The first time I saw this photograph I was truly shocked. It was May 2016 and I’d just returned from a wonderful day trip with an old friend. But instead of looking at this picture and seeing our happy smiles, I just cried inside. All I could see was me looking odd. Not like me. … More The Photo That Made Me Cry
The first time we tried injera, Phil and I were unimpressed. We’d just arrived in Ethiopia, and the national dish was not winning us over. The vegetable curries on offer were yummy, but the large sour pancake -with the texture of a sponge- did not appeal. We topped up our plates with rice and chips … More Craving Ethiopian Food
In the world of illness, it takes a long time to get answers. Ideally, if someone becomes poorly, they should be able to see their doctor the next day… tests should be done then and there… and doctors should meet together urgently to discuss the patient’s case. But in reality, these processes take much longer to … More Searching For An Answer
Before I was put on the lung transplant list, I didn’t really know anything about it. I had no reason to. I had a couple of Facebook friends who’d been through the process, but that was the extent of my knowledge. At the time of signing up, I hadn’t really thought in much detail about … More Is It Better To Know More?
Five years ago, I never would have considered sharing so much of my life. My Facebook posts were infrequent one-liners. My travelling blogs were only shared with our closest. I wondered why people overshared or posted so many photos or disclosed all the tiny daily details. Ultimately a private (and slightly insecure 🙂 ) person, … More The Radio Interview
We’d originally planned an active week in Norfolk staying in the Bumblebee. It was to be our longest trip so far in the campervan. We’d booked the campsites, joined the Camping & Caravanning Club, arranged two oxygen deliveries. We’d researched dog friendly beaches for Lottie, read up on nearby English Heritage sites to visit, googled … More From One Living Room… To Another
I’m lucky. Since going on the transplant list, very little in my life has had to change. Whilst waiting on the list, some patients have to move house to live in the city of the transplant hospital… Or have to desperately fundraise the 100k needed to pay for the operation… Or have to stay hooked … More Staying Close to Harefield
I’ve not been myself for eight weeks now. Eight frustrating long weeks. During my favourite season of the year, at the point where my diary is chock-a-block full of plans… I have instead spent most days lying about in my pyjamas. If I’m honest, this has turned into the summer of the sofa. 😦 The … More The Summer Of The Sofa
Seven years ago, Phil made the most spontaneous decision of his life. He bought us tickets to watch England play cricket… in Australia… in three weeks time! Although the night before we’d made a tentative (and drink fuelled) decision to spend a year travelling the world, we had no plans. At all. Now mere hours … More Surviving The Pink Ball
I was nervous on the drive down to the campsite. Camping with my family for a whole weekend. Forty-eight hours of living under canvas with my lively and opinionated closest ones. There seemed to be more reasons why it would be a disaster than a success. So when the rain started to fall as we … More Camping With My Family
We Can Adjust The Sails 