Well Hello everyone - It's been a while ...
I've been busy with Happy Days Dementia Workshop as you may know - and finally finding a few minutes spare, came across Daughters in Distress blog and remembered how much I enjoyed writing and sharing posts with you. So, to kickstart my 2018 blog, below is my latest brag - my daughter's latest video - enjoy 'River', I did of course.
'And yes, I practiced being submerged in water singing with my eyes open and holding my breath for this one! But rest assured, no goldfish were harmed in this production' Little Boots
See you all soon,
Gillian
Sunday 3 June 2018
Saturday 22 March 2014
Things girls - or anyone should know ...
Things a girl [or anyone] should know:
1. How to get out of a room when the door handle is broken.
Find a small bar [not one which sells drinks] or screwdriver [not the cocktail] or lever [not the filing box system]; the high heel of your stiletto [not Christian Louboutin], even a sturdy biro may do.
Insert the chosen object into the hole where the spindle of the door handle would normally be.
Turn.
Just like magic, your door will open!
2. Really?
3. Not now.
4. Oh that one ...
If you were stuck in a situation and wish to share the outcome, email me on gillian@dementiaworkshop.co.uk
1. How to get out of a room when the door handle is broken.
Find a small bar [not one which sells drinks] or screwdriver [not the cocktail] or lever [not the filing box system]; the high heel of your stiletto [not Christian Louboutin], even a sturdy biro may do.
Insert the chosen object into the hole where the spindle of the door handle would normally be.
Turn.
Just like magic, your door will open!
2. Really?
3. Not now.
4. Oh that one ...
If you were stuck in a situation and wish to share the outcome, email me on gillian@dementiaworkshop.co.uk
Thursday 2 January 2014
Sunday 15 December 2013
Mum and Daughter in the press on the same week-end ...
In the press same weekend: Mum talking about G8 Dementia summit @blackpoolgazette and Daughter @OnRepeatRecords in Sunday Times Style Mag …
Sometimes, when my daughter and I make plans to meet up during a rushed conversation where one of us is usually in a hurry for a meeting and the other is usually flying off to New York Mexico, Argentina or Sweden [hmmm wonder which one of us that is?], we just about manage to secure information for a meeting place, venue, date [that would be handy] and time [also useful]. Often, we turn up wearing similar colours or shoes. Of course, mine are usually in a couple of sizes larger and the shoes are somewhat lower but never-the-less, we spot each other easily at the train station, cafe, airport arrivals or recording studio or dry-cleaners[!] and manage to have quite a laugh about it. Clearly we don't have time to discuss what we plan to wear [never any time for that]. Secretly, my daughter might even be embarrassed about my turning up wearing the same colour as her - but how are we to know?
Similarly, we both ended up in the press this week-end. But the sizes were reversed. I was really pleased to have a piece of informative information printed about the G8 Dementia summit outcome and share general awareness about living well with dementia through the media of our local newspaper, thanks to The Blackpool Gazette. The opportunity had a content deadline for the following morning - so I hadn't had time to share this with anyone.
[read here: http://www.dementiaworkshop.co.uk/what-is-dementia/g8-dementia-summit-update/ ]
Then on Sunday, in the Times Style Magazine, my daughter appeared with a double page article [she hadn't had time to tell me about it] and fabulous images [biased I know], wearing a 'Working Girl' sweat-shirt [typifies the work ethic in our family], telling the story of her pop life, music industry and the empowerment she now experiences setting up her own business ~ www.onrepeatrecords.com.
It was a lovely surprise for me to see those images again, remember those exhilarating, fun and exhausting times; meeting up at gigs, photo-shoots [obviously, I didn't have a corresponding outfit for those] and listening in at recording sessions. I know my daughter wanted to use the media to empower young people starting out in the music industry - to listen to their own voice [apologies for the pun] and be determined to succeed. Reading the real story of a young person achieving success through determination and hard work can be motivating. But what I also experienced is what I hope people with dementia enjoy when a relative, friend or carer prompts their memory with photographs and artefacts from their life or recalls national events or celebrations. Prompting the memory can bring about many stories and recollections of places, colours, objects or people which in turn may encourage interaction and activity. Sharing stories is an enjoyable way to share moments in time for both the person living with dementia and the carer.
Time to Chat memory prompt cards display interesting images with limited text to help carers interact with people who have dementia. Start a conversation or prompt memories. Even the act of stacking the cards on top of each other can help by boosting blood flow or exercise fine motor skills.
Sometimes, when my daughter and I make plans to meet up during a rushed conversation where one of us is usually in a hurry for a meeting and the other is usually flying off to New York Mexico, Argentina or Sweden [hmmm wonder which one of us that is?], we just about manage to secure information for a meeting place, venue, date [that would be handy] and time [also useful]. Often, we turn up wearing similar colours or shoes. Of course, mine are usually in a couple of sizes larger and the shoes are somewhat lower but never-the-less, we spot each other easily at the train station, cafe, airport arrivals or recording studio or dry-cleaners[!] and manage to have quite a laugh about it. Clearly we don't have time to discuss what we plan to wear [never any time for that]. Secretly, my daughter might even be embarrassed about my turning up wearing the same colour as her - but how are we to know?
Similarly, we both ended up in the press this week-end. But the sizes were reversed. I was really pleased to have a piece of informative information printed about the G8 Dementia summit outcome and share general awareness about living well with dementia through the media of our local newspaper, thanks to The Blackpool Gazette. The opportunity had a content deadline for the following morning - so I hadn't had time to share this with anyone.
[read here: http://www.dementiaworkshop.co.uk/what-is-dementia/g8-dementia-summit-update/ ]
Then on Sunday, in the Times Style Magazine, my daughter appeared with a double page article [she hadn't had time to tell me about it] and fabulous images [biased I know], wearing a 'Working Girl' sweat-shirt [typifies the work ethic in our family], telling the story of her pop life, music industry and the empowerment she now experiences setting up her own business ~ www.onrepeatrecords.com.
It was a lovely surprise for me to see those images again, remember those exhilarating, fun and exhausting times; meeting up at gigs, photo-shoots [obviously, I didn't have a corresponding outfit for those] and listening in at recording sessions. I know my daughter wanted to use the media to empower young people starting out in the music industry - to listen to their own voice [apologies for the pun] and be determined to succeed. Reading the real story of a young person achieving success through determination and hard work can be motivating. But what I also experienced is what I hope people with dementia enjoy when a relative, friend or carer prompts their memory with photographs and artefacts from their life or recalls national events or celebrations. Prompting the memory can bring about many stories and recollections of places, colours, objects or people which in turn may encourage interaction and activity. Sharing stories is an enjoyable way to share moments in time for both the person living with dementia and the carer.
Time to Chat memory prompt cards display interesting images with limited text to help carers interact with people who have dementia. Start a conversation or prompt memories. Even the act of stacking the cards on top of each other can help by boosting blood flow or exercise fine motor skills.
 |
| Shop at www.dementiaworkshop.co.uk Social Activities for Carers - Care Homes - Volunteers - People with Dementia |
Sunday 24 November 2013
Internet dating ~ be careful out there ...
Some months ago, my yahoo account was compromised - my family, friends and colleagues received emails saying I was away on a writing retreat [feasible] - I was in a certain country - similar location to a place I visit occasionally to rest and write [feasible] - I had had my purse and passport stolen [feasible]. Many of my friends believed this to be true and I received a barrage of messages, phone calls and emails resulting in worrying an elderly parent. One colleague even suggested he scanned my old passport and email it to me.
I was running an internet search earlier today on fake emails and came across this site and information - sharing warnings about internet dating.
http://dating.about.com/b/2008/01/02/avoiding-internet-dating-scams.htm
Be careful out there everyone ~ and if you come across any wishy-washy-yarning-heart-string-pulling-scary-fibbers ... please share with us to help keep us all safe.
Gillian
I was running an internet search earlier today on fake emails and came across this site and information - sharing warnings about internet dating.
http://dating.about.com/b/2008/01/02/avoiding-internet-dating-scams.htm
Be careful out there everyone ~ and if you come across any wishy-washy-yarning-heart-string-pulling-scary-fibbers ... please share with us to help keep us all safe.
Gillian
Wednesday 20 November 2013
Parents - Teachers - Schools - Young People ... Publishers ...
Teachers, Publishers, Parents, please take a look at my new mini books to help young people look forward to Secondary School
£7.95 each
Email me at gmhesekth@yahoo.co.uk
or Shop at www.happydayspublishing.co.uk
*Discounts for quantities
Monday 18 November 2013
Don't forget your pets ...
Don't forget your pets ~ This Pet Meds Reminder has space to record information and contact details for your pet. Record pet medications and favourites for pet-sitters ...
Shop at:
Ideal Gift - Pack of five ~ £4.95
Friday 27 September 2013
Tuesday 24 September 2013
Setting goals ...
'Set a goal and outline what it takes to achieve it.
Then stop trying to achieve the goal.
Just achieve each step you outlined along the way.'
For more planning or business ideas, check out Solved https://www.facebook.com/marketing.advice
Couldn't have said it better myself. I do find that a huge task or goal often over-faces me. I often put off setting about the necessary events to reach a specific goal, completing trivial tasks first. I spend much time thinking and more time procrastinating. To be honest, setting out what I need to do on paper has saved a considerable amount of time. As the quote says, 'outline what it takes.'
I'm a list person. List-making is high priority for me. If I'm over-faced with something, I like to make a list of all the things I have to do. ... I have lists of lists. But that doesn't necessarily mean that I'm obsessive about the order of things. I like lists to relieve my brain from holding lots of trivial information; post a package - buy a birthday present, write a speech, fix a dripping tap, deliver a get well card, edit a book and so on.
But the problem is that my goals end up muddled in between this list of everyday tasks and trivia, often becoming overlooked. I sometimes sort items on my lists into importance categories - only to find that I'm over-faced with the most important big-goal/task category. I then permit myself to procrastinate some more.
Solved's quote quite simply beginning, 'Set a goal', has made me realise that each goal needs it's own list! An idea which pleased me greatly.
So now, when I have an idea for a new project, I set the goal title on a new page. I try to avoid listing - so I draw boxes with a stage title relating to the goal. I jot down associated tasks and ideas in the relevant box. I organise the boxes into stages of importance. The boxes / stages don't over-face me and I have noticed that I'm much more focussed when I'm trying to accomplish the steps in the boxes. Small tasks in each box appear do-able and before I know it, I'm onto the next stage. Feeling a sense of achievement motivates me to continue to the next box or stage until I reach the goal.
So I'd like to say thanks to Solved for sharing their motivating tips - and remember ... If you're following your dream[s] - dreams are goals - set out the goal and achieve each step along the way.
Gillian
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)