So February came accompanied by the usual illnesses. For me February seems to be the worst month for catching germs (those little critters!). I think it’s a combination of things, the weather is wet, dull and cold, but there are also changes happening as spring slowly appears. The weather doesn’t know what it’s doing and neither does my body. It can’t cope with change, it gets a bit grumpy about it, just like I do really! We go out less in February (well I seem to), there’s not much going on, it’s too miserable to leave the house, we stay inside with the heating on and the germs having a fab time multiplying.
It all started with a sore throat, which is generally the case for me. That turned into a chest infection. My nemesis. One of my biggest gripes with SMA is having crappy lungs. Poor lung capacity and overall weakness means that I have the most pathetic cough you can imagine. I sound more feeble than a cat. Not being able to effectively cough gunk up means that it settles on my chest more easily. Anyways after some antibiotics, a lot of hot tea, time in bed and chest physio I am on the mend. I’m still not quite my normal. But I’m recovering.
Having a pathetic cough does use up a lot of energy, this and the fact that I’ve lost the routine of writing (watched too many Disney films) means that I haven’t had the focus to write or be creative. That does however mean that I’ve had plenty of time for reading blogs and taking part in the little blogging community. This is something I really enjoy about the blogging world but it can be quite time consuming if you let it. One link can lead to another, my inbox fills will daily updates. Before you know it hours have passed and your iPhone battery is dead. Damn iPhone barriers!
There are some great writers out there, and depending on what I read it can really change my mood or thoughts or inspire some writing myself.
As February isn’t my favourite month, and many people seem to be suffering with the ol’ health lately, I thought I’d share with you today 5 posts that have encouraged me this week. I’m not sure I like the word motivating, but these posts give you a little shove, a boost, a little lift, a think.
Feel Good February: Practising Positivity – The Emma Edit
Anxiety & Us – Gin & Lemonade
Like to Love – Fancy Paper
How To Get Back Into Something After It’s Been A While – The Nelly Bean
I Love – Adventure With Amanda
As well as reading blogs I’ve spent time reading books, as I find this relaxing and easy to do when you’re not feeling great. In January I joined an online book club, which I’m loving. It’s also helping me to achieve one of my 2018 aims of reading more.
I’ve always kind of liked the idea of being part of a book club, but wondered if I’d fit in or read the books quick enough. I enjoy reading and discussing books with friends, as luckily we seem to have similar taste in books. That’s nothing organised though and we don’t always read books simultaneously so it can be a few months between reading a book and then recommending it to a friend or be recommended it before the chats start.
I discovered The Surviving Life Book Club through a blog I enjoy reading. It’s a new group and was set up with people like me in mind. People that maybe can’t always get out to attend clubs for various health reasons. This group is on Facebook so you are free to chat in your leisure and you can leave a comment any time of day that suits you. We are currently on our first book, The Husbands Secret, and I am thoroughly enjoying it. At the end of the month a chat post will open where we can all discuss our thoughts on the novel. I love how relaxed yet fun this group is, and that as well as introducing me to new books and focusing my reading, it gives me the opportunity to ‘meet’ likeminded people from all over the world.
Even though I haven’t actually written a post for a little while, (although I do aim to change that this week as I’ve got a new tea and cake discovery in Norwich to tell you all about!) I do have a guest post/interview over at A Chronic Voice to share. You may remember back in November I interviewed the lovely Sheryl as part of my Twenty Questions series.
Well the lovely Sheryl has also interviewed me! She asked some brilliant questions including…
If you could have one superpower, what would it be?
What would your dream wheelchair be like?
What’s your favourite hair colour?
To find out my answers and read the full interview head on over to ‘Getting to Know Gemma of “Wheelescapades” in 20 Random Questions’. I would also love to hear some of your answers or what you thought of mine, so feel free to drop a comment here or over at A Chronic Voice.
Bonus news of the day!
I am officially a contributor at The Mighty. Whoop! This is pretty exciting for me. It’s all lovely writing my little blog and having people read it and comment. But submitting a piece to The Mighty and to actually have it acknowledged and published on a well known website, as a an actual piece of writing worth reading and possibly assisting and informing people, that’s something else.
Check out which post was published by heading over to my Mighty Profile. You can also sign up or follow me. I hope this is only the start to my contribution with The Mighty.
A year later and I hope it is a better start to the year!
LikeLiked by 1 person
In some ways yes.
LikeLike
Hi Gemma. Hopefully this February will be healthier for you than last years. I actually like Feb because I see the buds forming on the trees and hedges. We actually have daffodils out this year already because the weather has been quite mild.
Oh I know it’s a sick month for many people and I’ve had bouts of the flu and colds myself, but when I’m good I wrap up well and then warm up with a ‘special’ hot chocolate! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
A ‘special’ hot chocolate sounds good!
February is a pretty month, when the sun is out a little longer and buds start blooming 😊
LikeLike
May March be kinder to you. Kind regards from Sunshiny South Africa.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! March seems to be improving 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hope the dreaded lurgy leaves you alone soon Gemma! And great news about you being a contributor to The Mighty!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, I’m still on the mend, but much better!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good to hear!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for sharing the links. And congrats on The MIghty! Yes, this flu stuff is pretty bad this year. Warm wishes for the rest of the winter–hope it’s better!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, I’m definitely getting there. Just snowed in now! Warm wishes back to you 😊
LikeLike
This is such a rough time for coughs, colds, and flus- they seem to be going around continually and changing juuuuust enough to get you sick again. I am happy to hear that you are on the mend and feeling better!! And maybe all of that time off with Disney films means we can expect a Disney themed post?? 😀 (I think hearing people’s thoughts on Disney is the key to figuring them out haha)
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m snowed in now so hoping the big freeze will kill off any remaining germs!
A lot of my recent Disney watching has been chosen by the 2 and 5 year old girls here. But my choice would be old school Disney. Bambi, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty. What does that make you think? 😊
LikeLike
So glad you’re recovering, and congratulations on being a Mighty contributor! I followed you! I’ve been writing for The Mighty for just over a year, and it’s been an amazing experience. Hope yours is too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, and thank you for the follow. I’m struggling to work out how to find people on The Mighty and how to know who is following me. It’s surprising I can blog really! 😂
LikeLike
Hi Gemma, hope you are on the mend x it sucks being sick especially as Feb is a dull month too.
I have followed your profile on the Mighty, very exciting! Looking forward to s few good reads.
Thank you for including me in the post by the way,am very touched. I love dipping into new blogs too so once again you are leading me to the right place!
Feel better x lots of tea and TLC
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for the well wishes and the tea (I’m drinking plenty of that!). It’s 1st March now so I’m hoping February and it’s dreaded germs have gone. Plus we have #thebeastfromtheeast here. I went out today (stupid) and a passerby had to push me and my skidding wheels up a ramp. I will freeze those germs! 😃
LikeLike
We have it too. Really bad weather. My girls enjoyed it until this morning. Now they are cabin fever victims!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds like a mixed bag so far in February for you. I hope you’re feeling better soon there’s a lot of different lurgy doing the rounds at the minute. You’ve got some exciting things happening too though!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep there’s usually some exciting news to outweigh the bad!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hope that cough goes away soon my lovely, and congrats on being a writer for The Mighty now! Massive pat on the back and Disney film marathon well deserved. Thanks for including one of my posts too, so sweet of you xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s a great post so had to be included!
Thank you for the congrats 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well done you for you Mighty post!! That is a really big deal…I have often looked and then not been brave enough! We have man flu in our house again and they been threatened to keep away from me…..but this cold spell is killing me with a horrible pain flare. You keep well xxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope your pain flares lessen soon. Spring is coming! Thanks for the congrats, you should go for it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Gemma – when I get my act together!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Congratulations on being published on The Mighty! That is wonderful news! I’m sorry you are feeling lousy, and I hope this bit of great news lifts you up at least a little. Thanks for the reading recommendations. I’ve been reading a lot myself these days, and I’m constantly looking for my next big thing to lose myself in.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What kind of books do you read? Any recommendations?
I’m feeling much better thank you. Almost back to my ‘normal’!
LikeLike
February is definitely the worst month for any kind of ailments. I’m on sick leave until 18th of march and then possibly having to undergo surgery so I feel you on being sick, honestly. I hope you’ll get better soon though! An online book club sounds like a good idea! I have a very particular taste in books so I can never find anyone to chat with about them so looking online could be an idea. x
LikeLike
Oh no I hope you are recovered soon too!
Yes the book club is a great idea. I’m sure there must be something out there to join for people that enjoy the same genre books as you do.
LikeLike
What brilliant news! congratulations, I am more than thrilled for you!
Totally sympathiese on the sick front too, an also off sick at the mo, and fed up to the back teeth.
However, back to you, I hope this is just the start, and that you go onwards and upwards 🙂
Well done, you deserve every bit of success! Xxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
There are just so many illnesses around at the moment, I agree, totally fed up with it!
Thank you for the congrats and support 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for sharing some great blog reads, and I was really happy to have you on my blog for the interview, too! Like you, I aim to read more books this year, but am also unsure if I could read fast enough to keep up with a book club haha. I hope that pesky cough is receding x
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for having me over at A Chronic Voice, I really enjoyed answering your questions!
The pace of this book club is working well for me so far, and there is no pressure to join in with every book 😊
LikeLike
I hope you feel better soon! I think it is great you joined the online book club & congratulations on becoming a contributor for The Mighty!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you 😊
The book club is a fab idea!
LikeLike
Hope you’re feeling better now. I’ve joined the book club too and love the idea of an online club which I think works well for different kinds of accessibility needs, including my own. Also, it doesn’t just limit you to people in your local area.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m getting there thanks.
The book club is great, I haven’t finished the first book yet. Are you joining in with The Husbands Secret?
LikeLike
That’s good 🙂
Yes, I finished it on Sunday so I’ll be joining in with the chat.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’d wondered where you got to. Sending you good vibes, and really hope you feel better soon. Please be good to yourself. xox
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. I’m being as good as I can be!
LikeLike
Ohh Gemma Im sorry that you have been feeling so unwell. Lots of rest and making sure you dot rush back to anything, it took me 6 weeks to feel back to normal after my bought of Ozzie Flu, look after yourself xxx. Well done on The Mighty published piece, what a great boost. Well deserved, fabulous! I hope you continue to regain health, and its great to read a catch up. xxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sooo many people I know have been ill recently, it’s a bad time of year. I’m glad you’re feeling better though. I’m trying hard to rest up and get there.
I’m pleased about The Mighty, hope I get chance to contribute more.
Thanks for stopping by and for the support.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much for the little mention babe!! Sorry you have been feeling ill 😩 it’s horrible when you aren’t feeling 100% – sending all my love! Xxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome, it’s a great post to read!
Thank you 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m sorry you’ve been so ill recently, I hope you start to pick up a bit soon. Congratulations on becoming a contributor at The Mighty, that sounds great! Thank you so much for sharing how much you’re enjoying The Surviving Life Book Club, that means a lot to me. I’m having loads of fun chatting books with everyone over there too, I can’t wait for our first proper discussion next week 🙂!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m looking forward to our first book chat/review. I just need to get finished reading it!
Thank you for the kind thoughts, I’m still slowly getting there.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nat’s book club is great! And fab news about The Mighty – they’ve just accepted my recent submission too so I’ll check out your profile & follow you now 🙂
I’m sorry you’ve been struggling lately and feeling unwell, the miserable, cold weather certainly isn’t fun. I hope you’re feeling brighter & a little healthier soon – spring can’t come quickly enough! Sending hugs your way… xx
Caz
LikeLiked by 2 people
Oooh I’ll check out your profile too. I’m new to The Mighty so need to work out what to do and find my way around!
Thanks for the hugs, can’t wait for some spring sunshine!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m sorry you’ve been so poorly. I thought it was a bit quiet over here. Hope you feel better and better during the rest of the week. Congratulations on The Mighty publication – I will certainly be checking that out. I nominated you for a blog award over on my site. No pressure to participate if it isn’t your thing, but just wanted to make sure that you knew, either way, that i think your blog is terrific!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I saw the nomination, thank you so much for the kind words, I will get round to accepting it soon!
I’m chuffed about The Mighty, hopefully I’ll have chance to share more of my thoughts there soon. Thanks for stopping by 😊
LikeLike
You are very welcome indeed. I certainly hope that this opens up a whole new writing outlet for you 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person