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Dear Chronic Illness, compiled by Pippa Stacey
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How To Network Online by Pippa Stacey – eBook
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University and Chronic Illness: A Survival Guide by Pippa Stacey
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[AD] I thought this deserved a post of its own bec

[AD] I thought this deserved a post of its own because off-road wheelchairing at @hoegrangeholidays has to have been the highlight of my year 🙊💃🏼
The farm is located in such a beautiful part of the world and on-site there are two models of the Boma 7 off-road wheelchair (one controlled by handlebars and another by joystick) available for hire… and having never tried one before, I can tell you with full confidence that they are worth every penny.
On both of our full days we made our way up to the High Peak Trail that’s just behind the log cabins where we were staying, and for the first time in seven years, I was able to go on a walk for leisure. And my goodness, it was absolutely epic.
In both the blog post and the vlog that’s just gone up, it’s difficult to fully capture just how much pure joy it brought me. The style of the chair (a high back with legs elevated out in front of you) and the ease of driving it (even for me and my concerning lack of spatial awareness) meant that I was out and about for a couple of hours at a time, and I loved every second.
The suspension allows you to travel over all kinds of surfaces without your body having to absorb the impact, meaning I could just ‘walk’ alongside my best friend and fully immerse myself in the surroundings. And perhaps that might sound like just a small thing to some people, but it’s something we never imagined we’d be able to do. Goodness. Even typing this now is making me smile.
Do watch the vlog or read the review on my blog (link in bio!) if you’d like to see more, and there’s plenty of info on @hoegrangeholidays’ website too. Happy happy times! Have you ever tried an off-road wheelchair? 🥰💃🏼
[I’m also planning a *whole* other post about the wheelchair cosy I have on here because it’s an absolute gamechanger and I need ample space to gush about it!]
~
[Hashtags] #ChronicIllness #Spoonie #Disability #MECFS #InvisibleIllness #MyalgicEncephalomyelitis #DisabledAndCute #BabeWithAMobilityAid #PeakDistrict #Derbyshire #TBloggers #DisabilityHistoryMonth #DisabledBlogger #DisabledInfluencer #HoeGrangeHolidays #OffRoadWheelchair #Boma7 #AccessForAll

[AD] Something I’ve always wanted to do is stay

[AD] Something I’ve always wanted to do is stay in a cosy little log cabin as the season changes, and a couple of weeks ago @HoeGrangeHolidays made that a reality… not only with arguably the world’s most adorable log cabin, but with their award-winning accessible facilities and eco-friendly accommodation in the heart of the beautiful Peak District. My full review is up on the blog now if you’d like a read - link’s in my bio!
Our three days in Daisybank Cabin were hands down one of the highlights of my year. The lodges had clearly been designed with accessibility at their heart, and yet there was absolutely no compromise on their style and character. Rather than that somewhat clinical feel that sometimes comes with accessible spaces (y’know what I mean, right?), our cabin was utterly adorable and had everything we needed for a cosy, peaceful few days away.
You can find out more about what we got up to in the blog post - special mention to the accessible hot tub and the most affectionate little kittens I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting - and also a peek at the activity that was hands-down one of the best things I’ve had the opportunity to do since becoming a wheelchair user… but I’ll tell you more about that in a few days’ time when there’ll be a vlog to go up alongside it too!
I can’t begin to tell you how much I enjoyed my time at Hoe Grange Holidays and can hand on heart recommend it to anybody looking for a mini-break in the countryside - even without a car we could have easily spent weeks there and I reckon it’s well worth travelling for too. Do have a read of my full review and have a nosy at the website linked in @hoegrangeholidays’ bio. Trust me, you won’t regret it.
Thank you so much again for having us, David, Felicity, and Team - we’ll be back 😌🍂
~
[Hashtags] #ChronicIllness #Spoonie #Disability #Disabled #MECFS #InvisibleIllness #MyalgicEncephalomyelitis #DisabledAndCute #BabeWithAMobilityAid #PeakDistrict #Derbyshire #TBloggers #LBloggers #DisabilityHistoryMonth #DisabledBlogger #DisabledInfluencer #HoeGrangeHolidays #LogCabin #AccessibleAccomodation #AccessForAll

Today I was nattering away on a panel for an onlin

Today I was nattering away on a panel for an online event and almost had an out-of-body experience… because mid-way through quite a lively discussion about disability and identity, I realised the person I was 6/7 years ago might not even recognise the person I am now.
I used to be quite fearful of the word ‘disabled’. Even when my chronic illness was at its worst and the physical and social barriers were utterly disabling, I still felt as though I was waiting for some kind of permission before I could use the word disabled. I still had to learn that ‘disabled’ isn’t the heavy and loaded word the media and society have made it out to be, and dismantle the flawed negative connotations that have been unfairly attributed to it. I was so busy (irrationally) worrying that identifying as chronically ill or disabled would be some kind of admission of defeat that I didn’t realise just how empowering reclaiming that label could be.
I had a heck of a lot of internalised ableism to unpick back then, and quite frankly, I still have a long way to go with that. If you feel the same, I hope you’re not alone.
That said, I hope this maybe offers a little glimmer of assurance to anybody negotiating struggles with language and identity at the moment - whether you’re new to chronic illness or continually learning and evolving. There’s no single right way to identify and I know it can be a contentious issue, but I hope you know that even if you don’t quite feel comfortable or at peace with how you identify, or if like me you’ve been actively resisting things for entirely the wrong reasons, there’s no need to rush it or put pressure on yourself to get to where you want to be. Real growth takes time.
You don’t need anybody’s permission to identify as disabled - the only permission you need is your own.
SO much more to discuss around this topic, but after 3+ hours in a row of talky events and panels this morning, I’m hastily getting this down before I retreat for some much needed rest and recovery time! I’d love to hear your own experiences though; has the way you identify evolved over time?
~
#ChronicIllness #Disability #DisabilityHistoryMonth #InvisibleIllness #Ableism

[AD] Moving from employment to self-employment did

[AD] Moving from employment to self-employment didn’t happen overnight for me. I made the change slowly and gradually - not only for the sake of my health, but because there was so much I had to learn about how to make freelance life manageable and sustainable for me.
One of the things it’s taken me a bit of time to really find my feet with is finances. Not having a set pay-day, having an income that wildly fluctuates each month, and never being entirely certain when an invoice will be paid means it’s absolutely vital to be proactive with managing your money - especially when you’re also navigating the costs of independent living as a disabled young person.
I’ve been using @starlingbank for over a year now and honestly, I wish I’d switched from my old bank account sooner.
It’s so quick and easy to set up an account, really simple to use and faff-free even if you have to reach out for help, and the thing I’ve personally benefitted from the most is their Spaces tool. You can set up different categories (like little pots for your money) and divide up your savings accordingly, so you’ll always have an easily accessible overview of how much you have to meet the costs of particular elements of your life.
I also use mine for savings goals, so I have the satisfaction of watching even just pennies every now and then add up and bring me closer to the goals and experiences I’d really like to make happen one day. Plus the fact it’s all digital means I still can feel like I’m making things happen when stuck horizontally at home on the sofa in a onesie, and who on Earth doesn’t want that?
Starling is all about embracing innovation and building a fair, honest, and human bank that makes the world a better place. So many of their features lend themselves well to disabled and chronically ill users and I’ve had only positive experiences so far, so I’ll pop a link in my bio if you’d like to find out more and create your own account!
Do you have any tips for managing your finances? I’d love to hear them! #StarlingSaver
~
[Hashtags] #ChronicIllness #Spoonie #Disability #InvisibleIllness #MyalgicEncephalomyelitis #ChronicFatigueSyndrome #DisabledAndCute #DisabledFreelancer

Being disabled in York feels… tricky right now.

Being disabled in York feels… tricky right now. You might have seen the horrific news that Blue Badge use has now been permanently banned from footstreets in the City Centre, but this is by no means the only discriminatory measure that’s made life more difficult for disabled people here over the last few years.
It’s strange because although goodness knows it’s never been perfect, a few years ago York seemed to be pretty on the ball in terms of inclusion. I chose to stay here after university, mostly because I fell in love with the city but also because I have a fab GP and access to a reputable fatigue clinic - things that are very difficult to come by for people with chronic illnesses. There’s a wonderful network of social enterprises in the area and, wait for it, York is a human rights city - by their own definition, championing ‘a vibrant, diverse, fair and safe city’ committed to equality and non-discrimination. Interesting.
Organisations like @yorkdrf and @voicesyork have provided ongoing commentary on the situation, as well as steps for further action - please take a look and support them if you can.
As well as listening and supporting (I’m not directly affected as, ironically, City of York has never deemed me *disabled enough* for a Blue Badge), I’m reflecting on where this leaves me with some of my blogging. I have a whole #AccessibleYork series on my blog, and while I’ve never shied away from pointing out the shortcomings, I’ve always loved writing about the people and places who are working to get it right.
In fitting with the #DisabledJoy message the York disability groups are championing now, I think I want to carry on - but given everything that’s happening, ‘Accessible York’ no longer seems like a good name. It’s a shame ‘Accessible But Only On Paper York’ doesn’t quite have the same ring to it…
Do you have any thoughts on what might make a more fitting name, or how I can continue championing disabled joy over here while mindful of these immense new challenges? I always really value your input with things like this!
~
#ChronicIllness #Disability #DisabilityHistoryMonth #DisabledAndCute #BabeWithAMobilityAid #York #Inclusion #ClosedToUs

Things you should know about this photo: - We are

Things you should know about this photo:
- We are steadfastly ignoring the fact that time is passing and I’m yet another year older but that approach cannot and should not exclude the possibility of cake. Especially not Asda’s new extra special vegan salted caramel cake because oof.
- Insomnia has been wreaking havoc lately so it’s a miracle that the cake and indeed myself made it to the table in (just about) one piece.
- May or may not be wearing an owl onesie. Zero regrets.
Had a lovely few days completely off social media and emails which I’m going to try and carry on for a few more days, but (somewhat ironically) I’m so looking forward to telling you about the little adventure I’ve had this week!
In the meantime, cuppa and cake anybody? I’ll pop the kettle on 🥰✨
~
[Hashtags] #ChronicIllness #Spoonie #Disability #Disabled #MECFS #InvisibleIllness #MyalgicEncephalomyelitis #ChronicFatigueSyndrome #DisabledAndCute #YorkBlogger #DisabledBlogger #DisabledBloggers #DisabledInfluencer #Birthday #BirthdayCake #Vegan #VegansOfYork VeganCake #AsdaExtraSpecial #FreeFrom #FreeFromUK #DairyFree #PyjamasOfIG #PyjamasAllDay

[#AD] Something that really resonates with me is t

[#AD] Something that really resonates with me is the idea that facing hardships and uncertainty, and ending up on a different path to the one you set out on, can sometimes lead you to something greater than you could have ever imagined. Although I would never wish my experiences on anybody, the level of peace and self-acceptance I’ve found over the last few years has taken me completely by surprise. In many ways, the challenges I’ve faced have made me feel as though I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be… and that’s something I never thought I’d be able to say.
Because of that, I nearly cried multiple times when reading Big Panda and Tiny Dragon. It’s one of the most beautiful books I’ve ever experienced - not only in appearance with the stunning illustrations, but in the philosophy it shares.
Based on Buddhist principles, it takes us through the pair’s voyage towards living in the moment, seeking peace in uncertainty, and finding the strength to persevere through life’s obstacles. It’s one of those books where you feel the need to take a photo of every single page because it speaks to you. Honestly, you should see my camera roll right now…
Big Panda and Tiny Dragon are unlikely friends who journey through the seasons together. Although they often get lost, it leads them to discover so many beautiful things they never could have imagined. And not to get too sentimental, but that right there is the most perfect summary of mine and @juddabelle’s friendship. She’s been by my side through it all, and there’s nobody in this Earth I’d rather be growing up and stumbling my way through life with. Naturally she needed a copy herself, all the more so with it being #WorldKindnessDay today, and I think her reaction says it all…
You can follow the link in my bio to find out more about the book, and I really hope you do. This is hands-down one of the best things I’ve read this year, and I really hope you and your loved ones feel the same way. 💛✨
~
[Hashtags] #BigPandaAndTinyDragon #PenguinBooks #MichaelJBooks #BookBlogger #BookLove #AmReading #RainbowBookshelf #BookBloggers #Bookstagram

Using an old and only vaguely related photo but I

Using an old and only vaguely related photo but I have a very pressing question for you today… what’s your favourite word? Or, dare I ask it, your least favourite word?
After careful consideration, I have decided my favourite word is kerfuffle. Excellent to look at, even more fun to say, worryingly relevant to day-to-day life. Another one that’s up there for me is shenanigans, but I think kerfuffle takes the crown.
As for least favourite, you’re gonna have to hear me out with this one. I spend a lot of my time over-thinking random words when trying to write something, and I’ve developed a deep and mostly inexplicable disliking for the word ‘both’. It got to a point where I thought about it so much that the word just lost all meaning to me and became a clunky chunk of nothingness. Thinking about it even now makes me cringe a bit, which is very not ideal for a word we all use pretty frequently in day-to-day life. Both. BOTH.
Just me?! Don’t answer that…
So there’s some information that absolutely nobody asked for. You are welcome. But most importantly, what’s your favourite/least favourite word? Do you have your reasons why or is it just A Thing? I’d genuinely love to know!
~
[Hashtags] #ChronicIllness #Spoonie #Disability #Disabled #MECFS #InvisibleIllness #MyalgicEncephalomyelitis #ChronicFatigueSyndrome #DisabledAndCute #York #Yorkshire #NorthYorkshire #VisitYork #VisitYorkshire #YorkBlogger #DisabledBlogger #DisabledBloggers #DisabledInfluencer #DisabledFreelancer #DisabledWriter #AmReading #AmWriting #FavouriteWord #Bookstagram #BooksOfInstagram

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