Pick Me Up! 14-Jul-2022

Putting pen to paper, I knew poetry could allow me to say what was on my mind. Have we stopped to ask that boy that carries a knife what he wants to be when he’s older? Being a victim of knife crime myself, stabbed seven times when I was only 17, whilst also being in and out of trouble with the police, I wanted something for young people to relate to. Shying away from the problem wasn’t going to help anyone, so as well as publishing my poem, I used myself as an example of change, setting up Knife Crime Victim Support in January 2019. A place to support those in the community who had been affected by knife crime, as well as offering an intervention, too. Using music in…

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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.…

Hearing my phone vibrate, my heart dropped with fear. Not again, I pleaded. Only, it was exactly what I had feared. I had another text from my ex, Craig. I first met Craig, now 39, about 20 years ago when we were young. We’d dated a little back then but went our separate ways. Then, one day in 2021, out of the blue, Craig messaged me on social media. How are you? he asked. I was surprised to hear from him – it had been years. Good thanks, how are you? I quickly replied. We got chatting and I told Craig about my life and how I had three wonderful children. It turned out though, his life hadn’t quite panned out the way he’d hoped. Life hasn’t been my friend,…

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Heading into the kitchen, I saw my housemate Margaret standing over the stove. ‘Hey,’ I smiled at her. ‘How’s your day been?’ I’d been living with Margaret and our other roommate Jessie in Washington DC for three months. I’d moved from my home in Louisiana for a fresh start after my divorce. Already, we were firm friends. As we chatted, Margaret checked on her chicken that was boiling in a pan and I headed to the fridge. My parents had just left after a visit, and I had leftover mushroom ravioli from our dinner out to my favourite Italian restaurant. It was delicious, and I’d been looking forward to it all day. I went to pop the container in the microwave, above the bubbling pan of chicken on the stove,…