tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2256212181535929922012-02-01T01:00:10.143ZAliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.comBlogger691100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-40542645064131627302012-01-26T00:27:00.000Z2012-01-26T00:27:32.879Z

If you say "this situation I’m in is making me ill" and you mean it’s giving you cancer or infecting you with MRSA people would say how shocking it is and what can be done about it. I'm going through some crap at the moment; some of it you may know about and some of it you don't. I said to someone "it's making me ill" and she, with all the care and concern in the world, replied "yes that’s

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-67770410913054536432011-12-30T07:44:00.001Z2011-12-30T08:13:11.829Z

I feel I have to say something, as looking at my blog search terms there are just too many people finding this blog by searching out things like "how to stitch myself". I'm deeply saddened that those terms lead to this blog, I guess I can't really change it. But I can respond to it. I wrote a post about how bad it is to be stitched in A&E with no anaesthetic, where I included pictures and

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-44112953493823348952011-12-19T21:56:00.000Z2011-12-19T21:56:33.005Z

I had food poisoning today. I had to go to hospital for treatment. While I was there, the doctor asked me a strange question. He said, "Ali, what did you have to eat on your 4th birthday?" "Um, I can't remember that much about it. Birthday cake I suppose, and probably jelly and ice cream." "Aaah," replied the doctor, knowingly. "That will be why you're throwing up today. I bet it was the birthday

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-52336501678062799072011-12-17T18:50:00.001Z2011-12-17T18:59:40.591Z

Cold? Check. Dirty? Check. Claggy, splodgy, heavy. Check. I am made of clay. You forgot grey and ugly too

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-1826992286684087992011-11-14T16:01:00.000Z2011-11-14T16:01:51.448Z

Ho ho ho and all that! I wasn't going to post this so early in the year, I was going to wait a couple of weeks. But the requests have already started to trickle in for me to pass on my address to lovely people who want to send me a Crissmuss Card, so I thought I'd better post it now. Bah humbug and all that for talking about The C Word in November... I'd like to make a request please. As many

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-16169240439519122752011-10-21T23:35:00.000+01:002011-10-21T23:35:17.801+01:00

This is a guest post by Joanna Institutionalised discrimination runs through the highest levels of government and their departments, backed by a willing tabloid media, both of which are go uncontested and have directly resulted in higher rates of disability hate crimes. They shifted public perception into more extreme hatred over the last two years with their relentless campaign to blame sick/

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-72923388122589362962011-10-12T19:29:00.000+01:002011-10-12T19:29:29.908+01:00

This was initially submitted as a comment by Joanna in response to my previous post. However I felt what she said was so important that she's kindly given me permission to post it as a guest post in its own right. A very high percentage of presenting issues to A&E could be defined as ‘self-inflicted’ through lifestyle, addiction, or choice of activity. The there are people who use A&E as an

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-43050460021827636882011-10-08T22:45:00.000+01:002011-10-08T22:45:15.540+01:00

Drying hands on kitchen paper as I've run out of towels. They're all in the washing machine on repeat and will remain there until the water stops turning pink. Pick one: itchy dressing or expensive dressing. Can't have both, it doesn't exist. I'm currently enduring the itchy version supplied by Mad Tortoise Nurse [more about her another day] in an effort to avoid wastage. I shall endeavour to

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-49529830872079214432011-09-23T17:28:00.003+01:002011-09-23T23:55:23.844+01:00

Yesterday I heard of a new private clinic opening which in essence is like a private A&E. You turn up, pay £85 to see a doctor for assessment then pay for your treatment from a menu of options. As someone who uses A&E services somewhat frequently, I was interested to find out what the cost would be for an average repair, given the benefits of such a service such as less humiliation and punitive

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-90444847994408737322011-07-23T05:01:00.000+01:002011-07-23T05:01:05.333+01:00

I hate food. I love food, and I hate food. I am jealous of people who "do lunch", their main objective being to catch up and have a good chat rather than the meal itself. All those people in cafés and restaurants, and - unbelievably! - walking down the street eating a bag of chips. How the hell do they navigate that one? Oh, right, because they don’t hate food, food is just sustenance or

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-48477294915397478592011-07-17T19:00:00.002+01:002011-07-17T19:02:31.959+01:00

This is a guest post by Joanna The 'solution' to the benefits bill and cuts to mental health services is framed as employment but Access to Work doesn’t really doesn't grasp the complexity of people's lives and that people without qualifications are most likely to be pushed into temporary contract work of a manual kind and remain there. Or, they will be consigned to ‘Workfare’, this could

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-23997982072157222112011-07-08T01:56:00.000+01:002011-07-08T01:56:28.792+01:00

Warning for descriptions of self-harm, please don't read if you're having a wobbly day. I'm typing this, as I've been doing everything for a few days, using mainly one hand. The other arm is resting at my side, feeling bruised and uncomfortable and very heavy due to being in a plaster cast. Every so often [maybe once or twice a year] I get a very strong idea of an injury to do to myself.

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-1353519183360072002011-07-04T06:03:00.000+01:002011-07-04T06:03:41.694+01:00

Being appreciated is a lovely feeling, so imagine my delight when I went to catch up with what the lovely Sharon at Waffling On About was up to, to find that she'd given me a very pretty blog award! I first 'met' Sharon just before the last General Election [when the world was a better place]. Brought together by our mutual fears about what was to come, we found solace on the Scrabble board,

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-7604395909916149622011-06-04T03:17:00.005+01:002011-12-27T18:01:14.199Z

I got skin camo! It's taken a while, what with getting the guts to ask for it and moving house and changing GPs and everything, but I finally have it in my possession. For those who don't know, skin camouflage is a special high-pigment makeup designed to cover scars and tattoos and other areas of skin we might not want on show. It's better than normal concealer or foundation makeup and it's

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-22616978536211082222011-05-31T14:35:00.001+01:002011-06-18T09:16:02.499+01:00

Dear Housing Association, Thank you for your email today to remind me that I am a couple of weeks behind in my rent. This is due to a cut in my benefits which will hopefully be resolved soon, once I have convinced the DWP that moving house does not equate to spontaneous recovery. I am so pleased you have finally figured out how to email me. I was beginning to wonder if your offices possessed

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-80932812241665587962011-05-08T19:56:00.000+01:002011-05-08T19:56:19.523+01:00

human excrement is incredibly slippery I love Domestos I also love face masks Cillit Bang is useful only as a psychological cleaning chemical i.e. it stinks of bleach and makes your eyes water but doesn't actually get anything clean Drain Unblocking People are super-awesome the guy upstairs uses pink toilet paper if you whimper and tell someone you have OCD it's quite possible they'll take pity

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-8135774181124907292011-04-28T11:06:00.000+01:002011-06-18T09:17:33.755+01:00

..please read this. Who is the Most Deserving? My apologies, I don't have the time nor brainpower to write anything meaningful today, but this post by Sue on Diary Of A Benefit Scrounger needs to be read, and shared, and read again.

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-51370541134519621962011-03-24T02:03:00.000Z2011-03-24T02:03:22.761Z

I want to tell you about my friend, Susie. Susie has a rare blood disorder. This was diagnosed after an arduous process of months of blood tests and appointments with various doctors and other healthcare professionals. She now sees a hospital consultant every two months, has a nurse visit her once a week to check everything is in order, takes medication daily and has access to an emergency

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-62949154632273564282011-03-10T04:47:00.000Z2011-03-10T04:47:12.050Z

Hello, I need a taxi from Sainsbury's on Thingy Road please, going to HomePlace. Which entrance of Sainsbury's are you at? [looks around, can't see another entrance] Erm... the Thingy Road entrance. Near Thatshop and [looks around again] SomewherePub. OK, are you at the main entrance or weirdlynamedandImustfindoutwhy entrance? Sorry mate, I'm not sure which you mean, but if you tell the driver

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-23234375363953683012011-02-25T03:27:00.000Z2011-02-25T03:27:57.985Z

I love my new flat! I love my new flat! I love my new flat! I love my new flat! I love my new flat! I love my new flat! I love my new flat! I love my new flat! I love my new flat! I love my new flat! I love my new flat! I love my new flat! I love my new flat! I love my new flat! I love my new flat! I love my new flat! I love my new flat! I love my new flat! I love my new flat!

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-19015071003920108592011-02-22T02:00:00.000Z2011-02-22T02:00:19.603Z

I hate moving. I hate moving. I hate moving. I hate moving. I hate moving. I hate moving. I hate moving. I hate moving. I hate moving. I hate moving. I hate moving. I hate moving. I hate moving. I hate moving. I hate moving. I hate moving. I hate moving. I hate moving. I hate moving. I hate moving. I hate moving.

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-230188039375332722011-02-13T17:17:00.001Z2011-06-18T09:16:02.505+01:00

Warning – this post contains graphic descriptions of having cuts stitched, and photographs which although they're not realistically graphic they might put you off your lunch if you're not careful. A common cause of distress when attending the emergency department for self-injury repair is the way that some doctors and nurses choose to use inadequate pain relief when suturing wounds. This

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-23722821817179933042011-02-05T18:46:00.000Z2011-02-05T18:46:46.773Z

This is a guest post by Joanna There is research which shows that work related stress is the main reason for sick days so clearly work is not always that good for you. It very much depends on pay/conditions/whether your skills are being utilised. Every single high profile person and government official who has claimed employment is the answer are in jobs earning over £30,000 [some

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-10230467561729625462011-01-15T23:20:00.000Z2011-01-15T23:20:27.590Z

Overwhelmed. I think over the past few days I have said that word more times than any other. At the beginning of this week, I wrote a blog post. To me it was just a normal blog post, OK I was writing about difficult stuff but in my mind nothing really special about it. I expected a few people to read it, maybe get a few supportive comments and that would be the end of it. How wrong I was! Over

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-65248575439096566492011-01-10T20:38:00.000Z2011-06-18T09:18:52.098+01:00

Just a quick note - I'm talking about suicide in this post, MY suicide. If you don't wish to read this, please click the X now. Some people don't like reading about such things, some people think it's wrong to talk about it before the event, some people are simply upset by the subject. I respect anyone's choice not to read this post, so please take this as your only warning and leave now if you

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com61tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-54385134863951210702011-01-07T10:31:00.000Z2011-01-07T10:31:25.966Z

Check behind sofa. Go into kitchen. Try to dodge the entrance to the loft above my head, because the man up there is watching me through the crack. Back into the lounge, check behind sofa to make sure no-one got in in the 2 minutes I was out of the room. Into bathroom, stay away from extractor fan in ceiling because man in attic can see me though that too. (Please note this prevents all showering

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-1272069153483346742010-12-14T23:40:00.001Z2011-06-18T09:18:21.314+01:00

Imagine a child, age ten or eleven. Overbearing parent, doesn't let the child cry. Child falls over and hurts their knee, but gets told they must be brave and not cry. Parents split up, child very upset, but gets told they must be big brave boy/girl and not cry. As long as child doesn't cry, it knows parents will be happy. Must suppress emotions at all costs, mustn't upset mummy or daddy by

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-605856002862632452010-11-11T19:16:00.000Z2010-11-11T19:16:33.774Z

A thought I had almost daily growing up with my mother. My mother who back then was viewed by all as a caring, concerned - if perhaps slightly overprotective - mother. Today people tell me she had Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy. I'm not sure if I agree with that label, but more on that later. As a kid, I was never off meds. There was always a small brown bottle of something or other sitting on top

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-56825538613530497442010-09-14T04:55:00.002+01:002010-09-14T06:10:02.964+01:00

Some things they don't tell you when you make the decision to escape a violent relationship or family. You will miss your ex. No matter how evil s/he was, the fact remains that there was a time you were in love, and you stayed through the shit for a reason. Or if it was family you were escaping, you will miss them too. If, like me, you had several people to escape at once, you'll find yourself

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-34926782860820314342010-09-05T18:42:00.006+01:002011-06-18T09:18:21.325+01:00

A little light relief (and a trigger warning for self-injury and BPD just in case you're having a fragile day; please know this is all tongue-in-cheek and not meant to be offensive) After a conversation with a friend earlier about this presentation by Prof Anthony W Bateman where we were puzzled as to what exactly is meant by "dramatic self-mutilation" and if (as my friend put it) it could

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-69838645205325407012010-08-06T22:01:00.000+01:002010-08-06T22:01:58.823+01:00

I've been writing and thinking far too much about the benefits crap recently, so you'll be pleased to know this has nothing to do with it. Crap, yes, but not benefits crap. Today we shall be talking about actual crap. Poo. Shit. Faeces (or feces, I guess, for our friends across the pond). Take warning here and now, you might not want to continue reading if you're eating or have a dodgy

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-90015840539924210752010-07-27T21:03:00.002+01:002010-07-27T21:05:31.763+01:00

As I said in the comments of a previous post, this is still personally a really tough subject for me to talk or read about, so my apologies for this being not the most well-constructed post and for most of it being quotes.  It was still my intention to be taking a break from reading/talking about welfare reform in any great detail, but I've just read this totally heartbreaking story and couldn't

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-67240691640254941192010-06-29T21:59:00.000+01:002010-06-29T21:59:51.629+01:00

To quote Pastor Martin Niemöller: They came first for the Communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for me and by that time no one was left to speak up.* Now, they're coming for that

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-61514491770214921142010-06-25T04:56:00.000+01:002011-06-18T09:18:21.331+01:00

So I want to describe a recent visit to A&E. "Oh here we go, she's off again, moaning about the NHS..." well, no. The reason this visit warrants telling here is because it was a perfect example of Them Getting It Right, which needs talking about just as much as Them Getting It Wrong - even more in fact, because it's usually rarer! I arrived at around 9pm - not a good time to be there and I

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-89479380674247236242010-05-28T18:29:00.001+01:002011-06-18T09:18:21.337+01:00

Every time I get out of it, I swear never to put myself in this place again. But it always happens - I start to topple over, I get desperate, I get dazzled by all the promises of "but maybe this time it really will be different"... It's like a grotesque version of The Generation Game with a conveyor belt moving in front of me full of all the fabulous services glittering and full of promise (sadly

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-10105445198873393202010-05-13T01:42:00.000+01:002011-06-18T09:18:21.343+01:00

That is the question. Well, it's not a question, more of a command. Whether it's an A&E doctor, GP, practice nurse, psychiatrist, CPN, home treatment team and anyone in between, I've been requested to show my scars by practically every professional you could think of. No prizes for guessing what my standard answer is: No. But No isn't allowed, No is being unhelpful or stubborn or being

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-90116793366941732312010-04-24T19:10:00.003+01:002011-06-18T09:18:21.349+01:00

I hate labels. People try to label me all the time. Marital status, sexuality, political preference, even arguing over whether the fact that I eat wine gums means I'm a real vegetarian or not. If you must know, I'm 'divorced' from a same-sex marriage that wasn't legal at the time, I'm neither homo-, hetero- or bisexual (if you push me I'll say pansexual which is the least limiting word I've come

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-54529622278713073442010-04-21T14:50:00.000+01:002010-04-21T14:50:53.585+01:00

1 can of Rentokil, 2 cans of Raid, bottle of citronella oil, box of candles, container of Nippon powder, 2 repellent sprays, a roll of thick gaffer tape to cover all the nasty pictures and words on the cans and bottles, and three pieces of very fine voile curtain ready to be superglued around my windows. Can't you tell the weather's warming up?!

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-25673097886087621852010-04-17T22:35:00.002+01:002011-07-18T17:45:24.159+01:00

One of the quickest recipes I've come across that doesn't involve "adding hot water and allowing to stand for 3 minutes". You will need: One bag of frozen fruit (I used cherries, I also have blueberries on standby to use at a later date) One pot of natural yoghurt One blender One freezerable container (such as a Lock & Lock which as we all know is far superior to Tupperware) One freezer Add

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-87200604908254767782010-04-02T00:35:00.002+01:002010-04-02T03:44:34.538+01:00

No, not you dear friend ;) I'm talking about that twat at the back with the skinhead standing next to that woman with the eternal look of being hard done by on her face, flanked by two brick shithouses on steroids and several other disgusting individuals baying for my blood. Regular readers may have noticed there's been a bit of a gap in postings (and tweetings, and facebookings, and any other

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-30484470198115756112010-02-03T05:07:00.005Z2010-04-01T17:18:44.822+01:00

Monday night, I panicked because there was no alcohol in the house. Then I panicked because I panicked there was no alcohol. Still, even the realisation of "oh shit, I'm stressing coz I got no booze, what the fuck's happening to me?!" didn't stop me visiting the off licence, at a stupid time of night, in the snow and ice, walking directly past the place where all the local muggers hang out. Oh

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-83742563120910336832010-01-22T18:54:00.000Z2010-01-22T18:54:57.676Z

Thanks to Dan Brown for the title - the rest is all my own work, I swear :P I saw an angel on the bus yesterday, I'm not really sure what to make of it. I used to see angels quite a lot, including famous ones - I once excitedly told my friend that I saw a particular famous person in town that day, and he said "sorry to disappoint you, but he's been dead for about 5 years", how embarrassing! So

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-69990576168545813082010-01-03T04:37:00.003Z2011-06-18T09:18:21.354+01:00

January 3rd. My Independence Day. 3 years ago today, I fled. I'd had enough, I couldn't take another day of them. It had been going on for years, I'd escaped before but always gone back. I'm not sure what made it different this time, what finally gave me the strength to leave for good. I think it was a combination of "the final straw" and having some amazingly supportive friends behind me. New

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-35348157829165714742010-01-02T21:56:00.001Z2010-01-02T21:57:05.701Z

Marigold now has her own blog! Catch it here http://notocdhonest.blogspot.com/

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-84794415358782509602009-12-17T23:00:00.002Z2011-06-18T09:18:21.359+01:00

So yesterday ended in a trip to A&E. I don't want to dwell on it too much, it sucked to be there and a few things went wrong but if you've read previous posts you'll know that in one respect it was a good thing that I sought treatment, so let's think happy thoughts. What I do want to share are a few people who made my visit ultimately rather entertaining. I was in the waiting room when a couple

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-80780984798446080222009-12-07T01:26:00.002Z2009-12-07T02:49:29.993Z

It seems the impending doom festivities of the season are having a widespread effect - several people I know who don't usually like the idea of medication are considering it, and a few who are already taking minimal doses are considering getting shizz increased. Me included. Or at least, I was... I've no problem whatsoever with whatever medication choices anyone else makes and will always support

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-52188147603535710102009-11-20T10:55:00.001Z2011-06-18T09:18:21.364+01:00

Sorry, this might end up being rambly moany, I'll try not to make it so but I can't make any promises ;) Sometimes it's hard for me to draw a line between 'telling it like it is' and 'telling it like it feels' which is quite a bit different, and I'd prefer to do more of the former here and keep the latter for my late-night chats with the wall. One word of warning though - in the name of telling

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-39147071592684737572009-11-06T18:49:00.004Z2009-11-06T18:56:57.843Z

"Parents whose children may have been abused by nursery worker Vanessa George will be allowed to choose to find out if they were victims, a judge has said." http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/8346537.stm I think this is just unbelievable. I don't understand why any parent would not want to know, and surely there is a legal obligation to tell parents if the authorities now know which children

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-49779970323718358672009-10-31T14:48:00.003Z2009-10-31T14:51:27.992Z

Yesterday I got a kick-in-the-guts reminder of just how much the Marigolditis has taken over for the past few months, in the form of my 6-monthly water bill, which is 4 times what it is normally. Add the giant amount I have to pay onto the huge amount of eco-guilt for all that water I've 'wasted', and it makes for quite a crappy feeling. They don't mention any of that in the manuals...

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-62321449121060806352009-10-18T07:46:00.009+01:002009-10-18T08:32:25.618+01:00

Anyone who reads my Twitter feed from here (and I know you do*) will have probably noticed I've been tweeting a lot about boobs recently. That's because boobs are awesome, and we should all do everything we can to help protect them from the evilness that is breast cancer. You could donate (your money or your time) to a breast cancer charity, or if you don't want to get so involved you could

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-1121841682930576052009-10-11T00:22:00.002+01:002009-10-11T04:06:01.880+01:00

This chart is designed to help you to decide what to wear when attending appointments with mental health professionals. Select your outfit carefully, the outcome of your visit could depend on it! (note: while some of these are just for fun, many are based on actual reactions from professionals during real appointments. Yes, really.) Any suggestions for additions welcome!

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-72835315126390001462009-09-24T07:27:00.003+01:002009-09-24T07:53:17.172+01:00

Seen on a blog: "What if the reason I'm not responding to any medications is that I don't want to get better?".*1 It's far from the first time I've heard comments like that, from professionals and users alike, and I know it won't be the last. That's why psychiatry in its current form scares the hell out of me, especially medication. No-one would ever give you some paracetamol for a headache

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-35841665859330211702009-09-19T05:14:00.002+01:002009-09-19T05:27:23.716+01:00

I want to be a dentist =D I'm not a sadist or anything, but there is something incredibly satisfying in seeing someone in a lot of pain and being able to fix it, or helping someone feel better about how they look through fixing how their teeth look. I'd be crap at being a doctor, it's the bodily fluids; blood I can handle no worries, vomit I can just about tolerate if it belongs to someone I

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-44330418528843641152009-09-17T03:41:00.003+01:002009-12-31T22:28:17.997Z

If you're here, it's because either you follow me or I follow you (or both!) - either way, you've probably made me smile at least once over the past year and for that I thank you ;D Wowza, look at all the tweeple! I hope none of you are bots! :P ;) Get your twitter mosaic here.

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-55125515216142243722009-09-10T16:56:00.001+01:002009-09-28T03:35:52.928+01:00

I really, really, really hate cleaning. This morning when I got up, here's what I had to do: Hoover every room in the flat Put away a load of dried laundry and put another load in the machine Hoover the kitchen again because doing the laundry had caused "dust" Clean the cooker and microwave (although I hadn't used either since the last time I cleaned them) Go around the place using sterilising

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-17667030972455588862009-09-05T16:50:00.008+01:002009-09-05T17:30:48.276+01:00

They've finally invaded.Someone has sneaked into my room in the middle of the night, surgically removed my sinuses without my knowledge or consent, and replaced them with an angry army of evil flesh-eating hedgehogs on acid.It hurts :(But, we have a secret weapon - steam! Well, electric steam! The standard head-over-a-bowl didn't work (tipping head forward enrages the hedgehogs) so we've got an

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-69006793310121459572009-08-25T02:33:00.013+01:002009-09-28T03:36:50.261+01:00

An extract from Star Trek: Voyager, Season 5, episode 18: Doctor: They want you! Chakotay: Why? Doctor: Because you have the gene. Chakotay: The crazy gene? Doctor: Yes, the crazy gene. The aliens are trying to speak to you and the only thing keeping you from understanding them is your own fear. Your fear of losing control, your fear of the unknown. Chakotay: The unknown? And I don't want

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-84649539639664846072009-08-18T05:55:00.003+01:002011-06-18T09:18:21.370+01:00

"The futility of assessing someone's mental state when attending A&E for self harm injuries, or, why the hell do they base important (often potentially life-changing) decisions on what they see of us during this time."Let's start by looking at some the things they're looking to find out. The cynic in me (on the basis of personal experience) could say that in essence, all they want to do is for me

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-71667755739867705152009-08-12T00:54:00.008+01:002011-06-18T09:18:21.376+01:00

I just wanted to give a personal perspective on this, as most of the things I've been doing surrounding it have been more geared towards trying to raise awareness and poke the powers that be.So, the government want to scrap Attendance Allowance and Disability Living Allowance. Nice, thanks a lot, guys. Let me start by saying these aren't benefits blindly handed out to so-called scroungers or

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-78408552001738070182009-08-01T01:25:00.003+01:002009-08-01T01:32:43.645+01:00

I went for a walk this evening. It was raining, and cold, and I loved it =]I took some pictures, the quality's not great because of the rain, but my intention wasn't really to produce a masterpiece, it was more to remind myself that even though I live in this mahoosive city there's still heaps of green bits (which is kinda necessary for my sanity levels).Fifteen minutes on good old Windows Movie

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-60680327060898836572009-07-30T18:21:00.004+01:002009-07-30T19:37:24.233+01:00

The Happy Tribble =]Feeding:Tribbles traditionally like to eat grain, but since a nasty encounter with some poisoned quadrotriticale, they prefer the more easily-available pet food - which works out quite well for the average human owner.Sometimes your Tribble might like what his kitty sisters eatAnd sometimes he might fancy a bit of what his doggie brothers usually munch onIt's important not to

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-45185582614481809142009-07-28T01:21:00.006+01:002009-08-01T01:49:38.163+01:00

(with the possible exception of one of those cake-in-a-mug things, but they've got eggs in which we Don't Eat Unless We Have To, so in Ali-land this is the quickest sugar-rush ever)2 tablespoons of caster sugar, 4 tablespoons of olive oil, 6 tablespoons of flour. In a bowl, mix it all together, it turns to dough, roll it out about 1/2 inch thick, cut it into shapes using knife or cookie cutters,

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-19623040337070557122009-07-25T11:35:00.008+01:002011-06-18T09:18:21.381+01:00

Some things to remember when you're attending A&E for repair of self-harm injuries: The more understanding and caring the front-of-house staff (receptionist, triage nurse) appear to be, the less understanding the staff will be when you are being treated. If the receptionist looks down her nose at you, don't worry, things can only get better. The number of people who pop their heads round the

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-30976814050882367432009-07-18T02:27:00.003+01:002009-07-18T07:28:41.665+01:00

Our daily bread! =DTo make bread, Aliquant-style, you will need:A big mixing bowlA tablespoonSome flourA pair of scissorsA bottle of olive oilOne of those little packets of dried yeastA kettleA clothes pegA baking traySome saltA measuring jugA sharp knifeA cooker with a working ovenA cup of coffee (well, I did say Aliquant-style, and we never do anything without a cup of coffee close by)First,

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-33238064407406785592009-07-17T00:56:00.004+01:002009-07-17T01:21:27.493+01:00

No, I don't mean making disasters look pretty. It seems to be the week of Stuff Going Wrong in the health & gorgeousness department.Yesterday I went to clean my teeth, and found out too late I had put a generous amount of hand cream on the toothbrush. I've cleaned my teeth at least six times since then, but I can still taste it. It wasn't even a nice smelling/possibly nice tasting hand cream, it

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-81017106861876068412009-07-13T15:31:00.007+01:002011-06-18T09:18:21.386+01:00

It's so unfair. I'm talking of contradictions made by healthcare professionals when dealing with people.For example, last week I was in A&E and the doctor - although a decent one who seemed to care and stuff - started panicking a bit because the injury wasn't what she was used to seeing when she sees "self harm" on the card. Also she saw I was there the week before with a similar injury. So she

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-34032841913241953932009-07-11T23:13:00.009+01:002009-07-12T00:59:24.433+01:00

It was a good dream.I dreamt I was in bed, and someone rang my doorbell. So I got out of my dream-bed, reached for my full-length leopard-print dream-dressing gown (Bet Lynch eat yer heart out), dragged it around my dream-self, stumbled down my dream-stairs and opened the door. There, stood before me in my dream, in a magnificent red robe, was a Handsome Prince. He looked like he had travelled a

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-69777820799365404702009-07-11T01:11:00.000+01:002009-07-11T01:43:03.325+01:00

Well, my blog title has a bit of meaning, and it's become fairly pertinent over this past evening, and as I don't envisage sleep happening anytime soon I may as well blog about it ::)I have tinnitus. It sucks ass. It takes various forms; sometimes it's like a high-pitched tone, sometimes it's whooooosssshhsshshshshhsshshshyyy type noises like you get when you hold a shell up to your ear and

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225621218153592992.post-2570968177855077672009-07-10T14:46:00.000+01:002009-07-10T15:42:26.539+01:00

They said I should have a blog, so now I have a blog. =]But what to write in the First Post? The problem is, anything I write will undoubtedly colour your impression of me for years to come. I could write about the Trek movie I saw the other day but then you'd think I was a Trekkie; I could write about the evil psychiatrist I saw last week but then you'd think I was a nutter; I could write about

Aliquanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16339858632700671279noreply@blogger.com5