Funny how much can happen in a decade. I recently dug up one of my old articles to send to someone. I couldn't believe I wrote it 10 years ago! Where has the time gone??

I can't say I'm any the wiser in 2010 than I was in 2000, but I am happy to say that I am also physically (overall) not significantly worse than I was 10 years ago. Yes, some symptoms have progressed, but so has my ability to cope with them, my emotional resilience is more robust, so arach, is not managing me, I am managing it (most of the time!)

As for the next 10 years... well one thing I have learnt, it's   best taken just as it comes... one day at a time!

Naysayers and charlatans

Some people seem to like to sow suspicion and spread dissention.  I  feel strongly that Support Groups should live up to their names and the people in them should act accordingly: support each other, not undermine. What good can destructive comments do? Sometimes I think my grandmother had it right when she taught me "If you haven't got anything good to say, say nothing at all"

That said, sometimes there is a need for a word of warning: I've been sent information about someone who has preyed upon vulnerable people by selling them not only a sham treatment, but one that can be dangerous.

If anyone hears of a treatment that suggests it can 'cure' then please let us know here at www.theaword,org : we will check it out...after all, if it's genuine, we'd like to spread the word. But sadly, there is no cure as yet, so please be wary of any false claims.

Here's hoping for more positive news next week...

Hot and bothered...

Phew it's been hot...and even hotter in Geneva and Chambery when we went out to the Congress. Trying to be organised I looked online for the forecast which said 15 degrees: not too accurate as it was 35-39 degrees on some afternoons!

Back home, the lawn is like straw, the shrubs dejected looking although on the plus side my olive tree is perking up!

Seems like the rain is on the way. which my thirsty garden will be happy about!

Things that go bump in the night...

...actually, that's mostly me, bumping me into things when I get up for the loo, or can't sleep and want a glass of water. And it's not just night time, although being in the dark makes things a lot worse. I'm forever falling into or over things! I've got bruises, even my bruises have more bruises on top of them (makes for interesting colour combinations.) I seem to manage to hit a particular spot on my left thigh so often the muscle now has a big dip in it.

I never use to be this clumsy: just another little gift from arach!) it's as if my brain forgets I have two sides to my body, it completely ignores my left side and tries to squeeze me through non-existent gaps.

This black and blue look is not good for bikinis I can tell you!