Pig Pen

PKU ‘Fish’ fingers

When I asked my friends for their recommendations for my first ‘fish’ finger supper, the reply was ‘I haven’t had those since I was 10.’ There is no reason for fish fingers to be a child only meal, we face too many food restrictions for that nonsense.

Brain Injury

Research & changes in sport related ABI

We should be using the phrase ‘sport related ABI’. This is because ‘particularly for neurodegeneration, it is not really about concussions, it is about knocks to the head.’

PKU

Four quick ‘school-night’ dinners

Quick, easy dinners to satisfy the taste buds and the PKU diet. Three of the recipes are Phe-free. The last has 2.5g Phe per adult portion with option to add more if needed.

Writing

First income as an author

This income wasn’t from directly from book sales nor from my publisher. Rather it came from secondary uses of my work.

Brain Injury

Change and neuroplasticity

Just as a brain injury survivor can find hope in neuroplasticity, so can someone rebuilding during and after the pandemic.

PKU

PKU and non-PKU lasagne in the same dish.

The need to double up on meals is a common problem for people with PKU. Hence a 2-in-1 lasagne. A single dish with one half PKU lasagne and the other non-PKU lasagne.

PKU

Tips for PKU and non-PKU pasta

I once knew a Frenchman who insisted that pasta cooked without salt and oil was an abomination. I tried it, and can confirm that both PKU and non-PKU pasta benefit

Writing

Dear New Zealand,

I want to tell you what we have learned so far. It will get worse before it gets better. Just because someone is being a dick, it doesn’t mean you should be a dick too.

PKU

Spring into spring with easy lunch ideas

With spring just around the corner, I’ve dusted off a few easy recipes to ‘spring’ out of the lunch rut. A PKU friendly Waldorf salad for those days when the sun comes out between the clouds. A protein free Mac & cheese for the days when we need a bit of comfort food, and quick soups.

Brain Injury

Follow a plan, not a feeling: Finding a way out of low mood.

Even with the promise of a better feeling ahead, it can be difficult to drag yourself into an activity when in a low mood. This is where the research meetings helped me.

PKU

PKU friendly recipes: carrot soup, and chewy ginger cookies

If you are a PKU batch cooker, then these Low-phe & Phe- free recipes are easy to scale up and fill the freezer or cookie jar this weekend.

PKU

PKU and being ‘Hangry’.

I can usually see when others are hangry, but it can be difficult to spot in myself. At least, difficult to spot before I say something I regret.

PKU

Resolution redux

If you have struggled with the changes, remember that by simply paying attention to what you are eating you are already making a difference. The habits and effects will come.

Brain Injury

New Year, New Book

It is unnerving to send a story out into the world, but I’m grateful to see that is has been well received: “Incredibly vivid... this book will be of great benefit to professionals, survivors and their families alike.”

Brain Injury

Art and Music Therapy in a Pandemic

The use of music as a reabilitation tool alongside other therapies had never occurred to me. Elizabeth Nightingale, the Neurological Services lead at Chiltern Neuro and Medical services provided an introduction to this fascinating field.

PKU

PKU at Christmas

This blog post has a plethora of links and I hope that some of them inspire you to a more PKU friendly Christmas.

Brain Injury

Living with Mild Brain Injury, a memoir

“Incredibly vivid... this book will be of great benefit to professionals, survivors and their families alike.” Dr Neil Parrett. Consultant Clinical Psychologist (Neurorehabilitation)

Brain Injury

Rugby concussions and Cricket rigour

We must continue to raise awareness of brain injury so that participants in all sports can make an informed decision about their safety.

PKU

Gyms and PKU

Like with everything, going to the gym should be fun and rewarding... it just takes a bit of time and care - like anything with PKU!

Brain Injury

Brain injuries and lack of insight

A lack of self-awareness, or a lack of insight, is fairly common in a brain injury survivor. I’ve suffered form it before and have written about it in my book, but how does one spot it in themselves?

PKU

Moving with PKU: Get moving.

In his first blog for PigPen.Page, Soheb discussed the benefits and potential pitfalls facing a PKU-er moving out of home for the first time. Part two looks at practicalities of moving and how to prepare.

PKU

Moving with PKU: Get ready

Moving out can be pretty intimidating in itself, but when you have PKU, it can feel incredibly intimidating...If you are consideing moving out into a new place, there are a few things you will need to think about carefully.

Brain Injury

Brain injuries in women

It has taken hundreds of years to discover that a common injury affects half of the population differently.

Brain Injury

Support for Brain Injury during the pandemic

The pandemic is far from over, but already there are positives to be found in understanding and treating Acquired Brain Injury.

Brain Injury

Coronavirus, rule changes and ABI

The pivot to a Covid response has caused considerable disruption to an already strained service. There have been reports that the NHS will not fully recover for four years.