A Little Winter Magic and some Chronic Illness Reflections with Inspiring Blogs for You!

On Nov 29, 2019 By Claire Saul (PainPalsBlog)In Blog share, Blogs, chronic illness12 Comments

Hello PainPals! I did start an Inspiring Blogs for you last week, but life seemed to get in the way. This leaves a couple of weeks in the PainPals house to catch up on, yet the brain fog is leaving me struggling to remember what happened yesterday let alone last week – but I will try.

When chronic illness (CI) slowly creeps up on you, often the “patient” and the “nearest and dearest” don’t notice how life has changed because we are all too busy living it. A couple of weeks back I was very proud that I managed to successfully make a 50th birthday cake for a friend’s Silver and Gold party. The cake took all week as I painstakingly cut out icing stars, painted them, baked the cake, iced the cake – taught hubby how to ice the cake! – and decorated it. I am so slow now as my hand frequently spasms (when painting on hundreds of gold “stars”) and the dislocated right arm is not conducive to handling a heavy icing rolling pin! But I did it.

The next challenge was to get to the actual party. Before CI, dressing up in silver and gold sparkles and spending my night on the dance floor being the dancing queen would have been a great night out. With CI it can be a struggle to actually get out in the evening before fatigue sets in, but an extra strength is needed to overcome not just the physical limitations but the psychological ones too. Before I could get through the door of the party venue in my electric wheelchair, I had to break through the barriers that my own brain was throwing up as I came to terms with no longer being an able bodied dancing queen. The words drowning queen often spring to mind as the body won’t behave in the way that the head wants it to. I still struggle, yet live this daily – and it soon became clear that it wasn’t just me having to come to terms with these changes.

underwater photography of woman — Photo by Engin Akyurt on Pexels.com

Several different friends asked if I had seen another lady – a mum from the primary school, where we all used to meet at the school gates when our now young adults were little. The interest here was that she was walking with a stick and “something” had happened to her – they wondered if I knew what? I didn’t know, but immediately recognised that there would be people looking at me in the same light “last time we saw Claire she was up and mobile – for some it would have even been pre walking stick – what has happened that she is in now in a wheelchair?” But for anyone who hasn’t witnessed that event or that general decline, so often they feel they can’t ask.

ask blackboard chalk board chalkboard — Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

When this other lovely mum and I “bumped” into each other at the edge of the dance floor, I think that we immediately recognised kindred spirits and were also not afraid to ask “what happened?”. She told me that she had suffered a stroke in her forties, I told her about my back surgeries and downward spiral with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and chronic pain. We discussed wheelchairs! When I later said to my friends that others (who hadn’t been with me over the last 10 years) would be wondering about me in the same way that my pals had mentioned the other lovely mum, at first they were taken aback and then realised this was true. People who were not in the know were not “gossiping” about us, but rather were surprised to see such a huge change and I think this makes us think of our own frailties and indeed mortality. But I can assure you – a good time was had by all!

Sparkles at the ready!

There has been a momentous event in the household – the young engineer has moved out! Hang out the bunting, change the locks……no, only kidding but I have to say that the household has used far less pasta and tuna in the weeks that he has been gone. He has moved with a couple of friends into a swanky pad alongside the Queen Elizabeth park – home of the 2012 Olympics – in east London. I did remind him that the new bedding would not only have to be put on the bed but also taken off the bed and put in the washing machine…..that gizmo sitting in the corner of the bright white new kitchen. I wonder how long it will stay looking that way?! This place is so smart that there is even a posh onsite gym for residents! I am happy to report that he has not returned to the wrong address – at least not to this one, his better half may beg to differ! Hubby and I have been sure to book our Christmas dinner at his place (we might be treated to tuna pasta).

The weather in the UK has been truly wet over the last fast weeks and with the changing of the clocks winter is arriving. I have been reading some great wintery posts over the last few weeks so thought that I would share some before we enter December. So sit back with a cup/glass of something delicious and enjoy!

https://www.brainlesionandme.com/reasons-for-loving-winter/

https://chronicpainfighter.com/are-weighted-blankets-helpful-in-fibromyalgia/

https://chronicallyresilient.org/7-ways-to-beat-seasonal-affective-disorder-this-winter/

https://jademarie.co.uk/emetophobia-winter-coping-techniques/

https://crookedbearcreekorganicherbs.com/2019/11/25/the-herbs-and-spices-of-thanksgiving/

https://thecuriousfrugal.com/fall-soups/

http://www.paperseedlings.com/2019/11/wasted-snowflakes.html

https://www.momentsofpositivity.com/2019/11/believeing-in-yourself.html

https://mcwglenys.blogspot.com/2019/11/sex-isnt-everything.html

https://bysarahwhiley.wordpress.com/2019/11/26/peace/

Thank you for reading and please share/like/comment on the posts that you enjoy.

Have a great weekend,

Claire x

Midweek Magic – Inspiring Blogs for You!

On May 16, 2019 By Claire Saul (PainPalsBlog)In Blog share, Blogging, Blogs, chronic illness, Inspiring8 Comments

Inspiring blogs has slipped to midweek again, but as I had already found the posts I really wanted to share them. I didn’t get near my laptop on Monday as hubby was filling out the dreaded tax return online – this meant he had 2 laptops and the ipad spread out in front of him and he doesn’t even have a regular job! Who knew that the tax office struggles to cope with zero hour contracts?!

The politics student has returned to university this week, but not before a trip to A&E to check out his knee. I think that I mentioned last week that he had dislocated and then relocated his knee – the pain and terrible cracking continued and we were advised by the GP & a physio friend that he needed to go to hospital to have it checked.

Cartoon knee — image courtesy of clipart-library.com

So I duly packed off hubby and son, with flasks and sandwiches…..no, I didn’t but probably should have done as they were waiting for the best part of last Friday. The wait we could understand – there were a lot of emergencies and the waiting room was full – but it was a shame about the attitude of the nurse specialist. Son and hubby explained the problem and were slightly taken aback by the tone used to tell them that A&E is for really sick people!

They explained that the GP had sent them and were apologetic for taking up time…….but where does someone go with this sort of problem? No you are not seriously ill, but you do have something wrong that your GP can’t deal with……no wonder so many of us chronic bodies avoid going to hospital!

Enough moaning, yours truly has had an eventful week and managed several outings between the bouts of neck pain. A curry with friends – a fellow zebra who made contact via this very blog, another reunion at my old school as Chair of the alumni group – a group only 2 years behind me so I knew them which was great, and a National Theatre Live production of All My Sons at our local cinema. If you get the chance to see this it is fantastic – Sally Field, Bill Pullman, Colin Morgan (aka Merlin!) and Jenna Coleman. Getting out of the cinema was a challenge as although the spinal cord stimulator helps with the pain it doesn’t help with the dead leg and immobility after sitting. Good job I have a husband, eh? But it is no wonder I can hardly move today and am happy I have a new furry pal come to stay for a couple of days…….meet Jensen!

The posts encompass various things that have been happening this week – Mother’s Day in the USA (read Willow’s beautiful poem), ME/CFS awareness and mental health awareness. May is the awareness month for many conditions and I will put up a listing on another post – I don’t want to miss anyone out. Don’t miss the inspiring ladies featured at Tea and Cake for the Soul. So grab yourself a drink, sit down and relax!

https://lifeattheintersection.com/2019/05/06/who-are-the-millions-missing/

https://willowdot21.wordpress.com/2019/05/12/song-lyric-sunday-mothers/

https://www.jolinsdell.com/2019/05/book-review-printed-letter-bookshop-by.html

https://pamecrement.com/2019/05/10/before-she-was-your-mother/

https://ablondeinthecrowd.wordpress.com/2019/05/13/confidence-help/

https://myloudwhispersofhope.com/2019/05/13/its-mental-health-awareness-week-in-the-uk-may-13th-19th/

http://jademarie.co.uk/positive-body-image/

https://father-hood.co.uk/2019/05/13/parents-subconsciously-sexist/

https://teaandcakeforthesoul.wordpress.com/2019/05/13/menopause-fab-at-50/

Please share some love and comment, like and share your favourites!

Have a great week,

Claire x

May Day Magic – Inspiring Blogs for You!

On May 1, 2019May 1, 2019 By Claire Saul (PainPalsBlog)In Blog share, Blogging, Blogs, chronic illness6 Comments

Another week and here we are in May – so it seems perfect to have a little May Magic as Monday came and went this week! It has been a perfect day in south London – sunny, bright and mild – what better way to start the month.

Hubby is away this week with the year 5 classes for an “outward bound” style activity holiday – or to put in in layman’s terms…..archery, hiking, zipwires, pylon climbing and more with 60 nine and ten year olds. Of course hubby has the boys’ dorms under his care after the activities finish for the day, and his comment to me on their first night was “I knew it was going to be challenging when we started our first task of bed making and one of them actually said ‘what’s a duvet?”!!”. They usually arrive home with damp kit, a bit smelly and absolutely shattered…..and that is just the adults. This year they have a bank holiday weekend to recover and I know that the adults will appreciate the extra day for R&R.

brown work boots — Photo by Lum3n.com on Pexels.com

This leaves me at home with my offspring. The eldest has just returned from a surprise birthday weekend away in Dublin – lovely treat from his better half – and is now looking forward to the first package in his gift from us…..a subscription to Pong Cheese Club. Watch this space for taste testings! My main carer for the week – the politics student – is nearly as much help as a chocolate teapot as he has succumbed to Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and dislocated his knee during a footie kick around. He managed to relocate everything to the correct position – you get used to doing this with EDS – but now cannot walk, despite my best efforts with tubigrip, a brace, crutches and painkillers. We must have made a strange looking team as we put the rubbish out today…..him on crutches, me in a collar and sling – there is definitely a joke in there somewhere about the number of dislocations in a household of zebras!!! (Why the zebra?)

I started saying what a beautiful day it has been and this led me to a big achievement, namely my first solo trip out in my electric wheelchair. It has been a while coming, but today I was due to visit my friend for a haircut and whilst mum waled there with me, I came home alone. I know that it sounds crazy for a woman of a certain age to be excited to get home under her own steam, but having that little bit of independence back after so long was both exciting and terrifying in equal measures. Fingers crossed that over the next few months my joystick control and pavement driving improves – it is very hilly here, but I have good brakes!!

There is a great selection of spring blog posts here and one in particular is close to my heart, as I was a specially trained head and neck cancer nurse in a previous life. The final listing is from Angela, and I think will strike a chord with all bloggers as she explains to her nearest and dearest that it is ok either way if they read her writing or not. So sit back with your favourite tipple and enjoy!

https://youcanalwaysstartnow.wordpress.com/2019/04/15/soul-sunday-i-did-it/

https://fullofgritandgrace.com/2019/04/20/self-care-ideas-that-are-also-earth-friendly/

http://www.denysewhelan.com.au/denyse-blogs/new-normal-for-me-with-head-neck-cancer-43-2019/

https://crunchandcream.com/single-serving-brownie-in-a-jar/

https://retirementtransition.blog/2019/04/22/how-do-you-listen-respond/

https://www.crestingthehill.com.au/2019/04/where-to-from-here.html

https://veroniiiica.com/2019/04/29/ten-odd-things-i-do-with-double-vision/

https://tayler.silfverduk.us/the-best-way-to-heal-your-gut/

https://jboccupationaltherapy.co.uk/hypnot-session-1/

https://angelanoelauthor.com/inspiration-motivation/read-this-or-dont-either-way-i-still-love-you/

Please share some love and comment, like and share these posts.

Have a great week,

Claire x

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!

Pin for later

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.

Pin for later

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 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 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!!

Pin for later

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 Dec 4, 2018 By Claire Saul (PainPalsBlog)In Blog share, Blogging, Blogs, chronic illness, Monday Blogs6 Comments

It is December and many households have begun the month with the opening of Advent calendars. Gone are the calendars of my childhood where a picture of an angel or a sleigh nestled behind a cardboard door, to be replaced with calendars filled with chocolates, beauty gifts and some even alcoholic delicacies. For the first time in years I am the only one in the house with a calendar and mine contains pamper gifts, perfect for a chronic spoonie who is in need of a bit of “me time”. To the embarrassment of the adult kids, I am posting pictures of the lovely little bottles of niceness on Instagram each day!

This week hubby and I had a double cause for excitement on a night out into London. It was a Christmas/thank you drinks evening hosted by the young IT engineer and his business partner in the 5cc bar situated in the grade II listed Singer sewing machine building in the City, London. As “the parents” it felt rather surreal! Our boy turned into a man in front of our eyes as he and his partner spoke with the investors, clients and share holders for their new tech enterprise. Whilst the young engineer lacks in confidence in his ability to speak with people yet speaks “computer” as a native tongue, his partner compliments him beautifully with a personable, confident, easy manner and effortless, articulate way at speaking with and putting others at ease. Hopefully their combined ideas, IT acumen and youthful ambition will be a winning combination for a successful venture – just don’t ask me to explain what they are actually doing!! We were very proud parents – who actually didn’t put a foot in it, at least not too deeply, and were actually described as “cool”.

Flaming Singer Zombie cocktails bought for hubby and me….by our son!

This was our very first venture out on the train with my wheelchair! We have tended to drive into London since my mobility had decreased and pain increased, but the thought of driving into the City at rush hour and then seeking out a disabled parking bay was not appealing. We travelled on the Thameslink line, which is a newer line and as such has modern trains with designated accessible carriages, and I appreciate that this makes travelling easier than it might be on older lines. But I can’t fault the assistance that we were given by rail staff – someone was waiting on the platform with ramps to see me onto the train and he phoned ahead so that another staff member was waiting on the platform for us at our destination. Our journey was comfortable and relaxed, taking a fraction of the time that driving through rush hour London would have…..we will take the train again!

Sticking with our December theme, the blogs that I shall share leading up to Christmas will be as wide a variety of winter festival posts that I can find. They won’t all be about the joys of the season, as for some it is a difficult time, but I hope to bring you some great reading! Enjoy.

https://pinkfortitude.com/best-gifts/

https://www.chronicmom.com/2018/11/15-thoughtful-christmas-gifts-for-friends-and-family-with-chronic-illness.html/

https://trend-able.com/holiday-survival/

http://www.sewhistorically.com/old-fashioned-christmas-wreath-from-scratch/

https://piggybankprinciples.com/cheap-easy-diy-christmas-decorations/

https://joyfullyunexpected.com/toddler-gift-guide-15-toys-under-15/

http://preppyemptynester.blogspot.com/2018/11/a-sentimental-gift-idea.html

https://www.smallworldspreschool.com/christmas-sensory-activities-for-preschoolers/

https://grammysgrid.com/is-it-ok-for-kids-to-believe-in-santa/

https://www.ajourneythroughthefog.co.uk/2018/11/for-many-people-the-festive-season-is-not-a-time-of-celebration/

http://www.sewhistorically.com/victorian-christmas-gifts-for-the-home/

https://www.sizzlingtowardssixty.com.au/25-day-countdown-to-happy-christmas/

https://itoldyouiwassick.info/2018/11/23/perfect-gift-chronic-illness-spoonies/

https://awandafulthing.com/2016/11/28/day-1-hershey-kiss-christmas-cookies/

Please share, like and comment on your favourite posts.

Have a great week,

Claire x

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