Along with a big crowd of other British expats wearing red white and blue, I attended a joyful and nostalgic version of the Last Night of the Proms performed with orchestra and choir in the Bruce Mason theatre on Auckland’s North Shore.
The programme began with God Save the King and finished with Rule Britannia, Land of Hope and Glory and Jerusalem, with many other traditional items in between. New Zealand content included the national anthem, a Maori song called A Te Tarakihi, and a film of the Spitfire flying at the Warbirds air show. The soprano soloist wore a series of splendid gowns, one resembling a giant Union Jack. I used to think I hated bagpipes, but the wonderful performance of Highland Cathedral by a pipe band was a highlight of the show.
Towards the end, the hall filled with balloons and streamers as the wildly enthusiastic audience sang along and waved our flags. We all had a good time, and perhaps some of us were left wondering whether the UK or NZ feels more like home.
I’m pleased to announce that Migraine and Me: A doctor’s experience of understanding and coping with migraine is now available as an ebook from Amazon Kindle and various other online retailers as listed on this link, with a print version planned to follow soon.
My migraines began in my teenage years and continued until later life. In this short book I’ve combined personal stories from myself and other contributors with information from published research. Writing both as a (retired) doctor and as a (recovered) migraine patient, I’ve aimed to balance the medical aspects with the psychological, social and even spiritual ones. The book describes how lifestyle measures and complementary therapies, as well as prescribed drugs, can help to prevent attacks. It covers some sensitive topics such as the concept of a ‘migraine personality’ and the reasons for stigma, and ends on a positive note with sections about creativity and ‘silver linings’.
To quote from the blurb: “Migraine and Me offers empathy, practical insights, and hope for anyone affected by this complex neurological condition, once described in a drug advertisement as hell on earth.”
If there is anyone in your circle who is affected by migraine and might be interested, please share this post with them. Here again is the link to the book.
My new ebook Migraine and Me is nearly finished but I’ve left the final draft aside for a while, so I can check it through with fresh eyes before publication.
Meanwhile I’ve been continuing my project of “Going wide with D2D”. The aims are to bring some of my earlier books to a wider readership, and to update my basic skills in formatting text and using self-publishing technology.So Wellbeing for Writers and Beautiful Vibrations are now available not only from Amazon Kindle (kdp) as before, but also from many other ebook retailers as shown on this link http://books2read.com/jenniferbarraclough.
“A short practical guide about how to enjoy the journey to becoming a (self)published author, and how to cope with challenges such as lack of time for writing, lack of inspiration, negative criticism, and aversion to marketing. Jennifer’s experience as an author of both fiction and non-fiction books, combined with many years of working with clients in various therapeutic settings, has given her a wide personal understanding of the psychology of writing. This little book includes many practical tips for making the process run smoothly, and enhancing mental and physical wellbeing.”
“Anxiety, sadness, anger and loss of hope are common responses to serious or chronic illness. Symptoms of the condition itself, side-effects of treatment, concerns about diagnosis and prognosis, restriction of activity, and changes in relationships take their toll on both body and mind. Ideally, negative feelings will soon be replaced by a more positive adjustment, but sometimes they are severe or prolonged. Bach flowers are not a cure for physical disease but help to relieve the emotional distress often associated with it. Dr Edward Bach described them as having ‘beautiful vibrations’ capable of promoting positive mental states such as hope, courage and calm. This practical guide, illustrated by case histories and flower photos, explains how to select and use the remedies as part of a holistic approach to healing. Despite all its unpleasant aspects, the experience of illness can have a silver lining and the flower remedies help to bring this out.”
Jennifer Barraclough 