When I was a little girl, my mum used to read me a tiny book called ‘The Flowery Umbrella’. It was narrated by a wee girl who imagined all the things she could do if she had a flowery umbrella. Like give an ice-cream to all the children in the world or float across oceans…

I  watched a dove sitting by itself on a lamp post for at least fifteen minutes. Eventually it flew off, clearly giving up on another dove coming to perch beside it. Do you ever wish that someone would come sit with you when you’re at a low moment?

Our dog is addicted to sunny spots. If left alone, she will invariably be found on the sofa if that’s where the sunlight falls. I watched her looking out the window at the sky and then searching the room for the brightest place to be. Do you think it would help if we were a…

I have faced a number of lonely moments, as you all have. Last Friday morning I was having an MRI and although I could sometimes glimpse the tops of the radiographers’ heads behind the glass, I was by myself. But! I reminded myself that, if we believe, God is always with us  I forgot that…

I’m beginning to hate absolutes when we all deserve a chance to tell another story about ourselves. For example ‘she has MS’ only defines one part of a multi-faceted, diverse histories person. Maybe we should think about expecting more from someone and not getting out a one covers everything stamp.

A few evenings ago I was watching the sky, hoping for some inspiration. A flock of crows were filling the clouds, but then I spotted a smaller group of swallows flying above them in a smaller, tighter circle. It made me think of friendship and the way people can surround you and lift you up…

(I’m so aware of people battling worse circumstances than me, I need to emphasize that from the outset. I can only speak from my own experience, that, I hope, is a given.)

Earlier I experienced above and beyond kindness. Do you ever see that one good experience can often open your eyes to more? If I think hard about it, there was at least one thing that happened before I’d even left the house. It is so easy to let negative events cloud your judgement about what…

With firsts. After depressing myself with photos of a more able, heel-wearing version of me, I made a firm decision to focus on the person I am right now. I started by reminding myself that in my current state, I would not have been cared for and spoiled by the amazing two women who took…

I know it’s hard, but sometimes you have to go over the things you used to know, that you haven’t been able to do for some time. Take heart and trust it will come back again.