Pick Me Up! Special January 2020

With everyone around us talking about New Year’s resolutions, we’ve come up with a good one that will cover all your bases – be more positive! This month, we’ve been inspired by women who have changed difficult circumstances into great ones, simply by being positive. When her teenage daughter developed an eating disorder, Julie (pg26) was understandably worried. But she dived right in to help out, and today, this mum and daughter duo are fighting fit. What’s the worst thing that could happen when you’re wearing all white? Spilling red wine of course! That’s what Eleanor (pg30) faced on a day out. While most of us would probably just go home, Eleanor looked on the positive side, and the result was something truly impressive. While pregnant with her little girl,…

With everyone around us talking about New Year’s resolutions, we’ve come up with a good one that will cover all your bases – be more positive! This month, we’ve been inspired by women who have changed difficult circumstances into great ones, simply by being positive. When her teenage daughter developed an eating disorder, Julie (pg26) was understandably worried. But she dived right in to help out, and today, this mum and daughter duo are fighting fit. What’s the worst thing that could happen when you’re wearing all white? Spilling red wine of course! That’s what Eleanor (pg30) faced on a day out. While most of us would probably just go home, Eleanor looked on the positive side, and the result was something truly impressive. While pregnant with her little girl, something told Anne (pg47) she was…

Mamma Mia! My husband had this delicious steak tomato pasta when we were on a trip away. Safe to say, this bowl was not full for long! Hayley, Aberdeen How funny! What's the problem with jogging on New Year's Eve? The ice falls out of your drinks! Happy New Year I managed to capture these sparkling fireworks going off. We bought some silent ones this year so that they weren't noisy for animals! Tina, Swindon My resolution was to read more so I put subtitles on my TV. Food glorious food It was my dad's birthday in October, and we bought him this amazing coffee and walnut cake from a local baker called Belton Bakes! Wish I could say that I made this. Nina, Bristol Row, row, row your…

Mamma Mia! My husband had this delicious steak tomato pasta when we were on a trip away. Safe to say, this bowl was not full for long! Hayley, Aberdeen How funny! What's the problem with jogging on New Year's Eve? The ice falls out of your drinks! Happy New Year I managed to capture these sparkling fireworks going off. We bought some silent ones this year so that they weren't noisy for animals! Tina, Swindon My resolution was to read more so I put subtitles on my TV. Food glorious food It was my dad's birthday in October, and we bought him this amazing coffee and walnut cake from a local baker called Belton Bakes! Wish I could say that I made this. Nina, Bristol Row, row, row your boat Here is my husband driving a boat on the Norfolk broads!…

Gagging from the stench of the toilets, I looked at the broken windows and filthy floors. ‘It was once the hub of the community,’ the estate agent explained to me. Now, in August 2018, the rundown pub in Southport was derelict. Still, something about it drew me in. It had always been my dream ‘It’s got a lot of potential,’ I said to my partner Alex, 33, grinning excitedly. He’d been encouraging me to open a pub for months. I loved cooking wholesome grub, and I’d always worked in restaurants and pubs. I loved the idea of having a pub I could call my own. But since our son Harrison, then two, had arrived, I’d been doing office work to pay the bills, and I hated every minute of it. ‘We’ll help out,’ my dad Jason, 47, promised. My mum Christine,…

Gagging from the stench of the toilets, I looked at the broken windows and filthy floors. ‘It was once the hub of the community,’ the estate agent explained to me. Now, in August 2018, the rundown pub in Southport was derelict. Still, something about it drew me in. It had always been my dream ‘It’s got a lot of potential,’ I said to my partner Alex, 33, grinning excitedly. He’d been encouraging me to open a pub for months. I loved cooking wholesome grub, and I’d always worked in restaurants and pubs. I loved the idea of having a pub I could call my own. But since our son Harrison, then two, had arrived, I’d been doing office work to pay the bills, and I hated every minute of it.…