I was diagnosed with parkinson’s in 2008, and it’s been an interesting ride. These are some of my observations on the subject:
Parkinson’s and Covid-19 – does exactly what it says
Writing with Parkinson’s – a short piece that is more show than tell
Who breathes wins – on parkinson’s, covid and the worth of the chronically ill
Are you serious? – on why people seem unable to tell the truth about the ‘cure’
A second chance – on how looking backwards can sometimes take you forward
Sex and Parkinson’s – a creative exploration of the joy of dopamine agonists
Ten years a slave – reflections on a decade of official illness
Changing the world – on changing perceptions, one at a time
I said what? – on guitar, cricket, the yips, and making foolish decisions
Indisability – on being invisibly disabled
A trip down memory lane – an extract from Slender Threads
The future was unwritten – on how parkinson’s is a disease of futurity
The way I use my walk – on mistaken identities
I have something to tell you – on how strange it is to tell someone that you have a chronic condition
Vox pox – your voice is your calling card … observations on how parkinson’s and voice intertwine
Batting for parkinson’s – one of my charity drives (I know, I know) from a few years back.
Here are some of the pieces I’ve written on that delightful disease, including pieces for the Wellcome, The Guardian, The Independent, Prospect and Parkinson’s Movement
Living with early-onset Parkinson’s – published by the Wellcome Trust
The Guardian Disability Diaries and interview
Mental as fuck – on comments in the street
Slender Threads: the whys and the wherefores – on the reasons why I wrote my book.
On diagnosis – a contribution to issue three of Parkinson’s Movement e-zine
The Longest Wait – on diagnosis, published in the Independent 6 May, 2008 (online here)
Charity, celebrity and parkinson’s – on celebrity endorsements of disease
Care, not killing? Behave – on assisted suicide for those with non-terminal conditions.
Spit or swallow? – on one of the lesser-known symptoms of PD, difficulty in swallowing.
A day in bed – another mention of how rasagaline prevents the use of decongestants in the presence of a cold.
I think, therefore I … ooh, what’s that shiny thing? – on old-fashioned OCD and one of the lesser-known side-effects of medication.
Release the inner slut – this is a follow-up to my various posts on Love and other drugs
A little bit of what the fuck? – more on the trend for diseases to star in Hollywood vehicles
A la recherche de temps perdu – on the past, the present, and the need to move beyond
Love and other drugs – also in Prospect – see also director’s cut – on the recent Hathaway/Gyllenhall vehicle which has PD as a leading character
It never reins – shopping, king lear, and seeing someone with PD
Whole lotta shakin’ … not going on – on visiting an old guitar student, and finding out how PD has affected my playing
Oh Helen, Helen … please fuck off – A response to the crassness of Helen Mirren and Nintendo, on the announcement of a research project on whether the Wii-fit can help with PD
Cartesian, moi? – on the slow but steady divorce occurring between my mind and my body
hot lemon and hopelessness – This was written on the evening of the September 7, 2009, I think. The title stems from the rather obtuse fact (and oddly enough, one which I utterly fail to mention, which at this juncture confuses me somewhat) that the new drug I was prescribed prevents me from taking lemsip when I have a cold. Really. How utterly mundane is that?