Pick Me Up! Special May 2020

With such uncertain times in our midst, we do hope you’re all staying safe, happy, and healthy. And, if you’re spending all of your time at home like most of us are, we’ve got plenty to keep you and your family entertained in this month’s edition. With our helpful guide on how to stay fit and active at home (pg26), we’re sure you won’t even miss the gym. We also have clever ways to give your home a new Scandi look (pg36), which will see you passing the time on improving your living space – you might never want to leave! This month, we’re also looking up to those who have faced life head on while showing unbelievable courage. Jennifer (pg8) suffered the worst possible tragedy any new mum could imagine. But no matter…

Family time My dad, brother and I went for a run and it was so cool sprinting through the tunnel! Izzie, Berkshire Best pizzas in town My favourite Italian restaurant is Bosco Pizzeria! They do the best stone baked pizzas. Rose, Bath Dreamy views I went to Santorini last summer and I can't wait to go again this year. The sights were amazing. Julia, Taunton Get in my belly I went for a delicious meal with my girlfriend the other day! Jade, Devon King of the castle Here is my boyfriend outside Edinburgh castle! Such a great trip. Han, Luton Food glorious food Is there anything better than a Miller and Carter steak? All the trimmings please! Keira, Lancaster Day out We had some mother-daughter bonding time on a trip to Bath recently. The buildings are gorgeous! Jilly, Thornbury Great British bake off I baked these gorgeous blondies with white chocolate and…

Sliding on another coat of lippy, I looked in the mirror one last time. ‘This will have to do,’ I smiled to myself, adjusting my new floral top. In just half an hour, I was due to meet a man for our first date, and even in my 50s, I was feeling as nervous as a teenager! David Harrison, 44, and I had met on a dating website just a few days before, had hit it off right away. I’d never been one for online dating, but being single for so long, my colleagues had eventually talked me round into trying it out. ‘What’s the harm?’ they’d said. And I had to agree. With my son Daniel, 30, all grown up and moved out, I spent all my time either at work as a barmaid or…

As he babbled away, I was sure it wouldn’t be long before my little boy Ralph finally said his first word! ‘I agree,’ I giggled as he rambled nonsense at Postman Pat on TV. It was July 2015 and Ralph was just four months old. Already, he was reverse crawling and bum shuffling. He’d be walking before we knew it, too! From the minute Ralph was born in March 2015, he’d been our wonderfully happy-go-lucky boy. Nothing fazed him. He never fussed at bath time, rarely cried. Me and my husband Stephen, 38, counted ourselves really lucky that he was such an easy little baby. And we were already imagining our clever boy in years ahead of us. Would he be a teacher, or even a scientist? Would he get married, have kids of his own? There was so much excitement to…

Passing through the work kitchen with a pile full of dirty plates, I stopped to give the chef a quick peck. It was always a busy day waitressing, but working with my boyfriend made it all better. ‘Fancy going out for a bite later?' Stoyan, 25, said, flipping the pan. ‘Sure!' I smiled. ‘Now stop distracting me from work!' In 2011, a friend introduced Stoyan and I in our home country of Bulgaria. We were so loved up, that when Stoyan moved to the UK in 2016, I had to join. Stoyan wanted it to be special So 15 months later, I packed my bags and we set up home in Cheltenham. We worked in the same restaurant and enjoyed it. ‘Would you ever want tattoos?' I asked Stoyan one day. His arms were bare, compared to his colleague's all kitted…

Everyone in this world is unique and different, no two people are the same. We all have our own quirky habits, fun personalities and distinctive features. And mine is a little more unusual than most... I’ve got a genetic condition called heterochromia iridis, which means I’ve got two different coloured eyes. One blue, one green. It doesn’t affect my sight at all, and I’ve never met anyone else with the condition. That is, until I came face to face with my dog. I’d always been so excited to move out and get a puppy. And when the day finally came, I sniffed out the perfect breeder. I’d been obsessed with the 101 film since I was little, and loved Dalmatians. ‘I’m really sorry,’ the breeder told me when the litter arrived. ‘Your puppy’s been born with one brown eye and…