Health funding versus ACC New Zealand

This has long been a bone of contention with many of us here in New Zealand. The vast cavernous gulf between what you are entitled to if you have a health condition like Parkinson’s, Stroke, Dementia and many others. There is a stark comparison with those that have an accident – even if the negativeContinue reading “Health funding versus ACC New Zealand”

Things move in cycles….

Today I started to think about how my life has changed over the years. How the way I live my life now is so very different to my previous lives. When I say that things move in cycles, this is what I was thinking today. When I first moved to Christchurch, I was a soleContinue reading “Things move in cycles….”

Carrying on decluttering

I have spoken before about clearing out my house of things that I feel I no longer need. I have really been on a roll this past few weeks, clearing out and moving on without the excess baggage – in one case, quite literally – that I don’t need to keep. I am gradually movingContinue reading “Carrying on decluttering”

Gently letting go and moving into the future…

Over the past few weeks, I have spent quite a lot of time having a good old clearout at home. I started with some paperwork and progressed on from there. When I started looking, it was incredible how much paperwork I had that I no longer needed to keep. There were bits of paperwork suchContinue reading “Gently letting go and moving into the future…”

We are all unique

This morning I was reading some posts on a Facebook page that I followed before we went to Rarotonga. It was a useful forum to find out about restaurants, tours, things to do and places to see. The posts this morning that most caught my eye were from a person who put an anonymous postContinue reading “We are all unique”

Shedding my Social Work skin and embracing my new life…

I don’t know why in particular this week has been a week of clearing things out of my life that I no longer need. I have cleared out a number of different things, starting with some small drawers in my chest of drawers. Next was bags of clothing I had sorted months ago meaning toContinue reading “Shedding my Social Work skin and embracing my new life…”

Betwixt and between…

Today I spent a few hours in the company of my youngest grand daughter, who turns 12 in about two weeks’ time. She was telling me about the things she would like to do for her birthday and gave me a few ideas of what that might look like. Her Mum has agreed that sheContinue reading “Betwixt and between…”

We are vulnerable, the cared for and the carer

For those of you who are new to my blog, I am a 64 year old woman and am married to my third husband. My first marriage gave me three beautiful children and ultimately six beautiful grandchildren. My second – though it started off well – descended into a relationship of abuse and control. AContinue reading “We are vulnerable, the cared for and the carer”

‘Across the generations’…

 Today I’ve called this post ‘Across the generations’ and I’ve called it that because of an experience I had taking my uncle who’s 89 out op shopping and for coffee and lunch. We’ve often done this together ever since his wife became ill and then ultimately passed away last year. So we’ve just, I don’tContinue reading “‘Across the generations’…”

Be your own best advocate always…

As people with complex health conditions and also for those that support us, it can be easy to let the ‘professionals’ call the shots when it comes to decisions. They can be decisions large or small, but perhaps if we get into a cycle of always agreeing with these professionals without question, we may alsoContinue reading “Be your own best advocate always…”