I was chatting with my mum on the phone earlier and she told me my gran had had an offer on her house. She moved in with my parents at the start of August and has settled in well so she’s decided to sell up.…

While Leftwing Idiot was away in Edinburgh over the summer I looked after his geranium. He got back at the end of August but the geranium stayed at the castle.

Several times he’d said he was going to take it home, and each time I got it ready to go – deadheading it, clearing away any dried leaves, and popping it out on the table for him.…

A couple of days ago I momentarily trapped my finger in my wheelchair’s footplate the result was a sizable blood-blister on its tip.

Earlier today I had a ‘ticcing fit’ and, as often happens, I lost my speech. Fortunately I’m still able to communicate ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ using the blinking technique, and most of my support works can tell how much pain I’m in by the noises I’m making.…

It’s Leftwing Idiot’s birthday today, we’re all celebrating, and I’m feeling a great relief as well.

I’ve written loads of times before about how difficult it is to retain the element of surprise when my neurology’s determined to reveal my secrets.…

Zoë does my overnight care twice a week. In the morning she takes great pride in making my bed, which she does very well indeed. I’m full of admiration for how neat it always looks.

Olive stays to do my care once a week.…

Last night Zoë and I popped to the Gowlett where Leftwing Idiot was DJing. He’s been playing there for years and it’s always a nice way to spend a Sunday evening. The bar staff always make me feel very welcome so I feel comfortable there, even when I’m having a ‘ticcing fit’.…

After work yesterday Poppy and I went for a quick drink at a trendy bar that’s just opened near the castle. We sat in a nice spot by the window, but the table was very low.

This lack of height was a problem because my arm tics make it hard for me to hold a glass safely.…

It’s late and I’m in bed. In the next room I can hear murmuring, gentle singing, occasional bickering and the unmistakable sound of wriggling. I can also hear Ruth’s tics. Ruth’s staying over tonight to do my support and she’s brought her nephew Adoni (aged 8 ) and her niece Shania (aged 11) with her.…

As the season turns and autumn starts shuffling in I’ve been in a reflective mood. I don’t know what I’m going to write in this post – I don’t know if I can coherently express the frustration, anger and sadness that I’m feeling at the moment – and I’m not sure if I can un-muddle the mix of things I’m experiencing.…

In addition to repeatedly sticking my finger up at Will’s left knee the other day, my tics came up with a brand new way to swear.

Let me introduce you to the ‘Swear layer.’

All of a sudden I stuck my middle fingers up, one on top of the other, and with a voice only rivalled by He-Man himself, shouted “By the power of swear layer!”…