Light Bulb Moments 

I’m finding it increasingly painful to switch my bedside light on and off. My support workers have been doing it for me most of the time but in the middle of the night I prefer to do it for myself.

I’ve found a new solution now that I’m very happy with – it’s a remote controlled plug socket.…

Bed Space

It’s been a hard week for me from a pain perspective and I’ve spent a lot of time in bed as a result. During the day this all feels quite cosy, people pop in and out, and light pours in through my bedroom window.…

New Order At The Castle

What’s the best way to manage jet lag? Turn’s out that epic re-arranging of furniture’s what works best for me.

We landed back in the UK this morning following an overnight flight from New York where we’ve been for the last few days.…

To Do Or Not To Do?

I love flow charts. Since first encountering them as a child I’ve found them a really useful way to get information.

I’ve made lots of my own before, including playful tic-based charts about penguins or lychees:

… and one aimed at getting people to think about whether that ‘Tourettes joke’ they want to tell really is a joke:

A couple of days ago illustrator and fellow wheelchair user Hannah Ensor (AKA Stickman Communication) shared a flow chart on Twitter called ‘To Do Or Not To Do – A Pacing and Activity Decision Chart“.…

Drawn To Coney

Lily, Leftwing Idiot and I spent this morning at Coney Island on the edge of Brooklyn, in fact on the edge of the United States. Coney’s a coastal area with fun fairs, beaches, arcades and the enormous expanse of the Atlantic Ocean buffeting up against its sandy shore.…

Writing It Out

It’s 4.27am.
The castle is still.
I am not.
But I never am.

The room is gently lit by my bedside lamp, and now by the glow of my computer screen as I type.

The garden outside is lit by the lamp-post’s orange emanation.…

Bringing Back Bath Time

As a child I used to have a bath every night. We didn’t have a shower when I was little so soaking in the tub was a regular part of my bedtime routine.

But I don’t often have baths any more.…

Brown Envelope

I knew it would happen sooner or later. I’ve watched friends go through the same difficult and time-consuming process over the last few years, and I knew my turn would come.

Today’s post brought a brown envelope from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP).…

Dark Hours

Edinburgh was amazing – but intense.

The workshop at Shakespeare’s Globe over the weekend with creatives with Tourettes was awesome – but tiring.

And my first session of Hydrotherapy yesterday felt really good – but required lots of concentration.

I’m extremely tired at the moment for lots of reasons.…

Colour Wheels

My love of wheelchairs is no secret, and it extends to accessories as well – in the past I’ve written with great excitement about new wheelchair bags and push rims.

For the last few days I’ve been preoccupied with spokes. I used to think changing the colour of my spokes was an expensive or messy business requiring new wheels, or coats of paint.…