There are foxes living in the Gardens behind where I live. They are keeping me awake by barking in the wee small hours, and they have dug holes in the back garden, and damaged the fence. As it is spring now, I suspect that they have cubs. I have often seen the dog fox trotting along the road at night as they do in many urban areas now.
I have two cats and a small dog, who are nervous of going out now. The foxes have obviously scented my animals and they are marking territory by urine marks. Then of course, my animals mark over the same spaces, which leaves an unholy stench. I have to slosh bucketfuls of water with Zoflora down the outside steps every day to try to keep the unpleasant smell bearable.
I have often looked in the Gardens for where the foxes might be living, and truly, I can't see where they have their Earth. I was coming home one night and was on my silent electric scooter so the dog fox wasn't aware of me until I was quite close, and then he slunk off into the shadows. I saw where he turned in, but he just vanished. Try as I might, I could see no trace of him at all. He just melted away.
I was aware of foxes living here since I moved in in 2003, but this is the first time they are making a nuisance of themselves. They even woke Michelle up with their barking, and she sleeps really heavily.
My upstairs neighbour wants me to write to the Landlord to ask him to do something about the foxes, but what could he do? Hunting them is illegal, and I don't fancy a group of horses and hounds thundering around here all that much. Traps are illegal, and anything that could poison a fox could poison dogs and cats too. I don't wish the foxes any harm - they have to do their best to survive like the rest of us - but I'm getting fed up with their noise and mess.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Hayley in the Financial Times
Hayley of the 25% ME Group has had an excellent letter published in the Financial Times. Before I copy it here, I will explain that 25% of people with ME never get better. They stay extremely ill or their condition deteriorates. Many live in darkened silent rooms for years and are helpless and constantly in pain and usually are too ill to eat and therefore require tube feeding. There was a landmark case in 2006 of Sophia Mirza whose death was recorded by the Coroner as having been due to ME. Her spinal cord was examined by Consultants doing research into ME and they found evidence of inflammation there. Sophia Mirza's terrible story can be viewed here
But to get back to Hayley's letter, here it is, and very well said too.
Way to go, Hayley!
Some false assumptions about ME (Letter published Financial Times 29 March 2008)
From Ms Hayley Klinger.
Sir, Margaret McCartney's article about medically unexplained symptoms contains a number of false assumptions ("If it's in the mind, it's still the real thing", Life & Arts, March 22-23).
First, she claims that myalgic encephalitis is medically unexplained, when in fact there are hundreds of studies demonstrating the physical abnormalities found in ME. What is unexplained is why there is still a debate about whether ME is psychological or physical when there is overwhelming evidence of immunological, neurological, endocrine and cardiac involvement in the illness.
She then makes a leap to claim that "medically unexplained" means that symptoms are psychological, ignoring the rather obvious fact that it actually just means they are as yet unexplained. She credits Prof Simon Wessley with this (old) theory, but psychiatrists have always claimed organic illnesses are psychological until medical science explains them (examples include MS, TB, ulcers and polio).
Worst of all, she then claims that ME patients do not accept a psychological explanation for their symptoms because they think "somehow psychological illnesses are not as real, or as valid, as physical ones". This is a huge mistake - a rather more obvious explanation of the ME patient's opposition is that a cure will never be found if doctors are studying the personality rather than the biology of the patient. If cancer was labelled as psychological where would that leave patients? The outcry would not be due to worries about stigma, but about treatment and cure.
A cursory look at where Medical Research Council funding for ME has been directed might explain why the psychiatric profession has been so peculiarly intent on fostering the belief that ME is a psychological illness - while biomedical study such as Dr Jonathan Kerr's gene research is refused funding and has to be supported by patient charities, the MRC has given £15m to psychologically based cognitive behaviour therapy trials.
Hayley Klinger,
25% ME Group,
Troon, Ayrshire KA10 6HT
25% ME Group
But to get back to Hayley's letter, here it is, and very well said too.
Way to go, Hayley!
Some false assumptions about ME (Letter published Financial Times 29 March 2008)
From Ms Hayley Klinger.
Sir, Margaret McCartney's article about medically unexplained symptoms contains a number of false assumptions ("If it's in the mind, it's still the real thing", Life & Arts, March 22-23).
First, she claims that myalgic encephalitis is medically unexplained, when in fact there are hundreds of studies demonstrating the physical abnormalities found in ME. What is unexplained is why there is still a debate about whether ME is psychological or physical when there is overwhelming evidence of immunological, neurological, endocrine and cardiac involvement in the illness.
She then makes a leap to claim that "medically unexplained" means that symptoms are psychological, ignoring the rather obvious fact that it actually just means they are as yet unexplained. She credits Prof Simon Wessley with this (old) theory, but psychiatrists have always claimed organic illnesses are psychological until medical science explains them (examples include MS, TB, ulcers and polio).
Worst of all, she then claims that ME patients do not accept a psychological explanation for their symptoms because they think "somehow psychological illnesses are not as real, or as valid, as physical ones". This is a huge mistake - a rather more obvious explanation of the ME patient's opposition is that a cure will never be found if doctors are studying the personality rather than the biology of the patient. If cancer was labelled as psychological where would that leave patients? The outcry would not be due to worries about stigma, but about treatment and cure.
A cursory look at where Medical Research Council funding for ME has been directed might explain why the psychiatric profession has been so peculiarly intent on fostering the belief that ME is a psychological illness - while biomedical study such as Dr Jonathan Kerr's gene research is refused funding and has to be supported by patient charities, the MRC has given £15m to psychologically based cognitive behaviour therapy trials.
Hayley Klinger,
25% ME Group,
Troon, Ayrshire KA10 6HT
25% ME Group
Caelyn's Shock
This evening, Caelyn had an electric shock. She is tall and her friend Samantha had a blown light bulb in the kitchen, but because Samantha is short and couldn't reach the fitment, Caelyn offered to do it. As she touched the blown bulb to remove it from the fitment, there was a bang and she fell to the floor and was unconscious for a short while.
She has a burn on her finger. The whole of the left side of her body is sore, the hand is tingling and her left foot is painful. She had hearing problems which did not last long but she still feels "spaced out" and nauseous.
I told Nigel what to look out for. As it is Sunday night, there isn't much hope of getting medical advice so we decided that the current was fairly low volt, the effects of the shock were transient, and she would be better off at home in her own bed to recover from the fright as much as anything else. Nigel is sorting Wendy out and he knows what to watch Caelyn for. If he is worried, he knows to call the doctor. Caelyn has had warm sugary tea and some Rescue Remedy and has gone to bed. At this point, she is being treated for ordinary shock (as in fright, not electrocution).
I suggested that they phone their GP in the morning in case he wants to test her urine for muscle enzymes. The burn on the finger should be watched too, and a note should be made in her medical records in case of delayed changes happening.
Poor little Katie Kate! I doubt if she will touch anything electrical like that in the future until she is sure that the circuit has been shut off on the DB board.
She has a burn on her finger. The whole of the left side of her body is sore, the hand is tingling and her left foot is painful. She had hearing problems which did not last long but she still feels "spaced out" and nauseous.
I told Nigel what to look out for. As it is Sunday night, there isn't much hope of getting medical advice so we decided that the current was fairly low volt, the effects of the shock were transient, and she would be better off at home in her own bed to recover from the fright as much as anything else. Nigel is sorting Wendy out and he knows what to watch Caelyn for. If he is worried, he knows to call the doctor. Caelyn has had warm sugary tea and some Rescue Remedy and has gone to bed. At this point, she is being treated for ordinary shock (as in fright, not electrocution).
I suggested that they phone their GP in the morning in case he wants to test her urine for muscle enzymes. The burn on the finger should be watched too, and a note should be made in her medical records in case of delayed changes happening.
Poor little Katie Kate! I doubt if she will touch anything electrical like that in the future until she is sure that the circuit has been shut off on the DB board.
Sean's 69th Birthday
Today was Sean's 69th birthday. He celebrated with a Roast Beef lunch at home with his children. I was there too of course. He looked absolutely great. I will post one photo, plus a link to the online album.
The link to the online album is HERE
Friday, March 28, 2008
A few Photos
Nigel had to go out last night so he dropped Wendy and Caelyn off at my place and we spent the evening together. We had lasagna for dinner, and it was very nice.
As you can see though, lasagna is not what these girls of mine are eating.
When Nigel came back, he had a Chinese take away and everyone is gathered round him hoping for some of his dinner. Even Brakkie who had eaten very well earlier. As had Caelyn and Wendy. Terrie had come round earlier because she "couldn't miss an opportunity to see Woozle"
Wendy had quite a tantrum earlier. She took off her tights and trousers. As she got colder, Kate wanted them back on her, and Woozle wasn't having it. She yelled and screamed and fought and was pulling them off as fast as Kate was putting them on. So eventually, Kate turned her upside down and wrestled her into them. Did it help? No. As soon as she was set free, off they came. Poor Kate! She didn't want Wendy to be cold - which she was - nor did she want another fight. We must remember ;) that strength of character will stand her in good stead as an adult.
Anyway, the tempest didn't last long. Here she is looking so Woozle-like. Mischievous, clever, sweet and happy. I hope the odd tantrum doesn't shake Kate's confidence because all kids do it at some time or another, and Kate really is a good mother. She has an Anatomy and Physiology exam to write soon and she wants me to help her, dear Lord! The problem is that anatomical terms and names are difficult to learn, and Kate is dyslexic. Apparently the names of muscles etc have to be spelled correctly and if they fail the exam, they fail the whole course.
I am really not looking forward to that exam!
Wendy is very much into Letterland. She watches the videos over and over; she sings the songs and knows the characters. With the Flash cards, you can tell her to fetch Eddie Elephant or Fireman Fred and she always comes back with the right card. The Letterland storybook lives upstairs in their house because she wants it read to her every night when she is in bed. She likes Nigel to read to her. Sean gave her Little Black Sambo for Christmas and she loves it, especially as Nigel does special "Tiger" voices. He is now word perfect so Sean has been asked to get her another book so Nigel can have some variety!
Wendy loves books, which I am pleased about. In the supermarket, she pesters for a new book rather than for sweets, and she has quite a collection now. It looks as though she hasn't inherited her parents dyslexia, for which the Lord be praised!
But she likes playing too and she likes playing with someone around to watch her and interact with her. See the mischief on the face? She is a lucky little girl in this age of "disposable" relationships. She has a close bond with her parents, who, unusually here in England, were married long before she was born. She has an extended family who love her and delight in her, and she has friends at Nursery.
One of Kate's neighbours is heavily pregnant. Her baby is about a week overdue. The baby's father walked out on her over Easter because he "couldn't cope with the responsibility" of family life. Another of Kate's friends, from school, had the same thing happen to her just before she was due to give birth. The neighbour who reported Kate to Social Services last year for having a messy house after they just moved in, was also ditched just before delivering their second baby. Her boyfriend first took the Holiday money and drank it with friends at the pub before walking out.
This is very shocking and very wicked. It is an outrage against the unborn child, who will feel the effects throughout their entire life. It also makes children and family life seem completely insignificant, as if they mean nothing at all. It is here that we are growing the next prison generation. Marriage and family life are the bedrock and stability of a society and we are careless of them at our peril. We are already paying the price of this casual immorality, but mark my words, in terms of criminality, antisocial behaviour, poor educational achievement and employment prospects, the welfare costs to the taxpayer, drug and alcohol abuse, truancy and domestic violence, we will see worse yet even though it seems unlikely that things could possibly get worse, being as bad as they already are now.
It seems to me that since God has been pushed out of mainstream society, people are growing up in a moral vacuum. As Nature abhors a vacuum, it naturally seeks to fill it. In terms of the need to worship something higher than ourselves, if we factor God out of the equation, the vacuum is filled by something else, and that 'something else' is usually the god of ME. The individual is then the most important thing in their own lives and will believe anything is OK "as long as it makes ME happy" Instead of uncomplainingly doing their duty, people ask "Whats in it for ME?" If there is no external-to-self moral reference point, the 'whatever makes me happy' philosophy will take over. Don't want to be bothered with the demands of a baby? Just walk out then. Don't want to work? Have another illegitimate baby so you can claim more Welfare benefits then. Don't want to go to school? Play truant with a clear conscience because you must do what you feel, right? Want something you can't afford? Don't want to save? No problem - just steal it, because the chances are you won't be successfully prosecuted. Get drunk, start shouting and fighting and assault people when they ask you to quieten down or not to vomit on their front steps, because you are a big hero for getting so drunk, aren't you? When a man like Gary Newlove asks you to stop kicking his wife's car, just kill him. Problem solved.
We allowed the ME generation to happen and it is an egg, I fear, that cannot be unscrambled.
I am back off to bed now. My bronchitis and cold are making me feel as though the electric blanket, cosy duvet, tea and a couple of good cats would be a very good thing for me. I want to look after myself a bit because tomorrow is Sean's birthday, and I'm going up there to see him. His son is visiting as he is on university vacation and he and Sean have been having a warm and happy time together. I'm glad Sean is at ease about Ans because he is worried about his daughter at the moment. It seems that no matter how old the children get, parents still worry about them. I am worried about Michelle and about Kate and Nigel's housing situation. My mother still worries about me and I will be 50 this year. Why do we worry about our adult children when there is nothing we can do to help them? I don't know the complete answer to that, but it has a lot to do with loving and caring and wanting the children to prosper and have a happy life.
Kate just told me that poor little Wendy has caught my cold and is very snotty and chesty. Poor baby! It is a nasty cold. I hope she gets better soon. She has had one thing after another since being in Nursery School, which is to be expected with all the new germs from other kids that they get exposed to.
Get well soon, Woo.
As you can see though, lasagna is not what these girls of mine are eating.
When Nigel came back, he had a Chinese take away and everyone is gathered round him hoping for some of his dinner. Even Brakkie who had eaten very well earlier. As had Caelyn and Wendy. Terrie had come round earlier because she "couldn't miss an opportunity to see Woozle"
Wendy had quite a tantrum earlier. She took off her tights and trousers. As she got colder, Kate wanted them back on her, and Woozle wasn't having it. She yelled and screamed and fought and was pulling them off as fast as Kate was putting them on. So eventually, Kate turned her upside down and wrestled her into them. Did it help? No. As soon as she was set free, off they came. Poor Kate! She didn't want Wendy to be cold - which she was - nor did she want another fight. We must remember ;) that strength of character will stand her in good stead as an adult.
Anyway, the tempest didn't last long. Here she is looking so Woozle-like. Mischievous, clever, sweet and happy. I hope the odd tantrum doesn't shake Kate's confidence because all kids do it at some time or another, and Kate really is a good mother. She has an Anatomy and Physiology exam to write soon and she wants me to help her, dear Lord! The problem is that anatomical terms and names are difficult to learn, and Kate is dyslexic. Apparently the names of muscles etc have to be spelled correctly and if they fail the exam, they fail the whole course.
I am really not looking forward to that exam!
Wendy is very much into Letterland. She watches the videos over and over; she sings the songs and knows the characters. With the Flash cards, you can tell her to fetch Eddie Elephant or Fireman Fred and she always comes back with the right card. The Letterland storybook lives upstairs in their house because she wants it read to her every night when she is in bed. She likes Nigel to read to her. Sean gave her Little Black Sambo for Christmas and she loves it, especially as Nigel does special "Tiger" voices. He is now word perfect so Sean has been asked to get her another book so Nigel can have some variety!
Wendy loves books, which I am pleased about. In the supermarket, she pesters for a new book rather than for sweets, and she has quite a collection now. It looks as though she hasn't inherited her parents dyslexia, for which the Lord be praised!
But she likes playing too and she likes playing with someone around to watch her and interact with her. See the mischief on the face? She is a lucky little girl in this age of "disposable" relationships. She has a close bond with her parents, who, unusually here in England, were married long before she was born. She has an extended family who love her and delight in her, and she has friends at Nursery.
One of Kate's neighbours is heavily pregnant. Her baby is about a week overdue. The baby's father walked out on her over Easter because he "couldn't cope with the responsibility" of family life. Another of Kate's friends, from school, had the same thing happen to her just before she was due to give birth. The neighbour who reported Kate to Social Services last year for having a messy house after they just moved in, was also ditched just before delivering their second baby. Her boyfriend first took the Holiday money and drank it with friends at the pub before walking out.
This is very shocking and very wicked. It is an outrage against the unborn child, who will feel the effects throughout their entire life. It also makes children and family life seem completely insignificant, as if they mean nothing at all. It is here that we are growing the next prison generation. Marriage and family life are the bedrock and stability of a society and we are careless of them at our peril. We are already paying the price of this casual immorality, but mark my words, in terms of criminality, antisocial behaviour, poor educational achievement and employment prospects, the welfare costs to the taxpayer, drug and alcohol abuse, truancy and domestic violence, we will see worse yet even though it seems unlikely that things could possibly get worse, being as bad as they already are now.
It seems to me that since God has been pushed out of mainstream society, people are growing up in a moral vacuum. As Nature abhors a vacuum, it naturally seeks to fill it. In terms of the need to worship something higher than ourselves, if we factor God out of the equation, the vacuum is filled by something else, and that 'something else' is usually the god of ME. The individual is then the most important thing in their own lives and will believe anything is OK "as long as it makes ME happy" Instead of uncomplainingly doing their duty, people ask "Whats in it for ME?" If there is no external-to-self moral reference point, the 'whatever makes me happy' philosophy will take over. Don't want to be bothered with the demands of a baby? Just walk out then. Don't want to work? Have another illegitimate baby so you can claim more Welfare benefits then. Don't want to go to school? Play truant with a clear conscience because you must do what you feel, right? Want something you can't afford? Don't want to save? No problem - just steal it, because the chances are you won't be successfully prosecuted. Get drunk, start shouting and fighting and assault people when they ask you to quieten down or not to vomit on their front steps, because you are a big hero for getting so drunk, aren't you? When a man like Gary Newlove asks you to stop kicking his wife's car, just kill him. Problem solved.
We allowed the ME generation to happen and it is an egg, I fear, that cannot be unscrambled.
I am back off to bed now. My bronchitis and cold are making me feel as though the electric blanket, cosy duvet, tea and a couple of good cats would be a very good thing for me. I want to look after myself a bit because tomorrow is Sean's birthday, and I'm going up there to see him. His son is visiting as he is on university vacation and he and Sean have been having a warm and happy time together. I'm glad Sean is at ease about Ans because he is worried about his daughter at the moment. It seems that no matter how old the children get, parents still worry about them. I am worried about Michelle and about Kate and Nigel's housing situation. My mother still worries about me and I will be 50 this year. Why do we worry about our adult children when there is nothing we can do to help them? I don't know the complete answer to that, but it has a lot to do with loving and caring and wanting the children to prosper and have a happy life.
Kate just told me that poor little Wendy has caught my cold and is very snotty and chesty. Poor baby! It is a nasty cold. I hope she gets better soon. She has had one thing after another since being in Nursery School, which is to be expected with all the new germs from other kids that they get exposed to.
Get well soon, Woo.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Easter 2008
I have just returned home after a wonderful Easter at Sean's old school, Downside.
It was wonderful indeed, but I am shattered so I'm (hopefully) posting a link to the online photo album to which I have added comments.
I should say that Easter was very early this year and also that there were blizzards, snow, heavy rain, below freezing temperatures and power cuts.
I am off to bed now, where I will be for a few days to recover from all these wonderful celebrations. My hips hurt, I have nausea from hell and I feel shaky and dizzy as well as slightly feverish. You always have to pay for your "sins" and I pay by feeling awfully unwell if I do anything that taxes my strength. Still, it was worth it and I'm not grumbling. Its a normal part of my life and I only mention it to explain the forthcoming silence.
When you see the album, I think you'll agree that it was worth it.
Follow this link Easter 2008
It was wonderful indeed, but I am shattered so I'm (hopefully) posting a link to the online photo album to which I have added comments.
I should say that Easter was very early this year and also that there were blizzards, snow, heavy rain, below freezing temperatures and power cuts.
I am off to bed now, where I will be for a few days to recover from all these wonderful celebrations. My hips hurt, I have nausea from hell and I feel shaky and dizzy as well as slightly feverish. You always have to pay for your "sins" and I pay by feeling awfully unwell if I do anything that taxes my strength. Still, it was worth it and I'm not grumbling. Its a normal part of my life and I only mention it to explain the forthcoming silence.
When you see the album, I think you'll agree that it was worth it.
Follow this link Easter 2008
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Wednesday
This will be my last post for a while.
Tonight I go to Tonbridge as Sean and I are leaving for Downside on Thursday, which is Maundy Thursday. Doing the Lenten Retreat is always rigorous and exhausting, but this time it will be especially hard.
Blizzards and below freezing temperatures are expected; the architect who designed the place had a major thing about stairs; the dog is coming and my health has been a lot worse than usual.
If we get there, I will pray specially for my dear ones, both family and friends.
Tonight I go to Tonbridge as Sean and I are leaving for Downside on Thursday, which is Maundy Thursday. Doing the Lenten Retreat is always rigorous and exhausting, but this time it will be especially hard.
Blizzards and below freezing temperatures are expected; the architect who designed the place had a major thing about stairs; the dog is coming and my health has been a lot worse than usual.
If we get there, I will pray specially for my dear ones, both family and friends.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
New Hope for ME sufferers
The Daily Telegraph printed a story today about the imminent possibility of a diagnostic blood test for ME/CFS sufferers. Thank you, Daily Telegraph. Your article will bring new hope to many affected people and their families and friends.
Click this link to see the original article online
ME: 'Invisible disease' is now easier to read
A simple blood test may revolutionise the way we treat patients with ME,
reports Bob Ward
British researchers are close to developing, for the first time, a blood
test and potential drug treatments for myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), also
known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), following groundbreaking work on
its genetic origins.
'The stigma associated with the disease can sometimes be as much of a
problem as the symptoms'
ME/CFS affects about one in 200 people, and women sufferers outnumber men by
six to one. It causes a constant feeling of extreme exhaustion and malaise
for more than six months, along with sleep abnormalities, memory and
concentration difficulties and a great deal of pain.
In its most extreme form, the disease leaves sufferers bed-ridden and can
even be fatal.
But patients now have new hope, thanks to research published in the Journal
of Clinical Pathology by Dr Jonathan Kerr of St George's University of
London and his colleagues.
They have identified 88 genes that produce different levels of proteins and
other molecules in ME/CFS sufferers compared with the rest of the
population.
Dr Kerr's team carried out a complex analysis of the records of 55 patients
and found that they could be divided into seven sub-types according to the
specific gene combinations found in their white blood cells, and the
severity of their symptoms.
The most acutely affected patients had 71 of the 88 gene abnormalities.
The results of this work should allow better understanding of the causes and
development of the disease. Many of the genes are known to be affected when
a person contracts a virus, a factor which is believed to trigger many cases
of ME/CFS.
Importantly, the researchers also recognised that five of the 88 genes are
targeted by drugs which are already used to treat other diseases.
The team is now investigating whether the faulty genes produce abnormal
levels of proteins that can be detected as minute quantities of "biomarkers"
in the blood of patients.
"If proven to be sensitive and specific indicators of the illness, the
discovery of protein biomarkers could lead to the development of a
diagnostic test for ME/CFS, which would revolutionise our approach to this
disease," explains Dr Kerr.
He will present his results at a conference on ME/CFS biomedical research in
Cambridge in May.
The research may even lead to a change in attitudes to the disease, often
trivialised as "yuppie flu".
Sarah, 31, who was diagnosed with ME/CFS two years ago, says: "The stigma
associated with the disease can sometimes be as much of a problem as the
symptoms.
"Some think that it is 'all in the mind' and can be cured by a good night's
sleep. It can be difficult to get friends and work colleagues to understand
just how difficult it is to live with a disease that is so debilitating but
virtually invisible."
Attitudes among funders of medical research also need to change, says Dr
Neil Abbot, operations director at the charity ME Research UK. "Studies on
the psychological aspects of ME/CFS seem to have vacuumed up attention and
funding at the expense of hard-core biomedical studies," he says.
"Most of the £3 million spent by the Medical Research Council on the illness
in the last six years has gone towards projects on the psychological
management of the disease, while there is evidence that around 30
applications, some from established biomedical research groups, have not
been funded."
The work carried out by Dr Kerr and his colleagues is funded by a small
charity, the CFS Research Foundation, which was set up in 1993 by a group of
doctors and scientists who were concerned about the direction and quality of
work on the disease.
Its director, Anne Faulkner, is optimistic about the search for a cure: "We
believe that this disease can and will be conquered, but it will need the
dedicated work of distinguished research scientists and the determination of
people in the community to bring this about."
Bob Ward has donated the fee for this article to the CFS Research
Foundation (www.cfsrf.com) and ME Research UK (www.meresearch.org.uk). He is
former winner of the Bayer/Telegraph science writer award, judged by a panel
that includes Sir David Attenborough and Adam Hart-Davis, which is now open
to 15-year-olds too. The closing date is March 31. See science-writer.co.uk
for details
Click this link to see the original article online
ME: 'Invisible disease' is now easier to read
A simple blood test may revolutionise the way we treat patients with ME,
reports Bob Ward
British researchers are close to developing, for the first time, a blood
test and potential drug treatments for myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), also
known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), following groundbreaking work on
its genetic origins.
'The stigma associated with the disease can sometimes be as much of a
problem as the symptoms'
ME/CFS affects about one in 200 people, and women sufferers outnumber men by
six to one. It causes a constant feeling of extreme exhaustion and malaise
for more than six months, along with sleep abnormalities, memory and
concentration difficulties and a great deal of pain.
In its most extreme form, the disease leaves sufferers bed-ridden and can
even be fatal.
But patients now have new hope, thanks to research published in the Journal
of Clinical Pathology by Dr Jonathan Kerr of St George's University of
London and his colleagues.
They have identified 88 genes that produce different levels of proteins and
other molecules in ME/CFS sufferers compared with the rest of the
population.
Dr Kerr's team carried out a complex analysis of the records of 55 patients
and found that they could be divided into seven sub-types according to the
specific gene combinations found in their white blood cells, and the
severity of their symptoms.
The most acutely affected patients had 71 of the 88 gene abnormalities.
The results of this work should allow better understanding of the causes and
development of the disease. Many of the genes are known to be affected when
a person contracts a virus, a factor which is believed to trigger many cases
of ME/CFS.
Importantly, the researchers also recognised that five of the 88 genes are
targeted by drugs which are already used to treat other diseases.
The team is now investigating whether the faulty genes produce abnormal
levels of proteins that can be detected as minute quantities of "biomarkers"
in the blood of patients.
"If proven to be sensitive and specific indicators of the illness, the
discovery of protein biomarkers could lead to the development of a
diagnostic test for ME/CFS, which would revolutionise our approach to this
disease," explains Dr Kerr.
He will present his results at a conference on ME/CFS biomedical research in
Cambridge in May.
The research may even lead to a change in attitudes to the disease, often
trivialised as "yuppie flu".
Sarah, 31, who was diagnosed with ME/CFS two years ago, says: "The stigma
associated with the disease can sometimes be as much of a problem as the
symptoms.
"Some think that it is 'all in the mind' and can be cured by a good night's
sleep. It can be difficult to get friends and work colleagues to understand
just how difficult it is to live with a disease that is so debilitating but
virtually invisible."
Attitudes among funders of medical research also need to change, says Dr
Neil Abbot, operations director at the charity ME Research UK. "Studies on
the psychological aspects of ME/CFS seem to have vacuumed up attention and
funding at the expense of hard-core biomedical studies," he says.
"Most of the £3 million spent by the Medical Research Council on the illness
in the last six years has gone towards projects on the psychological
management of the disease, while there is evidence that around 30
applications, some from established biomedical research groups, have not
been funded."
The work carried out by Dr Kerr and his colleagues is funded by a small
charity, the CFS Research Foundation, which was set up in 1993 by a group of
doctors and scientists who were concerned about the direction and quality of
work on the disease.
Its director, Anne Faulkner, is optimistic about the search for a cure: "We
believe that this disease can and will be conquered, but it will need the
dedicated work of distinguished research scientists and the determination of
people in the community to bring this about."
Bob Ward has donated the fee for this article to the CFS Research
Foundation (www.cfsrf.com) and ME Research UK (www.meresearch.org.uk). He is
former winner of the Bayer/Telegraph science writer award, judged by a panel
that includes Sir David Attenborough and Adam Hart-Davis, which is now open
to 15-year-olds too. The closing date is March 31. See science-writer.co.uk
for details
Completely Outclassed!
Michelle told me a story tonight that really tickled me.
Its no secret that I'm a cat lover, but I've been outclassed.
She has a pregnant friend who has two cats who sleep with her. Now she is pregnant, she has to get up at night to go to the bathroom. What made me draw a gasp of admiration was when Michelle told me that when she has to get up, she digs her husband in the ribs to get him to move so that she can get out of bed on his side without disturbing the cats who sleep on her side of the bed!
This one's for you, Sarah.
Its no secret that I'm a cat lover, but I've been outclassed.
She has a pregnant friend who has two cats who sleep with her. Now she is pregnant, she has to get up at night to go to the bathroom. What made me draw a gasp of admiration was when Michelle told me that when she has to get up, she digs her husband in the ribs to get him to move so that she can get out of bed on his side without disturbing the cats who sleep on her side of the bed!
This one's for you, Sarah.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Josie, Monday morning.
My Mum should have touched down in South Africa by now. I hope she had a pleasant flight and a good seat. She went off feeling happy that her cat Jenny is being well cared for by a kind couple who love Siamese and who do animal fostering for pets of people who have gone into hospital or a nursing home. The charity they work with is the Cinnamon Trust.
She is looking forward to meeting up with an old friend, Ruth Karle. She will spend the day with Ruth then Paul will pick her up on his way home from work and take her to their home in Rustenburg.
My health really isn't too good at the moment so Michelle, who has a day off work, is coming to Dover with me to pick up Wendy from Nursery school. That is, if Caelyn has sent her to school. Wendy is on antibiotics for an ear, nose, throat and chest infection. She said she will see how Wendy is this morning. If she's really under the weather, she won't go, but if she is OK, Caelyn will take her to Nursery with instructions for them to phone her is Wendy shows signs of being unwell.
Yesterday Michelle and I went to Tesco Express for cat food. We bought two tins of Whiskas chicken in Supermeat and six tins of Cuts in Jelly. They had the Whiskas last night and I have been looking for the Cuts in Jelly this morning but can't find it anywhere. I'm beginning to suspect that we left it in the shop.
Sean came to see me last night and we watched Round the World in 80 gardens because it was featuring South African gardens. The presenter was a pompous pratt who was very irritating, especially when he was trotting out his very PC political philosophy, but the gardens were beautiful. They did Cape gardens including Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. Then the Drakensberg and Magaliesburg and a school garden. It was sad they didn't have time to show the Eastern Transvaal such as Sabie, Nelspruit and Tzaneen, because those gardens are a lush riot of extravagant colour.
What really made us homesick were the voices of a Cape Coloured man who had made a beautiful garden in a township and the African school teacher who was teaching his pupils how to grow vegetables to support themselves nutritionally. Many of the children are HIV positive as are their carers, so empowering them to provide good food for themselves and their families is a very good thing. I wish more schools followed this example in a continent that knows famine and poverty far too well.
She is looking forward to meeting up with an old friend, Ruth Karle. She will spend the day with Ruth then Paul will pick her up on his way home from work and take her to their home in Rustenburg.
My health really isn't too good at the moment so Michelle, who has a day off work, is coming to Dover with me to pick up Wendy from Nursery school. That is, if Caelyn has sent her to school. Wendy is on antibiotics for an ear, nose, throat and chest infection. She said she will see how Wendy is this morning. If she's really under the weather, she won't go, but if she is OK, Caelyn will take her to Nursery with instructions for them to phone her is Wendy shows signs of being unwell.
Yesterday Michelle and I went to Tesco Express for cat food. We bought two tins of Whiskas chicken in Supermeat and six tins of Cuts in Jelly. They had the Whiskas last night and I have been looking for the Cuts in Jelly this morning but can't find it anywhere. I'm beginning to suspect that we left it in the shop.
Sean came to see me last night and we watched Round the World in 80 gardens because it was featuring South African gardens. The presenter was a pompous pratt who was very irritating, especially when he was trotting out his very PC political philosophy, but the gardens were beautiful. They did Cape gardens including Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. Then the Drakensberg and Magaliesburg and a school garden. It was sad they didn't have time to show the Eastern Transvaal such as Sabie, Nelspruit and Tzaneen, because those gardens are a lush riot of extravagant colour.
What really made us homesick were the voices of a Cape Coloured man who had made a beautiful garden in a township and the African school teacher who was teaching his pupils how to grow vegetables to support themselves nutritionally. Many of the children are HIV positive as are their carers, so empowering them to provide good food for themselves and their families is a very good thing. I wish more schools followed this example in a continent that knows famine and poverty far too well.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Friday
We had our usual Family get together on Friday. My Mum was tired with getting ready for her flight to South Africa. Caelyn and Nigel were tired because Wendy has been ill and has kept them up, and Caelyn's kidneys were sore. Wendy was much better after starting antibiotics for a respiratory infection but she still isn't quite right yet. I'm having the worst relapse for years. Michelle and Richard were OK, although Michelle is emotionally tired after seeing her friend in hospital.
OK, so everyone's biorhythms were low, but we still had a good time. I asked Richard and Nigel to bath Brakkie so he would look nice for Easter, but I also wanted him bathed before I put his Frontline flea treatment on him. He doesn't like being bathed, and he wasn't too keen on being blow dried either. Wendy was feeling sorry for her little blonde friend, as was trying to comfort him.
A miserable, wet Brak
Doesn't he look sorry for himself?
Doesn't she look grown up all of a sudden?
Blowing raspberries on Gummy's tummy
A friendly time with Auntie Michelle
Wendy's understanding and vocabulary are growing at an alarming rate. When my mum comes back in 4 weeks, she will notice a huge change in the child.
I am off to bed now. I can only stay up for half an hour at a time now and sitting is painful. I'm not miserable or depressed, but my goodness, I do feel ill. In fact, I can't really remember what it is like to feel really well.
OK, so everyone's biorhythms were low, but we still had a good time. I asked Richard and Nigel to bath Brakkie so he would look nice for Easter, but I also wanted him bathed before I put his Frontline flea treatment on him. He doesn't like being bathed, and he wasn't too keen on being blow dried either. Wendy was feeling sorry for her little blonde friend, as was trying to comfort him.
A miserable, wet Brak
Doesn't he look sorry for himself?
Doesn't she look grown up all of a sudden?
Blowing raspberries on Gummy's tummy
A friendly time with Auntie Michelle
Wendy's understanding and vocabulary are growing at an alarming rate. When my mum comes back in 4 weeks, she will notice a huge change in the child.
I am off to bed now. I can only stay up for half an hour at a time now and sitting is painful. I'm not miserable or depressed, but my goodness, I do feel ill. In fact, I can't really remember what it is like to feel really well.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Josie, God and Paws for Thought.
Josie is expecting to leave for a 4 week trip to South Africa on Sunday.
She had a lot of difficulty finding care for her beautiful Oriental cat, Jenny.
I would have loved to have her, but she was bullied by older cats in her first home and is still terrified of them to this day, and I have Fat Jack and Madam Spikkeldy.
Josie was at the Women's Day of Prayer and met up with the lady who used to deliver her boxes of organic vegetables. The lady always talked to Jenny rather than Josie and at the Day of Prayer she asked Josie how Jenny was. When Josie explained, she said that she was on standby to take a cat for Cinnamon Trust, which is a charity that looks after pets of people who have to go to hospital or to a Care Home. She was keen to look after Jenny but couldn't agree to anything until she had spoken to the Cinnamon Trust.
So she asked Cinnamon Trust if she could be excused from her voluntary duties for 4 weeks and they said Yes. Her husband is really looking forward to having Jenny too because they both love Siamese, and Jenny is quite a character.
God moves in mysterious ways all right, and it is nice to think of Him being interested in the welfare of a little cat.
Click here to visit Cinnamon Trusts Home Page.
She had a lot of difficulty finding care for her beautiful Oriental cat, Jenny.
I would have loved to have her, but she was bullied by older cats in her first home and is still terrified of them to this day, and I have Fat Jack and Madam Spikkeldy.
Josie was at the Women's Day of Prayer and met up with the lady who used to deliver her boxes of organic vegetables. The lady always talked to Jenny rather than Josie and at the Day of Prayer she asked Josie how Jenny was. When Josie explained, she said that she was on standby to take a cat for Cinnamon Trust, which is a charity that looks after pets of people who have to go to hospital or to a Care Home. She was keen to look after Jenny but couldn't agree to anything until she had spoken to the Cinnamon Trust.
So she asked Cinnamon Trust if she could be excused from her voluntary duties for 4 weeks and they said Yes. Her husband is really looking forward to having Jenny too because they both love Siamese, and Jenny is quite a character.
God moves in mysterious ways all right, and it is nice to think of Him being interested in the welfare of a little cat.
Click here to visit Cinnamon Trusts Home Page.
Kate's News
Kate has wanted to study hairdressing for years but it has never come about.
She has just finished her Beauticians course. The next step is to do Level 3, which will enable her to teach. She had a good talk with her current tutor, Chris.
Chris is of the opinion that although Kate could cope intellectually, there is too much other stuff going on in her life and she doesn't think Kate is quite ready for Level 3 training. She suggested that Kate do another course next academic year and then reapply for Beauty Level 3.
Kate was disappointed, but accepted that Chris was right and also appreciated her honesty. She went for an interview to do hairdressing but felt the interview did not go well. The tutor said that there were limits to the amount of "Mature Students" she was allowed to accept on to the course, and that she would speak to Chris, Kate's current tutor. I can't believe that at 22, she is considered a "Mature Student!"
She heard yesterday that she has been accepted on the course. She is excited because being able to do hair, waxing, eyelash tinting, make up, acrylic nails, pedicures, manicures, facials, massage etc will enable her to work from home, possibly doing "bridal packages". This will be fantastic for her because she has fatigue as a result of a long ago head injury and she has kidney damage too so being able to work freelance will be much more manageable for her. She will be able to rest when she needs to. And she will have the satisfaction of being able to bring money into the house to support her family.
I just need to persuade her to do a part time sugarcraft course .....
(She did fantastically well in sugarcraft at school, so I think she should build on an existing talent. No knowledge is ever wasted, and people will pay up to £300 for a personal wedding cake or a cake for another special occasion).
She has just finished her Beauticians course. The next step is to do Level 3, which will enable her to teach. She had a good talk with her current tutor, Chris.
Chris is of the opinion that although Kate could cope intellectually, there is too much other stuff going on in her life and she doesn't think Kate is quite ready for Level 3 training. She suggested that Kate do another course next academic year and then reapply for Beauty Level 3.
Kate was disappointed, but accepted that Chris was right and also appreciated her honesty. She went for an interview to do hairdressing but felt the interview did not go well. The tutor said that there were limits to the amount of "Mature Students" she was allowed to accept on to the course, and that she would speak to Chris, Kate's current tutor. I can't believe that at 22, she is considered a "Mature Student!"
She heard yesterday that she has been accepted on the course. She is excited because being able to do hair, waxing, eyelash tinting, make up, acrylic nails, pedicures, manicures, facials, massage etc will enable her to work from home, possibly doing "bridal packages". This will be fantastic for her because she has fatigue as a result of a long ago head injury and she has kidney damage too so being able to work freelance will be much more manageable for her. She will be able to rest when she needs to. And she will have the satisfaction of being able to bring money into the house to support her family.
I just need to persuade her to do a part time sugarcraft course .....
(She did fantastically well in sugarcraft at school, so I think she should build on an existing talent. No knowledge is ever wasted, and people will pay up to £300 for a personal wedding cake or a cake for another special occasion).
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Sunday, March 09, 2008
Wendy's Birthday Celebration
We celebrated Wendy's 2nd Birthday today.
She was tired and teething, so her eyes look a bit glassy in some of the photos, and we were tired too. In fact, as soon as we left, Wendy conked out and when Caelyn tried to wake her up at 6.30, she said "no. no. bed" and wouldn't wake up. Michelle and I conked out, as did Richard and Josie. I have no idea why everyone was so exhausted but none of us could stay awake. There are severe weather warnings and the weather started getting bad this afternoon, so perhaps that has something to do with it. Monday and Tuesday promise the worst storms of the winter, with the South of England being especially affected.
I am still tired so am off to bed again. I have uploaded some of the photos into a Web Album so look there in the meantime. When I feel a bit stronger, I will write about it all.
She was tired and teething, so her eyes look a bit glassy in some of the photos, and we were tired too. In fact, as soon as we left, Wendy conked out and when Caelyn tried to wake her up at 6.30, she said "no. no. bed" and wouldn't wake up. Michelle and I conked out, as did Richard and Josie. I have no idea why everyone was so exhausted but none of us could stay awake. There are severe weather warnings and the weather started getting bad this afternoon, so perhaps that has something to do with it. Monday and Tuesday promise the worst storms of the winter, with the South of England being especially affected.
I am still tired so am off to bed again. I have uploaded some of the photos into a Web Album so look there in the meantime. When I feel a bit stronger, I will write about it all.
Saturday, March 08, 2008
Cake Baking
Caelyn and Nigel's oven is dreadful so they came to bake Wendy's Birthday cake at my house. I think the bit they enjoyed the most was licking the bowl after the mixture had been put in the oven.
Caelyn got carried away though. Some girls will do anything for a bit of chocolate.
And I have heard of drills being put in people's mouths, but a food mixer? Never!
She reckons it was worth it though. It would only be my daughter, wouldn't it?
Michelle was getting ready to go out and she looked very lovely.
Sean came down on the train and picked me up to go to Holy Mass. We had a quiet and pleasant evening together, and are looking forward to Wendy's party tomorrow.
Caelyn got carried away though. Some girls will do anything for a bit of chocolate.
And I have heard of drills being put in people's mouths, but a food mixer? Never!
She reckons it was worth it though. It would only be my daughter, wouldn't it?
Michelle was getting ready to go out and she looked very lovely.
Sean came down on the train and picked me up to go to Holy Mass. We had a quiet and pleasant evening together, and are looking forward to Wendy's party tomorrow.
Poor Cow!
Yesterday, Caelyn and Nigel were in the supermarket with Wendy. They went past the Deli counter and Wendy saw sliced beef. Her eyes went big and she pointed at the meat saying Oh No! oh No! Ouchie! Ouchie!
Out of the mouths of babies ....
Out of the mouths of babies ....
Friday, March 07, 2008
Walking on Walls and other Fun Stuff
Michelle's room has been in a state and she has been working long, irregular shifts, so Kate and Nigel came over early today to help clear it up. It was a lovely clear Spring day with a chilly wind.
Wendy has to go out every day or she gets Cabin Fever, as does her mate Brakkie. I had to pick up a prescription at the chemist, so Caelyn, Wendy, Brakkie and I set forth on a leisurely stroll along Bouverie Rd West towards the chemist.
Wendy has discovered the pleasure of walking on walls and she was having so much fun en route that it took forever to get to the chemist, but who cared?
When she had finished jumping off a wall, she'd run to Brakkie and give him a hug and a kiss.
Eventually, she wanted him to walk with her, so Caelyn was holding Wendy on her reins and Wendy was holding Brakkie on his lead. A motorist nearly cracked up laughing when Caelyn bent down to pick up Brakkie and Woozle to cross the road. It did look funny!
We had a lot of fun with Wendy and enjoyed a nice dinner together. It was a pleasant evening but I feel sorry for them traveling home to Dover because Operation Stack is in force, plus the A20 is closed for roadworks. Operation Stack is when the Police close part of the motorway to form a parking area for heavy goods vehicles. The lorries are waiting for the Ferries to France, but the French are on strike again, so the ferries aren't sailing and the lorries have to hang around and wait until the harbour reopens. There was already a backlog because of severe weather last week. The Port of Dover had to be closed because of strong gales. When the lorries are "stacked" on the motorway, a traffic bottleneck forms and traffic flow is so slow you'd wish you could go at snails pace which would seem fast in comparison.
Usually when there is congestion on the motorway, people use the smaller A20 road. At the moment though, the A20 is closed for roadworks. I suggested they stay here overnight but they had to get back to feed their animals.
We are all excited about Wendy's Birthday Party on Sunday. She will be two years old. Her actual birthday is on Monday but it is more convenient to celebrate on Sunday afternoon. Caelyn was having a nostalgic flip through of Wendy's birth and newborn photos. Aaahhh!
Wendy has to go out every day or she gets Cabin Fever, as does her mate Brakkie. I had to pick up a prescription at the chemist, so Caelyn, Wendy, Brakkie and I set forth on a leisurely stroll along Bouverie Rd West towards the chemist.
Wendy has discovered the pleasure of walking on walls and she was having so much fun en route that it took forever to get to the chemist, but who cared?
When she had finished jumping off a wall, she'd run to Brakkie and give him a hug and a kiss.
Eventually, she wanted him to walk with her, so Caelyn was holding Wendy on her reins and Wendy was holding Brakkie on his lead. A motorist nearly cracked up laughing when Caelyn bent down to pick up Brakkie and Woozle to cross the road. It did look funny!
We had a lot of fun with Wendy and enjoyed a nice dinner together. It was a pleasant evening but I feel sorry for them traveling home to Dover because Operation Stack is in force, plus the A20 is closed for roadworks. Operation Stack is when the Police close part of the motorway to form a parking area for heavy goods vehicles. The lorries are waiting for the Ferries to France, but the French are on strike again, so the ferries aren't sailing and the lorries have to hang around and wait until the harbour reopens. There was already a backlog because of severe weather last week. The Port of Dover had to be closed because of strong gales. When the lorries are "stacked" on the motorway, a traffic bottleneck forms and traffic flow is so slow you'd wish you could go at snails pace which would seem fast in comparison.
Usually when there is congestion on the motorway, people use the smaller A20 road. At the moment though, the A20 is closed for roadworks. I suggested they stay here overnight but they had to get back to feed their animals.
We are all excited about Wendy's Birthday Party on Sunday. She will be two years old. Her actual birthday is on Monday but it is more convenient to celebrate on Sunday afternoon. Caelyn was having a nostalgic flip through of Wendy's birth and newborn photos. Aaahhh!
Thursday, March 06, 2008
Kate and Nigel's House
Many of you will remember that Kate and Nigel moved last March, and there was a lot wrong with the house. I was so horrified that I took pictures. The landlord keeps promising to repair the property but the repairman doesn't come. The house is unsafe in many ways but what concerns me most is that the electricity is not earthed. The light switch in the kitchen is loose and when they opened the cover to tighten it all up, they saw that the wires were separated by a piece of cardboard from a breakfast cereal box.
After a lot of discussion with the Council, they finally decided to ask the Council's Environmental Health team to come and examine the property, and the Officials came today and took photographs. They were also handed the photographs that I took as they were moving in.
The Environmental Health people said that the landlord was notorious at the Council for his dangerous properties and the Council were taking action against him for quite a few properties. The neighbours' house is even worse, and they rent from the same landlord, and Environmental Health are planning to time the official notifications to arrive on the same day. Kate and Nigel have been told to expect a Notice to Quit from the Landlord because he apparentlty prefers to have his houses empty than to repair them.
Kate and Nigel have done a lot of repairs and improvements themselves, such as removing protruding nails on the wooden floorboards and laying carpet. However, they really aren't in a position to have the house rewired or to have the roof repaired and other big things like that. On the advice of the council officials, they are starting to look around for somewhere else to live. I hope they get the right place for them. Of course, if they move away, they might have to change Wendy's nursery school again.
Who knows what the future holds?
Here are a few photos I took before they moved in. Most of these problems they have sorted out themselves, but the landlord really can't argue that the place was in tip top condition when he let it to them. Most of these were taken in the baby's bedroom.
After a lot of discussion with the Council, they finally decided to ask the Council's Environmental Health team to come and examine the property, and the Officials came today and took photographs. They were also handed the photographs that I took as they were moving in.
The Environmental Health people said that the landlord was notorious at the Council for his dangerous properties and the Council were taking action against him for quite a few properties. The neighbours' house is even worse, and they rent from the same landlord, and Environmental Health are planning to time the official notifications to arrive on the same day. Kate and Nigel have been told to expect a Notice to Quit from the Landlord because he apparentlty prefers to have his houses empty than to repair them.
Kate and Nigel have done a lot of repairs and improvements themselves, such as removing protruding nails on the wooden floorboards and laying carpet. However, they really aren't in a position to have the house rewired or to have the roof repaired and other big things like that. On the advice of the council officials, they are starting to look around for somewhere else to live. I hope they get the right place for them. Of course, if they move away, they might have to change Wendy's nursery school again.
Who knows what the future holds?
Here are a few photos I took before they moved in. Most of these problems they have sorted out themselves, but the landlord really can't argue that the place was in tip top condition when he let it to them. Most of these were taken in the baby's bedroom.
Monday, March 03, 2008
Sunday, March 02, 2008
Mothers Day
Today in England, it was Mothers Day.
We had a great lamb roast organised by Michelle and Caelyn. A particularly tasty leg of lamb from the butchers in Guildhall St. Wendy had been in a great playful mood but by the time Lunch was ready, she was tired and a bit cranky and needed to be in a quiet room with minimal stimulus for a while. Caelyn took her to my room which is very dim when the curtains are closed, and we played soothing Ocean sounds to her as her Mum cuddled her and helped her calm down. We have noticed with her that the best treatment for a tantrum is to take her quietly into a low stimulus environment to facilitate the calming process. Trying to calm her with the TV on, the dogs chasing about and people talking loudly is an exercise in futility. Having ME, I know exactly how it feels with too much sensory stimuli and it is horrible.
I should clarify that taking her to a quiet room is not a punishment and she isn't left there on her own. A calm adult goes with her and soothes her very quietly. It works well and quite quickly. When she comes back out, she is her usual sunny self.
She was trying to tickle Great Grandma Josie's tummy.
We had a great lamb roast organised by Michelle and Caelyn. A particularly tasty leg of lamb from the butchers in Guildhall St. Wendy had been in a great playful mood but by the time Lunch was ready, she was tired and a bit cranky and needed to be in a quiet room with minimal stimulus for a while. Caelyn took her to my room which is very dim when the curtains are closed, and we played soothing Ocean sounds to her as her Mum cuddled her and helped her calm down. We have noticed with her that the best treatment for a tantrum is to take her quietly into a low stimulus environment to facilitate the calming process. Trying to calm her with the TV on, the dogs chasing about and people talking loudly is an exercise in futility. Having ME, I know exactly how it feels with too much sensory stimuli and it is horrible.
I should clarify that taking her to a quiet room is not a punishment and she isn't left there on her own. A calm adult goes with her and soothes her very quietly. It works well and quite quickly. When she comes back out, she is her usual sunny self.
She was trying to tickle Great Grandma Josie's tummy.
Couple more Newborn memories
She was such a little baby, wasn't she? Just a little scrap of humanity.
Trip down Memory Lane
As it is coming up for Wendy's second birthday, I felt a bit nostalgic, so I went back into my archives and have come up with these from when she was just a tiny Newborn.
Saturday, March 01, 2008
Two drawing nigh
Our little Woozle will be TWO years old very soon. Hasn't time flown by? Here she is pretending to be a cat, scratching and miaowing. She loves books with animals and when we read to her, we make the animal noises as best we can, so now she can roar like a lion, miaow like a cat and growl like a dog. She can be so funny. How can so much mischief fit on one small face?
And here she is on her motorbike.
Here she was pretending to be asleep in her Auntie Michelle's bed. As you can see by the smile, she was shamming and thoroughly enjoying the joke. Auntie Michelle was on night duty at work so her bed was unoccupied. Or should have been.
Nigel's stepmother Maureen is very ill so please remember her in your prayers.
And here she is on her motorbike.
Here she was pretending to be asleep in her Auntie Michelle's bed. As you can see by the smile, she was shamming and thoroughly enjoying the joke. Auntie Michelle was on night duty at work so her bed was unoccupied. Or should have been.
Nigel's stepmother Maureen is very ill so please remember her in your prayers.
Yesterday
Caelyn and Nigel hope to move soon and they wanted Phantom to be undisturbed, so they asked my Mum if they could bury her in her garden, and my Mum agreed.
They didn't want Wendy to see the burial because there is no way she could understand it and it would upset her a great deal, so my Mum and I took her round to Lisa's for a cup of tea and we stayed there until Caelyn let us know it was alright to bring Wendy back. It was very sad and emotional.
On the way back from Lisa's, Wendy kept stopping to wave and blow kisses at Jake, Lisa's dog. She loves animals so much, and Jake is a lovely soppy Boxer.
They didn't want Wendy to see the burial because there is no way she could understand it and it would upset her a great deal, so my Mum and I took her round to Lisa's for a cup of tea and we stayed there until Caelyn let us know it was alright to bring Wendy back. It was very sad and emotional.
On the way back from Lisa's, Wendy kept stopping to wave and blow kisses at Jake, Lisa's dog. She loves animals so much, and Jake is a lovely soppy Boxer.
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