Pick Me Up! 17-Feb-2022

Lunging forward to reach the football, I aimed towards the goal. The ball landed in the net as the goalie swooped in the opposite direction. ‘YES!’ the audience cheered as my teammates came rushing towards me. I had always loved football. In 1985, aged 21, I took part in an indoor footie game. The football had rolled in the corner of the room. I slid to reach it in time and as I did so, my leg went through the glass escape door, slicing through my left leg. Waking up in hospital, I didn’t know how bad my injuries were. ‘We tried our best to save your leg, but your injuries were too advanced,’ the doctor said. Looking down, I felt relieved. It was a strange feeling, but I was…

FUN DAYS OUT It’s easy to get stuck in a rut of spending all day indoors, in front of the telly – but this half-term, drag the kids out of bed and get the whole family exploring the great outdoors. Search for hidden treasure, go on a ghost hunt or become a super sleuth with Treasure Trails – fun for all the family. Whether you want to explore somewhere new or go on an adventure in your own town, there are 1,200 interactive Trails across the UK to choose from, each with fun themes. Use the self-guided booklet to solve clues and uncover secrets, from remote locations to wide open spaces. Lasting around two hours, each Trail has its own theme and makes use of well-known local landmarks, signs, statues,…

STAR LETTER 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.…

Flashing his brand-new driver’s licence at me, my son Cody grinned as I snapped a picture. I was so proud of him. My husband David, 49, and I had been trying to convince Cody to get his licence for ages. We knew it would give him independence and help him with getting to and from work. But Cody, 19, was afraid. When he was 16, his dad had been in a bad car crash, and Cody was with me when I rushed to the scene. The car was in a bad way, and David suffered with a back injury. It had been traumatic for Cody, and left him too scared to learn to drive. ‘You’re an adult now,’ I told him gently. ‘You need to be able to get around…

Serves 2-3 Dandies plant-based marshmallows are made with real vanilla and vegan cane sugar. Find online at Holland & Barrett stores and Asda. Marshmallows or Dandies Mini Marshmallows for topping 1 In a saucepan turned on low heat, whisk together all the hot chocolate ingredients. Once thoroughly combined and heated, pour into mugsIt’s and top with Dandies. 2 Up your game by drizzling on some additional peanut butter! The longer it sits the thicker it gets. If you prefer a thinner hot chocolate, add more milk. It’s totally vegan!…

Standing with a group of friends at my sixth form school, someone suddenly said something funny. A burst of laughter escaped my mouth. Then without any warning, I collapsed in a heap on the floor. Trying to process what was going on, I realised I could still hear everything around me but couldn’t open my eyes or move my body. ‘Are you OK?’ a friend asked. Panic set in and I desperately wanted to scream for help. But I wasn’t able to move a muscle – not even my mouth. I was fully conscious, trapped inside of my limp body. Trying to control my breathing and relax, I was incredibly relieved when I was finally able to open my eyes again a few minutes later. Eventually, the rest of me…