Ticking the boxes

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 OfContinueContinue reading “Ticking the boxes”

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! AtContinueContinue 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 tidesContinueContinue 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 thanContinueContinue reading “Adjusting”

Now it’s the vocal cords

“On the first day of Christmas my body gave to meeeeee…One floppy windpipe…Two misbehaving vocal cords… Zero gold rings, some tricky severe asthma and a trip to see Speech and Language Therapyyyyy.” Most people slide in to December defrosting their car and making their way through an advent calendar. Don’t get me wrong, I’m feeling prettyContinueContinue reading “Now it’s the vocal cords”

Shouting in to the Google void

When I got the diagnosis of subglottic tracheomalacia. I sat there bleary-eyed and not really able to take stuff in. I’d just had a bronchoscopy which involves shoving a thin flexible tube (about the width of one of your finest HB pencils) up your nose and down in to the back of your throat. ThisContinueContinue reading “Shouting in to the Google void”

It’s okay to be unwell

Posting this after another reminder from my extremely supportive partner that I need to stop fighting my own body and let myself be poorly (said in a lovely Teesside accent). Allowing myself to stop and let my body take control is one of the biggest learning curves I’ve struggled with. The reality is that chronicContinueContinue reading “It’s okay to be unwell”

I’m 28 years old and my Dad blow-dried my hair today

I’m not talking about a professional curly blow that left my locks all glossy and bouncy, nor am I talking about a sleek straight blow dry finish. I’m talking about a messy but functional blow dry from a man who loves me dearly but who doesn’t believe in the power of using a nozzle toContinueContinue reading “I’m 28 years old and my Dad blow-dried my hair today”

It’s a bit like the Truman Show

Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve been feeling very much like a bewildered Jim Carrey when he finds out that his life is actually a reality TV show. To illustrate this more accurately, I’ll describe some of the details of what has happened including the ‘juicy bit’ which includes a lovely hospital stay. TheContinueContinue reading “It’s a bit like the Truman Show”

It’s just not working

I’ve always distantly appreciated The Verve. As a band, they’ve got some pretty powerful songs that have a nice familiarity to them whenever I hear them. I particularly like ‘Bitter Sweet Symphony’ on long car journeys through dramatic scenery, makes me feel all invincible. Anyway, one of their other hits ‘Drugs Don’t Work’ has beenContinueContinue reading “It’s just not working”