Oreos & Gin

 As most of you know, I live with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA for short). Every year, The National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society ( NRAS) does an awareness week where they, along with members of the community, try and raise awareness of this condition. I t is so misunderstood. I try to do my bit, especially as a thirty-something woman living with this.  This year's theme is "Fact or Fiction".  They have created a mini quiz to test your knowledge of RA and give you a chance to win some prizes!  So What are you waiting for? Give it a go and tell me how you did! I'm an open book, so if you have any questions, whether about the condition itself or about my lived experience of it, Please do not hesitate to ask me!  If you are newly diagnosed (or think this might be what you are dealing with). First, you should know that things can only get better from here on out. I remember how bleak things seemed back then for me. Also, do not get fobbed off. Evidence shows that earl...

“Freedom!” What does that even mean? What does it mean to be really free? I’ve been pondering this for a while. I just finished re-reading The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood. In a totalitarian society like The Republic of Gilead, Freedom takes on an almost tangible urgency. When your speech, dress, sex - your being is under control, to be free means something completely different to say in our supposedly democratic society. Thoughts about Gilead mix with my thoughts about George Michael’s film Freedom. “Freedom!” What does that even mean? What does it mean to be really free? I’ve been pondering this for a while. I just finished re-reading The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood. In a totalitarian society like The Republic of Gilead, Freedom takes on an almost tangible urgency. When your speech, dress, sex - your being is under control, to be free means something completely different to say in our supposedly democratic society. Thoughts about Gilead mix with my thou...

postcard to Justine Greening Now except you've been living under a rock, you'd know that our current government is obsessed with Austerity. This has spread to our fundamental services. The NHS, PIP (formerly DLA) & now, Our Schools . The government says these cuts are necessary . We are the 5th largest economy in the world and so I really don't understand how it is justifiable to cut our safety nets. If you haven't visited the Schools Cuts website yet please do, I find that when numbers are made personal, they make a larger impact. For me, these cuts equate to my son's school losing 3 teachers. We are already seeing the consequences of these cuts in our schools. Here are the figures for The Isle of Wight as a whole: It's only going to get worse. We as parents have to speak up, It is our responsibility to advocate for the voices of tomorrow. Our education system is at risk from these cuts. I cannot overstate the need to snap out of the apathy t...