Monday Magic – Inspiring Blogs for You!

On Apr 16, 2019Apr 16, 2019 By Claire Saul (PainPalsBlog)In Blog share, Blogging, Blogs, chronic illness11 Comments

Here I am, already running a day late this week – but as I had already found some blog posts for Monday Magic I thought I’d go ahead and share them today. The shoulder and neck are feeling a little easier and the amount of opioid floating around my system is considerably smaller so I can put pen to paper…….well fingers to laptop!

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So what have we been up to in the PainPals house this week? I mentioned in my last post that hubby made a trip to his parents and left me in the not so capable hands of the oldest and youngest children/young adults! We survived to tell the tale although the crumbs in the kitchen drove me to distraction. On Saturday the three of us joined my parents and various other cousins for a family lunch and I was so pleased to actually make it there. The most exciting thing was being told that my cousin and her partner have booked to be married next year on a cruise aboard the Queen Mary to New York. The funniest thing was that her other half made an announcement, whilst she sat there all embarrassed saying that “it really isn’t a big deal”…….well in that case cousin, I will go to New York on the Queen Mary with your fiance, and then on to Washington and Niagara Falls!! Ha, ha, ha. She doesn’t want to make a big fuss at their “time of life” – mid 50s and 60.

Rachel and Claire — Having fun with cousin Rachel last year!

The young engineer was slightly on edge during said meal as hubby was home, but he was taking advantage of a friend’s season tickets to a London football match (Fulham v Everton for you footie fans!) and had taken the young engineer’s better half with him. Would dad show him up? Would he say something really outrageous? No, son – they are both football fans (both support Chelsea actually!) and will have far too much to talk about that will not include you!! Our friend was in Paris supporting his boys in the marathon and was gutted that having lost several matches in a row, Fulham actually won!!

Fulham cake — Fulham Football Club cake that I made a couple of of years ago

The house is back up to full capacity as the politics student arrived home last night for the Easter break – after false start at the weekend when he was struck down with a migraine (he promises migraine and not hangover!) after finishing an essay….early. I haven’t investigated the bags yet, but there is only so much dirty washing that can be transported on a coach trip…..I think that I might leave a trail of arrows to the washing machine.

I hope that you have had a good week and are ready to sit back with a cuppa and enjoy some fantastic blog posts. The beef and ham cheese roll looks amazing, “Getting Older” made me laugh out loud and Christie Hawkes’s post really gives food for thought. Enjoy!

https://italiangoodness.net/2015/02/15/beef-and-ham-cheese-roll/

https://hopehikesandhealing.com/2019/04/11/how-to-be-with-the-suffering-of-loved-ones/

https://www.niamhgabrielle.co.uk/emergency-red-cord-cards-by-euans-guide/

https://meditationsinmotion.wordpress.com/2019/04/14/fixing-the-fixer/

https://www.jtouchofstyle.com/dementia-training-for-caregivers-jill-lorentz/

https://ohmrstucker.com/getting-older/

https://msbrensays.com/2019/04/11/just-when-you-think-you-cant-you-can/

https://sewprettyinpink.com/2019/04/16/a-unicorn-onesie-for-recovery/

https://christiehawkes.com/the-power-of-words-and-mindful-speaking/

https://www.momshomerun.com/2019/04/wherever-i-run-there-i-am.html

Please like and share the posts that you love – make a blogger’s day……and if you would vote for me in the Annual Bloggers’ Bash Awards you would make mine! Please vote here.

Have a great week,

Claire x

Monday Magic – Inspiring Blogs for You!

On Mar 25, 2019 By Claire Saul (PainPalsBlog)In Blog share, Blogging, Blogs, chronic illness17 Comments

Welcome to the last week of March and another Monday Magic on a beautiful spring day. We have managed two cinema trips this week – yes, two! – to see very different films but both equally striking.

The first was Bohemian Rhapsody and I know that we are very late to the party. The portrayal of Queen and particularly Rami Malek’s performance as Freddie Mercury were outstanding (if sanitised!). It is difficult not to be swept along by the soundtrack of Queen’s greatest hits and then for those of us who remember Live Aid, the depiction of the concert in the old Wembley Stadium was a true trip down memory lane. What I hadn’t expected was to be so overcome with emotion towards the end of the film and find myself in tears by the end. The depiction of a hospital waiting room and a young, emaciated man sporting a a very particular lesion on his face took me straight back to the late 80s and my London teaching hospital.

It was an extraordinary time to be working in one of the few hospital’s with a dedicated HIV and AIDS unit (see my previous posts here and here). As young nurses we were confronted by fear and ignorance of a disease that then carried a death sentence and also by a greater intolerance of same sex relationships. I can remember being asked if I had to touch the patients, or if they had different bedsheets and what happened to their cutlery after they ate!! There were question marks about applying for mortgages and if you sustained a needle stick injury the subsequent HIV test would definitely reduce your chance of being granted a mortgage. Then there was the series of commercials run in the UK by the government – brutal, scare mongering and to the point. But for me the film brought with it a sea of faces – young men – all robbed of life at such a young age. It was the first time that most of us had been confronted by the certainty of death in patients who were in our own age group. We were comforting parents and getting to know groups of friends who might have been our own. Those names and faces remain with me all these years later and as Freddie Mercury declared that he wouldn’t be a poster boy for HIV on the big screen, the tears flowed as I was transported back to that ward in 1990.

Gideon-Mendel — The Middlesex Hospital from Gideon Mendel

Last night we went to a special cinema screening to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the “Great Escape” – that is the actual escape during World War II that the Steve McQueen and Richard Attenborough film was based on. Hosted by Dan Snow, historians were joined by family members of some of the actual RAF men who staged the escape in 1944, and also by actors and crew from the film made in 1963 to depict the events.

One of the stuntmen who set up the iconic Steve McQueen motorcycle stunt at the end of the film had been flown in from New Zealand – he had some stories!! I was really struck by the comment that it was an officer’s duty to attempt to escape and to create as much turmoil for the enemy – the Germans in this case – as possible. These men almost certainly did not expect to get home if they managed to escape, but they did plan to continue fighting and to be a thorn in Hitler’s side. Meanwhile the RAF were amongst those also remembering the men in Poland at the site of the POW camp, where the prisoners had dug out 75 years ago. It was a very long (nearly 5 hours) but worthwhile evening……even if I couldn’t stand up by the end!! When I popped my ankle out, hubby said we needed the inflatable evacuation aircraft chutes to get me down the cinema stairs….cheek!

So today I have been recuperating from my night out and have found a great variety of blog posts for you. I hope that you enjoy everything from the fire eating gutsy goddess to some fantastic tips about plastics and the planet…..sit back with a cuppa and enjoy!

https://laughingatthesky.blog/gutsy-goddess-tessa

https://relationshiphelpers.net/083-personal-growth-is-self-care-selfish/

https://nolightwithoutdarkness.com/2019/01/09/beat-irrational-fears/

https://ablissfulblue.com/people-pleaser/

https://wellnessmunch.com/2019/03/11/cinnamon-the-super-spice-in-your-kitchen/

https://www.crestingthehill.com.au/2019/03/expectations-to-free-yourself-from.html

https://carolcooks2.com/2019/03/25/plastic-the-latest-news/

https://fightmsdaily.com/2019/03/24/the-rant-about-healthcare-insurance/

https://lightscameracrohns.com/2019/03/25/why-my-husband-is-much-more-than-a-caregiver-dr-phil/

https://itrippedoverastone.com/2019/03/19/fake-it-until-oh-stop/

Please leave some comments, like the posts and make someone’s day!

Have a great week,

Claire x

Monday Magic – Inspiring Blogs for You!

On Mar 18, 2019Mar 18, 2019 By Claire Saul (PainPalsBlog)In Blog share, Blogging, Blogs, chronic illness12 Comments

Welcome back to another Monday Magic! What a morning it has been with a visit to the local hospital for an”ology” appointment. Today it was gastroenterology and things didn’t bode well from the moment the nurse said they were running a little late. There is a huge white board with the various doctors names and details of the clinic. We sat and watched as nurses came out regularly and increased the waiting time for each different doctor – waiting time 45 mins, 1 hour, 1 hour 15 mins…until the registrar I saw was running about an hour and a half behind.

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Is it me, or is the waiting room always too hot when the clinic runs late? People start to become agitated, staff don’t have the right answers and tempers become frayed. Staying calm is a must – so send hubby out for some coffees and breaaaaathe! I was in and out in no time with an increased iron level, no major changes and am happy to report another young doctor seen who knew about Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, POTS and the related gut issues! Now all I feel fit for is a long siesta…….

A much more exciting event that we went to this week was an Engineering and IT careers event – where the young engineer and his business partner gave a presentation – well the talented business partner spoke and the young engineer clicked the computer slides! I am now a step nearer to understanding what their business is…..cybersecurity was mentioned more than once! The robotics Professor from the local university had a little, but incredibly expensive robot with him which was fascinating. His main interest of study is using the robot for teaching both SEND children, who respond well to the consistency in information given by a robot, but also in mainstream education. It was quite unnerving when the robot was fired up and ready as his eyes were able to track you across the room and his face really did seem to be expressive. Another exciting topic was a “plasma” tool that a group of scientific engineers have created for a plastic surgeon friend. The tool is available for both hot and cold plasma surgery and can potentially be used to aid cell and skin regeneration, tattoo removal and may help reduce the growth of resistant bacteria strains such as MRSA. My head was simply spinning when we left….and I’m not even one of the students it was aimed at!

action android device electronics — Photo by Matan Segev on Pexels.com

This weekend the celebrations reached fever pitch in Wales as the Six Nations rugby was won, but also in all corners of the earth where there is a touch of the shamrock needing little excuse to celebrate St Patrick’s Day. With a nod to the emerald isle, I have found you several St Patrick’s posts, along with some travel, health and beauty pieces. Sit back and enjoy with a cuppa!

https://www.jenniferalambert.com/celebrating-st-patrick/

https://freshvintagebylisas.blogspot.com/2019/03/vintage-printables-for-st-patricks-day.html

https://fancypaperblog.com/2016/03/17/movie-gems-for-st-patricks-day-treats/

https://fightingwithfibro.com/2019/03/15/22-lesser-known-facts-about-fibro/

https://awandafulthing.com/2019/03/11/simple-things-4/

https://borninacar.com/moscow-russia-5-minute-guide/

https://cliveblogs.wordpress.com/2019/03/09/im-still-me/

http://anordinarymom.site/librarians-changing-the-world-one-book-at-a-time/

https://midsummerlifedream.com/life-with-endometriosis/

https://www.beautyobsesseduk.com/2019/03/my-blush-collection.html?m=1

Please share some love for these bloggers and their writing – like, comment and share!

Have a great week,

Claire x

Monday Magic – Inspiring Blogs for You!

On Mar 11, 2019 By Claire Saul (PainPalsBlog)In Blog share, Blogging, Blogs, chronic illness11 Comments

Welcome pain pals and apologies for the lack of interaction this last week. Just prior to last week’s Monday Magic I managed to remove my humerus from its glenoid cavity…..or rather my shoulder had dislocated, yes I know…..again! Honestly my right shoulder is out more than in these days, but this last week has been particularly bad causing a few sleepless nights, much knocking back of morphine and generally feeling pretty low. It really is unusual for me to want to do nothing – to not even be able to use my computer…..

Then I woke up Sunday morning with a beautiful eyeliner applied perfectly to one eyelid in a fetching shade of rose red. You could not draw such a perfect line, although the lovely girl offered to try to match it on the opposite eye. By the time my GP saw it this morning it had changed shade to a purple edged with yellow which now looks more like eyeshadow over the whole lid. She says it is an infection in the lid, but I still think hubby had something to do with it after I poked him for snoring!! (Joke!) However he has banned me from opening certain drawers as that is how the latest “joint parting of the ways” came about, and it is still falling out of socket every time I move. Good excuse not to cook or clean though!

closeup photography of woman red lipstick — Photo by Julia K on Pexels.com

The week hasn’t been all bad for yours truly, as I had tickets to see the sixties inspired West End show “Rip It Up” with my mum. I was worried as I was still feeling pretty rough, but with plenty of cushions for the car journey and then in my wheelchair when we got there, I survived. I feel very fortunate to be able to secure both a wheelchair space and a free seat for my carer – in this case mum had a much more comfortable stand alone arm chair – situated in this theatre in the back row of the dress circle. The show stars former Strictly Come Dancing stars : Harry Judd of McFly, Jay McGuiness of The Wanted, Aston Merrygold of JLS and Olympic gymnast Louis Smith MBE. These boys sing, dance, drum and flip their way through the show. The rest of the cast are such talented singers and dancers – Jill Marie Cooper’s voice blew me away – and there are some surprise turns on screen from sixties icons!

Enough…I’m making up for my lack of typing this past week. I have a selection of very varied posts for you from a cheeky look at middle names to several health posts to concert and book reviews to an interesting smoothie with a twist for my spoonie pals. So grab a drink, sit back and enjoy!

http://scaleitsimple.com/2019/03/11/the-7-stages-of-a-taking-a-vacation/

https://www.radiantnubeginnings.com/menopause-the-final-stage-in-a-womans-life-does-it-frighten-you-too/

http://catherineinthecity.com/2019/03/10/drink-your-greens/

https://hotmessmemoir.com/2019/03/10/happy-middle-name-pride-day/

https://thecuriousfrugal.com/my-attempt-at-the-complaint-free-challenge-month-1-update/

https://ohmrstucker.com/perfect-oatmeal-cookies-with-dried-apricots/

https://rachaelstray.com/george-ezra/

https://dgkayewriter.com/sunday-book-review-20-learned-patients-olga-nunez-miret/

http://www.bbhwithms.com/ms-cannabis-recipe-for-my-medicated-smoothie/

https://dinosaursdonkeysandms.com/rainy-raspberry-relapses/

Please spread some joy and comment, like and share these posts.

Have a great week,

Claire x

Monday Magic – Inspiring Blogs for You!

On Mar 4, 2019Mar 4, 2019 By Claire Saul (PainPalsBlog)In Blog share, Blogging, Blogs, chronic illness5 Comments

March is here and the weather has been so mild that it has felt like near summer some days, and definitely spring. The spring flowers are in bud, the trees are starting to change colour….and hay fever has raised its sneezy head in our house! Hubby and the lovely girl both have runny noses and itchy eyes, probably from tree pollen and moulds so out with the nasal sprays and antihistamines again.

It has been a busy week – well at least for my limited world – with several consecutive nights out. I saved my spoons by doing very little during the day and had a lovely night at the theatre to see Rock of Ages, followed by a mums’ night out and being taken to dinner by the young engineer and his better half! The theatre trip was exciting as my favourite from Strictly Come Dancing, the wonderful Kevin Clifton, was appearing – not as a dancer, but as a singer. Boy can he belt out a song!! The show is very slapstick and certainly made me laugh – and I must shout out for the New Wimbledon theatre making it a very easy and accessible visit for this wheelchair user. There is a special entrance with a lift to take those with mobility difficulties directly to the stalls and this is where the wheelchair and carer spaces are. We were able to order our interval ice-cream in advance to be delivered directly to us, and the accessible toilets were huge and well equipped. How can I go from talking about the lovely Kevin from Grimsby to the loos?!

RockOfAges_Kevin_Clifton — Current Strictly champion Kevin Clifton in Rock of Ages

Our mums night out had been arranged and was the height of embarrassment to our 16 and 17 year old daughters who can’t understand why their mothers might possibly want to go out and socialise. We ate, drank and chatted so well – not all about the girls! – that we were the last ones in the restaurant. Speaking of restaurants, the young engineer took us to a well respected London steak establishment just off Regent Street at the weekend. We drove and used the Westminster “Park Right” app to find a blue badge parking space – parking spaces of all types have a sensor to detect if they are occupied and this connects live to the app. It worked! I’m not sure what I had expected, but finding an empty blue badge spot just off Piccadilly Circus seemed too good to be true! The staff in the steak house were all helpful with the wheelchair and even said that they would put a ramp at the steps so that I could use the disabled toilet. Everything was going so well until I got to the top of the ramp and then couldn’t open the heavy door into the toilet corridor…..oh well, they tried!

Of course since yesterday I have found myself all out of spoons and the weather changed back to cooler conditions. So a perfect day to find some interesting blog posts for you and I hope you’ll agree that there are some great reads here. Enjoy!

https://migrainemantras.com/2019/03/03/voices-from-the-hill/

https://rachdowsonwilliams.blogspot.com/2019/02/exploring-town-i-love-so-much.html

https://www.beautifulmindlifecoach.com/2019/01/always-3rd-wheel.html

https://lisaorchard.wordpress.com/2019/02/24/are-we-the-indoor-generation/

https://carolcooks2.com/2019/03/04/pancake-day-5th-march-aka-shrove-tuesday-mardi-gras-or-fat-tuesday/

https://beetleypete.com/2019/03/04/the-right-thing/

https://ablondeinthecrowd.wordpress.com/2019/03/04/a-letter-to-me/

https://topladytalks.com/2019/03/04/to-retreat-or-not-retreat-a-review-of-our-accessible-meditation-weekend/

https://noreenlace.com/2019/03/01/special-needs-authors-and-readers-an-interview-with-patty-fletcher/

https://www.sizzlingtowardssixty.com.au/the-importance-of-downtime/

Please like, comment and share the posts you enjoy!

Have a great week,

Claire

Monday Magic – Inspiring Blogs for You!

On Feb 25, 2019 By Claire Saul (PainPalsBlog)In Blog share, Blogging, Blogs, chronic illness, Rare Disease Day17 Comments

I can never believe how quickly Monday Magic comes around, but what I do know is that week after week I find just how many fantastic blogs and bloggers there are in the blogosphere!

The stand out story for me this week was that of Tony Foulds, the Sheffield pensioner who has cared for the memorial to 10 US airman who, as a child, he saw crash in his local park. The crew of the Mi Amigo attempted to land their damaged aircraft in the Sheffield park where Tony and his friends were playing, but when the airman waved to the children to move, the youngsters merely waved back. It remains the biggest regret of Tony’s life that as an 8 year old he thought the pilot was waving to him, not at him to move, and thus flew the craft into woods where the plane crashed. When a BBC journalist heard that Tony’s greatest wish was to have a flag pole and a fly past on the 75th anniversary of the crash, he set about making it happen. Relatives of the Mi Amigo crew joined thousands of local people as Tony watched the US and British airforces fly overhead – one plane for each airman. Every time I have watched, Tony Foulds has reduced me to tears with his passion and his firm belief in caring for the memorial of the strangers he calls family. (See the full story here: https://www.facebook.com/bbcbreakfast/videos/642676716166370/)

In our household hubby went to Cambridge with my brother who had treated him for his birthday to a Prog Rock weekend….not my cup of tea, but they had a good time listening to loud music (Steve Rothery of Marillion fame) and visiting RAF Duxford.

Photo by anna-m. w. on Pexels.com

So that left me in the capable hands of my lovely girl – yes, a girls’ weekend! I would love to be able to report a time of shopping and clubbing – once upon a time definitely! – but it was more like artwork (hers not mine) and a film. The weather has been beautiful for February, so we managed to get ourselves to my parents’ house under our own steam. Now I know that friends who know us in person are laughing now and yes, it is the same road…..but yours truly had the very tricky job of steering the new motorised chariot out of the patio doors, down the ramp, along the side entrance and out into the street. Then the local council have seen fit to install temporary traffic lights at the roundabout that separates our end of the road from theirs, so I had an unexpected negotiation and a girl getting very worried her mum was going the wrong way in the road! Fear not – my driving skills are improving and I was able to report to hubby that we had made it in one piece and then I used the headlight he had fitted to guide us home in the dark. Well, ok it is a bike light and the street lights were on, but it still means that I can be seen coming!! But to be serious, I really enjoyed the feeling of independence which I hadn’t quite expected!

I mentioned above that I have found some fab blog posts for you and some of these are from a lovely facebook group that I belong to – Sharing, Inspiring, Promoting Bloggers. The first on the list is giving a shout out to Rare Disease Day, later this week on 28th Feb – please have a look at the bloggers who have shared their stories in part one of Despite Pain’s series. Yours truly will be featured in the next episode talking about cauda equina syndrome – I will share this with you later this week. Meanwhile sit back, grab a cuppa and enjoy!

View at Medium.com

https://despitepain.com/2019/02/18/why-we-need-to-support-rare-disease-day/

https://wheelescapades.com/2019/02/21/12-frustrations-of-being-a-wheelchair-user/

https://ginlemonade.com/2019/02/13/house-hunting-as-a-wheelchair-user-other-stories/

https://yesterdayafter.com/2019/02/19/art-for-music-series-aurora-portrait-new-release/

https://jumpstartpositivity.com/simple-things/

https://youcanalwaysstartnow.wordpress.com/2019/02/18/dont-be-rigid-and-brittle/

https://collinscrohns.wordpress.com/2019/01/04/top-chronic-illness-books-and-blogs-of-2018/

http://angelanoelauthor.com/guest-post/published-elsewhere/out-of-my-comfort-zone-why-i-wrote-an-essay-that-scares-me-a-little/

https://anhistorianabouttown.com/six-the-musical-review/

https://myblurredworld.com/2019/02/24/online-world-accessibility/

Please like, comment and share!

Have a great week,

Claire x

Monday Magic – Inspiring Blogs for You!

On Feb 18, 2019 By Claire Saul (PainPalsBlog)In Blog share, Blogging, Blogs, chronic illness11 Comments

It is half term break already – how did that happen? It feels like school has only just gone back! Anyway we and the lovely girl are doggy sitting for friends this week, whilst our own old boy, Sam, has his holidays at his human grandparents. I’m not sure if I have mentioned before but he was a rescue dog many years ago and the one foible we have never got him over is his dislike of other dogs. So he will enjoy a quiet week in a calm house being spoilt with his favourite breakfasts and gravy on his grits!!

E8930077-5F14-4566-9947-798252524C3C — Sharing a chronic moment!

Last night, feeling slightly energetic, I walked Sam up the road to my mum’s house. I say walked….I’m not sure who was the slower, me or the dog. If we had been going any slower we would be stationary and hubby was alternately pushing and pulling us. We dropped Sam off and then continued the slow amble around the block heading back home. Now when we had left home I was quite spritely – for me – so pooh-poohed the need for my wheelchair, taking just my stick and feeling quite invincible. Big mistake!! Half way back (it really isn’t far), and whilst going downhill, one foot was completely numb and the kneecap on the other side had dislocated….double whammy! By this point I had a fit of the giggles but hubby, who was inelegantly hauling me along the road, did not see the funny side. No more outings for me without wheelie back up!!

man riding bicycle with woman sitting in front — Photo by Charry Jin on Pexels.com

Talking of which the new car should be arriving soon, thanks to Motability agreeing to take back our current model so that we can have something that has a hoist fitted to take my new wheelchair. Once I have figured out how to get it out of the house we will be sorted!!! I am still waiting for an OT assessment which I hope will highlight the need for ramp access to the front door (amongst other things) – meanwhile we continue to encourage Sam to use the ramp outside the patio door rather than attempting, and failing, to jump off the side of it!

The young engineer is in San Francisco – a little bit of work, but mainly play. I had a message to say that the Air b&b is “OK but doesn’t have a kitchen” to which my response was well he only knows how to prepare tuna with pasta so doesn’t really need one! We have been introduced to the Forbes magazine lists this week – no I didn’t realise that they do the rich lists. Anyway the young engineer and his business partner have somehow made it onto the Forbes 30 under 30 Europe Manufacturing and Industry list – the lovely girl is just staggered that her brother features on the same series of lists that Jess Glynn and George Ezra feature on (yes, yes..different category!). Maybe one day it will be the rich list and he can keep his mother in the manner to which she would like to be accustomed….dream on, Claire!

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Photo by Skitterphoto on Pexels.com

Before I go I must introduce you to our fur babies for the week….Fred and Honey

and some fantastic blog posts from a variety of bloggers covering so many subjects. So grab a drink, relax and enjoy!

https://www.achronicvoice.com/2019/02/13/twitter-tips/

http://theinsiderviews.com/2019/02/is-pilates-for-you.html/

https://www.radiantnubeginnings.com/one-size-doesnt-fit-all/

https://thechronictraveller.com/2019/02/06/chronic-illness-and-the-well-of-despair/

https://www.cbdhacker.com/cbd-for-inflammation/

https://esmesalon.com/2019-wednesday-interview-series/

https://pamelajessen.com/2019/02/17/fibromyalgia-and-loneliness/

https://justmuddlingthroughlife.co.uk/2019/02/17/children-again-poetry-challenge/

https://www.healthyeatingexperts.com/top-12-spring-superfoods/

https://theinspirationlady.com/self-care-ideas-for-highly-sensitive-people/

Please like, comment and share – spread some love!

Have a great week,

Claire x

Monday Magic – Inspiring Blogs for You!

On Feb 11, 2019 By Claire Saul (PainPalsBlog)In Blog share, Blogging, Blogs, chronic illness, Valentine's Day8 Comments

This is the week of love with Valentine’s Day fast approaching – red hearts, champagne, velvet wrapped boxes of chocolates and of course red roses. The shops are adorned and the internet is overflowing with suggestions of how to spoil your loved one. The thing that I would just love for myself is a week of sleep. Forget being wined and dined, fancy foil balloons or expensive flowers…..the secret to unlocking my heart is to give me sleep!!

Seriously I need to find some self love this week after a week of sleep deprivation. I never sleep brilliantly, but this week has felt like working night shifts again. I no longer panic in the night, but read from a dimly lit kindle or listen to dramas on the BBC radio iplayer or play soothing sleep mixes on Youtube. The problem comes half way through the next day when jet lag hits and after 3 sleepless nights this week it has well and truly hit!! Thursday night was one of these nights, but I didn’t drop off to sleep until Friday afternoon. By the time hubby woke me at nearly 7pm it was time to go out to play…..a takeaway with some close neighbours. Curry for breakfast – can’t remember the last time I did the equivalent! We had been tasked with taking liqueurs and wine – easy. Unpacking the bag when we arrived we had red wine, white wine, limoncello, espresso liqueur, coffee cream, sambucca, oxynorm……what??? Oh no, don’t panic, just a little something for Claire and her pain!

artistic blossom bright clouds — Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Something that did cheer me up this week was reading that chocolate shaped as hearts is calorie free…well, who knew? This is something that I am totally believing for the whole week, so come on hubby remember how the lovely girl and I have always woken up to a chocolate heart on February 14th? I promise never to say again that snoring from the other side of the bed requires noise cancelling headphones!

turned on black samsung smartphone between headphones — Photo by Vlad Bagacian on Pexels.com

I haven’t given you a list of lovey, dovey red heart posts, but rather a diverse selection of blog posts. They range from the breakfast pizza, to giving empowering compliments to girls to random acts of kindness. My favourite has to be the slow cooker fudge brownies – there is a situation where the stomach rules the heart. So sit back with a cuppa, or maybe a glass of something bubbly and enjoy some great blog posts.

https://www.theworldseesnormal.com/the-world-sees-normal/10-things-to-remember/

https://www.samsplaces.com/2019/02/bacon-egg-cheese-breakfast-pizza-recipe.html

https://justmuddlingthroughlife.co.uk/2019/02/08/10-tips-help-ease-stress-children-being-mum/

https://sweatpantsandcoffee.com/empowering-compliments-girls/

https://catchyourbreath60.com/february-is-heart-month-copd-and-heart-failure/

https://passionfruitpawsandpeonies.com/9-books-for-a-more-positive-2019/

https://lifeattheintersection.com/2019/02/11/practice-for-random-acts-of-kindness-day/

https://esmesalon.com/how-to-actually-chill-so-you-dont-burnout/

http://www.looneyforfood.com/slow-cooker-fudge-brownies/

https://www.unboundroots.com/my-heart/

Please share, like and comment to show how much you appreciate these bloggers!

Have a great week,

Claire x

Monday Magic – Inspiring Blogs for You

On Feb 5, 2019 By Claire Saul (PainPalsBlog)In Blog share, Blogging, Blogs, chronic illness18 Comments

So you have probably already noticed that this is a day late, but somehow after reading and scheduling posts as admin for a Facebook group (Chronic Illness Bloggers – there are some seriously talented writers over there!), finishing a book review and just family life, I ran out of time yesterday. But I have found some great posts so thought I’d share them today!

person using typewriter — Photo by rawpixel.com on Pexels.com

This last week I have taken advantage of the cold weather and being sofa bound by catching up with reading blogs – I have managed lots of sharing but have been a bit rubbish at posting comments, so I apologise to my fellow bloggers. Do you know that the nominations for the 2019 Bloggers’ Bash Awards are now officially open? There are some great new categories this year so take a look and make sure you nominate your favourites!! You may even decide on someone in the list below – there is a great variety and some are new to me. I particularly enjoyed the Verve View post about the good side of social media and the post from Sonja “Shh – don’t tell” made me laugh out loud….I think that all parents will be able to relate to it. If anyone is in need of some pampering have a look at Brooke’s beauty product favs, or if like me you need to declutter then Shelley’s post about the Marie Kondo way might be better…..it would be so much easier if only the rest of the family understood what I’m trying to achieve!!

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A high and low point of the week was the last part of the BBC adaptation of Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables – high as the series has been fantastic, low as it was the final instalment. How will Sunday night measure up now?! If you have access to the BBC iplayer and haven’t seen it yet….it is well worth watching. The actors, costumes, set designs, make up (how did they make the beautiful Lily Collins look so awful?) are all wonderful. Those of you thinking “I hate musicals” be assured that there is not a song to be heard – unless you count young Gavroche’s odd little ditty here and there.

Les Miserables - Generic Portraits — Les Miserables cast – from Radio Times

I’m keeping the preamble short today, having given you a long book review yesterday, so grab a cuppa, sit back and enjoy some great reads!

https://ginlemonade.com/2019/01/11/my-wedding-dress-my-wheelchair-me/

https://mymedmusings.com/2019/01/26/my-key-to-living-well-with-chronic-illness/

https://verveview.com/2019/01/30/sunflowers-and-social-media/

https://brookeclarke.com/beauty/my-favourite-beauty-products-of-2018/

https://jumpstartpositivity.com/refresh-your-mindset/

https://ohmrstucker.com/how-to-like-who-you-are/

https://holdmamashand.com/2019/02/03/shh-dont-tell/

https://darlenefoster.wordpress.com/2019/02/01/ghosts-in-the-attic/

https://lifeatno22.com/2019/01/31/what-happened-to/

https://motivatemenow.co.uk/theme-of-the-month-de-cluttering-the-marie-kondo-way/

Have a great week,

Claire x

Monday Magic – Inspiring Blogs for You!

On Jan 28, 2019 By Claire Saul (PainPalsBlog)In Blog share, Blogging, Blogs, chronic illness8 Comments

There have been two big events in our household this week.

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The first has been the lovely girl having braces fitted, following the removal of a couple of teeth the week before. A common problem associated with hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome is dental overcrowding due to a high arched and narrow palate. I had 6 teeth removed as a teen and for a while sported a lovely pair of fangs as teeth erupted from the wrong place. Both my boys have inherited my narrow face and dental overcrowding – the young engineer required surgery to open his gums to expose teethe and apply chains to them which were then attached to braces, the politics student had teeth removed and braces.

With her different bone structure we thought the lovely girl had missed this particular joy of EDS, but it was not to be. Her last trip to the dentist resulted in a “dental emergency” as he said she needed baby teeth removed urgently and orthodontist treatment asap……oh and Merry Christmas. This rather extreme reaction (I mean I didn’t know there was such a thing as an orthodental emergency!!) was probably down to the fact that the dental surgery had forgotten to make a referral 18 months ago, but I just assumed she was still on on the waiting list. So the lovely girl is about 2 years late at 16 to be having braces and will need the same surgery as her eldest brother. She has made little fuss, but was ashen the following morning and is now sporting a very sore mouth. Her lovely brother of course fed her lots of horror stories!!

The second big event was Burn’s night and the annual celebration of all things Scottish at the lovely girl’s school. This year we took mum and her friend, along with two other couples to add to our number and swell the tartan brigade.

A wee dram of whisky sour started the night of nicely followed by the piping in of the haggis and the traditional Robbie Burn’s toast – delivered beautifully by a Scottish teacher fully decked out in kilt and sporan. Now hubby was half decked out, having borrowed a jacket and bow tie from our friends’ son…..he wasn’t brave enough to try the kilt though!

6db92c2b-ee11-4c10-8b2d-d88a1857d3db — Whisky Panna Cotta with raspberries

Haggis with tatties and napes, followed by whisky panna cotta went down very well to be swiftly followed by a Scottish reel or two!! This is the part of the evening that brings mixed feelings as once upon a time I would have been the first on the dance floor, but must now be content to watch…….but the best part is sitting and watching everyone go the wrong way, bump into each other and screech with laughter. At one point I swear that the group mum and hubby were dancing in were doing a completely different dance to the rest of the hall.

Granted it was nigh on impossible to hear what the caller was telling them to do…..but at times there was not a dry eye in the house with all the laughter. Maybe next year I will have my motorised wheelchair sorted and be able to literally run rings around them – can’t transport it until our new Motability car arrives!

I think that the majority of these blog posts are new bloggers to Monday Magic this week and vary from recipes to writing tips to self care/health posts. There is even a post for all you introverts out there. I really hope that you enjoy these as much as I have – so grab a cuppa, sit back and read some great posts!

http://theseatedview.com/2019/01/from-helplessness-to-hope-with-chronic-illness-5-strategies-to-push-back-depression.html

https://chronicmomlife.com/things-you-should-not-say-to-a-special-needs-parent/

https://www.autonomicrn.com/2019/01/20/a-little-nursing-therapy/

https://jumpstartpositivity.com/introvert/

https://khmerkronicle.blogspot.com/2019/01/3-things-i-learnt-in-2018.html

https://glutenfreecuppatea.co.uk/2019/01/23/oven-baked-gluten-free-arancini-recipe/

https://www.writerscookbook.com/how-to-stop-overthinking-your-writing/

https://bloggerstrafficcommunity.com/take-to-be-a-successful-blogger/

https://thrivewithjanie.com/steps-to-attaining-your-health-goals-in-2019/

https://www.heatherleguilloux.ca/blog/review-gratitude-guide-7-days-to-a-grateful-heart/

https://bestwishestaylor.com/healthy-lifestyle-affirmations/

Please comment on, like and share these blogs!

Have a great week,

Claire x

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