First Person - page 51

Money from the government doesn’t come close to meeting the true amount of the extra costs we face.

Suddenly all of the planning, the dressing up, the effort – yes, even the headache - all worthwhile.

I’m learning how to honour my uniqueness instead of conforming to how others think I should be.

We felt we had no other option because people have seemingly forgotten about our situation.

Over the last year, the Ukrainian people became very strong.

Ask yourself: are you doing the same? And if not, why? 

During the pandemic, people from all over the world began contacting our charity for help.

This is going to be the year I increase my size so I can move my bodybuilding to an international platform – taking on 3,500cals a day.

I didn't want to toast the end of my marriage but instead the person I had become after my break-up.

It was a key part of my physical rehabilitation after birth and solving the painful sex I experienced.

I devour the memories offered to me by the people who knew and loved her.

The sofa was covered in stains and flies had laid eggs in the dining chairs and table.

It’s a time where we all relax together and usually after busy days at nursery, school and work, we have some quality time as a family.

I couldn’t understand this change of heart as he seemed to really get into it in the moment. 

It wasn't uncommon to spend hundreds of pounds on a weekend, which led to crippling credit card bills.

Being naked felt natural because we were all in it together - it is special because everyone is welcome.

One year on, the day of the Russian invasion of Ukraine still haunts me – but I’m now thankful to be living in the UK.

My mum reminded me that my grandmother had created a hair oil recipe.

We've achieved record performances in terms of our output but also a massive uptick in staff happiness.

Any time I felt like I wasn't their priority or that I was being rejected I would see red and explode.

The sad thing is, now fellow asylum seekers and I are all afraid to go outside.

I’m almost thankful it’s taken my whole life — over 30 years — to properly go through devastating grief.

People in this country – whether they were born here or not – deserve so much more.

Each morning, I get up - do a few stretches, before returning to bed with a brew and I ‘Deutsch sprechen’ between 8 and 9am.

Closing myself off, I’d tell people I didn’t want a boyfriend or that I wasn’t interested in a relationship.