Well, it’s nearly here – my 20 day challenge to cut myself off from my normal world of social media, wifi, tv and contact with others.
On Sunday 1st March I’ll be making my way to rural Wales to start my three weeks of isolation and painting. My beautiful dog Pedro will be my only company.
I’ll be reflecting on the past 18 months since my diagnosis of younger onset Parkinson’s Disease, and trying to express my emotions and feelings through painting. I’ll also be keeping an illustrative journal.
I’m taking more than 20 different size canvasses, loads of paper, paints, pencils and charcoal.
I’ll be filling the car full off food for both me and Pedro. I’ll also be taking my yoga and running gear, and definitely my knitting and a variety of books for those long quiet evenings.
The questions I’m most frequently asked about the “20 Days in 2020” challenge are:
Q. What will you do for fresh food?
A. I’ll have some for quite a few days, and then I’ll move on to tins and long life supplies.
Q. Will you be contactable?
A. No, there is no wifi and my phone will be turned off.
Q. Will you be safe?
A. There are a couple of other caravans in the farmer’s field, and there’s a farm house near by.
Q. What will you paint?
A. Who knows, that’s the point of the “20 days” project.
Q. Will you have contact with anyone, and go out shopping etc?
A. NO, not if I can help it. I’ll be taking everything I need with me.
So that’s the plan for the first three weeks in March and I’m apprehensive but also really looking forward to it.
I’m especially looking forward to the quiet, the opportunity to think and explore creative ideas, and of course spending quality time with Pedro.
Thanks to Sue Williams and Mark Rubery for lending me their caravan, and Caroline and Steve Bate, and Simon Barnes for their support with this project.
Please come and visit the exhibition of “20 Days In 2020” at the Canalside Heritage Centre, 2nd – 30th May 2020.
Last night over a bottle of wine, my Sister in law and I were discussing my “20 Days” challenge. The topic for discussion was how I can stay off grid for 20 days whilst regularly letting husband Simon know I’m okay.
Making a scheduled phone call from a public phone will be impractical and a burden. Even more unacceptable will be hunting for signal and turning my phone on. I’d be bombarded with the familiar text, email and voicemail notification noise, negatively impacting on the whole project. Instead we agreed that a postcard a day is the answer. The daily routine of writing and posting the card will be useful and contribute to the journal. This method of communication is in keeping with the quiet reflection and expression this project is all about.
So that’s the plan- just better remember 20 stamps! ☺️
This is a little tale of two parallel knitting journeys:
Freda 69 is an experienced knitter, using the practice to help her cope with the loss of her husband and distract her from her grief.
I’m 48 and a knitting novice using it to help cope with a restless mind and changes in dexterity as hands and movement deteriorate due to my recent Parkinson’s disease diagnosis.
The knitting journey started with a chance conversation at the social dining club “Friday Club” with Freda about my husband’s love of Nordic style jumpers. Freda offered to knit the desired jumper and the discussion was quickly followed with trips to town together to find an appropriate pattern and wool. The wool sourcing missions also included cakes and coffee and a good chat about how we both were feeling.
Our second sourcing mission into “Knit” in Nottingham was successful, and after discussions with the wonderful Ellie. Freda signed up to a knitting challenge beyond what she’d expected – a really complex pattern. I then saw a lovely knitted hat in the shop window and Freda talked me into my own knitting challenge to learn to knit a relatively simple bobble hat.
Whilst Freda was creating, washing and checking her test piece in Beeston, Notts, I was away on a quiet break in Norfolk getting bitten by the knitting bug. After a couple of false starts I completed my first hat, and then after a mission to find a wool shop, I knitted a further two for Christmas presents.
Freda was mastering the complicated pattern and giving me regular updates about her progress. I was aware of the complexity of the pattern, and Freda was aware of the money I’d spent on the quality wool. There was trust and belief in each other and a real level of respect.
I never expected Freda to have completed the jumper in time for Christmas, but at a “Friday Club’ meeting in early December, Freda and good friend Peggy announced with glee that it was nearing completion. We talked arm and body lengths and made some calculated decisions about when to stop. They both came round for lunch the following week and Freda presented the finished jumper. It was truly amazing and the three of us stood and admired the creation.
On Christmas day 2019 I gave my husband Simon the jumper and explained the story behind it. Of course I couldn’t do full justice to the adventure we’d been on to create this work of art, but it fits perfectly and he loves it.
Once again I’ve been on the receiving end of a random act of kindness and generosity, gaining a friend and a jumper through this journey.
We’ve hopefully both benefitted from the healing properties of knitting and helped each other with our particular struggles with bereavement and acceptance. I’ve also been reminded that friendships, and creative challenges come in all shapes and jumper sizes. xx
We’ve been relaxing in a remote cottage in rural Norfolk since Wednesday. I’ve taken advantage of the beautiful location and break from the usual routine to spend some time drawing and painting.
Simon was persuaded on three occasions to model for me, two of the poses incorporated him reading – he was deep into a good book so it seemed only fair. The first portrait has a likeness and warmth that I’m pleased with. The two sketches of him reading (and the fire place sketch) whilst a bit loose and ragged were fun to do, and gave me some much needed sketching practice. I was pleased that for the first time in nearly two years I was managing to shade and cross-hatch, something I thought I’d lost for good since developing Parkinson’s symptoms.
I’ve sketched and painted five pictures in five days, as well as learning how to knit. I’ve managed to follow my first knitting pattern and create two woolly hats. Here’s me walking Pedro and looking quite happy wearing my first attempt:
As well as the creative activity, we’ve been doing our usual running. We ran the Sheringham Parkrun on Saturday morning and have been running round the narrow lanes around Wickmere, avoiding the large puddles and the occasional car.
Norfolk has had a positive effect on me. Giving me the time and space to exercise my brain through learning how to knit and doing a lot of sketching and drawing. We’ve also been eating well, and managing to get some decent running in to release those absolutely vital endorphins. It’s the perfect combination for me to manage my physical and mental health. I’m sure I’ll miss Simon’s company when I do my next challenge “20 Days in 2020”, but Norfolk has helped prove to me what an opportunity it will be to be able to paint and sketch for twenty consecutive days without disturbance. I can’t wait! xx
On Saturday 26th October 2019 my Sister and I embarked on a 24 hour non-stop danceathon to raise awareness and money for Parkinson’s UK.
Here’s my abridged account of the crazy but life-affirming experience:
First of all it’s worth explaining that we danced for 25 hours, not 24 due to it being the weekend that the clocks go back (I didn’t realise this when I set the date).
We arrived to set up at 8am and battled through the torrential rain and deepening puddles surrounding the community centre.
James the DJ kicked things off at 10am with “Lets Groove Tonight” by Earth Wind and Fire. My lasting memory of the start was my dear friend Liz crashing through the door as the clock struck 10am in running and hi-viz cycling gear after completing our local Parkrun and peddling like mad to be there at the start.
All started well but by 11am I was getting a bit overwhelmed by everything. I hadn’t been well during the week and had little sleep. I suddenly went very cold, light headed and felt generally worn out. I developed a severe shake and genuinely wasn’t sure I could go on. The thought of having to quit so early on made my symptoms worse. It took a couple of lovely friends Yvonne and Perky Parky mate Chris to sit with me in the back room and get me calm (whilst my Sister Kathryn was dancing). Chris who understands the condition just held me and reassured me until I was warm and ready to tackle the next 23 hours. I don’t think I could have carried on without this love and understanding.
Chris and me after hugs and words of support.
Anyway it worked and the next few hours flew by, and before I knew it Jeanie Barton (with Bob Hudson on keys) were setting up to do the jazz thing – this was wonderful. It was particularly poignant as Bob has also been recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s.
Then my brother in law Jon arrived with a surprise package of our 83-year-old Dad Pete. I was completely taken a back seeing Dad, but once I’d gathered my composure I introduced him to friends who chatted and danced with him.
Amanda dancing with Dad
Dave, Jon and Oliver did an amazing job looking after the kitchen providing tea, coffee and sausage cobs to daytime guests.
We had a candy floss machine for the little ones, and Bea kindly painted our faces with glittery designs.
After Jeanie and Bob finished their two sets things went a little quieter and it felt like a shift change over. Other guests arriving including: the wonderfully supportive Beeston AC, dog walking friends, many from our Friday Club, the two Katie’s from Parkinson’s UK, Sheila North and family, and other Parkinson’s sufferers like Trevor, Steve and Joe (and partners).
At about 8pm more food was delivered by the Tony and Sandi (we’d had a delivery earlier in the afternoon), and Dad was safely in his taxi journeying home.
Beeston Breakers kicked off the late evening by putting on a great breakdancing demo, and tried to teach us some breaking moves (without much success). The evening party really kicked off, feeling like a damn good wedding disco with all generations thrown together in celebration. Flashing disco shoes lit up the floor, Abba costumes were worn and there were some amazing cakes being eaten. Drink and food were flowing when Brother in law Dave surprised us all with a disturbingly good impersonation of Freddie Mercury’s “I Want To Break Free”.
Sue and her friends joined their party with ours via FaceTime, and we danced and danced and danced.
Gradually as the night got late, people started to leave and the party thinned out. This would have been much harder to take if it hadn’t been for me knowing that Kathryn would be there throughout, and Caroline and Janice had committed to sticking with us till the end. This support is something I will never forget and has forged a special bond between us.
Caroline, Kathryn, me and Janice
While the boys had cat naps, Wendy, Freda, Peggy with Greg and Teresa danced on with us to Northern Soul and then 90’s Indie till 4am! Naomi gave us her support between naps, and Greg was guessing whether the music was Shed Seven, Seahorses or one other of Caroline and my favourite 90’s bands from our “Irish” days. At 4pm Freda and Peggy left – this was an incredible effort by two of our Friday Club members, one who is about to turn 70, the other a few years older.
The next couple of hours were the hardest as it was just the four of us trying to keep going, celebrating the passing of every half hour, drinking water and keeping warm.
In expectation for the sun to come up and new people joining us soon our dancing moods lifted. Thank you Chris and Laura for bursting through the doors and bringing us new energy and the belief that we could make it – you’ll never know how much we needed to see you.
Others started to arrive, James the DJ sprung back into life, the sun beamed through the windows and we gradually got to the two hour countdown.
The room began to fill and the last song was Elton John’s “I’m still standing” and we danced like we’d only just started. It was so much fun and very emotional dancing with friends and family around.
I’ve learn’t a lot this weekend, not least about my strengths and vulnerabilities. I really didn’t know if we could do it or not – it’s not something you can train for or read up on, but that’s the point to do something that challenges you. I’d also be lying if I didn’t admit there were a few times in the 25 hours when I thought “How did we get here?” and “why me”? particularly in the wee hours, but the positive power of friends and family brought me round. I’ve learn’t a lot about other people – one of the wonderful things about opening up and sharing is that other people then do it back to you – it’s healthy, heart warming and has brought me so much closer to some people I’ve known for years without perhaps knowing them much at all until now. That has a huge value – thank you danceathon!
A massive thanks has got to go to my partners in crime James and Kathryn – we made an awesome team before and during the event.
I also must give massive thanks to my long suffering husband Simon (and Clacko who supported throughout) and my wider supporting family and friends for making this happen – all those that baked, donated, encouraged, ‘shared’ and danced! If I haven’t mentioned you, it’s not because I don’t appreciate you’re effort making this event what it was.
We’ve raised over £1,440 over the 25 hours – over £2,700 in total and still going up.
That’s more than £64 per hour and over £1.00 per minute that will go direct to researching a cure for Parkinsons, something we desperately need. We’ve also talked a lot about Parkinsons, connected people, and hopefully made people more aware of the condition in a positive way.
You are all awesome! xx
