So, this is it. This is the first blog post in which I call myself a freelance writer. That’s amazing! The “free” in freelance is very prominent here, as I haven’t actually been paid for any of my poetry work yet – but so many exciting things have happened this week with my writing that I can’t talk about yet, but that it has been a HUGE encouragement.

This is a bittersweet moment, a life change. There is no way that I would have met the wonderful poetry community, or started by own BookTube channel without being ill; but I would give anything not to be ill. Finding the positives in illness is one way I have kept myself going through two years surrounded by a lot of negatives. A lot of things have happened that I haven’t mentioned on here, these things have been very stressful, and I am so pleased that mum and I can start our “new lives” as we call it – with so much freedom. You may look at my level of freedom and scoff. I still spend at least 14-16 hours a day in bed, I still need assistance with easy tasks BUT now I get to choose how I spend every single minute of my non medical time. That is liberating.

I have been at the Hospice for a few nights this week. It’s like a home from home environment, the staff are beyond wonderful and help me so, so much – both physically and emotionally. They are so kind and just want to help me any way that they can. As many of you who know me already know, I struggle a HUGE amount with dizziness, have machines and wheelchairs . The wonderful staff here take it in their stride. I really needed them in my life, they are so bubbly and really pick me up. I’m not saying that I am down, it is just so wonderful to feel safe and happy away from home AND receive impeccable medical care at the same time. I have been doing jewellery making, using lots of stickers and colouring in with my gel pens. We went to a huge town today and went shopping. I really struggled to keep my eyes open, but I managed it (let’s not count the minibus there and back!) and bought loads of sparkly glitter washi tape and a gorgeous photo album.

I got sent a copy of Livestock by Hannah Berry to review about a week ago. I have just put it down and it is possibly the best thing that I have read this year. It is political satire at its very best, and shines a light on the control of what media we actually get to consume, as well as what is hurriedly buried… Buy it. Read it. You won’t regret it!