Thursday, 21 November 2024

Is the NHS Dysfunctional or Simply Non Existent?

Hello Friends!

I am in total disbelief. Furious doesn't even begin to cover it.

I last saw my {so called} Parkinson's specialist in October 2023. Whether or not I should call him a specialist is a moot point for reasons I won't go into right now.

What I will go into is this.

I am supposed to see a specialist at least every six months. Over the past twelve months I have had one postponed appointment after another. After the October 2023 appointment, my next appointment was scheduled for May 2024. Shortly before it was due, I received a letter that rescheduled it to June. Within a few weeks, the June appointment was rescheduled to October 2024. Then in September 2024 I received notification that the October appointment was rescheduled to February 2025. A letter has just arrived to tell me that the February 2025 appointment is cancelled and now the responsibility is upon me to contact them if I wish to reschedule.

Our NHS is beyond broken. It is non existent. There are no words. I have yet to decide what I will do next. I will take the weekend to consider my options, if I actually have options to consider.

Until next time
Stay safe, stay well
Debbie xx

Thursday, 14 November 2024

I Won . . .

Hello Friends!

. . . a £20.00 Amazon gift voucher!

On a page I follow on Facebook they asked the following:

So….at its most basic level - how do you “winter”? Do you do anything in particular to keep yourself feeling brighter at this darker time of the year?

Here's my reply:

I don't think of myself as enjoying winter yet somehow it is my most self pampering season. I withdraw, like the year, as if preparing in hibernation to blossom the following spring. I complain loudly how much I loathe the darker days, the longer nights, and the clocks changing, but then I dance for joy on the Winter Solstice and celebrate the returning of the light. My cottage becomes a cocoon of comfort, with blankets and throws, scented candles, hot chocolate and mince pies, fresh picked greenery decorates my door and vases, books wait their turn on the table by my easy chair in front of the fire and I prepare to indulge as I recharge and restore my aching body.
I feel like I've won a Pulitzer Prize!

Anyone who knows me will know that this is me, not some romanticised, inspired scrivening in a vain effort to win a voucher, but really and truly me.   It's how I roll.  It is my true being.

At one time, I would have declared it my favourite season, but in recent years this changed to reflect my love of Autumn.  Now, my thoughts change again and I find beauty in each season in turn.  Having Parkinson's also impacts as it changes what I can appreciate, or how I appreciate it.

As the days close in and night falls earlier with the passing days, so the candles appear in greater numbers.  I have loads of tea light holders and my favourite tea lights to burn are these Prices Sentinel 8 hour tea lights.  

They burn cleanly, no sooting, and burn for at least 8 hours.  They can be put out and they relight well, unlike many that once extinguished that's it.  I recall the original version of these "nightlights" when I was a child.  I had one in my room every night and for safety they came in a cardboard outer which was placed to burn in a shallow dish of water!
They are very useful for tabletop food warmers to keep food and drink warmer for longer in the winter when temperatures drop quickly.

I recently found these even bigger, longer burning ones

I

I think I might spend my voucher on this


I like the brand, and they are a fraction of the price of Yankee Candles at around 30% less!  Additionally, they are a British company, established in 1830 {although they went into receivership in 2003 and were bought out by an Italian company} and they hold a Royal Warrant.

On the other hand, I need a corner punch for my latest crafty makes, blog following in a few days.  Oh! I have choices, and choices is not a good thing for a Libran to face.

Other things that bring me comfort in the months of hibernation are plates of delicious home made food and treats

A bowl of nourishing, warming soup


A yummy cake


A bowl of porridge topped with fresh homemade cranberry almond relish


A mug of  Spiced White Chocolate with Pumpkin


Bara Brith and Butter


Irish Soda Bread


A Chocolate Brownie


and my newest love, a gift received this week for a belated birthday present, a tall tin of Fortnum & Mason's Toffolossus biscuts!  They are scrumdiddliumptious!




There are stacks of books aplenty in my cottage, some like this one a charity shop find!


or a stack of interesting titles


Some of my favourite blankets


A parcel in the post!  Beautifully packed . . . 


A favourite pair of socks


Pinecones and candles


A comfortable armchair


the list goes on!

of course, I used to go out gardening and walking, but no longer, however I shall shortly share some of my library of winter photographs which I know you will enjoy!

How do you survive winter?

Until next time
Stay Well
Debbie x

Saturday, 9 November 2024

Top of the Pops

Hello Friends!

I don't know how much longer I will be able to type. It really is an effort now but I intend to keep going as long as I can. Good days, bad days, and they can't find the balance needed in my medication. I have an appointment to see the doctor in February. I found out he is a general doctor not a neurological specialist. If I see him in February, it will be 16 months since my last appointment. This, my friends, is the state of our NHS, once the envy of the world.

Anyhoo, all day long I've been encountering messages from the Universe nudging me with little reminders of my favourite things. I think she's trying to get me to focus on something positive, given all the events of recent days, so I have drawn up my Top Ten Favourite Things List. In no particular order:

Bees


Lavender


Umbels


Sunflowers


Fungi


Pumpkins


Starry skies


Moonlight


Dandelions


Raindrops


As I was going along, I realised there are so many more favourite things I could have included but will save that for another gloomy day!

Until next time
Keep swimming!
Debbie xx

Friday, 1 November 2024

November





The month when Autumn brings all her glorious colours to the table, the last hurrah before we slumber through the Winter that is yet to be.  The bright and vibrant reds and yellows and oranges we see across the forests in the trees are echoed in the colours of birth month flowers of chrysanthemums, the rich yellow birthstone topaz, the burning embers of the fires we light to keep us warm . . . everything is painted in warm colours, as if we need reminding of the cold blue that will soon be upon us.






Until next time
Stay safe, stay well, stay warm
Debbie x