I’ve been wondering if I’d have the guts to write this post because it’s literally about my guts. I’m doing it though because despite it being personal and embarrassing, it’s also quite funny.

I had an upset stomach yesterday. As you’d expect it was unpleasant and made me feel ill.…

Every Friday during summer playscheme the children at the adventure playground choose a theme for the day. Today’s was ‘Water.’ It’s been a stunningly hot day so this went down very well with everybody.

I got involved by running a water-play activity.…

I had a surprise when I headed to bed this evening. As usual the lamp-post was gleaming ostentatiously outside my window, but tonight the moon was at it as well –directly above the lamp-post, shining even more brightly.

Obviously my tics couldn’t resist this opportunity to goad the lamp-post.…

I find myself getting asked hundreds of questions every day at the moment. Most of them are about things like, ‘Can we have a water fight?’ ‘When’s it time for juice and biscuits?’ or ‘Can you fix my bike?’ But the children spending the summer playing at the projects I work for are also asking questions about Tourettes and disability.…

Every night since I moved into the castle last November, just as I’m going to sleep I’ve shouted at the lamp-post outside my window. I even tic about it when I stay at other people’s houses. In short, it’s become an established part of my night time routine.…

Yesterday a website called Living With Disability picked up on a blog entry I wrote a couple of years ago about my need for a phone wrist strap. A helpful stranger had suggested I get one after I’d inadvertently thrown my phone down the gangway on a bus.…

Yesterday I wrote about my tics getting involved in Poppy’s workout. This morning they were at it again, promoting wellbeing, and offering to help her get over a slight cold.

As is always the way, my tics took an unorthodox approach: with my middle finger stuck up I scanned it over her body as if I was doing Reiki.…

Poppy was doing an exercise video in the living room this morning, while I sat in the corner attempting to work on my computer. I found it hard to stay focused on what I was doing because my tics were busily cheering Poppy on:

“Keeping going.”…

I’ve been feeling sad this evening. I’d not planned to write about it, mainly because I couldn’t work out what I was feeling or why. But as I got ready for bed I was thinking about my day and I finally worked out that frustration and longing were at the centre of this sadness.…

The school holidays are our busiest time at work and we’re now deep into our summer playscheme, with all three projects full of children enjoying the break from school.

At the moment my days are a mix of working directly with the kids and keeping everything ticking over in the office.…