January is always a tough month for me. That’s why, for several Januaries in a row, I have moved to warmer climates: not only does it help my health and achy muscles, but it really improves my mental health. I just really like warmth and sunshine! This year, sadly, that is not possible. And this… More A bit of a rest and some time off…
After four years of faffing, the UK is finally, officially, out of the European Union, and we have been left to deal with the aftermath of a shoddily carried out referendum and withdrawal process. As a disabled UK citizen, living abroad in the EU, the last four years of Brexit indecision have caused a lot… More Brexit, disabled and living in Europe
At the end of 2020, I began to fall out of the helpful habits I had spent the previous two years cultivating. I think a mixture of exhaustion from the cold, and a lack of motivation after being locked down and in isolation since March, started getting to me. But, without those habits, I have… More Helpful habits I want to rekindle in 2021
This year has been a big year, in a lot of ways. It’s been very difficult, think corona, and I have also had more than my fair share of rubbish this year. But I have also had a lot of realisations and grown a lot this year, and in that way it has been very… More Coming out as queer the year I married a man
I spent this morning talking through my finances with my partner. And it’s not pretty. Having a chronic illness is incredibly expensive – and having a chronic illness that stops you from being able to work doesn’t really help matters. Whilst there are some available safety nets to help those who are unable to work,… More Money, money, money – chronic illness is expensive!
TW Aids, Death:I read The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai recently and decided that I needed to review it. Today is World Aids Awareness day so seemed like the perfect time to discuss a novel set in the gay scene whilst the AIDS epidemic was on the rise. At the beginning of this novel we… More The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai
This post includes ModiBodi affiliate links. I will earn from any qualifying purchases made through these links. I don’t like my period… never have and I doubt I ever will. I have a friend who once told me they liked their period because it made them feel more connected to their body every month. I… More I tried period pants and they are amazing
“There is something about everything that you can be glad about, if you keep hunting long enough to find it.” ― Eleanor H. Porter, Pollyanna Believe it or not, in many ways I am very thankful for having an illness. Don’t get me wrong, I feel I’ve learnt my lessons now and would certainly not… More Playing the glad game with a chronic illness
In the Netherlands, there seems to be this idea that self-isolating and following precautions and corona regulations is an individual choice. This isn’t such a surprise, when you look at the Netherlands and see how hyper-individualised everything is, but when it comes to responding to a pandemic, it is not such a successful perspective. And… More Ignoring corona risk: privilege or empowering choice?
“She is fighting cancer”! “Such a little warrior!” “She is battling illness”. These sorts of phrases are very common when talking about illness and disability. People often fall back on the metaphor of fighting and battle, or the disability war metaphor. Yet this is something about which the chronic illness community has very mixed opinions:… More Am I an ME warrior? The disability war metaphor