Runnin On Empty-OOH, Er, OM

Some of you might remember in the last Column I spoke about how I firmly believed meditation should be taught in schools?  Well, since then I’ve been introduced to a lady called Georgie Deyn currently teaching meditation in six schools around Hertfordshire age range 5-11, all with positive results. Speaking to her earlier this week she said that teachers, parents and the children themselves are really noticing a difference. It’s enabling the kids to manage their own emotions which is extremely beneficial especially for those with anxiety disorders and low self-esteem.

Exam time is always stressful & after teaching a class of pre- SATS the class teacher said that it was the calmest and most confident he has seen the children. So how did she get Karma kids started?   “I was incredibly lucky to have the support from Michelle Pearson , Head at Tudor Primary in Hemel Hempstead. I piloted a voluntary Karma Kids session with a group of year 3 children and at the end of the term we recorded a session and video recorded the feedback from some children the teacher and head. YouTube  I then presented this at the Dacorum Head teachers consortium and the rest is history.  Georgie is also an Angelic Harmony Therapist and anyone interested in Karma kids can contact her on her AHT website:

So what calms you down and keeps you sane?  As some of you may know one of my main escapisms is music? And while poor health ended my initial hopes and dreams, as Mama Chill, I can still write and make what I hope is a bit of relevant music now and then, so it was lovely to be invited into Watfords Vibe 107.6 FM  last Sunday.  Presenter Nia Visser has been supporting Unsigned music artists on  her  Sunday night Raw Vibes show for five years.  Chart topping Jack Garrett was one of those artists, now referred to as award winning Jack Garrett, but sadly for us Nia is  moving on to pastures new. It was humbling to be in a room with so many talented people and share in her last show. She has without doubt bought this local musical family together, all very supportive of each other  and one that will continue to grow I’m sure. A lady of many talents I will be interviewing Miss Visser  in a future Column. So watch this space.

If advancing technology is anything to go by, we could all be about to get a whole lot more stressed, because according to an article by Ben Woods there is a trial running at two Belgium hospitals where the Hospital Receptionist has been replaced with  a robot called Pepper , apparently it can understand 20 different languages. I can’t help but  imagine  a huge queue of irate patients at the reception desk, as the robot  keeps repeating  “ I’m sorry, I didn’t understand that,  please say it again and remember to speak clearly”  You can read more about Pepper the Robot here .

Onto Gizmo/Gadget/Gift …Any cyclists amongst you?  Then you’re in for a bit of fun if you purchase the Re-Creation Wheel writer Deluxe?  You mount it onto the wheel of your bike and as you pedal and the wheel spins round,  LED lights create  pictures and patterns on your spokes. While it comes with over 50 pre-loaded images and animations, it also allows you to upload your own pictures and text, so if you like getting creative the possibilities are endless. Waterproof and only running off three  AAA batteries this is one for Big & Little kids alike. £30  available from Debenhams. 

Like a full English? Well take a look at this 38cm wide Frying Master pan, it goes on one hob, cooks up to five things at a time and can go in the dishwasher afterwards, saving time, energy and money . Going for £50+ in the shops, Companies on Ebay are selling  them much cheaper, one good seller has them for £19.99 +Free Delivery so well worth checking out.

& now onto........

Ooh..Er...Om –#‎thingsdoctorssaytopeoplewithME....

When no funding is given for biomedical research into ME then many myths and unregulated businesses are allowed to spring up,  all falsely treating ME as a psychological condition where one can get better by standing on a box and denying that the disease exists, or similar nonsenses.

Yet on the other hand ME patients are prohibited from donating blood,  the official reason being given that it protects the donor! Duh!

Doctor’s also have some strange views on ME too. It's a funny old world, but not so funny for those at the receiving end of such comments........

Here's a selection of quotes from healthcare professionals to ME patients taken from the Journal of IIMER showing awkward, ridiculous, incomprehensible or just downright stupid observations from doctors.

At the cardiologists for myocarditis, cardiomyopathy, POTS, - ''so you're here because you're fatigued?  sports three times a week will cure you!”

GP: “I don’t think there is anything wrong with your heart, You Just have ME,  but I don’t believe in ME.

"No illness could be that complicated, you must have imagined it!"  

I wish.….!!  

My GP said: "Shall I pray for you? We could do it now!"

Neurologist; "FM? That doesn't exist, neither does that other thing what do you call it? ME?"

“I'm not sure how to help you.... Why don't we try antidepressants??”

But I'm not depressed.

“When are you going to pull yourself together get off antidepressants and get back to work”

A UK specialist told me to "Get a boyfriend and an active sex life, if you want a cure"

At age 16, - "have a baby, a good shake up of your hormones should sort it."  -I had a baby in my late 20's guess what-it didn't sort it.

“No, no children get ME” ...suggesting it's a psychosomatic adult illness….”go home and do some exercise.”

DWP Doctor in 1994 - "Were you attending church when you developed ME?" 

You could say this weeks word  of Cuckoo is rather apt?  Cuckoo is obviously a  bird, but did you know the expression “There’s a Cuckoo in the nest” refers to the female Cuckoo, who has a habit of laying her eggs in another birds nest &  then when the eggs hatch, the baby cuckoos (fledglings) push the other birds babies out of the nest?  The expression “Gone Cuckoo” referring to someone who has “Gone mad” is thought to have come from the Cuckoos monotonous repeated bird call, suggesting a simple mind.  As for the Film Title “One Flew Over The Cuckoos’ Nest” it was suggesting that someone was crazy and was taken from a childrens nursery rhyme “One flew East, one flew West, one flew over the cuckoos’ nest” The word “Kook/Kooky” also comes from the word Cuckoo and describes an eccentric/crazy person, the first known use of Kook was in the 1920’s but it wasn’t commonly used until the 1950’s .  At this point you’re either thinking WOW! She’s a fountain of Random Poop knowledge? OR, she’s gone Cuckoo?

Hands up if you love St albans?  The town has so much character, and unlike Watford town centre they haven’t ruined theirs…….yet? and Sunday June 19th is a celebration of everything that makes St Albans wonderful , this annual event is free and full of fun for everyone, 12-6pm and held by the town hall market square, more details: St Albans.

Put 2nd July in your Diaries and head down to Garston Spiritualist Church in First Avenue for their psychic Fayre. Its Free entry  12-5pm, There will be experienced mediums for anyone wanting a  private reading,  there's also a  BBQ, crystals, Angel products, gifts, Incense, Hand made wooden stalls, and just an overal good vibed social day to be had by all.

You can of course also go along to a Sunday Morning  &  Evening church service, They're  a friendly bunch and everyone’s welcome, details on their website.

As it’s Father’s day on Sunday 19th June I can’t end without giving a shout out to all the Dads and Step-dads out there. Even if your dad is no longer here on earth, know that he will still be with you, and big up to all the single mums that have had to be dad to?  And finally love and hugs to my own daddy, Mike Hart. May you all have a blessed and beautiful day. 

                     Well that’s it for another Fornight,

                  Til then Stay Blessed, Back Before Elvis X

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