0:00:02 > 0:00:06- MIKE:- Attention! The My Life in Care videos are about to receive their
0:00:06 > 0:00:07world premiere in the TV room.
0:00:07 > 0:00:11Don't miss these personal takes on what life is really life
0:00:11 > 0:00:12in Ashdene Ridge.
0:00:12 > 0:00:14'Next up, May-Li.'
0:00:16 > 0:00:20Come on, guys. Smallest at the front, tallest at the back.
0:00:20 > 0:00:24We're watching a video diary, May-Li, not the new Star Wars.
0:00:24 > 0:00:25- New Star Wars? Oh, cool!- Star Wars?
0:00:25 > 0:00:28- Yes!- What, the new one?- Yeah!
0:00:28 > 0:00:31- Star Wars?- Yeah.- Yes!
0:00:31 > 0:00:33OK, sit where you like. I don't care.
0:00:35 > 0:00:36'Hi, there. You all know me -
0:00:36 > 0:00:39'May-Li, care worker at Ashdene Ridge.
0:00:39 > 0:00:42'I've had to take ten minutes up in the attic to get away from you lot.
0:00:42 > 0:00:45'So apart from running the office,
0:00:45 > 0:00:47'I am the in-house chef,
0:00:47 > 0:00:49'serving up some of the finest cuisine.'
0:00:49 > 0:00:52- That for me?- It's Faith's. Hands off.
0:00:52 > 0:00:54Got another pie. 500ml choc chip.
0:00:54 > 0:00:57It's...fritter surprise!
0:00:58 > 0:00:59'I'm also an expert driver...'
0:00:59 > 0:01:00BRAKES SCREECH
0:01:03 > 0:01:05Sorry about that, guys.
0:01:05 > 0:01:06CAR HONKS HORN
0:01:06 > 0:01:07THEY CHATTER
0:01:08 > 0:01:09'..and resident picker-upper.
0:01:13 > 0:01:17'In fact, I'm a picker-upper of all sorts of things.'
0:01:17 > 0:01:20Hey. I just wanted to see if you're OK.
0:01:20 > 0:01:22- Why wouldn't I be?- I don't know.
0:01:22 > 0:01:23That's why I'm asking.
0:01:23 > 0:01:25I reckon we can fix Jeff.
0:01:29 > 0:01:32'So, qualities!
0:01:32 > 0:01:36'I like to think I'm full of ideas to provide mental stimulation.
0:01:36 > 0:01:38'More importantly, empower you people in my care.'
0:01:38 > 0:01:41- You what?- Oh, er, keep you out of trouble.
0:01:41 > 0:01:44- What's this all about?- The Children in Care Council Forum.
0:01:44 > 0:01:47Yeah, all the members are young people in care.
0:01:47 > 0:01:49It gives you a voice. Lets you be heard.
0:01:49 > 0:01:51'The house election for the Care Council Forum
0:01:51 > 0:01:54'was a fantastic way to bring us all together.'
0:01:54 > 0:01:57Hey, youse, when did the rules change about May-Li not helping?
0:01:57 > 0:02:00Oi! How's that not taking sides?
0:02:00 > 0:02:02What? I was just putting a poster up.
0:02:02 > 0:02:03So you're doing ours next?
0:02:03 > 0:02:06- No, cause you're taller, and... - Do you want a bet...?
0:02:06 > 0:02:09'Bright ideas like that promote an atmosphere
0:02:09 > 0:02:10'of compromise and debate.'
0:02:10 > 0:02:12Quiet!
0:02:12 > 0:02:14'OK, yeah, no, scratch that.
0:02:14 > 0:02:16'I feel like I'm at a job interview.'
0:02:17 > 0:02:19'No, what I really mean to say is,
0:02:19 > 0:02:22'I am full of ideas that mean we can all have fun.'
0:02:22 > 0:02:23That's a great idea.
0:02:23 > 0:02:25I mean, why don't we make our own newspaper?
0:02:25 > 0:02:26A bake-off tomorrow.
0:02:26 > 0:02:29- Let's have a picnic. ALL:- Yeah!
0:02:29 > 0:02:30What are you doing?
0:02:31 > 0:02:33Sharing the surplus.
0:02:33 > 0:02:35We can put it outside for the neighbours to take.
0:02:35 > 0:02:38'Yeah, inspiring youngsters - well, you lot -
0:02:38 > 0:02:39'that's what I'm all about.'
0:02:39 > 0:02:41Wrappers off, labels on.
0:02:41 > 0:02:42We're going to make a fortune.
0:02:42 > 0:02:46'Although you did end up buying your veg - to sell, not give away.'
0:02:48 > 0:02:50BELLS TINKLE
0:02:50 > 0:02:52'Yes, occasionally - very occasionally -
0:02:52 > 0:02:54'the inspiration goes too far.'
0:02:54 > 0:02:56Free vegetables, madam?
0:02:56 > 0:02:58'You know, that's when I have to uninspire people.'
0:02:58 > 0:03:00Get your refunds here.
0:03:00 > 0:03:01Full money back.
0:03:01 > 0:03:04We're going to lose all our profits now.
0:03:04 > 0:03:07You'll lose more than that if Trading Standards fine you.
0:03:07 > 0:03:09'You think I was a bit hard on them, do you?
0:03:09 > 0:03:13'Maybe. Toughness is definitely a quality in the job.'
0:03:13 > 0:03:14- Chores.- What about them?
0:03:14 > 0:03:15Well, you're all grounded.
0:03:15 > 0:03:17Not so fast.
0:03:17 > 0:03:19Does this look like a face that's joking?
0:03:19 > 0:03:21That's a whole lot of tough.
0:03:21 > 0:03:22Oi! I heard that.
0:03:22 > 0:03:25'Street smart, some people call it.'
0:03:25 > 0:03:26Old people.
0:03:28 > 0:03:29Frank?
0:03:29 > 0:03:31- Hide.- Where?
0:03:31 > 0:03:33'Not a lot gets past me.
0:03:33 > 0:03:34'I've got eyes in the back of me head.'
0:03:36 > 0:03:38What's that smell? Perfume?
0:03:39 > 0:03:41Oh, yeah, my, um...
0:03:41 > 0:03:44new aftershave.
0:03:44 > 0:03:47Feminine Mystique, by Belle de l'Amour?
0:03:47 > 0:03:48Go, go, go, go, go.
0:03:49 > 0:03:51May-Li.
0:03:53 > 0:03:54Is something wrong?
0:03:54 > 0:03:57You've just wasted a week's worth of food.
0:03:57 > 0:03:59And my clean sheets are covered in guano.
0:03:59 > 0:04:01- Guano?- It means bird poo.
0:04:01 > 0:04:03So, yes, something's wrong.
0:04:03 > 0:04:04SQUELCH
0:04:04 > 0:04:06- It got you!- That's good luck.
0:04:08 > 0:04:10'So...Dexter!
0:04:10 > 0:04:14- 'Stop picking your nose.' - How did you know that?
0:04:14 > 0:04:16Lucky guess.
0:04:16 > 0:04:18'See? Never miss a thing.
0:04:18 > 0:04:20'What other qualities?
0:04:20 > 0:04:22'Ooh! Definitely well organised.
0:04:22 > 0:04:25'I think the only thing that gets in the way of the smooth running of
0:04:25 > 0:04:26'this place is you lot.'
0:04:26 > 0:04:28Do you know what you need?
0:04:28 > 0:04:29- BOTH:- A system.- Yeah.
0:04:29 > 0:04:31We should organise some sort of dress rehearsal.
0:04:31 > 0:04:33But it might help to keep busy, yeah?
0:04:33 > 0:04:35Cos we have a system,
0:04:35 > 0:04:37and you guys can get started by cleaning the kitchen.
0:04:37 > 0:04:38- JODY:- That's not fair.
0:04:38 > 0:04:40'Honestly, it's like herding kittens around here.
0:04:40 > 0:04:42'And there's one of you that needs more organising
0:04:42 > 0:04:44'than the rest of you put together.'
0:04:44 > 0:04:46Mm-hm.
0:04:46 > 0:04:48'I'm looking at you, Mike Milligan.'
0:04:48 > 0:04:49What?
0:04:50 > 0:04:53It seems I made a few miscalculations...
0:04:53 > 0:04:55Resulting in a few major cash flow issues.
0:04:56 > 0:04:59I've got to go. May-Li will sort you out, OK?
0:04:59 > 0:05:01- What's going on?- It's OK, I've got it under control.
0:05:01 > 0:05:03- We should have a system in place. - We did.
0:05:03 > 0:05:05Jean and I used to draw straws.
0:05:05 > 0:05:07- Bit childish, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:05:07 > 0:05:09- Flip a coin?- You're on.
0:05:09 > 0:05:11'I'm joking, Mike.
0:05:11 > 0:05:13'You don't need organising all of the time.
0:05:13 > 0:05:14'We're a team.
0:05:14 > 0:05:18'And I'm proud to call you...my friend.
0:05:18 > 0:05:20'But as work colleagues, that friendship
0:05:20 > 0:05:22'can be tested to the limit.
0:05:23 > 0:05:26'Like the time I discovered Johnny wanted to join the Army.'
0:05:26 > 0:05:28Have you said anything to Mike?
0:05:28 > 0:05:30I wanted to speak to you first.
0:05:30 > 0:05:31What, to put me off?
0:05:31 > 0:05:34To see whether you were serious.
0:05:34 > 0:05:36'It put a huge strain on my friendship with Mike.
0:05:37 > 0:05:39'We both wanted to do the right thing for Johnny,
0:05:39 > 0:05:41'just in different ways.'
0:05:41 > 0:05:43Come on. It could be just what Johnny needs.
0:05:43 > 0:05:46You know, give him some confidence, build his self-esteem.
0:05:46 > 0:05:47Completely destroy him?
0:05:47 > 0:05:50Look, I've known Johnny for years.
0:05:50 > 0:05:53I think that gives me the edge when it comes to deciding what he needs.
0:05:53 > 0:05:55And maybe only knowing him a few months
0:05:55 > 0:05:58gives me distance and clarity.
0:05:58 > 0:06:00'But moments like that are rare.
0:06:00 > 0:06:01'Usually, Mike knows when I'm right.'
0:06:01 > 0:06:04Yeah, I'm still waiting for that moment, May-Li.
0:06:04 > 0:06:07'So, to sum up, Mike Milligan -
0:06:07 > 0:06:10'friend, colleague, dodgy dancer.
0:06:10 > 0:06:12- 'In that order.'- Hey!
0:06:12 > 0:06:13You missed out "boss".
0:06:13 > 0:06:15Boss?
0:06:15 > 0:06:16'So when I'm not organising you lot...'
0:06:18 > 0:06:20'..what's my thing?
0:06:20 > 0:06:22'Well, that would have to be football.
0:06:22 > 0:06:25'Hey, I am from Liverpool, what do you expect?'
0:06:25 > 0:06:27Well, don't I get a vote?
0:06:27 > 0:06:29- You want to vote?- Yeah, I want to watch the football.
0:06:29 > 0:06:32THEY CHEER
0:06:32 > 0:06:35Just make sure you get Viv Anderson's autograph.
0:06:35 > 0:06:38'Mm-hm, I've had my brushes with football royalty.
0:06:38 > 0:06:40'And being the down-to-earth Scouser,
0:06:40 > 0:06:44'I treat famous folk exactly the same as everybody else...
0:06:44 > 0:06:47'who's won the league and FA Cup and three European Cups.'
0:06:47 > 0:06:49Mr Anderson?
0:06:49 > 0:06:51Do you want a cup of tea, or anything to drink,
0:06:51 > 0:06:54- or something else?- Tea'd be nice. You must be May-Li.
0:06:54 > 0:06:56SHE LAUGHS WEAKLY
0:06:56 > 0:06:58You're going to have to forgive her, she doesn't get out very often.
0:06:58 > 0:07:00'And it's not just footy.
0:07:02 > 0:07:06- 'When it comes to sport, I'm a bit of an- all-rounder.
0:07:06 > 0:07:08'All-rounder? Rounders?
0:07:08 > 0:07:09'Get it?'
0:07:09 > 0:07:11- THEY GROAN - Make it stop.
0:07:11 > 0:07:12Come on, guys.
0:07:12 > 0:07:15What's wrong with you? This is comedy gold.
0:07:15 > 0:07:16'I'm also into my rugby...'
0:07:19 > 0:07:20Gotcha!
0:07:20 > 0:07:21'Wrestling?
0:07:22 > 0:07:24'Not so much.'
0:07:24 > 0:07:26What? Eh? SHE GRUNTS
0:07:27 > 0:07:29- ALL:- One, two, three.
0:07:29 > 0:07:31She's out!
0:07:31 > 0:07:32'But forget sport.
0:07:32 > 0:07:35'There is one thing that matters to me more than
0:07:35 > 0:07:37'anything in the world.'
0:07:37 > 0:07:40Oh, it's a food parcel from Mum.
0:07:40 > 0:07:42No way!
0:07:44 > 0:07:46- What is it?- Cheese!
0:07:46 > 0:07:49'Yep - cheese.
0:07:49 > 0:07:50'Food of the gods.
0:07:54 > 0:07:57'But it turns out I wasn't the only cheese fan in the house.'
0:08:00 > 0:08:01Who took my cheese?
0:08:01 > 0:08:03Watch out, there's a cheese thief about.
0:08:03 > 0:08:05- This isn't funny. - It's a cheese sandwich.
0:08:05 > 0:08:09No. It's a very special cheese sandwich.
0:08:09 > 0:08:11It's a very expensive cheese -
0:08:11 > 0:08:13my cheese that my mum gave me.
0:08:15 > 0:08:17- So, come on, who took it? - Maybe there's a giant mouse.
0:08:17 > 0:08:20'At least some of you took this disgraceful crime seriously.'
0:08:20 > 0:08:22Tony's alibi checks out.
0:08:23 > 0:08:25The culprit,
0:08:25 > 0:08:27the arch-cheese stealer,
0:08:27 > 0:08:29the thief in our midst is...
0:08:31 > 0:08:33..Mischief.
0:08:33 > 0:08:35No way! MISCHIEF BARKS
0:08:35 > 0:08:38'OK, so it wasn't just about the cheese for me.
0:08:40 > 0:08:42'It was about family.
0:08:43 > 0:08:45'The fact that Mum sent me that gift
0:08:45 > 0:08:49'was a small gesture, but it meant so much more.
0:08:50 > 0:08:53'She hasn't always found it easy to accept that my partner's a woman.
0:08:54 > 0:08:58'It's not her fault, I suppose - she gets her attitude from her mum.'
0:08:58 > 0:08:59I'm May-Li's grandmother.
0:09:01 > 0:09:03But you can call me PoPo.
0:09:03 > 0:09:05'Yeah, PoPo.
0:09:05 > 0:09:09'My grandmother. She just loves making an entrance.'
0:09:10 > 0:09:12You'll have to go. You can see I'm working.
0:09:12 > 0:09:13You shouldn't have come.
0:09:13 > 0:09:17Is this any way to show children how to treat an old woman?
0:09:17 > 0:09:20It would be more appropriate to offer me a cup of tea.
0:09:20 > 0:09:22'And looks can be deceiving.
0:09:22 > 0:09:24'PoPo is as tough as they come.
0:09:24 > 0:09:27'For one thing, she knows her martial arts.'
0:09:27 > 0:09:32The smallest mouse can take the fiercest tiger.
0:09:32 > 0:09:34'PoPo went down a storm with you guys.
0:09:34 > 0:09:37'For me, well, just stormy.'
0:09:37 > 0:09:39This is about family.
0:09:39 > 0:09:42But you don't accept MY family.
0:09:43 > 0:09:46Or have you changed your mind?
0:09:46 > 0:09:48I thought you might change yours.
0:09:48 > 0:09:52'PoPo is the tiger that looks like a mouse.
0:09:54 > 0:09:56'The family business means everything to her.
0:09:56 > 0:10:00'She just couldn't understand why I didn't feel the same.'
0:10:00 > 0:10:02Have you thought any more about my offer?
0:10:04 > 0:10:05There's nothing to think about.
0:10:05 > 0:10:07Then maybe I shouldn't come back.
0:10:07 > 0:10:10No way. You are not letting these kids down.
0:10:10 > 0:10:11Then say you'll think about it.
0:10:13 > 0:10:16You want me to run the business - but then what?
0:10:16 > 0:10:18Are you going to let my own kids inherit it one day?
0:10:18 > 0:10:22But how can they be your children if you did not give birth to them?
0:10:22 > 0:10:25They are not MY family, you are.
0:10:25 > 0:10:28'I had to do some thinking that day.
0:10:28 > 0:10:30'You can't choose your family.
0:10:30 > 0:10:31'Or can you?'
0:10:33 > 0:10:36- MIKE:- OK, everybody gather in, gather in.
0:10:36 > 0:10:39All right, everybody look at me, please, and say...
0:10:39 > 0:10:41May-Li-i-i!
0:10:41 > 0:10:42- ALL:- May-Li!
0:10:42 > 0:10:45I don't want your business. I'm happy here.
0:10:47 > 0:10:49But I want to give you something.
0:10:51 > 0:10:53The chance to meet my children.
0:10:55 > 0:10:56This is them.
0:11:01 > 0:11:04So it's up to you now.
0:11:04 > 0:11:06'I chose my family that day.
0:11:07 > 0:11:08'And I chose who I wanted to be.'
0:11:10 > 0:11:11It's from PoPo?
0:11:13 > 0:11:14What is it?
0:11:15 > 0:11:18It's my great-great grandfather's diary.
0:11:20 > 0:11:24It's been passed down through the family for years.
0:11:24 > 0:11:26I never thought PoPo would give it to me.
0:11:26 > 0:11:27So...
0:11:29 > 0:11:30..it's good?
0:11:31 > 0:11:36It means she has accepted me and MY family.
0:11:37 > 0:11:39'She may be set in her ways,
0:11:39 > 0:11:42'but I owe a lot to PoPo and her Chinese wisdom.
0:11:43 > 0:11:46'Sometimes, I open my mouth and hear her words coming out.'
0:11:46 > 0:11:49If you're planning for a year, you sow rice.
0:11:49 > 0:11:51Only weak people fight with their fists,
0:11:51 > 0:11:53strong people fight with their words.
0:11:53 > 0:11:55Friends are like a big box of chocolates, Floss -
0:11:55 > 0:11:56best shared.
0:11:56 > 0:11:59They say the people that annoy us most remind us most of ourselves.
0:11:59 > 0:12:03'I think about that last one when some of you guys annoy me.
0:12:03 > 0:12:04- 'Which is quite a lot.'- Even me?
0:12:05 > 0:12:07Especially you, Floss.
0:12:08 > 0:12:11'So...who is the real me?
0:12:13 > 0:12:15'I guess you can only understand who you really are
0:12:15 > 0:12:18'when you see yourself through other people's eyes.
0:12:18 > 0:12:20'I had my eyes opened
0:12:20 > 0:12:22'when I shared one of my pearls of wisdom with Kaz.'
0:12:22 > 0:12:23To get adopted...
0:12:24 > 0:12:27..you don't have to be perfect for everyone,
0:12:27 > 0:12:29just one person in particular.
0:12:29 > 0:12:32'Kaz was looking for a solution to her problems
0:12:32 > 0:12:36'and, suddenly, I seemed like the perfect person to adopt her,
0:12:36 > 0:12:38'if only she could make herself perfect for me.'
0:12:38 > 0:12:40We're watching Dirty Dancing.
0:12:40 > 0:12:42Oh! My favourite film ever.
0:12:42 > 0:12:43Hey, when I was your age,
0:12:43 > 0:12:46I was Merseyside under-15s rollerblading champion.
0:12:46 > 0:12:48An old family favourite - it's called Scouse.
0:12:48 > 0:12:50'What I was into, Kaz was suddenly into.'
0:12:50 > 0:12:51CLATTERING
0:12:53 > 0:12:55What are you doing?
0:12:55 > 0:12:57Rollerblading. It's one of my favourite things
0:12:57 > 0:12:58to do in the whole world.
0:12:58 > 0:13:00'Pretty soon, everyone was at it.
0:13:00 > 0:13:03'The Get Adopted by May-Li Club.'
0:13:03 > 0:13:06- What are you doing?- We're gardening. - We love it.- Since when?
0:13:07 > 0:13:09Since we found out it was a great way to get a mum.
0:13:09 > 0:13:11'It's strange to suddenly see yourself
0:13:11 > 0:13:12'through other people's eyes.
0:13:12 > 0:13:15'Archie thought rollerblading would impress me,
0:13:15 > 0:13:18'Finn went down the Liverpool FC route.
0:13:18 > 0:13:20'Basically, I found out I'm a green-fingered Scouser
0:13:20 > 0:13:22'who loves rollerblading.'
0:13:24 > 0:13:27'And that's it - the real me, May-Li.
0:13:27 > 0:13:30'Oh, if you want to try some posh cheese,
0:13:30 > 0:13:33'I've hidden the brand-new delivery from Mum somewhere in the garden.'
0:13:33 > 0:13:36- Cheese?!- 'No more clues. OK, bye.'
0:13:50 > 0:13:51Ooh, your cheese!
0:13:53 > 0:13:54Give us a bite.