I wrote this a couple of months as a submission for Issue 5 of the incredible Drawn Poorly Zine. Drawn Poorly is a Manchester-based project providing arts opportunities focused on chronic illness, disability and mental health conditions. Issue 5 invited people to submit words, art and photography that explored the theme of "FOMO" Fear Of … Continue reading Ticking the boxes
Abrasion
I wrote this essay-style post as a submission for a zine. It wasn't quite the right fit for them but it's a response to the theme of 'abrasion' as it relates to the body and mind. Abrasion as a pain, a wound, friction, the scraping away of skin, a spot of raw flesh, a badly healed … Continue reading Abrasion
It’s a mixed bag | SICK ZINE
I was lucky enough to have a short submission to SICK ZINE accepted, see below for a scanned entry the full version of the entire zine will be available online shortly and I'll post the link. This was part of a project led by Lara Plavčak during a zine residency at Fish Factory in Cornwall. … Continue reading It’s a mixed bag | SICK ZINE
Summer sunflowers
I really like sunflowers. Compared to most plants, I like to think sunflowers are pretty ambitious. They come out about once a year and are capable of growing up to 300cm - that's nearly double my height. Aside from the thrill of cultivating some wild cress heads with my class mates in primary school, I … Continue reading Summer sunflowers
Mind the gap
In the same way our ‘shoulder bone is connected to the neck bone’ and our ‘neck bone is connected to the head bone,’ the physical symptoms of any condition are linked to our mental wellbeing. Our minds are connected to our bodies and physical health has huge ramifications on our emotional state and vice versa. … Continue reading Mind the gap
Voice and identity
Pretty much everyone cringes when they hear recorded versions of their voice. It’s hugely different to how it sounds in your mind. My voice has always sounded ‘normal’ to me. It’s been steady and regular and it’s developed alongside my vocabulary and life experience. Speaking objectively, my voice is a little higher than average. It’s … Continue reading Voice and identity
Neighbours as a meditation tool
Yes, they may be fictional and 10,538 miles away from me but the residents of Ramsay Street are 'good neighbours and good friends' to me, just like the theme tune says. I'm fully aware that it's not cool at all to like Neighbours but I can't stop watching it. Those 25 minutes of pure, slow-paced … Continue reading Neighbours as a meditation tool
House of cards
I think I've only ever tried to build a house of cards, or even a two storey small pyramid of cards when I've been somewhere pretty grey, dull, rainy and boring. At the moment, my health is boring me so I'm going to describe it as a shoddy pack of cards...no grand designs here! At … Continue reading House of cards
A big fat thank you made up of loads of little thanks
No really, I mean it. I've taken a bit of an unintentional break from the blog over the last couple of months but I want to rejuvenate my posts by writing a bit about how grateful I am. It's unfashionably late to be writing this - I probably should have posted along with the tides … Continue reading A big fat thank you made up of loads of little thanks
Adjusting
adjustverb UK /(MAKE CHANGES): to change something slightly, especially to make it more correct, effective, or suitable: e.g."If the chair is too high you can adjust it to suit you." I've been practicing the art of adjustment lately as part of my ongoing efforts to adapt to the 'new normal' I'm presented with. I'm trying to adjust to the fact that I'm doing 'alright for Liv' rather than … Continue reading Adjusting
