Pick Me Up! Special Winter Special 2015

It looks like Mollie here is ready for the big freeze with her splendid snowman! And so are we, with plenty of chilling crime stories. Like the Jekyll and Hyde boyfriend who shot poor Brandi, before torching the house and killing himself (p6). Or the terrifying tale of Shane Padgett, who gouged out his victim's eye as part of a brutal sex attack and murder (p34). But you'll get a warmer feeling by reading about Tanya's funny fella, Ian, who's dressed up as everyone from Superman to Wonder Woman, all to raise money for charity (p54). There's also Derby the miniature donkey (p8), who's a regular in the local pub, and Hitch the guinea pig, whose game of hide and seek took him on an adventure 100 miles from home (p12)! Plus there's stylish fashion, delicious…

Here weee go! This picture of my hubby Graham and my 10-month-old son Drake brightens up my day every time I look at it! Emma Goodband, Salisbury Big kids Me and my mates got to leave work early – and build a snowman! Trish Jarvis, Bristol Looking good Here’s me and the kids, Kaydin, 8, and Blake, 6, having a family fun-filled weekend. We all loved taking face mask selfies! Rachel Redman, South Wales Baby, it's cold outside Proving that it’s not just kids who love playing in the snow, here’s me and my husband Andrew enjoying the cold weather! Kelly Imrie, Kilmarnock Snow clever My daughter, Mollie, who was just about to turn 5 when this picture was taken, loved being out in the snow. Here she is with her snowman! Nicola Battensby, County Durham Say what?! We say… Sorry I’m late the bus I was…

MAKE A TOAST Bubbles at the ready! You’ll find bottles of Vespucci Prosecco (75Cl) have been reduced from £6.50 to £5 at Iceland. We’ll drink to that! FEEL ZEN Fancy a tablet? Between 2-16 December The ASUS ZenPad 10 (Z300) will be reduced from £150 to £129.99 at Argos. Keep it clean! If your oven’s in need of a clean, visit Sainsbury’s, where from 9 December to 1 January you’ll find Oven Pride priced £3 instead of £4. What a card! Sending Christmas cards this year? If so, throughout November, Moonpig.comhave a great offer of buy five cards, get 50% off!…

Clean shaven, nicely turned out and well spoken, my daughter’s new fella seemed perfect. ‘You’ll love him, Mum,’ my daughter, Brandi Kubos, had told me. ‘He’s got everything - looks, a good job and he’s just a nice person.’ ‘Very nice meeting you, Mrs Willett,’ Robert Leer said. ‘I’ve been looking forward to meeting Brandi’s family.’ He and Brandi became a couple after being introduced by mutual friends three months earlier. Robert, a lab technician for a drug research company, was really going places. I couldn’t have been happier for my little girl. Then, a few weeks later, she told me she was quitting her occupational therapy course at college. ‘It’s not right for me right now Mum,’ she said. ‘I need a break. I’m failing because I don’t have the time to put into my studies.’ I…

MULE MENU Mare-garitaMoscow muleBlue nag-oonBloody hairyHei-neigh-ken Strolling into the busy pub, Becky always turns heads. Not surprising, as she’s so gorgeous and friendly. A real stunning lady - just not a human one. She’s actually a 36-year-old, 3ft-tall, miniature donkey! It seems like an odd story, but my pet is one of my pub regulars. I got Becky seven years ago. I’d already had a miniature donkey named Derby, but he seemed lonely living in the field behind my old pub, the Horse and Groom in Rushlake Green. I was in touch with Lady Rosamund Fisher, who owned a miniature-donkey breeders, Marklye Miniature Donkeys. She’d given me Derby a few years back. ‘My donkey Becky can’t have any more foals,’ she told me. ‘So she’s being retired. Maybe she could keep Derby company?’ Perfect! When I clapped eyes on Becky,…

Christine Bailey is a nutritionist, chef and author. Visit www.christinebailey.co.uk for more information. CALORIE COUNTING Pru, Devon What's lurking: Diet soft drinks, low-fat soy dressing, peppers, olives, mustards, coconut milk, almond milk, dairy milk, water, rum, soup, low-fat mayonnaise, brown rice, margarine, beer, strawberries, avocado, salad, smoked mackerel. Christine says: There appears to be a focus on reduced-calorie prepared products, but these are not necessarily healthy and tend to be low in nutrients. The mackerel and avocado are a good addition, providing healthy omega 3 and monounsaturated fatty acids. PROCESSED PRODUCTS Sarah, Nottingham What's lurking: Jalapenos, olives, mustard, unsalted butter, sausages, blueberries, tofu, cheese, parmesan, chocolate, beer, diet soft drink, fishcakes, smoked mackerel, salad, avocado, peppers, aubergines, chutney, pineapple juice, semi-skimmed milk, mayonnaise, lean stewing beef, soup. Christine says: There are a few prepared sauces, sugary foods and…