Pig Pen

The dogs of change

Dog sitting has helped me realised how quickly we can adapt. Change may happen quickly or slowly, but we can adapt to either.

Writer's Ways 2: Copyright

Copyright gives details about ‘ownership’ and the terms and conditions as to use of the material in the work. Always copyright your work!

PKU

100 in June 2021

June was a busy month for the PKU family as we ran, cycled, walked, planked, push-upped our way towards International PKU day.

Brain Injury

Dizziness after brain injury

Dizziness can be hidden behind other injuries at first and can even interfere with treatments. When you are finally up and moving around, dizziness can be very isolating.

Writing

Writer’s ways 1

We write to communicate our thoughts, our ideas, our opinions, or to give information or news. We write because we want someone to read what we have to say.

PKU

100 for PKU

The campaign aims to get people active by setting a target to hit this month. Your target is 100. 100 km cycling or running, 100 minutes exercising, 100 push-ups, 100 lengths of the pool, 100 hula hoops-a-hooping... The possibilities are endless.

PKU

PKU awareness month 2021

PKU Awareness month has been difficult for me. My adherence to diet has not been great. It is odd to admit that I’m over 40 and still find myself sneaking food.

Brain Injury

Fatigue after ABI: boom and bust

Fatigue caused by an illness or injury is known as pathological fatigue. This isn’t the same as simply being tired...Pathological fatigue is always there.

PKU

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)