It doesn’t surprise me to hear that my dear friend Kate Swaffer is exhausted. Just trying to follow what she has achieved wears me out. As Kate says the enemy is relentless. Big Pharma has resources that are bewildering. Those attempting to deal with dementia often have misguided objective and tend to focus on behaviour rather than the person.

I hope Kate is able to take a much needed break and heal. It is time for others to carry on the fight. I know Kate will be back refreshed and ready to support us all as we try to bring common sense into the battle to get a better deal for all those who need support as age takes its inevitable toll.

My hands are a real problem at the moment. It may be Carpal Tunnel Syndrome or what some call Trigger Finger. The issue is the lack of blood flow to my fingers. Therefore I have to spend a lot of time on most days trying to straighten out my fingers.

Surgery is used to address my symptoms. However the results are inconclusive and often the symptoms return. Therefore I am using infra red treatment with a gadget purchased from Kovaria to address my symptoms.

It’s early days but I’m hopeful that my strategy will pay off and with the help of thermal gloves I can see off this troublesome condition.

Time will tell!

I felt most unwell yesterday with symptoms of a chest infection. I was coughing regularly and bringing up a worrying colour of mucus. Feeling unwell could not have come at a worse time. Jess and her two children were at the Holiday Camp across the road, and we were hoping to enjoy our time together once again. I was obviously looking unwell and Jess said: ‘what has happened to happy Paul?’

Paul was feeling far from happy and Jess drove him home and he passed on the evening entertainment and took to his bed .

Things are a lot better this morning. Natural Remedies from Spill the Beans: honey and lemon juice have eased things. Also a cough linctus from Superdrug along with an Echinacea based remedy for Colds and Flu has curtailed the coughing spells.

So Jess: Happy Paul should be back today and the fun will continue.

Solving My Poor Sleep Pattern

If I don’t get a decent nights sleep soon I am going to become very ill. At the moment I’m permanently exhausted and can drop off for a few moiments anywhere. My colleaguies at Madhyamaka Mediatation Centre are used to me dropping off there. Taxi drivers are used to me dropping off on my way home. And Staff at my Dental Ptractice ofetn have to wake me when its my turn to get in the chair./

The currrent situation is fraught with dangers. Jo my Support Worker has confiscated the keys to my Mobility Scooter. That is clearly a no go area at the moment.

My sleep deficit also has other consequences. It plays havoc with my Cortisol levels and contributes to my expanding waist line.

So I’m not going to watch England in the Semi Final of the World Cup tonight. I aiming for a peaceful eveining listening to music .

I will also use some patches that I have bought off the Internet that promise to give me eight hours sleep.

Who cares if England get into the Finals tonight?

I need a good night’s sleep!

I did far too much yesterday. I was on my feet for most of the day: walking around Grimsby and then Cleethorpes. I’m worn out this morning and racked with pain in troublesome areas.

I plan to rest today and apply ice to my back, knees and shoulder, And also follow the exercise regime suggested by the Chiropractor.,

I may even give England’s endeavours in the World Cup a miss. Walking across to the Holiday Camp so that I can watch the match with others is not sensible!

I have to admit that I have been late to the A I Party. A colleague suggested that Gemini was always worth a call when I am struggling to find a way forward.

A few months ago I was in bits about the redness of my lower legs. On occasions the medics thought I had celulitis. Sores kept breaking out and worse could have been on the Agenda. Nothing that the GP or Practice Nurses prescribed had any impact. So I contacted Gemini for help. Her suggestion of using Aloe Vera Gel followed by Vaseline has done the trick.

My legs are getting back to their normal colour and soreness is a thing of the past.