My teenage crushes are sooooo old…. Reminiscing

Sitting and listening to some music and I got to thinking about how music brings back memories. People often speak of the soundtrack of their lives. So, I have shared some insights into the music that helped form me and support me through the years. One song in particular has become my anthem. It isContinue reading “My teenage crushes are sooooo old…. Reminiscing”

Some thoughts on ageing

Having interviewed Greta Bond, CEO of Age Concern twice now, I can’t help but think of the various aspects of ageism and how it can affect us. By us, I mean people with grey hair and obviously on the wrong side of 50. It is difficult to judge how old a person is and tryingContinue reading “Some thoughts on ageing”

Podcast interviews anyone keen?

So, for those of you who are new to my efforts and for those of you who are not, I am reaching out to see if anyone can assist me with my podcast. One of the reasons I decided to add a podcast on to my blog, is that I wanted the ability to interviewContinue reading “Podcast interviews anyone keen?”

I have a surgery date and some learnings

Finally, I have a date for my surgery. It will be on 3/2 with a pre-op appointment prior next week. That is 11 days to my surgery and counting. I know there will be a six to eight week recovery period, but I have always coped better with recovery pain than pain prior to anContinue reading “I have a surgery date and some learnings”

A world of pain and uncertainty

How does anyone ‘do life’ if there is an almost total lack of certainty? Add to that a healthy dose of pain and – it seems – as I said to someone this morning ‘every pain medication known to mankind’ life feels a bit tough at the moment. That’s the understatement of the year, that’sContinue reading “A world of pain and uncertainty”

There are no experts in Parkinson’s – Oh, yes there are!

Let’s start this post with a little exercise. Go and look in the nearest mirror and what do you see? Do you see your tired eyes or your hair that needs cutting because you haven’t had time. Do you see all that you see as defects and that is maybe all you are accustomed toContinue reading “There are no experts in Parkinson’s – Oh, yes there are!”

It takes a village – Growing with them as they grow

It takes a village they say to raise a child. Each age and stage brings with it new challenges and opportunities to learn from each other. I have six grandchildren, they are three boys and three girls, the girls living here in Christchurch and the younger family of boys in Wellington. The family of girlsContinue reading “It takes a village – Growing with them as they grow”

Culling my friend list… Why?

I wrote recently about the importance of having a support network, of having friends and family that I could rely on. Also, the importance of finding people who we could rely on in times of need. Over the last few days, I have been thinking more about this topic. Sometimes I don’t know why theseContinue reading “Culling my friend list… Why?”

Friends to Family, Family to Friends

When I was growing up, there were people in our lives who we called Auntie or Uncle and we always thought of them as that. Several years passed before I remember having a conversation with my Mum and I asked whose side of the family this Auntie and Uncle came from. Mum then told meContinue reading “Friends to Family, Family to Friends”

‘Loved ones’ and those we miss at Christmas…

I have always disliked the term ‘loved ones’ ever since I started working as a Social Worker. The term to me makes a whole world of assumptions about the relationships that surround – and also seemingly support – the people we work with. Even in our own personal world, all the training in the worldContinue reading “‘Loved ones’ and those we miss at Christmas…”