YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT Who said this and what does it actually mean? French gastronomist and lawyer Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin coined the expression towards the end of the eighteenth century. He actually said ‘Tell me what you eat and I’ll tell you what you are’. Nowadays he might re-word his message to read ‘Tell … Continue reading UNDER ATTACK part 2
Month: March 2019
INCOMMUNICADO
Can’t you just picture them? That sad and colourless elderly couple sitting silently at the table by the restaurant window. They’ll look like they rarely go outside and that life is desperately dull. Most telling, or so we think, is they’re not talking to each other. She’ll eat slowly and self-consciously, he’ll be tucking in with … Continue reading INCOMMUNICADO
WHEN WE WERE VERY YOUNG
According to research carried out at the Memory Laboratory of Cambridge professor, Ucha Goswami, it is now accepted that the acoustic structures of nursery rhymes are crucial in the development of language, mainly because of their strong rhythmic regularity. This way of teaching young children can be found in almost all cultures. Even reciting rhymes … Continue reading WHEN WE WERE VERY YOUNG
IT COULD HAPPEN TO ME
Back in the late ‘80’s, not long after Terry, my first husband, had the car accident that left him mentally and physically handicapped, I wrote a screenplay. I called it ‘IT COULDN’T HAPPEN TO US’. The main character was an artist who was involved in a multiple pile-up at the Hanger Lane gyratory system in London. … Continue reading IT COULD HAPPEN TO ME
ROUTINE CONNECTS WITH RITUAL
There are two devices that help structure our lives – routine and ritual, and they’re not the same. Routines are habits that bring order to our day – washing, brushing our teeth, changing our clothes, eating, getting up and going to bed at specific times – these are the main disciplines and they require just … Continue reading ROUTINE CONNECTS WITH RITUAL
TAPPING INTO THE UNIVERSAL MEMORY
A few weeks ago, I wrote a piece entitled ‘AIDE MEMOIRE’ about personal memories. This week I’m looking back at those events and occasions that have, over the course of our lives, been shared by thousands, if not millions of us. Many will have been stored in our memories, even if we rarely think about … Continue reading TAPPING INTO THE UNIVERSAL MEMORY
THE ANCHOR
Dealing with dementia is trying to keep a small boat afloat on a temperamental sea. We never know what will surface from the depths to overturn us or plunge us into a storm. Daytimes can be calm and manageable while we bob gently with the waves and sometimes, usually at night, a thick fog will … Continue reading THE ANCHOR
EARLY BIRDS OR NIGHT OWLS?
Over time, I’ve read many opinions on healthy sleep. The ins and outs of the daily restoration of our bodies and minds. It’s been interesting to note that nearly all of them stress that we should be in tune with our circadian rhythms. Simply put, our personal sleep/wake cycles. Often we’re told it’s best to rise … Continue reading EARLY BIRDS OR NIGHT OWLS?
D FOR DANGER
When I was about three years old, I was often looked after by my sister, then around sixteen. She would take me shopping, to the park and so on. We lived in Roehampton, South London. One day, when in the chemist, she let go of my leading rein while she fished in her purse for the … Continue reading D FOR DANGER
ACROMANIA?
This post is primarily for Dementia sufferers and carers living in France but could be interesting to those who have other long-term health problems requiring help or live elsewhere and would like to know what’s available here. The below list is for the GERS department. I do not know if the organisations are the same … Continue reading ACROMANIA?
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