Fibromyalgia

I woke up this morning and switched the PC on as usual.

I had a very sad message from a lady who lives in Spain. On Ebay I have created a page to try and describe fibromyalgia and how if affects me. I did not want it to be all doom and gloom but a way to show fellow sufferers that they are not going mad, the pain is real but you can work through it and around it. Anyway back to the lady who wrote to me. This lady has had several operations, both hips replaced and lives on pain killers. Her pain is undoubtedly worse than I suffer but she still continues to fight and live life as normal as possible.

Everyday I see or hear of people fighting pain, discomfort and disability to live a 'normal' life.

Another lady was in a horrific car accident last year that has meant she has had to give up work. Not content with sitting alone everyday whilst her children are at school and her husband is at work, she has decided to start her own business making handmade cards, wedding stationery and other crafts. As well as being very good at what she does, it is also a form of therapy (although she may not even realise it yet). Crafting takes your mind elsewhere and focuses you on other things. I am helping this lady get to where I am now. I have given her advice and encouragement and in return I have her friendship and trust. How wonderful is that!?

Another of my customers is a very talented, compassionate and dedicated crafter who helps others to express their thoughts and feelings through art and crafts. Whenever I have goods that I feel would be helpful I package them up and send them off to her.

In my attempt to help I have decided to use my own website to help promote fellow crafters. Be they disabled mentally or physically, looking for a new source of income or just crafting because they love it. The UK is filled with many talented people, courageous people and thoroughly NICE people.

Our communities are slowly eroding and people are becoming more and more isolated. Being online is a terrific way to get support and encouragement from other people you may not otherwise ever get the chance to meet. So for people like Patricia, Denny, Mel, Tamsin and many many others long may we continue to craft, share and discover.

My first Blog post!

I have absolutely no idea why I am doing a blog.

I was never one for keeping a diary or even keeping tabs on special events....all of my friends can confirm I have no memory for birthdates or special events.

What on earth will I write about everyday or every week?

Do people really want to know how long I was out walking my dogs for and where we went? Do they want to know how many trips to the Post Office I have made...delivering small packets to people I have little or no knowledge about?

I work from home so have no office gossip to share, nor insider knowledge to pass on. I can comment about my neighbours activities, but as I have no interest in what they are doing or indeed why they are doing it why would someone else?

I do not frequent bars, clubs or restaurants so cannot pass on pictures of people doing silly things because of the amount of alcohol they have consumed. (Although I do have several photographs and a long memory for events of this nature from my younger days.)

My lovelife although very fulfilling to me is of little consequence to anyone else. I am in love with one man who is in love with me. Nothing seedy or torrid about us, we just love each other. We are planning to get married this year which would only be of interest to many who know me purely for the shock value! We will probably get married wearing jeans at our local registry office so there are no wedding dresses to make, suits to hire, venues to book or even stationery to design.

So what will I write about? Maybe my business and the pitfalls I find small business owners face? Maybe my designs, products and finished goods? Maybe I could comment on how my illness affects my everyday living...but that would be a touch depressing which is not me at all. Perhaps it would be better to write about obstacles it creates and how I get around them?

There, it's settled.

My blog will be about me, as a small business owner with a chronic illness.