OOnnee iinn aa Contents On the cover 6 Slashed with a knife on MMIILLLLIIOONN!! girls night out 10 I should be dead…my parachute didn’t open 22 Win a holiday to Portugal 24 How little Albie’s sore arm saved his life 28 Nits set my head on fire This week we’re but I still feel beautiful We just want to help 32 We had a Peperami admiring Harp wedding! Edwards, 37, from 42 Devil dad killed his the West Midlands. teen girls to stop them She said... dating S itting across from More real life a client in a one-to- one therapy that we can see how best to 17 Lighter side of life session, it was support them. 20 Adventure is out there amazing to witness the At the heart of my mission, I personal revelations she want to teach my clients 50 Sweet melody was making. positive daily routines and She had already habits that will help them From you experienced so many I was inspired to do more break out of the gambling cycle. breakthroughs in her Through mindfulness 3 One in a million short time at the retreat. sessions and one-to-one 12 Your brainwaves Throughout my career, to myself. therapy, the aim is to help them S I have always been passionate Hearing second-hand about unpack some of their negative 15 Your dilemmas N W about helping the lives of what these women had gone core beliefs. S Feelgood : people facing challenging through just wasn’t enough for We also provide a six month S GE situations and teaching them me – I wanted to find a way to outreach programme to check A 4 Your pick me ups M ways to tackle addiction. directly help them as up on them after they N. I Although, after learning much as I could. We tackle have left the retreat. 9 Your home WI more about human trafficking That’s when I got It’s an intense job but D more 16 Your health O and modern slavery during my stuck in with Gordon it’s a privilege to help in O than just G years in psychotherapy Moody – the UK’s any way that I can. 23 Animal magic E RI counselling, I was inspired to leading gambling addiction We are about to A 26 Your style M do a lot more. addiction charity. relocate to BY What can I do to help these Working in Wolverhampton, but I 34 You are enough S D women? I remember thinking Birmingham, we run a five- would love to make our unique 36 Pick of the week R O week course to limit phone use treatment even more W 37 Money master and remove women from the accessible by expanding to temptation they might face in multiple locations, and I am 38 Genius or bonkers everyday life. excited to see where the 39 Look amazing Although, our services aren’t programme goes in the future! limited to targeting addiction. I just want to help others. 40 Easy eats I love to sit down with them 46 Outside the box and have a chat about what is (cid:122) For support and guidance, visit: really going on in their lives, so gordonmoody.org.uk 48 Food and drink 49 Your stars SSnneeaakkyy ppeeeekk Editor: Hannah Poon P26 Transitional Features Editor: Hannah Crocker aatt tthhiiss wweeeekk!! fashion buys Feature Writers: Anaïs Seely, Kezia Reynolds, Marie Goodwin Senior Designer: Stacey Black Designer: Georgia Macmenemey Junior Designer: Mary Heenan P40 Delicious desserts P22 Win a P39 Get dream holiday! luscious lips 3 mme ups YYoouurr ppiicckk HAVE YOU HEARD? Barbie’s got a new look! They’ve teamed up with Strictly Come Dancing star Rose Ayling- h Ellis to unveil w it their very first D o ll s b iliti e s doll with a d i s a o v e behind-the-ear w e l – hearing aid. it! We’re loving There’s nothing better than dimming the lights, cosying up under a blanket and opening up a good book to wind down for the night. Now, you can take your wellbeing routine to the next level with the new and improved Neom Pod. Let the gentle gurgle and dreamy scents take you to a new level of relaxation. With a white ceramic cover and recycled light wood base, it’s chic as well as soothing. Try out the new breathing mode – the light will slowly brighten for seven seconds then dim for 11 seconds, for a guided breathing technique. Aaand...relax! (cid:122) Neom Wellbeing Pod 2, £95, neomorganics.com GET IN TOUCH Good deed of the week Send us your stories and With a new school year and the start of autumn, September is a time for photos, including all names and fresh starts. ages, a daytime phone number So why not start by decluttering your wardrobe? Y and full address. Take on the British Heart Foundation’s Declutter Challenge – have a M A clear out, donate your preloved clothes and help fund L A E-mail [email protected] lifesaving research. D N Simply drop items to your local shop, book a A WRITE TO Pick Me Up! Media Centre, Y collection online or post using a freepost label. T T Emma-Chris Way, Abbey Wood Park, Filton, This year’s challenge is being supported by E G S: Bristol, BS34 7JU professional declutterer Kate Ibbotson. E ‘Start with bitesize chunks like a wardrobe or G A PHONE 0117 440 0607 M a shelf,’ Katie advises. ‘Ask yourself – do I need S. I FACEBOOK facebook.com/pickmeupmag this, do I own something similar, is it fit for N W SEE OUR WEBSITE lifedeathprizes.com purpose, and can someone else make better use S of it? That’s the magic of decluttering!’ Y B Future Publishing Limited reserves the right to reuse any submission S sent to Pick Me Up! magazine, in any format or medium. D R Unfortunately, we can’t return photos without a stamped sae. (cid:122) Please visit: bhf.org.uk O Letters/photos must not be sent to any other publication. W 4 mmee uuppss Your pick How amazing is this setting for a round of mini golf?! I found it hard to believe that we were still in the UK! Gemma Poole, Dorset Book of the week J ane Whitefield helps people disappear. Our mate, Sean, spreading the Her clients come to her for new identities – but then joy after his first Pick Me Up! she finds Sara, a young woman in trouble. appearance earlier this year. She watched her boyfriend murder her lover – now he’s Sadly, he’s not single! Rachael after her. Major, High Wycombe But things get tricky when he coargllasn oinse hdi sc rfirmieen dgsa n–g a, wRuhsos tiaakne SSnnaappppeedd!! an interest in Jane. Can Jane outsmart them? This is the latest in Thomas Perry’s Jane Whitefield series, and if you love your nail-biting thrillers, it won’t disappoint! My family all enjoyed (cid:122) The Left-Handed Twin our staycation to by Thomas Perry, £9.99, available from Waterstones Liverpool, and our visit to the famous Albert Docks. Natasha Fun days out Leave the Douglas, Kent kids at home for If you haven’t heard the award-winning this one! comedy true crime podcast, Drunk Women Solving Crime – get to know it! It launched back in 2018 and recently celebrated its My hubby Steve 200th episode – and now the hilarious boozed-up hosts likes to think Hannah George, Catie Wilkins and Taylor Glenn are he’s playing hitting the road. Kicking off in Liverpool this month and rounding Kerplunk with off with a festive London finale, the unique blend of the spaghetti! historical true crime in a quiz-style format over drinks, Mel Palmer, with bonus celeb guests, will have you in stitches. Bristol (cid:122) Please visit: drunkwomensolvingcrime.com S (cid:122) Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Acast or Castbox TA R LETTE R Here is my cat, Doris – she is guarding the wooden mice which my dad hand-crafted. Lauren Rowe, St. Austell If your letter makes Star Letter of the week, you will receive some beautiful blooms from Flying Flowers. With over 30 years’ experience of helping celebrate life’s special moments and FREE delivery by post, a gorgeous bouquet by Flying Flowers is a lovely way to celebrate sharing smiles and happiness. See flyingflowers.co.uk for more details. 5 K issing my baby boy confusion – that SSTTAABBBBED IN goodbye, I felt a wasn’t our scene. sudden pang. ‘No we don’t, ‘I’ll see you in the sorry,’ Kate said. morning,’ I told But he just Jaxson, stroking his soft, wouldn’t take no for chubby cheeks. an answer. He was only seven months He started getting old, and it was my first night aggressive, yelling out without him. and swearing at us. ‘He’ll be fine,’ my mum Then he suddenly TTHHEE BBACK Amanda reassured me. ‘Go went to grab Kate by and have fun!’ the throat. He was staying at Mum’s ‘What are you round the corner, and I knew doing?’ I shouted. he was in good hands. Sarah and I tried Waving them off, I went to to calm the situation. the kitchen and poured myself But as we yelled a drink. back, the bouncer Then my mate Sarah* overheard and came knocked at the door. dashing over. ‘Let’s party,’ she cheered. The man We’d gone out a lot together continued to cause a pre-baby. I loved being a new scene, so they had no mum, but I couldn’t wait to get choice but remove dolled up, have a boogie and let him from the bar. my hair down. ‘Right, it’s time for ‘What do you think of these you to leave,’ the shoes?’ I asked her, slipping on security guard said a pair of heels. sternly to the ‘Perfect,’ she smiled. aggressive stranger. The two of us got ready He angrily made together, before going into his way to the exit, town to meet our friend Kate*. and then the bouncer With a last slick of lipstick, I turned to us. picked up my clutch bag and ‘You, too,’ he we headed out. added, showing us It was a chilly November the door. night last year, but it wasn’t far ‘What?’ I said, to walk. confused. ‘But we When we arrived, we headed didn’t do anything.’ into the local ‘Spoons. He was having ‘I’ll get the first round,’ I said none of it though. excitedly, making my way Rather than make towards the bar. a fuss, we all just D. We found ourselves a seat grabbed our bags and E G and started catching up over a left as well. N A few pitchers. It was a shame the I JUST WANTED H C Then we headed across the night had taken such He slashed my N E road to a bar called Revival. a bad turn. TO HAVE FUN back and arm E B It was a fun place with a But as we headed E V dance floor that I couldn’t wait out, we saw that the A H to get onto. bloke was still S E I flashed the bouncer my ID standing there. M A and weaved my way through He clocked us S. *N the crowd to the bar. leaving the club. A night out turned into a N ‘Vodka, lime and lemonade, ‘Oi, you,’ he SW please,’ I shouted, nightmare for Lauren Foster, ES: shouted across Then he getting worked G A to the barman. up again. 22, from Norwich. M charged at R. I As I sipped my He was still E drink, bobbing me with a ranting and K C along to the raving about O manic look R music, Sarah what had doing until it was too late. in shock. C H tapped me on in his eye happened inside. Seconds later he started I think the adrenaline must A N the shoulder. Then he got into a slashing at me, with a crazed have kicked in at that moment. N A ‘We’re fight with some people look on his face. Once of the bouncers came H D heading to the we knew, and Sarah The security guard saw what and put pressure on my back. N A smoking area,’ she said. turned to me was happening and leapt in the Another bouncer quickly N We made our way across the ‘He’s got a knife!’ she way and tried to hold him back. called 999, and another helped O RS dance floor to go outside. shouted in horror. But it was too late. me back into the club and led A E But as we did, a random man I turned to look – and as I He struck me four times, me to the bathroom to try and P E approached Kate, stopping us did, he charged at me. slicing open my back and arm. clean up some of the blood. TI A in our tracks. With a manic look in his eye, I stumbled back into my Looking in the mirror, I saw K Y I’d never seen him before. I saw the flash of a serrated friends, and everyone started the white, fatty tissue spilling B S ‘Do you know where I can get blade called a zombie knife. screaming in horror. out of my arm. D R drugs?’ he demanded rudely. It all happened so quickly – I Despite the horrific attack, I That’s when I first realised it O W We all looked at each other in didn’t even realise what he was didn’t feel any pain – I was still was really bad, and what had 6 TTEERRRRIIFFYYIINNGG RREEAALL LLIIFFEE STABBBEEDD IINN finally able to go was shown CCTV images of home – that’s when Clow running across to us with I really started to a blade in his hand. process everything. He performed four slashing I could hardly movements, striking me – believe it. despite the security officers’ Thankfully, I’d attempts to hold him back. been given a lot of The judge said there could THE BBAACCKK mdiodrnp’th fieneel, a snoy I pain ehaes rielyp heaatveed blye esnla as hfaetda lwitiyt hw thheen that night. ‘absolutely horrific’ weapon. It was supposed It left me with deep cuts, in to be a fun night need of stitches and with out with friends, permanent scarring. but it ended like Joshua Clow, 18, of Brookcot something from a Road in Manchester, was horror film. sentenced to six years in jail for A friend came to wounding with intent, stay with me for possession of a bladed article the night, and the and assault. next day, Sarah I felt as though the sentence moved in with me could have been longer. for a few weeks to He’ll probably end up only help me out. serving three years, but I’ll That’s when the have these scars for life. pain started It did give me some closure kicking in. finally, though. My injuries But the attack also left some made it difficult to deeper, psychological scars. do everyday tasks At first, I blamed the like dressing or bouncers for kicking me out. showering, let But as time passed, I realised alone look after it wasn’t their fault – they were my son, who was just doing their jobs, and could only seven never have predicted what months old. happened to me. Over the I’ve battled anxiety, had months, the cuts trouble sleeping and struggled healed – but the to leave the house. scars served as a Despite the difficulty I’ve had permanent getting back on my feet though, reminder of that it does get easier. awful evening. I’ve found my confidence Joshua Clow Slowly but again, thanks to the support was jailed surely, I was from friends and family. getting better, I hope I can help other but the whole people who might have been incident left me through something similar. severely shaken up. The attack was random, and I’d said. ‘Can you get my mum The case eventually went to I won’t let it hold me back – I’ve to ring me?’ Chester Crown Court in May even been back out to the same ‘Of course,’ he said. this year – six months after the club since. While I was still at the attack happened. I won’t let what happened happened started to sink in. hospital, Mum rang me back. During the trial, the court rule my life. ‘Oh my God,’ I cried, feeling ‘Oh my God, are faint at the sight of it. you OK?’ she I felt sick. asked, in shock. It was all a blur. ‘I’m OK,’ I said. I’m moving on Police and paramedics ‘I’m just getting arrived at the scene, and I was stitched up, I’ll see whisked off to North you tomorrow.’ Staffordshire Hospital to be Later that checked over. evening, the police I was sent for a scan and arrived, too, to take luckily, I didn’t need surgery. my statement. But the five-inch long cut on ‘Someone has my back was so deep, I needed been arrested,’ the stitches inside and outside. officer explained. Still shaking, I called Mum. The man who’d She didn’t answer, so I rang stabbed me was her boyfriend Paul, who was at 18-year-old Joshua work at the time. Clow, and he’d ‘I’ve been stabbed,’ I cried, been remanded and I could hear his sharp in custody. intake of breath at the end of After a few hours the line as he processed what in hospital, I was 7 J U S T F O R N Follow it! U F Solve the puzzle to spell out a term related to the picture. The arrows show you where to put your answers. The answer is spelled in the yellow squares. Answers on page 47. Large _ Leith, Have President Black- Flat horned Bake Off Hitch on as Lincoln’s thorn circular mammal judge clothing nickname berry plate Black Very cold, Beauty, (cid:116) informally e.g. _ Healy, Winter Grows Chris _, Irish pop sports Continent Clue fond of UK singer singer item Arrive at _ de _ Yun-fat, Part- Former Armas, Refuse to Hong Undecid- Constella- healed Russian War Dogs deal with Kong ed (inits.) tion wound ruler actor actor Ship’s Utterly Twist out B Quoted front absurd of shape passage _ Powell, O Plant Simpsons former ovule character politician Stimulus Assort- Y Japanese Lower or incen- Faucets ment city limbs tive Item for Cringe in C Lorry, e.g Exclusive sale at an fear (inits.) auction Unit of Basil O American Dog-like pressure For every sauce state mammal (inits.) Contract Anti-air- Summa- Big shot T O P D O G Little of insur- craft fire rises (3,3) devil ance (3-3) Ancient Travel To this Tear Definite T British docu- place violently article tribe ments _ _ James, See photo Flower Hotpot Redding, US jazz singer singer _ Cycle of Prison Pinch Richards, Past tense duties room sharply former of speak cricketer Deadwood Shabby actor, _ Air duct items McShane Give up Employs Decree (4,2,2) Word of Music agree- Look at genre ment Hot trend! White Sweatshirt, £8 Print T-shirt, £8 Black Crewneck POP ART WITH Sweatshirt, £14 PRIMARK Snuddie, £19 Women’s 3-Pack Crew Socks, £3.50 Make your wardrobe a work Y of art with the new T T collaboration from Primark E G and Pop Art icon – the late S: Canvas Totebag, £3 GE Keith Haring. Women’s Black A The collection celebrates Bold M High Tops, £12 his bold style, making every I and day a fashion statement. 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Taking a deep breath, I I started training, and with Skydiving feels squeezed my eyes tight, leaned each jump I practiced a new like flying forward and jumped. skill – like plane exits, safety My stomach dropped as I drills and moves in the sky. plummeted to the ground. I was halfway through my As air whooshed around me, training in November last motions for me to follow – the force of it made my main I opened my eyes. year, when I woke up one directing me to flip this way chute inflate. The view was incredible. Sunday morning and looked and that. That created a downplane – This is like flying, I thought out of the window. It went perfectly. when two parachutes are as I soared, completely in awe. It was clear, sunny and not Then we moved away from inflated simultaneously and I could see for miles, and as too windy. each other to pull our they drag away from each adrenaline pumped through Perfect day to skydive, I parachutes – the aim was to get other, causing you to spiral me, I pulled my parachute and thought to myself. as far away from each other as towards the ground. floated back to earth. ‘I’m going to the hangar,’ I possible, so we both had room. Landing a downplane ‘I can’t believe I did it!’ I said told my brother Chase, 33, who But as I pulled mine, I without life-changing injuries to my instructor, as my feet lived with me. realised something was wrong. or even surviving at all was landed on solid ground. ‘I’ll come and watch,’ he said. As I looked down, I saw that nearly impossible. I got the bug, and from that ‘I’ll bring the dogs, too.’ my pilot chute – the smaller But before I had time to first jump, I was hooked. I had two little cockapoos parachute that pulls out the think, or even get scared, I Between 2015 and 2020, I called Jax and Ella. main canopy – was completely smacked into the ground. did five tandem skydives – each When we got there, I got into tangled around my leg. There was a sickening one was better than the last. the queue behind the other It was stopping my main crunch as my left leg bounced I was just completely divers, and Chase went to walk chute from releasing. back from the force, and I addicted to thrill-seeking. the pups around. My leg was suspended in the landed on my back. ‘Why don’t you get your But then he stopped. air as I continued to free fall – I was lucky to be alive. ‘I’ve got a really bad with nothing to slow me down I tried to get up – in feeling about today,’ he as I hurtled to the ground. skydiving, once you land, said. ‘I don’t think you I was falling at 200ft per you’re supposed to S should jump.’ second, only 20 immediately stand up, N W ‘Why?’ I asked. seconds from The ground so everyone knows S S: ‘There’s just a really hitting the floor. was nothing’s wrong. O bad vibe in here,’ he said. It was looming But I couldn’t move. T O H ‘OK,’ I laughed. ‘Don’t closer and closer. looming I couldn’t feel P KER. beA soft pera raa wnhoiilde.,’ the dogs timTeh teor eth winaks .no closer awnayistht aint ga lbl.elow my C O got bored and Chase left. But I quickly Screaming for help, I R C I was still waiting. went into realised I was in the H A Finally, after another strategy mode. wrong landing area. N N hour, I headed up in the Right OK, everything will be I prayed I was close enough A H plane. My first jump fine, I told myself. I’ll get this off for someone to find me. D went without a hitch. of my leg, and it’ll all be OK. ‘Please, don’t let me be N A I went back up again, I thought I might be able to paralysed,’ I whimpered. N N and for the second time unwrap it, and I desperately Closing my eyes, I hoped that U D that day, I jumped – it tried to get my shoe off. when I opened them back up, it A M was my 16th solo jump, But it was double knotted. would all be a nightmare. M and it would mean I As I tried to free myself, my But it wasn’t. E Y could tick another level automatic reverse chute fired. It was real. B S I got the bug off of my training. It was a safety feature, and as Then the pain started setting D R My coach followed I was nearing the ground at in. It was excruciating. O W me out, making hand 80mph, it had kicked in – but After what felt like an hour, 10