Christians discriminated against?

This caught my eye in the news. I don't know what evidence he has to base his opinion on but I am inclined to agree with him. It may be argued that as a practicing Christian I too am biased but living in this country I feel that I have a right to practice my faith but I feel that Christianity and what it stands for is increasingly becoming side lined. Next weekend is Easter weekend, during which Christians celebrate one of the key tenants of our faith. The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord yet society has reduced it to fluffy bunnies, cute looking chicks and chocolate Eggs. Like Christmas it has become commercialised and an opportunity for the likes of Tesco and Cadburies to rake in the coffers. We have lost the real meaning and focus of Easter.

Christmas itself has been reduced in many places "A winter festival" for fear of offending those from other cultures and faiths and while I am totally against discrimination are we ourselves not being discriminated against? Increasingly it seems, we are frightend to express our beliefs and cultures for fear of offending those from a culture not our own. It is my belief that this is one of root causes of the discrimination experienced. I love living in what is a multi-cultural society but, how can it ever be fully multi-cultural if our own culture and Christians beliefs become sidelined for fearing of upsetting those whose culture and beliefs are not our own. Surely there must be a way to integrate our culture and the Christian faith from which our culture takes many of its roots with other faiths and cultures without our culture and Christian faith being watered down or even abolished altogether?

Another aspect of it is the fact that in my opinion people are often more accepting of other faiths than they are of the Christian faith and there are many reasons for this. As a student I sat in my room in the halls terrified while abuse was shouted at me through the walls of room, the reason for this was the fact I was a Christian, yet I felt powerless to take action.

There may be other reasons also and other Christians may have had different experiences. My opinion is that these are difficult times for Christians and it will get tougher We need, as Christians rise about it and allow our light, fueled by the love of Jesus Christ to shine out to society even if we do not share our faith people need to be able to see our faith lived out day by day. We need to be the light upon a hill shining out for all to see.

One week on

Its been a week since I started my new painkillers and its time to consider how they are working before my appointment with my GP this afternoon.

Tonight I am having a bad night with pain but I have taken a couple of paracetamol, the pain is now back under control and soon I will be heading back to bed. So are they working for me? In a word, yes.

I have experienced no significant or problematic increase in my respiratory symptoms and my pain is under better control. At night it is lovely to go to bed and expect a decent nights sleep, yes tonight is a bad night but my bad nights have been reduced by 50% from last week, the other bad night may of been because I had taken it earlier than normal. I feel so much better in myself both mentally and physically because I am more rested. Some of my friends have commented upon the fact I look better. When I get up its less off a struggle to get going and get motivated and I am not struggling to keep awake by 4 o'clock. I am physically more active which can only be a positive thing both for my joints and mental health and because I am more awake I am taking better care of myself even to the point of contemplating wearing a little bit of make up again when I am not at work (though I am allowed to) and on special occasions, again this can only be a good thing for my mental and physical health.

During the day I am also reaping the benefits, aside from being more awake, more motivated and generally feeling better in myself. Its great to take my painkillers and not have to be clock watching for the most of the day. I take it when I get up (or 12 hours after the previous tablet) and rather than thinking along the lines of when I next need to take my painkillers, I am now thinking along the lines of I don't need to take my painkillers till such and such a time which psychologically is much better. Its great not to be clock watching and being concerned about the fact that if I don't take it in time pain will intrude my day. Yes I do still get pain but its at a level I can cope with, if things do get uncomfortable two paracetamol does the trick of getting it to a manageable level, most people with chronic pain have a level of pain that they have learnt to live with.

So all in all it has been very positive my only hope is that this afternoon my GP will prescribe it on a permanent basis.

The other question I had been wondering about is that my rheumotoligist recommend I try gentle exercise to help my joints but I was unsure as to what may help my hands which do get very stiff and sore particularly in winter. My sister who has successfully run an arts project with the elderly found that clay modeling was very helpful in reducing pain and stiffness in those who have arthritic hands, I am going to try some playdo albeit reluctantly because I know that I end up feeling like a child.

Earth Hour

Tonight at half past eight "Earth Hour" was marked, details of which can be found here

I decided that it was a very good idea to support this as we are slowly killing our beautiful planet with our carbon emissions. I appreciate that their are many other contributers to this but the wasteful use of electricity is certainly one of them. Walk down your local high street and how many neon signs are glaring, how many shop fronts are needlessly lit up? Closer to home how often do you make a cup of tea and leave the kitchen light on? I think this song goes someway to further highlighting the problem.

So at half eight last night I grabbed an extra duvet knocked my heating down a little, switched my off my laptop, modem, phone, C.D player, kettle, t.v and finally the lights and then lit a few candles bringing back memories of summer time thunderstorms as a child when all the lights went out. Then I realised I had nothing to do, bringing home the reality of how reliant we are on electricity and the world resources thus bringing a timely reminder of why we need to care for the planet. I grabbed a book instead and curled up by candle light to read. I then went to grab my mobile phone so that I could keep an eye on the time so I knew when to switch my lights back on and discovered that my battery was flat and being "Earth hour" meant I could not recharge it. So I employed my kitchen clock and sat, by candle light an hour. Here are some photos of the event.

Its a pain in more ways than one

I went to visit my doctor yesterday and explained the problems that I was facing in terms of pain management and asked if could I please try a modified release version of my current painkiller, tramadol. My G.P to be fair was good and listened to what I had to say, it has often been my experience that doctors do not take chronic pain and the impact that it has on a persons quality of life seriously despite calls for it to be recognised an illness in its own right. For some time arthritis care has been calling for people to recognise the fact that though arthritis does not kill it can take your life, when my arthritis flairs up my quality of life is significantly diminished and I feel I age 30 years overnight and my mental health suffers also in response both to the pain and the lack of sleep resulting from the pain.

My G.P agreed to the change very reluctantly due to the fact that I am a known severe asthmatic and tramadol can cause respiratory suppression and one of my other medications for another of my health issues can increase this risk, particularly if an overdose is taken. Something I am not planning to do. If respiratory suppression occurs in me it is more hazardous and whereas "standard tramadol" takes 4-6 hours to clear my system, the modified release version will take up to 12 hours.

He offered to prescribe me another pain killer which carries a much lower potential risk of respiratory suppression. The problem with this solution was three fold, one it is not as strong as tramadol, two it only offers effective pain relief for a 4-6 hours thus defeating the whole object of me trotting along to see my GP in the first place and thirdly I would loose the flexibility my current regime offers me as the pain killer offered was a combination of both paracetamol and dihydrocodiene meaning that it would be all or nothing. My current regime consists of both paracetamol and tramadol which I can take either together or separately thus offering three different options in terms of pain management to be reduced to one did not appeal to me. Also if my pain is only mild I do not want to be "forced" to take a painkiller stronger than my pain warrants.

After some discussion it was decided that I would give tramadol modified release a go for a week and I am to see my G.P again next week to discuss the outcome before making a final long term decision. Its frustrating the way one illness impacts another. I have take two so far one yesterday morning and one last night and so far it has proved effective and there has been no significant impact on my asthma so fingers crossed all will go well.

Another early morning

Its half 4 and I am up again in pain, I ended up loosing most of yesterday as I slept quite a lot. I am seeing my GP on Monday. I have decided to try means and ways of dealing with the discomfort that I feel right now through distraction, I have a few Tekeshis Castle programs recorded which are always good for a laugh.

I also have colouring books and crayons, yes I know I am in my 30's and yes, it does make me feel like a child but I find it really finding it relaxing good for distraction. I have piggies to cuddle as well Sparky is awake, convinced its time for breakfast. The guests are busy as well, I can here them moving around.
.
I also have some studying to be getting on with as well

Asthma kills!

This appeared in the news. It is an extremely sad story, the boys death could of been avoided as can around 80% of all asthma deaths. On average 1600 people die of an asthma attack each year by these statics thats around 1250 people a year that should still be alive.

It is my opinion that people often do not take asthma seriously enough, it is often misconceived as a mild illness that only needs a couple of puffs of an inhaler a day to keep under control, it can be but at the other end of the scale there are people for whom their asthma is severe and life limiting. Having mild asthma however does not mean that a person can not die of asthma, they can and do.

People, I feel need to be made aware of the potential seriousness of asthma, the importance of carrying and using their reliever (blue) inhalers and the importance of getting help if things are getting worse or medication is not helping and I really hoe that the boys deaths is not in vain and that it serves to increase peoples awareness of the potential seriousness of asthma.

The guests

These are my foster boys, they are lovely boys very sweet but rather underweight and evidently haven't been handled much as they are very nervous and jumpy. It is lovely though to watch day by day them gain in confidence and their characters and personalities develop and helps me to keep my focus on some of the good aspects of my life in these difficult times. They are called Fred and Barney, they started as Fudge and Smudge but their owner didn't know who was who(?). He had got them got them from his cousin some 18 months ago. Barney is on the left, Fred is on the right.

Looking back on my blog I realise that I have failed to write a post about my own three guinea pigs so maybe they will be the focus of my next post.

Tough times

Things aren't good at the moment, I am going through a pretty bad flair up of my polyarthalgia. This is the reason why I am blogging at 6am, the pain has only allowed me to enjoy an hours sleep and I am exhausted. It's very frustrating as I wanted to dedicate today to catching up with some studying. I am feeling low and depressed. When I awoke at 4am I was in a lot of discomfort but unable to take anymore pain relief till now. Today I am going to make an appointment with my GP to discuss the possibility of changing my tramadol to a sustained release preparation in the hope that it will allow for better nights sleep.

I hate the fact that I am struggling so much I feel that it makes me a negative person and that then makes me feel even worse and so develops a viscous circle. Facing chronic illness relatively young makes me feel so different to other people of the same age and a burden and a nuisance I tend to put a smile on my face with the aim of camouflaging my feelings and so protecting others from how I am feeling but, there are days I get so fed up with it all. My friend P has known for sometime that I am really struggling but despite his asking what is bothering me I have kept quiet not wanting to burden him further and tried unsuccessfully to hide my feelings from him. Tonight I confessed how much I was struggling, I was scared of P's reaction I do not know why, yet P thanked me for my frank and honest "confession" and admitted their own struggles with my illness, their frustration of feeling so helpless when I am ill and being unable to do anything to make my situation better.

I think that a persons recent comment has contributed in a least some way to how I am currently feeling. The comment went something like this. "I don't know how you cope, if I was in your shoes I would stick my head in a gas oven" The perception been from the persons comment is that a life of chronic illness not worth living, the quality of life being reduced to the point that there is no quality and it is best to end it. I cope because that is the only choice I have and chronic illness makes me appreciate the smaller things in life and the true preciousness of life. The company of friends and family, a warm summers day, the birds singing, a much loved pets excitement of "mummy" coming home and so forth. It is not for us to question the life God has given us though it is only natural that we do so, it is up to us to make the most of the life God has given us and try, where possible to live it to the full within the realms of the limitations life presents.

Writing about it on my blog leaves me feeling that I am turning this blog into something negative but, it is my blog and an outlet for my feelings, a place where I can share my lows as well as my highs.

I am trying to look at the positives and the good aspects of my life the fact that I do have a lot to offer despite my health issues, I have some amazing friends particularly B and P, I have my wonderful piggies which contribute to my quality of life and I am Auntie Louise to my friends cat Z and I have achieved a lot in my life.

Just where do they get their facts from?

This appeared today on the BBC website and had me stitches where do children learn these facts from or where did they even get their ideas from.

There were a couple in particular that really amused me

"Newton invented the Internet" That would mean the Internet was invented before PCs, a couple of hundred years before the invention of PCs.

"The Queen invented the phone" If that was the case then how did they connect to the Internet before the invention of the phone and presumably, phone lines.

Ranting foster mummy

Tomorrow afternoon I will have 2 foster children to care for, two boys. I am going to collect them around 4pm from Yorkshire, settle them in the car, drive home and then on arrival home place them in the bath were they will be sleeping for the next few days.

If you are heading at speed to your telephone to contact social services, stop. Now. Why? you may be asking. It simple, these foster children are two guinea pigs and before you call the RSPCA their travel box (or rather my friends cats travel box) will serve as a house for them and will join them in the bath and the bath will be lined with towels so that their poor little feet don't get cold when taking some exercise in the bath.

I volunteered to collect these lads, the gentleman who is currently housing them doesn't have the space for them. They are not his piggies though, they are his cousins I am unsure as to the reason why they have chosen to rehouse them.

The plan is that they will stay here for around a week and then head on to the rescue after my next set of nights off (I am back in on Saturday) however in between me offering to collect them and now the rescue has become inundated with unwanted guinea pigs and his fosters are also full, so I have informed him that I can foster them till the back end of April if need be. Its so, so sad though that so many pets that could offer their owners so much love and joy become unwanted and treated as disposable thus ending in rescues. It makes me angry, very angry. All pets have a right to a loving, caring forever home and my hope is that each and everyone of them goes off to a home much better than their current one. It has always been my opinion that when a pet is sent off to a rescue, unwanted that they can't off being receiving much love and attention in their homes because if they had their owners would of realised what delightful animals they are and how much a pet can offer and the enrichment it can bring to their lives and having realised all this they would never be able to part with their pet. I know that some owners are forced to give up their pets for genuine reasons and are heartbroken by this fact. It is not these people I am referring to.

Many of these pets are unwanted Christmas presents, in the words of one rescue "is March dump your pet month?", my belief is that the film G-Force has added to the number of children wanting guinea pigs, but the reality is that guinea pigs are nothing like what they are portrayed in the film. Its a sad fact of life pets are bought as cute babies but then they grow up (to me they remain cute), time moves on and the owner (often a child) becomes bored. Parents can't be bothered with caring for the pet themselves (it is actually illegal for a child under 16 to be given total responsibility for a pet) and so off they go to rescue . It is not really the child's fault, the parents need to think very carefully of what they are taking on and though the pet is for the child the whole family needs to take responsibility for the care and welfare for the pet. There is evidence to suggest that children who have pets as children are less selfish and more considerate of the needs of others.

The parents need to be involved in caring for the pet encouraging the child along the way to be involved with their pets care and reminding them of the importance of ensuring that their pet gets the very best care through out its life and doing their best to maintain the child's interest in their pet, as with anything you get out what you put in, you reap what you sow. What sort of signal does it send out to the child that when they get bored they send their pet off to rescue? What sort of messages does that send out about life in general.

Sorry if I seem to have got onto my soap box a bit but its something that is very important to me. This afternoon I was approached by a someone who is waiting for a rescue place for their guinea pigs, the rescue currently being full. They asked me if I would foster theirs as well as the two I have already agreed to, sadly there is not enough room at the inn for them all. Their reason, they let their heart rule their head and with little consideration of the costs involved acquired 9 animals and now realise they have bitten off more they can chew and they simply can't afford to keep that many so off to the rescue they go.

Before you get a pet. THINK. THINK LONG AND HARD!

Evolution

I have a few plans for this blog, for one there will be a new title as I feel it's current title "narrows my blog down" I am even toying with the idea of going back to word press. Watch this space.

I will really welcome any feedback on the changes that I make

Snowball

Sorry I haven't post for a while sometimes I am not sure what to blog about as my life seems well, boring.

There is much happening here I am busy with work I have just started an 8 week stint of nights, my friend B is in hospital I am doing my best to help and support B and my sisters wedding is looming large in the horizon. On Friday I am heading into Yorkshire to collect two guinea pigs for a rescue. Please anyone reading this, if you plan to get a pet think it through very, very carefully. A pet is for life, they are great fun and can add a very special extra dimension to your life but their is price to pay both personally and financially so please think about it carefully before you commit. Can you offer your potential pet a a loving, caring home for life? My personal opinion is, is that the costs involved in having a pet are hardly noticed if you genuinely love and care for your pet because they give you so much you will want to ensure that your pet has a happy life where it is cosseted and loved.

Anyway moving on, the winter is dragging on and my arthritis is really playing up. Last night I woke in severe pain though I lay in my bed for several minutes trying to work out what was wrong before twigging. I got up feeling totally fed up, I was exhausted and needed sleep. B, despite being in hospital was on hand via text message to support me and Sparky was more than happy to act as an extra hot water bottle and sit with me, enjoying the attention and cuddles. I had a hot bath, hot chocolate, hot water bottle and lots of painkillers and around 5am I settled back off to sleep not waking again till 2pm. I awoke feeling achy like I had been kicked by a horse so had more painkillers and rested for the rest of the day.

At 7pm as I waited for my painkillers to work I decided to try a "heat rub", I usually use "deep heat" but my nana recommended the one she uses, claiming its better than deep heat. I can't remember its name and given that its now in the bin I can't even check it. I rubbed it into my back, left wrist and both ankles. Within minutes the areas concerned became red and began to itch, I was soon scratching like a cat with a serious flea infestation. It because very obvious, very soon that to add to the problems that I already had I was suffering from an allergic reaction. I took an anti-histamine and some steroids to protect my lungs and had a long soak in a bath with a lot hydromol bath oil added, hydromol is what I am prescribed for my eczema. I got out the bath and noticed that the redness had become much more wide spread and I looked like I had been scolded though my bath water was not that hot and I still couldn't stop scratching. I lathered myself with both steroid cream and hydromol moisturiser. It seems to have settled down a lot but I am still itchy. Tonight has not been a good night.