United Kingdom
I am a freelance writer and blogger living in rural Northumberland. I specialise in health, disability, LGBTQ, rural living, and women's issues.
When I leave the house, it’s like mobilising an army. Gone are the days when all I had to remember were my keys and purse as I shut the front door behind me. When you have a wonky body, there are so many things that can go wrong and bodily functions that misbehave when you are miles away from the nearest toilet.
Health And Disability
I value every junior doctor who has played a part in my journey. Complex conditions are difficult to live with. Patients can develop trust issues with doctors and we can easily lose our voice. Hospitals become our second home and our life can change in an instant.
If you haven’t experienced incontinence personally, it can be easy to think that it’s simply about having an embarrassing accident. There are many misconceptions surrounding the condition, mainly because we do not talk openly about it. Here are 6 facts about incontinence that may surprise you. 1.
When a beauty party invite landed in my Facebook notification thingy last week I clicked the Going button and scribbled the details in bright red pen all over the kitchen calendar. One thing I have missed since moving to the middle of nowhere is the social side of life.
It's 4am I cannot sleep because my medication isn't touching my pain tonight. My bladder has been in a spasm for the last 2 hours, my feeding tube is itching me like crazy and my head is pounding. I get up to go the toilet for the millionth time and use the wall to steady my wobbly legs.
"When I was little, I laughed when my mom crossed her legs when she sneezed...I no longer find that funny." - Yet another "hilarious" meme about women wetting themselves trawls across my Facebook feed. I delete it.
I always hated what I saw in the mirror Everyone has hang-ups about their body at some point and, like a lot of teenage girls, I was obsessed with everything that was wrong with mine. I never liked what I saw when I looked in the mirror and that feeling carried on well into my late twenties.
Rural Living
Thinking of ditching the city lights and moving to the country? Here's a list of things I wish I had known before leaving the big smoke. Forget leg stubble, the beauty dilemma of summer is how to cover up midge bites.
When my friend Amy announced she was living an austere life for three months I applauded her and instantly thought it would be a great way to save money. I didn't think Mrs Wifey would be up for the challenge but as we need to find a big chunk of money for some essential house jobs, she was the first to suggest we try it.
Last weekend Northumberland was hit hard by Storm Desmond and the resulting floods. My thoughts and prayers are with everyone who has been affected.Living in a rural location is amazing most of the time but when freak weather occurs, the dream can soon become a nightmare.
Writing
Three years ago I was bedridden and unable to sit up on my own. I had gone against my doctor's advice and tried to get back into work but it didn't go quite to plan. Starting work as a self-employed artist I pushed my body too far trying to get my business off the ground.
I'm a faker. I lie in bed, the guilt building inside as it turns to liquid nausea inside my stomach. No one knows yet, just me, but they'll figure it out soon. How do I tell them? How can I justify my actions?
Women And LGBTQ
There have been a lot of articles and positive publicity for women of above-average size lately. An advert I saw recently celebrated women of larger sizes exercising, dancing and having fun in their own skin. Bravo, I say. We need to love who we are and put an end to the self-destructive obsession we women have with weight.
On 29 March 2014, the first same-sex weddings took place in England. The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 was introduced in England and Wales, allowing same-sex couples to finally marry just like couples of opposite sexes.
Pitched at being this year's Disney hit for the boys, you will be forgiven for assuming this is a film for the little guys. While packed full of robots, techno-babble and a high speed car chase to rival Liam Neeson's Taken series, this film is as empowering for girls as it is for boys.