Lost and found

I have recently returned from a wonderful week’s holiday in the Lake District. I am so grateful for the opportunity to have a break, enjoy several walks and spend the week with an amazing group of people – friends old and new on this year’s Thinking Faith retreat at Boarbank Hall in Cumbria… I last…

Painting A Story

In a recent blog, I set myself a Creative Writing Challenge to help me to practice my handwriting and support the work of Parkinson’s Care and Support UK (PCSUK). I invited everyone who sponsored me to send me a word which I would then include in a handwritten story. I would like to say a…

All at sea and sharing a single sky

When music strikes a chord. And inspires blogs. All at Sea. Single Sky. Two songs which I’ve been singing with my choir recently – both by our Musical Director Gitika Partington’s band 3 Bucket Jones. Both of which struck a chord with me over the last few years – in fact they both inspired blogs….

Singing for The Samaritans

“Some-times in our lives, we all have pain, we all have sorrow. But if we are wise, we know that there’s always tomorrow.” (Lean on me, Bill Withers) We’ve all certainly seen and experienced a lot of pain and sorrow in recent times. If ever there was a time we need to have hope for…

Discombobulated

I can hardly believe it’s August already! This year hasn’t turned out at all how I thought it would (and I’m pretty sure not alone in feeling this way). We’ve all experienced changes and challenges in our lives before. Yet somehow this year feels different. I’ve never heard the word ‘unprecedented’ used so many times…

Unwanted: Parkinson’s and the Coronavirus Pandemic

This time last year, as we approached World Parkinson’s Day on 11 April, I posted my shortest ever blog entitled ‘Parkinson’s is …‘. Today, with the Coronavirus Pandemic, we’re living in a completely different world and so I have added some thoughts about Coronavirus to last year’s blog… Parkinson’s is… Unwanted. Coronavirus is… Also unwanted….

A different world

Last month in my blog about hope I wrote: ‘My hope for 2020 is that I will be better able to cope with whatever challenges life throws at me – Parkinson’s or otherwise’. When I wrote those words, I never imagined that ‘otherwise’ would be a world challenge like Coronavirus. Never say never. It somehow seems impossible…

One size doesn’t fit all

I have been singing in an acapella choir for several years. We sing without sheet music and learn by ear. As we don’t have written music, I learned to listen to the other parts more carefully so I know what’s coming by when I hear the other parts. I don’t know what key we’re singing…

Moving forward

It’s almost six years since I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. I’ve come a long way since then. Although my movements may be slower than before (and they may sometimes be jerky), for the most part I felt like I was moving forward. However, when I look back at this year, I feel that I’ve almost…

Parkinson’s is… Something we need to fight

This year I have been struggling with my Parkinson’s symptoms as my Parkinson’s progresses. I felt like I was in a constant daily battle with Parkinson’s which was quite honestly, exhausting. Although I know I am not alone, as I am one of millions of people worldwide living with Parkinson’s, and I have lots of…