I was watching ‘Paddington goes to Peru’ with my daughter yesterday (terrible film) and it got me thinking about home and belonging. I have been advised to not ‘overreach’ as I could unbalance myself and fall over. Paddington went the whole way back to where he came from to realise his real home was in…

And don’t be put off by the loud successes of people around you  I have been trying to follow that advice for a long time but it is so hard.

I am feeling so thankful for this change in the daylight hours. It has been a hard time in the dark wilderness through these past winter months, hasn’t it?

There is one mercy for some MS sufferers. When we get up in the morning, it’s like all our old weaknesses have been temporarily fixed. At the start of most days, I’m more able than at any other point of the day. Of course, by lunch time that’s been forgotten and my heavy limbs have…

To be ‘normal’? I remember, vaguely, when I could blend into any crowd because I was like them. Later, I loved swimming because my wonky legs were hidden. Later still, I sit in my room happy because nobody can see me. Unhealthy, isn’t it?

Last year the amaryllis I was given never bloomed. So when one arrived this winter I expected the same. I was entirely wrong! There are at least six blooms, jostling each other for space!

I have discovered that everything I do, every movement, every step, every venture has been shrunk down to avoid mishap. The fear of falling has swamped every big dream for my life.

Many people say ‘it’s not fair’, or ‘you’re so young’ or ‘why did God let that happen’. I don’t have an answer to any of those questions, like the ones that rise up when we watch the news or when someone we love gets sick.

Yes and no, can and can’t. Life is never as easy as that to describe. People are never as straightforward. Situations take longer to talk about.