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…
Focusing on hope
For much of last year I found myself really struggling with my Parkinson’s symptoms and side effects of medication. I know my symptoms are worse during stressful situations, but Parkinson’s seemed to spoil even the happy times for me. On several occasions, I had been looking forward to catching up with friends over a meal…
An A to Z look back at the last decade
Acappella choir – I’ve been singing in an acappella choir led by the brilliant Gitika Partington since 2005. So, well over a decade now. The fact that I have been singing for so long says it all. It’s one of my favourite things. Blogging – I posted my first blog in September 2016. I never…
Wishing for hope
As we approach the end of 2019, my wish for 2020 is that it’s better than 2019. For all sorts of reasons, it’s been a difficult year with many challenges for me and for many of my friends. It’s occurred to me that lately I’ve been wishing for lots of things to be different than…
With a little help from my friends
I’ve been finding living with Parkinson’s particularly challenging for several months now. The constant up and down of my medication cycle with dyskinesia thrown in, always feeling exhausted, disturbed sleep, anxiety, apathy, other symptoms and even just remembering which of my tablets to take when – sometimes just feels overwhelming on top of other life…
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…
Challenges, choices and keeping faith
Although it affects pretty much every aspect of my life, I generally try not to let my life revolve around Parkinson’s. However, this year Parkinson’s has brought me a new challenge in the form of dyskinesia. And I have been struggling with this, so much so, that my life has seemed to revolve around Parkinson’s,…
The ups and downs of a pilgrim’s path with Parkinson’s
I’d like to begin this blog by recommending a film called ‘The Way’ (2010) (starring Emilio Estevez, Martin Sheen and James Nesbitt) which tells the story of four unlikely pilgrims walking one of the most famous pilgrimages – to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. I watched this gentle uplifting film last week while on a…
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…
Living with Parkinson's 