Índex per 2-Nov-2023 a Pick Me Up!

Family life can be chaotic and during the cost of living crisis, it’s not always easy to feed the whole family efficiently. However, Phil Bianchi, food and flavour expert from The Gift of Oil, has five hacks to make mealtimes easier. • For more, visit: thegiftofoil.co.uk 1. Make a universal sauce Making a universal sauce is a great way to get ahead of your weekly meals. Make a big batch of sauce, such as a simple tomato and basil, at the start of the week to save around four to five hours of cooking! Tomato-based sauces can be used in a lots of dishes, too, including meatballs, pasta and traybakes. 2. Infused olive oils Invest in some infused olive oils to enhance the simplest of dishes. There’s no need to…

Holding the ticket stub close, I couldn’t wait to get inside. With thousands of other screaming teenage girls, I was about to see the best band in the world. ‘Not long now,’ my mum Valerie, 81, had smiled at me. Despite being a single parent, Mum always made sure I went to all the concerts. You see, I loved Take That far too much to miss a gig. And Mum loved them loads, too. Like most teenage girls in the nineties, I was obsessed with the biggest boyband of its time. I had posters covering every inch of my bedroom, including the ceiling, my walls splattered with my favourite boys. ‘I just love them,’ I’d chirp to all my friends, who I think got a little annoyed with all the…

Sifting through my tarot cards, I knew my gifts were special. Learning how to read tea leaves from my Grandma Alice when I was just a little girl, I’d always been in touch with my spiritual side. And now offering private tarot readings to my clients, I was able to predict the future – specifically, for animals. Using my gifts to identify their health problems and suggest solutions, animals were always in my mind’s eye. Only in summer 2016, my friend Natalie, who ran her own farm, had a surprise up her sleeve that I never predicted. ‘We have a little baby rescue goat at the farm,’ she said. ‘Would you like to take him in?’ I jumped at the opportunity. ‘Yes, I’ll take him in!’ I said. I already…

An essential to complete any outfit this season – the humble coat. Whether you’re looking for something to take the chill off, a staple that you will wear every day or a must-have jacket that will make you stand out from the crowd, here are some of our favourites……

AND ALL THINGS NICE Pumpkin spice latte – not only the drink of the season but a trendy makeup look, too. With warm auburn-brown hues, this is the perfect autumnal look. Get the look with Essence and Catrice Cosmetics. Available from justmylook.com 1. Essence Blend & Line Eyeshadow Stick, £2.79 These eyeshadow and eyeliner sticks come in three autumnal shades with a gorgeous metallic finish. Whether you want something a little more subtle or a bold statement, these smooth sticks can help you create a stylish look in no time. 2. Essence Protect Your Energy Mini Eyeshadow Palette, £4.79 With six highly pigmented eyeshadows with matte and metallic finishes, this palette has your go-to shades for creating the latte look, whether it's for everyday wear or an evening out. 3.…

1. Start simple, stay safe: Kick off your foraging adventure with easy-to-identify wild edibles like dandelions and wild garlic. Keep it safe by knowing your finds inside out. 2. Be a responsible forager: Only take what you need. Don’t deplete nature’s pantry. Follow the law and respect private property. 3. Nature’s calendar matters: Timing is everything. Understand when your favourite wild treats are in season. Different delicacies pop up at different times of the year. 4. Trust, but verify: Don’t gamble with your taste buds. Always double-check your findings with reliable sources like field guides or trusted foragers. 5. Join the Wild Bunch: Accelerate your foraging prowess by learning from the pros. Join a local foraging group or dive into a foraging class for a hands-on education.…

Spooky spicy biscuits YOU WILL NEED: FOR THE BISCUITS: ◻ 175g dark muscovado sugar ◻ 85g golden syrup ◻ 100g butter ◻ 3 tsp ground ginger ◻ ½ tsp mixed spice ◻ 350g Carr’s Plain Flour (plus extra for dusting) ◻ 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda (dissolved in 1 tsp water) ◻ 1 egg (lightly beaten) FOR DECORATION: ◻ Icing pens or an icing bag & icing sugar ◻ Any gory or ghoulish decorations! HOW TO: 1 Over a low heat, melt the sugar, golden syrup and butter in a small pan. Then set to one side. In a large bowl, mix the spices and flour together, make a well in the middle and tip in the melted butter mixture, the bicarbonate of soda and the egg. Stir well until…

Walking around Compton Acres Gardens in 2009, I could have been travelling the globe. On holiday with my parents and two children, Rhys, now 30, and Vanessa, now 27, we walked through the gardens together exploring all sorts of different cultures. Passing through delicate English and French gardens, it wasn’t until I reached the Japanese style garden that I was blown away. It was peaceful and tranquil – I felt inspired, too. I wanted my garden to look the same. I’d always been interested in gardening – both my grandpa’s had ponds and I loved maintaining them. In fact, they inspired me to keep fish myself. I’d been keeping Koi for 28 years – a Japanese garden was going to be perfect! I wanted my garden to look the same…

We’re loving Who said trick-or-treating was just for humans? Get your furry friends involved! They’ll be obsessed with his scare-tastic new range from treat brand Denzels. Go for some Spooktacular Bones, made with turkey, pumpkin and apple, vegan-friendly Toffee Apple Soft Backed Sticks or a Jack ‘O’ Lantern full of pumpkin-shaped treats. Made with natural ingredients, they’re good for your pup’s health as well as being a tasty treat. Happy Howl-oween! • From £2, available in supermarkets nationwide • Visit: denzels.co.uk Treat your furry friends, too! GET IN TOUCH Send us your stories and photos, including all names and ages, a daytime phone number and full address. E-mail hello@pickmeupmag.co.uk WRITE TO Pick Me Up! Media Centre, Emma-Chris Way, Abbey Wood Park, Filton, Bristol, BS34 7JU PHONE 0117 440 0607 FACEBOOK facebook.com/pickmeupmag…

Staring at the glass of milk on the table in the cup to move with my mind. No, I wasn’t pretending to be Matilda, I dreamt of being someone far spookier. I wanted to be a witch! Every Halloween, I would beg my mum Elvira, now 58, to be a magical witch. You see, I wanted all sorts of magic powers and while Mum probably got a little sick of it, she indulged me every year. I loved watching films like The Craft and Practical Magic. And entering adulthood, Halloween remained my favourite holiday, more so than Christmas, birthdays and Thanksgiving, too. Not only did I love the spooky side, but Halloween really gave people the chance to embrace their dark side – it was like you could make your…

Dementia is a devastating disease that can affect any of us. And getting older is the biggest risk factor. However, The Alzheimer’s Society has shared some ways you can decrease your risk of developing dementia. • For more help and support, please visit: alzheimers.org.uk 1) Physical activity Exercise is really good for your heart, circulation and mental well-being. And combining aerobic and strength-training activities will keep you fit and healthy. You might find it difficult to start being more physically active, or worry it means doing an activity you don’t enjoy. It’s important to find activities that work for you. You might find it helpful to start off with a small amount of activity and then build up gradually. 2) Eating healthily A healthy, balanced diet may reduce your risk…

Concerning clouds Q My mum has recently complained of her vision going cloudy in the corners. I’ve urged her to go to the optician but she insists it’s nothing. What do you think it could be? Bella, Tiverton A If you have seen an optician, then this is a good start. From my experience with patients, this complaint is often due to needing spectacles to focus your eyesight better. However, you should have further tests to make sure you can exclude cataracts or glaucoma. One other condition that can cause cloudy vision in the corners can be from the eyelids ‘sagging’ and this is called dermatochalasis. If you aren’t happy with the optician’s response, I would urge you to see another optician or even a specialist eye doctor. It is…

Helen Aitchison has a degree in sociology and criminology, plus a degree in social work and is a domestic abuse and sexual violence advocate. She also has 20 years of experience in the health and social care sector, too. (helenaitchisonwrites.com) 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. Am I losing her? Q Since moving in with her partner, my daughter has cut our contact down. We used to speak every single day but now I’ll be lucky if it is once…

Here’s our very own real life Mario and Luigi, aka Maximus and Lochlan! They’re three and love dressing up as their favourite characters! Vicky Lee, Yorkshire This is me and my bestie Sian enjoying Halloween as Day of the Dead and Jigsaw. Loving it! Lisa Adams, Halesowen I kept the lid off my tub of chocolates and decided to decorate it with spooky eyeballs and fun stickers. Now I can use it as a plate to put treats on ready for Halloween! Tina Williams, Blaenau Gwent My two little granddaughters Billi and Georgi loved their new sunglasses I bought them. In the words of Madonna – strike a pose! They will always be my special little superstars… Patricia Cordon, Cheltenham If your letter makes Star Letter of the week, you will…

Despite braving the Love Island villa earlier this year, Will has returned to working on his family farm in Buckinghamshire. He’s here to spill the beans on farm life! • For more information, buy For the Love of Farming: Farmer Will’s Guide to Life in the Fields by Will Young, £13.99, WHSmith 1. What does your family farm specialise in? We are a commercial sheep flock with 1,500 for breeding use – we then sell the lambs to local markets. But we have just started to source different animals, too, such as goats, donkeys, emus, alpacas and pigs. 2. Did you always want to be a farmer? When me and my brother were growing up, we weren’t made to farm but I had a love for farming, helping out when…

Sitting at the dining table, I tucked into my delicious Irish fry-up. A signature dish made by my mum Bernadine, then 68 – her cooking was a family affair. ‘This is delicious,’ I grinned. Living just two minutes away, me, my husband Robert, now 61, and my sons David, 28, and Stephen, 25, always visited for dinner, especially Sunday roasts, when Mum and I took turns making the roast beef. We were a well-fed family, savouring Mum’s Jalfrezi curry and garlic prawns. So when I noticed Mum had started losing weight in 2020, I knew something was off. Visiting her five days a week, her eating habits had changed. Putting a plate of food in front of her, she would only pick at it. ‘Mum, you need to eat,’ I…

Look out for: ● Time of year or seasonality is important. For example, in the spring you can look out for wild garlic, nettles and dandelions, in the summer, elderflowers, wild strawberries and sea purslane, in the autumn, sloes, sweet chestnuts and hedgehog mushrooms and finally in the winter, rose hips, wintergreen and sea kale. ● Identification is key. Misidentification can lead to poisoning or other health issues. In all instances, note colour, shape, texture, form and habitat. ● Check local laws and regulations regarding foraging. Some areas may have restrictions on collecting wild plants or fungi, especially in protected natural areas. ● Keep an eye on the weather. Some mushrooms, for example, thrive after rain. Avoid: ● Foraging near roadsides, industrial areas, or places with known pollution or contamination.…

ARIES 21 March–20 April Saturn finally decides to turn direct and gives you back the control of your life that’s been lacking. Try not to say things which you know you’ll later regret just to gain the upper hand. Step back and you’ll soon see that you always had it. Time spent considering if you should do something you know will upset close one leads to a revelation you didn’t expect. Call: 09058 170 710* LEO 24 July–23 Aug News you received helps you to better understand what has to happen next. You thought you were not ready but you were wrong. This is proven by the faith others show in you over what you do next. Things you think about putting money into now are the beginnings and base…