Pick Me Up! Special Best Of 3 2018

We love the unexpected and there’s plenty this month. When Donna (pg18) got tired of the stresses of life, no one could have predicted what she and her family did next! Caroline (pg26) and her husband were victims of an arson attack, but when they found out that it was done by someone they’d always shown kindness to, they were shocked. Dog lover Debby (pg64) took on a big task when she welcomed Alsatian Malachi into her home. But her devotion to him has never wavered and insists every animal deserves a good quality of life. On the flip side, superdog Diesel is devoted to saving our lives! (pg10) Sometimes babies are too keen to come into the world and Kelli (pg23) was terrified when her twins were born at…

Oldie and goodie I absolutely love this old picture of my grandpa. He was such a character! Victoria, Norfolk Cornish adventures My family and I had such a lovely few days in Cornwall this summer. This is one of my favourite pictures from the trip – an evening walk along the pier in Looe. Carly, Surrey King of the jungle We were so lucky to get so close to this lion at the zoo. My son was eager to get as close as possible, but my younger daughter was a bit wary! We had a wonderful time though! Jess, Cardiff Knitting away I may be an old lady at heart, but I love my knitting! It’s the perfect way to relax while watching a good box set! Rachel, Reading Lost…

Soak up the sun My cat Rodney loves lying on my bed and soaking up the morning sun. He’s so adorable! Georgie, Hackney Watcah doin? I don’t think my dogs are too impressed with me. Rosco can’t seem to figure out why I’m pointing the camera at him and Rainey just looks annoyed. Love them! Andrea, Trowbridge New arrival My new pup Ruby is adorable and I love her to bits! She’s very naughty and still needs a bit of training, but I’m sure we’ll all spoil her! Emilia, Hampshire…

As I waited for Simon to turn up, nerves were swirling in my stomach. It was our first date, and at 37, Simon was 13 years older than me. I’d never had a boyfriend before and I was flattered by the attention he showed me. As we strolled together, Simon grabbed hold of my hand. He was very forward and we soon became a couple. Within a few months, Simon and I moved into a place of our own. At first, he was funny, charming and attentive. An animal lover, I was desperate to get a dog, and I fell in love with a King Charles spaniel puppy. I brought her home and named her Star. I showered Star with cuddles, but it became clear that Simon was jealous of…

Peeking over the cot, my heart just melted. ‘He’s so perfect,’ I said, stroking my little boy. I couldn’t believe my son, Taylor, was eight months old. ‘He’s growing up so fast,’ my mum, Kate, smiled. I leaned in closer and gave him a big kiss, just in time to catch his tiny, toothy grin. Taylor had always been such a happy, cheeky little boy. It was a surprise to find out at 21 that I was pregnant with him. But now I couldn’t be happier. The next evening, I woke up to the sounds of him stirring from down the hall. Bleary-eyed, I wandered to his bedroom to find out what was wrong. ‘Mummy’s here,’ I cooed, leaning to pick him up. Giving him a cuddle, I instantly noticed…

Meet Scotland's hottest fire dog, who, kitted out with his own special uniform, prepares to go viral with his own Twitter account. Diesel, who appears in a video wearing ‘doggles', tells his fans about how he works to protect Scotland's communities. The springer spaniel, who also has special booties to protect his paws, will help the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service reach out to followers on social media with safety advice. Diesel has played a vital role for the emergency services and has been called upon disasters around the world, and even used his skills to locate casualties in collapsed buildings. As a vital member of the SFRS Urban Search and Rescue's (USAR) National Response, the adorable pup is deployed across Scotland with his dedicated handler, Gary Carroll. Deputy chief…