Come on!

MS Art Blog! I said in previous medical blog that the next one will be completely different, so I am confident it is. Hope so anyway! Here’s the thing. I used to be an engineer – hate to use the past tense – but hey, life’s route doesn’t always go to plan. I know why and how mine has changed ( MS , if you didn’t/don’t know), but that is that. Life without challenge is boring, right? Sometimes! Anyway! What am I on about? I have quoted engineering and with that there are certain design fundamentals to learn and to know about without doubt. There are no required ART elements, or there wasn’t in my 4 years at Uni! Fantastic if you are a naturally gifted with artistic skills within you; I am not. I  have recently started to attend an ART class at Benmar House, Multiple Sclerosis Research and Relief ! Foreign language (art) to me? A Bit! However! Can but try. So, I began on Thursday 02/02/17. First ever Art Group! I found it very different, but actually reall...

MS Expert Patient Cranial Nerve Examination I have recently met some 3 rd year medical students at my GPs’ surgery on their request; an activity I usually do if I can when asked to do it, being someone living with MS  – not solely stuck in MY head! What this does is not only the giving me the chance to give something back to the medical body, that they (students) learn from, but the chance for me to share some of my  story . I have assisted with a/the Cranial Nerve Examination several times now being the patient, as my eyes are affected by my condition. These (examinations) have taken part in a learning centre area of the RVI * and separately my GPs’ surgery. *This has been different across the years! I go along with about 15 other ‘patients’ across 2 wards, each in our own respective ward area, to sit or lie and await a small team (5-6) of students with a qualified doctor per team. These teams each have their task/s to perform depending on what these are...

Music - Back Home So! After the last few classical blogs, time to pick-up with my music story. I left you at the end of GlasgowUniversity , a very very big part of my music education . Isn’t that the time of your life (age, not solely Uni but it can be and is for many) that plays a HUGE part to lay some foundations? As I’ve said, it did for me! After a hard (and great!) 4 years studying (9-5, 5 days a week + homework by the way) it was time for home as I didn’t have a job lined up. Regretfully? Maybe, but that’s old hindsight now. I was only not-working for a matter of days before I got some employment, and with friends who also love music, that element was kept alive and healthy! Sharing new tastes etc. kept everyone happy. Not many are fans of my diverse electronica though! (However, modern electronic music does seem to incorporate it a great deal. I win!) Quite some time ago now, but I do recall seeing Orbital for the first time at Creamfields in Liverpool 2001 an...

Music - Bradley Creswick, virtuoso violinist As a proud Northumbrian, I receive the/a local  magazine ; and read it! Most of which doesn’t quite apply to me (having no kids for one), but others do as I love the Northumberland county for all its beauty, peace and (at times!!) quiet. When I saw an advert in the Business Spotlight section of a man playing the violin going to be playing close to me I knew I had to attend. Had to, even in a church! The violin player in question – or Virtuoso Violinist – was  Bradley Creswick  and when Patricia* (*Ex, not real) name saw him she let out a very happily surprised “BRADLEY CRESWICK!?!” knowing of him being a great violin player herself. That only added to my excitement (I did not know of the name!). Bradley was to be accompanied with David Murray on the piano performing a stunning programme of music that included a brilliant array of pieces with a slightly festive theme: Claude Debussy   ...