Gold Christmas baubles hanging down. Title reads: Christmas 2016, a quiet dinner with friends, a personal update.

Christmas 2016 – A Quiet Dinner With Friends

Had a lovely quiet holiday weekend, but did enjoy my first outing in a couple of months on Christmas day. Was super blessed to have such understanding and considerate friends and that the Lord gave me just enough strength and relief to be able to really enjoy the day! Praise God! Christmas With Friends Our friends came to pick us up and brought us back later in the evening. We got to spend a quiet and fun evening with the…

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Man in a wheelchair with his hand on the wheel. Title reads: Not all disabilities are visible. International day of people with disabilities.

International Day of People with Disabilities: Not All Disabilities Are Visible

December 3 is International Day of People with Disabilities. It’s a great opportunity to raise awareness and make some noise all over the internet (and in real life) if you can manage it. The message I want to get across this year, is that not every disability is visible. There are many conditions that do not display any outward signs of illness or disability, but they are just as debiitating as any condition you can clearly identify. Leading A Double…

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A country scene with a muddy path in the hills with mountains in the background. Title reads, The long road to diagnosis, my first 6 months of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis.

The Long Road To Diagnosis: My First 6 Months of ME/CFS

It all started in 2014. I would occasionally get random, migrating pains in my hips, thighs and arms. It was quite painful and alarming. Because it never hung around long, but just came and vanished quickly, I didn’t do anything about it. It wasn’t very frequent initially. By November 2014 I was in constant pain. At this point I went to see my doctors, but they couldn’t help me. They did loads of blood tests and couldn’t find anything wrong.…

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Char wearing a knitted scarf she made. It's black with autumn colour speckles. Title Reads: Bianca Scarf In Autumn Colours

Knitting: Bianca Scarf In Autumn Colours

I’ve completed my second knitting project! So pleased with this one. It was so much fun knitting it too. It’s a kit called “Bianca” in such rich Autumn colours. I completed it last night and this morning, once my headache subsided, I added the fringe. Between the dozing off, that is. Terrible flare this past week, absolutely floored. Muscle pain all over, exhaustion, headaches, joint pains, and this overpowering sleepiness (different to the exhaustion) – all more than usual. But…

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Char standing out in the sunshine, wearing a leather jacket and a woolen neck warmer she knitted. Title reads: I've started knitting again. Knitting project 1

I’ve Started Knitting Again!

Celebrating my first completed knitting project since I was about ten years old! I have been trying to knit a scarf with this one ball of wool for years and years, I’ve knitted and undone it so many times over and last night I finally completed it. One ball obviously wasn’t enough for a full scarf, so it’s been turned into a twisted neck warmer. I think it’s officially called an infinity scarf – it’s so warm and soft too!…

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Char in her pyjamas, sitting in the sunshine in the middle of her room. Title reads: muscle wastage and personal grooming, a personal update

Muscle Wastage And Personal Grooming In ME/CFS

A couple of days ago we had some gorgeous autumn sunshine after a few dark and dreary days. I’d just got up and was getting dressed when I realised how warm the sun was and decided to sit right there and collect some sunshine D! The rest was welcome though, dressing is hard with a weakened body. I only managed about ten minutes in that chair, but it was lovely and warm. I love the sunshine so much, the warmth…

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A bird soaring in the sunset sky. Title reads: Reflections on faith through chronic illness after 18 months of chronic fatigue and pain.

Reflections On Faith Through Chronic Fatigue And Pain

Today marks 18 months of this Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. At least 18 months in this severe housebound state, we imagine I might have had it milder for at least 6 months before this. As a Christian, I find myself reflecting on the role of my faith through chronic illness. I don’t believe God made me ill or that He is testing me. I don’t think God works like that. In my view, that would contradict His character of Love. Many…

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Char lying on the patio in the sunshine. She looks very happy.

Enjoying This Gorgeous London Sunshine

Spent the whole morning enjoying this gorgeous London sunshine out on the patio today. I had breakfast, drew a bit, then painted for a while, and just enjoyed the sunshine! I even hung a sheet over the washing lines to create a sort of tent for a bit of shade and lay out on a grass mat enjoying the warmth of the sun on my legs and the cool breeze. I don’t have any patio chairs or table out there,…

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Char standing outside under a tree, shes wearing a greet top and matching dangling earrings and smiling.

Grateful For Those Productive Days

Today has been quite productive! We just had our shower doors replaced this week, which meant waiting at least 24 hours for the silicone to dry before we could use the shower. It smells really bad, but Praise God we found a cheap little fan on Amazon and it’s been such a help with the ventilation in the room. We don’t get a draught or breeze through the flat, there is only one window which is really our patio door.…

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A polaroid of Char using a walker to go shopping. Title Reads: Using Mobility Aids In My Thirties

Mobility Aids, The Benefits Of Using A Walker For Shopping

As a thirty-something year old woman, who looks perfectly healthy, walking around a supermarket with a walking aid most commonly used by the elderly can bring up all kinds of feelings. When elderly people who are clearly struggling are walking around the same supermarket without any mobility aids, the looks you get can cause an odd mixture of gratitude, shame and even guilt. Today has been such a good day! After spending most of yesterday in bed, today I managed…

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