This is the first cup that I broke, however it has had two unfortunate accidents. The first accident only damaged the cup, but the second finished it off. The first accident happened when I foolishly left the cup on my bedroom floor. I came into my room after having a shower and I had bare feet. I sat down on my bed for a while. I then got up and started walking towards my wardrobe. Suddenly I caught my little toe in the handle of the cup and as I moved my foot forward, the cup was flung towards the door. The impact caused the handle to break off. As you can see this beautiful cup brightened up my world. I brought it to University with me, knowing that it would cheer me, with it's bright yellow tint and the jelly babies. It said 'everything is all right, look at my lovely colours and friendly looking characters'. I was very upset, it felt like all my emotional security in this strange new world had been torn to pieces. All was not lost however, when I went home for a weekend I took the cup with me. Since I was a child me and my family have assumed that my Father had the fantastic ability to heal crockery using his 'special glue'. 'Special glue' is only something that my Father possesses, although other parents may have it, I have never met any that do. Crockery awaiting treatment with 'special glue' must wait on top the fridge, this is almost like a waiting room for injured crockery (and also toys of various kinds, such as action figures). The handle was stuck back on and everything seemed fine (you can see the scars on both of the above pictures). However, on tragic night, I had made a cup of tea in this, my comfort cup, when suddenly, as I opened my bedroom door, it slipped from my grasp. As it hit the carpeted concrete floor, it shattered into many pieces and my lovely cup of tea went everywhere. This was the second and final accident this cup would endure. It is now beyond the help of even the special glue, but here I have managed to piece it together digitally.
ANDY SYKES, MANCHESTER, UK.

I lost this teapot in a terrible kitchen accident. I was in the room when it happened and if only I had known, I could have stopped it. A flatmate opened their cupboard, only to find a piece of Tupperware leap out smash two of her cups. What I didn't realise at this point was that, the descending plastic container had also knocked the spout off my small blue teapot. Tea trickled out slowly over the worksurface and then, as someone pointed it out, the sad truth dawned on me. I felt that part of my daily life had been swiftly removed like an old plaster. I haven't been able to replace the teapot since the incident, I have just used the metal one that my flatmate Dave brought with him at the start of the year. It is a metal one that you find in canteens, he took it from his parents campsite. It does the job, but it is just not the same.
ANDY SYKES, MANCHESTER, UK.

This Hero Turtles mug is one of two that my family owns. I brought one to University and LUCKILY, left one at home. The story of this cup's demise is a cautionary tale. One that all students should take to heart. One night I was enjoying an ale or two with my flatmates, before going out to a club. As the evening went on, I became gradually more intoxicated and could be heard by many to be shouting 'Your Mum' at each member of my flat. Eventually, as the night drew to a close I returned home with some tasty cuisine from one of the high class eateries on the way home. Soon I decided to retire to my bed. I entered my room and proceeded to my desk, where my Turtles mug was sitting. I reached for something on my desk and as I drew my arm back, I clumsily knocked the cup off the desk and onto the floor. It cracked into 2 large pieces, with one other, tiny shard knocked of the rim. I was devastated. The next morning I awoke, hoping that it had just been a bad dream, but alas, it was not. There lay the remains of what was once a strong, proud cup. One that reminded me of my childhood and the exciting mutant turtles that used to bring me so much joy. THIS IS A WARNING. Alcohol abuse can cause real damage. It can destroy homes, lives and especially crockery. So next time you go out for a night on the town, just think, 'Is my crockery in a safe place?'.
ANDY SYKES, MANCHESTER, UK.