TH: I’m shutting down now.
Leftwing Idiot: You’re about to lose the ability to speak aren’t you?
TH: Woof.

It’s November the 5th, so the sky’s lit up with fireworks. Like millions of others across the city, we went off to a big organised display to celebrate Guy Fawkes Night.

“Guy Fawkes in my pants. Bang.”
“Roman Catholic Catherine wheels.”…

This evening I was rolling on the floor having another acute ticcing episode. This included me partially losing the ability to speak and all I was able to say, over and over again, was ‘Pat Cash’. Why the name of an 80s tennis player should become my only vocabulary is beyond me but it was so bizarre that it made Leftwing Idiot and me laugh in spite of it all.…

I don’t actually have a swimming instructor, but Leftwing Idiot does look a lot like one with the new stopwatch hanging round his neck. We’ve bought this to time the ticcing fits I’ve been having.

Although we went to different primary schools and didn’t know each other as children, it turns out that we did have the same swimming teacher.…

Last night I cried – properly sobbed. It happened while I was talking to Leftwing Idiot about the acute ticcing fits I’ve been having for the past week. He said, ‘You can’t go into another week pretending everything’s OK, because it’s not’ and I started to realise I have to face up to the knock-on implications of what’s been happening.…

The word respite isn’t one I like very much. It’s often used to describe the break carers need from caring. An online dictionary definition I found defines it as meaning “A short period of rest or relief from something difficult or unpleasant.”…

I haven’t always been a superhero. I was reminded of this earlier when I was looking back through some old emails. I found the first one from Leftwing Idiot where he encouraged me to embrace my Tourettes and approach it creatively.…

The other day I mentioned that I’ve been having trouble recently getting my words out. When this happens I know what I want to say but all that comes out is a jumble of sounds. This afternoon I was trying to explain to Leftwing Idiot that I wanted to sort out some paperwork on my desk and all that came out was “Fuf-fus-cous.”…

I’ve spent much more time asleep than awake today because of some drugs I was given last night to stop me ticcing.

The explosive motor ticcing episodes I described on Friday carried on into yesterday. Leftwing Idiot and I agreed that if my tics went on unbroken for more than 30 minutes, and if the emergency medication I have at home failed to work, he would call an ambulance.…

I’ve had a difficult time today. I’ve had a series of extreme, explosive, ticcing episodes which have meant my body has been completely overtaken by continuous motor tics. Typically they’ve lasted about half an hour and they’ve left me totally exhausted.…