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…

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….

Doing things differently and doing different things – part 2

We all have our strengths and weaknesses. I was never very good at sports, drama or public speaking at school. I was better at other things like maths, languages and science. I also didn’t enjoy the things I wasn’t good at and tended to avoid them when possible even after leaving school. Living with Parkinson’s means…

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…

Not yet

I haven’t written in my gratitude journal for a couple of days, and even when I do, my handwriting is often tiny and a completely illegible scrawl. Another of my Parkinson’s symptoms. So I’m not quite putting pen to paper, but shaky fingertip to smartphone to share a few slightly random thoughts on what I…

Life challenges, Parkinson’s and My Favourite Things

Sometimes life just seems to throw constant challenges at us. I imagine many people have had that feeling. I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s four and a half years ago. This means that not only do I have to deal with these constant life challenges, but the everyday challenges of living with Parkinson’s – and the…

New ways of learning

I’m mostly a details and facts type of person. When learning something new, I usually like to start at the beginning and work my way through. When I was a child I learned to read music. It’s detailed and precise, and using sheet music can be one way of learning to play or sing a…

Singing, diversity and Parkinson’s

I sing in a choir and I love it! I am always harping on about it. What I often find is that lots of people say they love to sing but think they can’t so they don’t. My response is always along the lines everyone can sing, and if you enjoy it, consider joining a…