Phil version 2.0

  Awwwww... This post covers some old ground - but if nothing else, it gives me a good excuse to share some lovely pictures, that I took a couple of evenings ago!   As much of the content of this blog is about how Phil v2.0 fills his days,  it would be a shame to omit what has probably been, my most enjoyable time over the past week. That was a fairly lengthy walk, last Thursday  – on which I encountered, these lambs   In  the good old days , I was in the habit of a regular Thursday evening, tandem ride.  As you might imagine, social distancing isn’t too easy on a tandem. I have suggested that my risks from streamlined exhalation, could be minimised by the front rider wearing a snorkel – he doesn’t seem too keen on that, though!   In the absence of a tandem excursion, my pilot (front rider) and I, have kept up the habit of Thursday evening exercise, together. We now go for regular walks, and last Thursday, was no exception!   It was a lo...

  Spring ... ...has sprung! Advance warning! There’s hardly anything in today’s post about the position of Phil v2.0 (when compared with his predecessor), other than the implicit observation that he can still do (and enjoy) very many things   There’s a lot of talk about a “new normal”, but let’s not forget that there’s a fair bit of the  old normal  left, which we can still enjoy...   For what it’s worth (and it probably goes without saying), the “new normal” has some advantages -  “different isn’t necessarily worse”  - I’m just, not pondering on those today.   I am actually thinking about something which happens every year, irrespective of a pandemic - namely the arrival of Spring. This probably cheers most of us up, and that includes me. For obvious reasons, it isn’t making me - (or probably, many of us) quite as happy as in previous years, but nevertheless , its onset, does rather gladden my heart...   The tangible changes that I will ment...

“Keep on running” (Jackie Edwards 1965)   The first picture, is the latest edition (published last week) of the “official” trade journal for occupational therapists. As you will see in the second one, it contains an article written by myself.   I think that its publication is last week’s “highlight”. Hence the following:   It was actually written, quite a while ago and its publication motivated me to re-read it. This in turn, provided inspiration for this (very short indeed!) post.    The article is largely autobiographical of Phil v2.0. Through an articulation of my current full lifestyle , and  its positive effect on my emotional wellbeing , it is intended to illustrate a clear  link between   activity and mental healthcare .   You might recall from a few weeks ago, that I have been asked to write a foreword for a new occupational therapy handbook. You will probably ascertain from the title of its predecessor, that the writer takes the sam...

Bad or mad? I must start by saying that I will use the word “mad” quite a lot in this post. Absolutely  no offence  to anyone is intended. I am only using it in a tongue in cheek manner, as it rhymes with bad. Please treat the term as nothing more than a euphemism for mental incapacity.   Anyway – why a picture of Jane Eyre?    Don’t panic – this post isn’t an attempt at some form of literary critique. It is just a few thoughts that arose, when thinking about an aspect of one of my favourite books.   That said, familiarity with the story is unnecessary.   Suffice to say, that Mr. Rochester really fancies Jane and plans to marry her. He does however have a bit of a problem, in the shape of an insane and existing wife called Bertha, who is confined upstairs. Bertha is kept under control (ish) by a servant called Grace. Nevertheless, Mr. Rochester tries to achieve his marital aspirations until he is found out, at the last moment.   In the last paragr...

It’s one  “new normal” after another ...   It won’t have escaped your attention that we are all living in a “new normal”.   For myself, a transformation to Phil v2.0 signified another one.   The birth of Phil v2.0 isn’t the only relevant birth, though. With effect from yesterday evening, normality has changed, again - it now includes the presence of my first grandchild!    Everything went fine for them. Mum and baby are back home, and both are doing very well.   By reason of the head bump, I have limited memories of my own children growing up and am looking forward to the creation of new ones, about this young, fellow.   In a way, I am trying to replace a grieving for the past with some optimistic anticipation.   As I’ve already mentioned, something that I find helpful is a  “mindful”  approach. In essence, this involves thinking rather less about the  unchangeable   past  and the  uncertain future  - and mo...

  “ ... his wife could eat no lean ...” For reasons that I hope, will become apparent, this title and picture (believe it or not), is actually, of some relevance!   What I am concerned with today, is really just an extension of last week’s topic. In that post, I talked about an application of flexibility, in the selection of a course of action. In this one, I am looking at the related issue of flexibility in the way that I think about things. As you know, Phil v2.0 has a tendency to see the dark side of matters, to the exclusion of brighter interpretations (or other possible and more positive thoughts). This is really just a “note to self” - “get working on this ...”   Returning to Mr and Mrs Sprat: Irrespective of any health issues, perhaps Jack Sprat and his wife ought to have thought about their dietary incompatibility, before getting married - it certainly has scope for matrimonial strife!   BUT   Don’t forget the rest of the rhyme ...   Looking at it m...