A momentous week!

Yes, I know what's on everyone's lips right now. Mark is finally on the Internet at home!

It's so handy being able to look up your calendar, the work one and your personal one. The paper ones become that bit less central. The joy of being able to chat to friends on the other side of the planet. I e-mailed a very dear friend in the United States. It feels so different somehow. I was cooking a veggie burger while I was chatting too. That is a peculiar experience.

Usually, it's work, or a library that I use to surf. I connected it myself too.

Oh yes, we have a new Prime Minsiter too. That happened this week too....

Played Tennis and then a radio show

I played tennis today. We all did pretty well. Had a meal around my son's and then later Mark's Lazy Sunday on HRC (Hospital Radio Chelmsford) - What a full life I lead!

Epilepsy

I first encountered epilespy when I was 17, in 1967. I was walking in the town on the way home from work. Now, here's the funny thing, you don't remember you were walking on your way home.... until .... you come round! Losing conciousness is indeed a wierd experience!

Facts about epilepsy:
No-one really knows what causes it (in cases like mine where the cause wasn't physical)
Many great historical figures had epilepsy (epilepsy didn't stop Julius Caesar from conquering Britain!)
We know so little about it
The best fact: 70% of people diagnosed with epilespy go on to become seizure-free, once their specialists have got to grips with the individual's particular condition!

I haven't had a fit since June 4th 1971 - (only had one then, because during some exploratory procedure, it was necessary to take me off my prescription)
I can drive a car!
I lead a perfectly normal life.

The only drawback is that the drugs make me tired, just a little more quickly than I would otherwise be.

The solution? To immerse yourself in enriching hobbies and interests that challenge you!
Challenging your brain and your intellect .... I am told, is also a good anti-Alzheimer's strategy!

Singing

There are many things said about singing. One of the most impressive claims is that, while it does not cure, it seems it opens up patients with Alzheimer's. One patient, who was previously unable to communicate with his wife, before singing, can now communicate better. If this is proven, this is wonderful news!

I've been singing in a choir since 1994, one of the first things I did when I joined this university, was to join the choir. I have no doubt of the therapeutic value of singing, even though I can't point to any scientific proof. I have epilepsy. I am sure that the trick with epilepsy is to make sure you don't have seizures. The longer you can do that, perhaps the pathways, that were damaged, become clearer and work more normally?

Part of my therapy is drugs. Perhaps without knowing it, another part is singing?

Drawing Florence

This is a sketch of Florence that I did, while I was in Cromer, Norfolk, of course!