I’ve got a crush on Al!’ wasn’t always easy, but we After 10 minutes, Al came back. ‘Oooh, have you got two worked through it together. ‘How did he take it?’ I said. boyfriends now Mummy?’ Seren After six months, Al and ‘All good,’ Al smiled, hugging asked. ‘That’s so cool!’ I decided to go me tight. ‘No,’ I laughed. and live wild People As he held me, I felt so content. ‘Remember, Daddy and for a while on And with James’ blessing, we I are just friends now.’ judged us his land. started dating. James and I never James when we One day, strolling around the made a big deal of it, so stayed in the town, I noticed a house up for rent. the girls thought it was a told them house with the We went to have a look, and as we great piece of juicy girls, and they walked around it, I fell in love. gossip and accepted it. came over to Four bedrooms, lots of land... After 10 days, Seren, camp with us Celyn completed ‘I’ll take it,’ I told the estate agent. Ellie and I flew back out to Portugal, on the weekends. our family On a whim, I signed up for a year. while James stayed back to sell our During our three Then I phoned James. house in Leeds, before joining us. months there, I wrote a ‘I’m moving to Portugal,’ I told Sadly, things hadn’t worked out book and set up a new 9 LLIIFFEESSTTYYLLEE NN OO PP LL AACC EE L I K E H ome renovations can be extremely daunting – your mind racing with plenty of interesting ideas to make your house a home. However, the bigger the idea, the harder the project – not because your DIY skills can’t achieve it, but your budget might not stretch. m e o By approaching things with a fresh a v e s H n outlook, you could save yourself u Y f some time and money… D I u t o h w i t h e g t n Best budget hacks k i a b r e k K n nowing a thing or two about money, Norton Finance have b a found the most cost-effective ways to improve your home on a tight budget, saving you a whopping £15,000 in the process – what are you waiting for?! To see more visit: Nortonfinance.co.uk 1: REVITALISE YOUR BATHROOM What you’ll Rather than ripping out what sWopvehenardt £: y34o29u4’pll save: pyrooufe aslsrieoandayl hdaeveep, cpleayainn, go rfo rre a- grouting your entire bathroom, bring your tiles back to life with neat bleach. If you’ve got unsightly mildew spotting around your bath, shower or sink, this is for you! For stubborn stains, apply neat bleach with cotton wool and leave to soak overnight. Do this every six months to keep harmful bacteria at bay. TOP TIP: Always wear rubber gloves, keep windows open and never mix bleach with any other cleaning products. 2: NO SHOES PLEASE! crelepHalianrceini nagg sf mlyuoaiudllrs c ffaloorrop arei twn cgel eeekanentinirndeg liy nu s–nt iyeto aaudn’ dlol fb e £Ws2Wph,e5han0tad t0y: oy£uo3u’l5l’ lls ave: amazed at how good they will look after. 3: LIGHTBULB MOMENT WsWphehanatdt y: yo£ou1u’l1’ll l4 save: cofonLrs iu1g5mh%tpin toigof nahc oatunusdae ltlhhyo eml daa vekeleersac tgurepic ity Lick of paint £603 home goes though 67 lightbulbs a year. Switching from old-school bulbs to LED Now we all know and love the paint colour palettes could save £603 in energy costs. from well known brands, but the hefty price tag they come with is extortionate – that’s even Y 4: UPDATE YOUR SPACE before you’ve thought about wallpaper and furnishings. T MY AND GET cnheMYawon alugek eacisnos geuto lsod myf t olahiuflielrn a kkan intdcd ha aefdfnod cr vdaaanlb ugleiev. e it a £Ws8Wp,h0eahn0tad 0ty: oy£uo1’ul0l’ ll0s ave: bscuhOCsoionnomlelyssm,, sp oeuafsnif nieattrny id dnRo geee vpasefanfnio’nt r tnd iease badl es t eor vcoicset oap feonrt tuon heo. useholds, A about sanding, paint for all your projects. L A sealing and Providing part and full S: E repainting kitchen containers of perfect colours G A units, replacing for as little as £4, you can M Y. I old handles for transform your room on a L E sparkly new ones, tight budget. E S S adding a stainless You can even pass over AI steel splash back your leftovers for someone N A and fitting brighter else’s benefit. Y B LED bulbs. To get involved, visit: S D communityrepaint.org.uk R O W 10

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