Soph’s Scribbles

Twice Torn, Twice Stronger: My Journey Through x2 ACL Reconstructions

Jan 9, 2026

I first tore my ACL in November 2023 during Cheer training. In January I had surgery, opting for a hamstring graft repair. Both my hamstrings were weak, and rehab was grueling, slow, and mentally exhausting. I spent 8 months grinding through rehab, relearning how to walk and trust my body, and dreaming of the day I could get back to the sport that had defined me for my entire life: competitive cheerleading.

Then, in September 2024, it happened again. My knee gave out, and this time, everyone told me it was fine, just a strain, maybe I’d pulled something. I tried to brush it off. I thought I’d been careful, thought I could push through.

It wasn’t fine. It was a full ACL rupture. Hamstring graft x2, both hamstrings still weak, and once again, the same injury that stole months of my life. The physical pain was intense, but the mental battle; processing the shock, the despair, and the feeling of being trapped in a cycle of loss, was worse.

Cheerleading was my language, my outlet, and my community. It shaped who I am, taught me discipline, teamwork, and courage, and gave me a sense of purpose that I could wear like a badge. To have it taken away, not once but twice, felt like losing a piece of myself.

Rehab is grueling the first time. I can’t describe the pain of the first couple of weeks. It’s mental warfare: the frustration of limitations, the slow progress, the endless repetitions. But going through it again? It’s an entirely different kind of challenge. You carry the memory of the first recovery, so every step, every exercise, every twinge becomes a reminder of how fragile things are, and how much is at stake.

Yet, amid the pain and disappointment, I’ve learned some lessons that no trophy or medal could teach me:

1. Identity is more than one role.

For so long, I equated my worth with my performance on the mat. Losing that ability forced me to confront a painful truth: I am more than my sport. My kindness, my determination, my creativity, they are all parts of who I am, and they can’t be stripped away by injury.

2. Strength is both physical and mental.

Yes, rehab rebuilds muscles and ligaments, but it also builds patience, resilience, and grit. I’ve learned to celebrate small victories: bending my knee without pain, climbing stairs without hesitation, taking one more cautious tumble into a tumble track.

3. Resilience is about showing up anyway.

There were days I wanted to quit, to give in to bitterness or self-pity. But resilience isn’t about never feeling broken; it’s about choosing to keep moving, even when the road ahead is steep and uncertain.

4. Vulnerability is a strength.

Talking about my fears, frustrations, and doubts hasn’t made me weaker; it’s made me human. It’s reminded me that asking for support and leaning on my community is not just ok. It’s essential.

This journey hasn’t been easy, and some days it still feels unbearable. But I’m beginning to see that the pain, the setbacks, and the lost moments are shaping a new kind of person. One who can endure, adapt, and find purpose beyond a single identity.
Langkawi, paradise on earth

Jan 9, 2026

For our first full day in Langkawi, we kicked things off with a trip to the famous Seven Wells Waterfall. Since the island’s small and taxis are hard to come by (with no public transport), we decided to rent a moped. George learned to drive it on the spot, and after strapping on our helmets, we set off on our little adventure.

The 20-minute ride was a fun one. I fully embraced my role as passenger princess chilling on the back while George got used to the new challenge of riding with me as extra weight (he did great). We made it safely and had a laugh along the way.

Once we arrived, we began the steep trek (yes, more steps!) up to the top of the falls. But just as we reached the top, the skies opened up and a thunderstorm rolled in. While most people ran for cover, we couldn’t resist, we jumped straight into the waterfall like a couple of excited kids. We were going to get soaked anyway, so we thought why not make the most of it😅

It was honestly one of the highlights of our trip so far. We were absolutely drenched, barely able to open our eyes from the rain, but laughing the whole time. No photo could ever capture how much fun it was or do it justice.

When the storm finally passed, we were rewarded with the gorgeous views of the island and cable cars in the distance. From there, we continued on to the so-called “Blue Pool” (which wasn’t very blue🥴). The walk through the jungle was quite challenging but cool, and even though the water was freezing, I couldn’t resist going for a dip.

We spent the whole morning exploring, then stopped for a quick drink before hopping back on the moped. Once back, we headed straight for our local beach, the incredible Cenang Beach, just across the road from our guesthouse (not even a 2 min walk). It was another blazing hot, blue-sky day, and even the locals were commenting on the heat!

After soaking up the sun, hunger kicked in, so we wandered off and found a place selling delicious chicken shawarma. Back at the guesthouse, we met some lovely fellow travellers, each telling stories about their adventures. We then booked our boat trip for the following day, which we were very excited about. We wrapped up the day with our classic £2 pad Thai dinner from next door (amazing every time), then strolled back to the beach for a few cocktails and the nightly fire show. I had a frozen margarita, George went for a piña colada, a perfect end to a perfect day.

Next day

We got up nice and early today, excited for the boat trip we had booked the day before. We booked a snorkelling trip to a trio of breathtaking islands: Cepu, Intan, and Beras Basah, some of the most stunning places I’ve ever seen.

Unfortunately the water was a bit cloudy, so we didn’t spot many fish. However it didn’t dampen our spirits, we were just happy to be in the water, which felt like a warm bath while taking in the breathtaking views.

The islands were incredible, and we practically had the boat to ourselves, sharing it with one other diver. We hit it off with the crew, especially our new pal Bobby, who really looked after us. He even took us to his favourite hidden spot, called “Diamond Island” (not sure if that’s the official name, but it fits). We drove past “Eagle Island,” where we looked up to watch eagles soar gracefully across the sky. We now understand why the eagle is such a prominent symbol of Langkawi😅.

We had some spaghetti for lunch on board, and we ended up spending a good chunk of the day out on the water, from about 11 to 3. Definitely got our money’s worth! After we were dropped off, we wrapped up the day with a cold Coke in the shade.

George then went for a run, we then chilled at the guesthouse for a bit before we mooched over to the beach to watch the gorgeous sunset. We then headed off to the night market for dinner which we’ve heard great things about. We tried Murtabak Din (tasted like a chicken omelette) some spicy chicken and rice dish and Alim Balik (a peanut and sweetcorn dessert) which was all yummy. It was very hot and sweaty!

After having such a great time on the boat yesterday, we decided (thanks in part to a little persuasion from our new friend Bobby) to join the Mangrove Boat Tour today. He picked us up early in the morning, and we headed to Jalan Tanjung Rhu beach, which was absolutely breathtaking. Once we checked in, we kicked off the day with a coffee, soaking in the incredible views.

Soon after, we made our way to the jetty where the mangrove tour began. It was quite busy, with around 15 of us boarding the boat. Our guide was fantastic, full of energy and fun. We set off toward Kilim Geoforest Park, where we got to see the famous Langkawi eagles, both the native brown ones and the majestic white-bellied eagles (they were huge). We cruised down Monkey River, explored the mangroves, and ventured into the Bat Caves.

The whole experience was not only beautiful but also incredibly fun, we were so glad we decided to go. Midway through the trip, we stopped at a floating fish farm for lunch. We spotted a stingray among many other impressive fish before sitting down to enjoy a delicious chicken and rice meal at the floating restaurant.

After lunch, we got back on the boat for the final stretch, a scenic cruise around the island, skimming the border between Malaysia and Thailand. The views were absolutely stunning, a perfect finale to the day on the water.

Once we returned to shore, we took some time to relax before wandering through the strip of local shops, picking up a few souvenirs. For dinner, we enjoyed tasty falafel and hummus, then made our way back to the beach and Kalut Bar to catch our final sunset in Langkawi.

We spent the evening chatting with Bobby over a few drinks, reminiscing about the day. Langkawi has been so peaceful and beautiful, It truly felt like paradise.
Vamos, Valencia

Jan 9, 2026

After months of training for George, we headed for Valencia to the 2025 marathon! After a delayed flight, we arrived in Alicante late Friday and headed straight to the Travelodge to crash out.

It was an early start on Saturday morning to catch the bus to Valencia. The bus was a short 2 hour journey, and very luxurious. the seats were so comfy and we had plenty of snacks (bread rolls and sweets as part of the carb load ) to keep us going!

Once we touched down in Valencia, we checked into the apartment. Me and George got the bunk bed room which was fun. After unpacking, the boys went for a shake out run while me and Holly explored the city, on a decathlon mission to get some shades for the run. It was sooo hot and sunny, around 24 degrees. We then headed to the supermarket to continue the carb loading, making some yummy tuna pasta for pre marathon dinner.

The Sunday was an early start for the long awaited marathon! Me and Rosie were team spectators, chasing around the boys. We headed for K 25 to cheer them on and managed to see them (and they see us!). We were amazed by how many quick runners there were, it was a great watch and thrilling atmosphere, dare I say inspired me to do a marathon?! We walked through the park and enjoyed the sun, it was sooo hot by the time they had finished, reaching 26 degrees. We then made our way to 500m to finish line. I was so super proud of George, who ran it in 2.49 (a massive PB) and the others who all got PB’s too.

After meeting back up with the boys afterwards, we walked (poor George’s toes were ruined so more like a hobble) to cheer on Holly who was still running at K 40. We then headed back to the apartment for a much needed shower!

After some chill time, we headed out for some yummy local tapas (some of the best Patatas bravas we have ever had) and some beers. We then met the others at the doggy style bar (🙈) to continue the post marathon celebrations. This was near the beach so we got to watch the sunset by the sea, followed by a great big Paella at La Pepica. We had the meat paella which was Rabbit and Chicken accompanied by some white sangria which was Delish. The food / post run coma hit and we headed back to crash after another drink.

On the Monday we started the day by checking out and heading to the Old Town for a traditional brekkie of churros, bread and a sort of hazelnut milkshake which was questionable. We then had a mooch round and ended up back on the beers at Cafe De Horras for some Aqua De Valencia (the local drink, in other words a shit mix of alcohol with some orange juice lol). After feeling a bit waved, we then stopped for some more tapas to sober us up, before saying bye to Matt and Holly who were heading home. We were super glad to be extending the holiday, and checked into our lovely guesthouse the Burgemont House.

We revisited the marathon finish line, admiring the architecture of the Opera House and the Museum. It felt almost dystopian and very futuristic! We then stopped for a cheeky Spanish Maccie dees (would be rude not too)! After showering and touching base back at the guesthouse, we then headed to Spritzertia for a cheeky aperol spritz, followed by a pizza feast ( the only ones in the restaurant at 8pm!!). We were wiped out and finished the day with some MAFS in bed.

A new day was greeted with more sunshine! We decided to hire some bikes, which we set off on our adventures riding down the park. This was such a gorgeous green space and went on for miles! We stopped at the park to enjoy a can of beer in the sun, soaking up some much needed rays. We then continued to the beach, where we had a nice chill by the sea. Getting a bit chilly, we decided to cycle to the Science museum which we went inside to have a noisy. There was a great display on space and mars which was super interesting.

After a full day on the bikes, we retuned them and then got ready for some dinner. We headed for a drink at a local Mexican bar, and then decided we wanted some steak! We went to the loveliest local restaurant called La Santa which was a hidden gem. We had a complete feast, enjoying some padron peppers, Patatas bravas, cod tacos and fillet Steak. We were so happy and full!

Wednesday marked our final day in Valencia. We checked out and headed for the Central market to begin the day with a coffee, pastry and some fruit. We then browsed round the local shops and headed to the train station to make our way back to Alicante. The train was very luxurious, much nicer than home!

After a speedy ride, we arrived in Alicante and headed for some food. We decided we fancied Mexican and found a restaurant serving yummy tacos and quesadillas. After having a mooch we headed to catch our flight home. What a lovely long weekend! Filled with great people, PB’s, food, drinks and exercise in a gorgeous city!
Exploring Kuala Lumpur

Jan 9, 2026

After a short internal flight from Singapore, we touched down in a new country, Malaysia! we grabbed some crispy chicken and rice at the airport since we were hungry. We checked into our hotel, and wow, the room is unreal, it feels like a king’s palace! It was late when we arrived, but we wanted to get our bearings, so we took a wander down the River of Life towards Chinatown. We stopped for a drink just off Petaling Street, and it was such a nice little spot! The food looked really good too.

Batu Caves

After getting ready, we headed out to the Batu Caves! We got in our very own private shuttle from the hotel to the train station, where we then somehow got stuck on the platform to the airport 🥴 luckily a very kind Malaysian man told us where to go and we were back on track. We stopped for a mini chicken sausage pizza and got some snacks for the day. After George getting kicked out of the ladies waiting area 🙈 and a long delay for a train, we headed to the caves!

After covering up, our first stop was inside the caves, which was stunning. Then we headed outside and tackled the hundreds of steps leading up to the temple. It was sweaty work, but we made it to the top and took a much-needed water break! Coming down, we encountered some very cheeky Macaques and then treated ourselves to lovely smoothies I went for mango, and George banana.

After that, we hopped on the train and walked into the city, making our way to the Petronas Towers and KLCC. It was about an hour’s walk, broken up by a halfway stop for a cheeky McDonald’s, which was absolutely ginormous! We continued on and finally reached the Petronas Twin Towers, enjoying the view from a lovely spot in KLCC Park. The vibe was so nice and chill; we laid in the shade to relax for a bit.

Petronas Twin Towers

KLCC Park

After an active day, we took it easy at the hotel pool and turned into bookworms for a couple of hours until it closed. Then, we decided to check out Little India, but ended up not feeling like Indian food after all🙈 so we headed back to Chinatown. We both enjoyed the national dish, Nasi Lemak (and of course, had a Tiger beer with it), and it was delicious! We made it there just as it started pouring, and found shelter under a canopy. After we ate, we walked through the market and George dared to try Durian, the notorious stinky fruit that’s banned on trains! We clocked 22k steps and wrapped up another fab day – ready to sleep like kings again.

Nasi Lemak

Smelly Durian!

We kicked off the day with a lovely lie-in before heading to KL Bird Park, the world’s largest bird park! We started off pretty leisurely, enjoying our breakfast, until a cheeky Cattle Egret swooped in and snatched our peanut butter waffle! We were completely swarmed, and it turned into a hilarious moment with everyone laughing and snapping pictures. After that little drama, we settled in to watch the bird show, which featured some impressive tricks. We then had a mooch around the park and saw lots of cool birds – My favorite was the flamingos, and George’s the owls!

After the bird park, we went on our very own walking tour, starting with Merdeka Square (Independence Square). We then popped into a coffee shop for a chicken curry pastry and a sausage roll. After that, we strolled over to Central Market and picked up some goodies, including the obligatory keyring and fridge magnet. There were hundreds of art, fashion, and food stalls,could’ve spent hours there! We walked back down the river to our hotel for a nice chill by the pool (I fell asleep hehe). For dinner, we’re heading to Jalan Alor Food Street, which we’ve heard amazing things about!

Independence Square

We made it to Jalan Alor, and wow, the food was absolutely incredible! The whole strip was packed with so many delicious choices. We kicked things off with Rougamo – chicken and beef with a Mexican-style salsa wrapped in a crispy bread shell, almost like a Mexican spring roll. I bought a dragonfruit juice which was yummy. Then, we indulged in a ‘Ramley’ Burger, which was a trusted recommendation that definitely didn’t disappoint. Next up were BBQ chicken buns and dumplings, while George went for a lamb skewer and some fried chicken. Just when we thought we couldn’t eat anymore, we treated ourselves to a yummy peanut butter and chocolate ‘wheelcake’ that was incredible!

Rolling out of Jalan Alor, we strolled (and tried to walk off all that food 🤣) to KLCC Park, where we watched the Petronas Twin Towers glow in the dark, illuminating the entire sky! They were stunning, and we found a step to sit on while making some local Malaysian friends. We even had a little pit stop for a beer as a nightcap. Another incredible day and another 20k steps later! We’re off to Penang tomorrow, so it’s an early start for our flight. We’ve absolutely loved our time in KL!

Jalan Alor
Steamy Singapore

Jan 9, 2026

After a long flight, we arrived we navigated the maze of Singapore airport to find the Jewel, the world’s largest indoor waterfall. It was so impressive and a great way to start the trip. We then took the train to the POD, a lovely little hostel where we checked in and dropped off our bags. After that, we got our bearings and strolled over to Raffles to enjoy a Singapore Sling and some nuts. It felt so grand and was rich in colonial history, even if the cocktail set us back a whopping £30! We indulged in nearly half the bag of nuts (cheeky monkeys), then wandered to Fort Canning Park for a little exploration. This was sweaty as we adjusted to the heat! On our way back to the hostel, we decided to stop for a quick drink which good job we did as the parasols soon came out and it started pouring down. This was our first rain experience and we found it so cool, very different to rain at home!

Later, we headed to Maxwell’s Market near Chinatown for dinner, had some delicious skewers chicken/pork/beef! I made a little error by ordering noodles without realising they had prawns, so I ended up eating George’s pork instead. After a long day of travels we then headed to bed.

Day 2

After a good night’s sleep, we woke up feeling fresh and free of jet lag! We got ready and set off for the Singapore Zoo, which we were super excited about since we had heard amazing things. It was about an hour away, and we made a quick stop at a little shop along the way where George snagged a garlic chicken hotdog. When we arrived at the zoo, the weather was perfect! They recommend spending 3-4 hours there, but we ended up staying nearly 6 hours, which says a lot about how much we enjoyed it. The zoo was massive! We walked over 20,000 steps exploring different sections like Australia, wild Africa, and the Reptile kingdom. One of the highlights was stumbling upon elephant feeding and a live show called the wild. The atmosphere was so jungle-like, with llamas casually strolling around and flying bats. We saw so many different and new animals then we took a break for lunch, where I had chicken dumpling ramen and George had chicken noodles, with a refreshing strawberry, lemon, cucumber iced tea that was so good!

We then headed back to our hostel, and out of nowhere, it started absolutely pouring! We got soaked 🤣. I had a little chill while George dashed off for a run to the stadium and back (very cool!). After that, we made our way to Gardens by the Bay to catch the light show, which we were super excited about. It totally exceeded our expectations – we were mind-blown! They even included the Borealis, bringing a taste of the Northern Lights to the show. Seeing the Marina Bay Sands hotel up close felt surreal, too.

After a fab evening, we were STARVING, so we headed to Satay Street for some delicious skewers and a beer, sitting right out on the road. I got a duck noodle dish while George went for pork, and we finished off with a chocolate Pastel de Nata from the market. It was our favorite day yet!

Day 3

We woke up and checked out of the hostel, goodbye, The POD! Thankfully, we’re coming back to Singapore for our final day. We enjoyed a yummy breakfast at the ‘Toast Box,’ where I had floss on toast with two boiled eggs. It tasted like cheesy candy floss! We then headed back to Gardens by the Bay, this time to explore the Cloud Dome and Flower Garden. It was titled Tulip Mania, and they weren’t kidding, there were tons of tulips! The highlight was definitely the Cloud Dome with its massive waterfall and the sky walk.

We got up bright and early today, very excited as we are heading back to Singapore! After a smooth journey, we made a quick stop for some noodles before checking into the Grand Pacific Hotel – a great spot, right in the heart of everything.

I’d almost forgotten just how humid Singapore is, it honestly feels like stepping straight into a steaming hot shower. It really has a climate all of its own!

This afternoon, we visited the ArtScience Museum, something we’d been wanting to do since our first stop here. It was absolutely worth the wait. We saw the Iris Van Herpen exhibition, a renowned fashion designer whose creations have been worn by the likes of Beyoncé and Lady Gaga. The pieces were stunning: very futuristic, and almost otherworldly.

We also explored the Mirror Mirror Journey into the mind exhibition (my favourite) where you could choose a door to enter which each led to a different experience. It featured a mirror maze, interactive installations about memory, and a fascinating section on collective memory, which I found super interesting (especially since I wrote my diss on it!).

We took a break with a lovely coffee at Marina Bay Sands, just in time to catch the sunset over the skyline of the city. Since we were nearby, we couldn’t resist revisiting the Gardens by the Bay light show. This time it had a musical theatre theme, packed with classic show tunes we couldn’t help but sing along to. It was just as spectacular as we remembered, maybe even better!

To end the evening, we headed back to Maxwell Market for dinner. We had salt and pepper ribs, a Vietnamese Banh Mi (our favourite!), and some dumpling noodles, though we only realized they had prawns when they arrived. I also got a fresh mango smoothie, made right in front of me, the lady peeled and sliced the mango on the spot, which was super cool to watch.