ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS... YOU GUYS!!

Photography: RJ Photography

It’s that time of year again!

Some people will probably think this post a little premature: “it’s not even December!” I hear them say… But I think that the majority of people have now started doing the typical Christmassy things by now; buying presents, decorations, look at Christmas photos on Pinterest for ideas of DIYs…

Personally, my Christmas shopping is almost done! Just three more presents, and another gift bag and cards to buy! And yes, I’m one of those annoying who says – whenever the subject of presents comes up – that I won’t be buying much for people and I won’t be buying for as many people as the previous year. And then I find myself with three large gift bags, and eight medium sized ones looking at me in the living room.

I also, have my Christmas tree! Last year, I thought that my tree was one of those ones that have colour co-ordinated branches that match a certain height of the tree and you just slide them in. So, I pulled the branches off – thinking ‘God I must’ve put them in tight!’ to discover that it wasn’t one of those trees. And so, my partner and I were looking at Christmas trees and had narrowed it down to three before Wilkinsons put one of them as 50% the normal price; and our trip into town to do the food shop ended up with us getting a big trolley in Morrisons to stick the tree in! But don’t worry, it isn’t up yet -I usually start decorating around two weeks before the big day.

#NURSINGANDCOPRODUCTION WITH CYGNET HEALTHCARE | AD

I was honoured, this week, to attend another Cygnet Healthcare event: ‘Cygnet Nursing Conference: IsCo-production the answer to reducing restrictive practice?’

Being invited to conferences, I like to make sure that I:

1. Understand the topic,

2. Have an interest in the topic, and

3. It will be relevant to readers.

When friends and family were asking what the event was about, I simplified it (not to sound patronising or condescending) with ‘talking about how working together can result in less restraints and forced medications and things(!).’ Number one? Check!

Co-production is the buzz word of the mental health industry right now; professionals are all promoting working alongside service users to create; a better experience of services, a safer environment, and a better understanding.  My personal experience of mental health services (as a whole) has been that staff would tell service users the rules and there were ‘punishments’ when they weren’t 100% adhered to. As my mental health improved, I began to see that what would be easier, is to work together; there could be no understanding without equality. Number two? Check!

The conference was centred around mental health. Number three? Check!

It was an early start - as most events/conferences are – but refreshments in the registration room and Rafik(Raf) Hamaizia’s cheerful, and positive Welcome speech seemed to have everyone eager for the day ahead!

TWO YEARS 'TIL WE MARRY & ONE YEAR SINCE THE PROPOSAL

In exactly two years (22^nd November 2019), I’ll be standing at the front of a church telling my soul mate “I do,” love him and will continue to for all eternity.
And tomorrow will be the one year anniversary since I said ‘yes,’ I’ll make that promise, and say those vows, and wear that beautiful princess-cut diamond ring.

Forever and beyond

That’s how long I’ll stay

How long I’ll love you

With the promise not to stray

I’ll be by your side

When times get tough

Through the good and the bad

When things are rough

I can’t imagine life without you

I hope I never do

I’d much rather think about

The moment I say ‘I do’

HOW I STOPPED THINKING IN BLACK OR WHITE

I’m sure this it quite common for writers/bloggers; but I can draw inspiration for blog posts from the random of things. This post comes from a ‘challenge’ doing its rounds on Facebook. Every day for seven days, you’re meant to post a black and white photo. It can’t be of a person and you can’t explain it in the photo description/wall post. You also have to nominate someone on day one (you’ll have been nominated yourself from someone else, obviously!) to keep the challenge rolling.

Obviously, you’ve seen the title to this post I’m sure there’s no need to point it out, but the ‘black and white’ aspect of the challenge inspired me to write about black and white thinking.

COPING WITH MY ABUSER'S PROMOTION

I know already that this is going to be a hard post to write. And not because it’s deep, or emotional. But because I need to talk about something to do with my trauma, and as most of you (although there’s been a lot of new readers recently! – Welcome to I’m NOT Disordered!!) know; ‘due to legal reasons,’ I can’t give much information about the sexual abuse and rape that I was subjected to.

I could understand not being allowed to tell you the person’s name, but it’s that I can’t even tell you the basics. For example, what profession this person is in, or where the abuse happened. Apparently, just by saying those two basic details, and if you knew me during the years the abuse happened (2006-2007) then you could put it all together; and make a reasonable assumption of the identity of the person. Apparently, that wouldn’t be fair on him because he was never proven guilty.