A New Me

Or that's the plan.
As I might have mentioned occasionally I have ME and I'm sick of having ME so when I heard about a cure I thought why not. Well there were a lot of reasons why not ranging from not believing they could cure what the nhs call an incurable illness, to the costs involved. Anyway I went to a talk about the treatment and it made a lot of sense so I'm now doing the 90 day program from the Optimum Health clinic (http://www.theoptimumhealthclinic.com/)

I did a weekend course that explained everything and now I'm on a self learning part. I'm finding it hard work but I'm enjoying the results.

Its very hard to explain whats going on but basically its based on the fact that after long term illness the brain and body get into a kind of routine. If you have pain then the brain starts thinking oh no I had this before and it went on and on and it took ages to go away and then I had a relapse etc etc after all that the body says OMG I feel cr*p and you have a relapse. Obviously that's very simplified but the idea is to break the chain. Its using treatments from various therapies like the lightening process and eft to break the habits and allow the brain to relax and the body to heal.
It also involves a lot of recognising thoughts and emotions which I find quite hard. You know I feel ok I don't feel sad or angry or ecstatic I just feel normal.....is that ok to feel normal, calm happyish or does that mean I'm not in touch with my feelings?? Its hard!
I have to say I never the eft (http://www.emofree.com/) would work but again for some strange reason it does. Ok I feel like an idiot sitting there tapping various places but it does help.

One of the other things I was told is to basically stop dieting, stop counting points or calories. Just for the 90 days involved in the intense course to allow myself to concentrate on learning the techniques I need to cure myself. That made me panic (using the 'stops' from the lightening process helped) but thinking about it I guess they're right. I'm more intrigued about how using these tools will allow my body to reach and maintain its natural weight but hey Ive nothing to lose right?
Again it does make sense. When you feel hunger are you actually hungry as in tummy rumbling hungry or are you emotionally hungry or is it the shaking sweating over done it need sugar hunger. They are all different but recognising the difference and working out what I need at that particular time is going to be interesting.

The course suggests that you do a lot of yoga, relaxation, meditation kind of work to allow yourself to know how you feel which is something Ive tried and found it helped but for some reason never continued with. It also says that everyday you should do something that brings you joy and makes you happy. Isn't that a nice thought?

Anyway enough rambling for now. Hopefully as time goes by I will be able to read back posts from now and from before now and see how things have changed.

Mothers Day Card

My Mum doesn't like Mothers day, she always says its commercialised and that I shouldn't get her anything. Of course I don't listen but I thought that making a card using freebies might make her smile.

Marie Curie Cards

I bought the stamps from Do crafts for the Marie Curie Charity and when I saw them I was full of ideas of how I would use them. Of course when I tried all the ideas they just didn't look right. Anyway I went back another day and tried again and made these. I'm hoping to make some more if I have time but after my mojo has been on holiday (I'm not sure if its returned or just popping in) I have other cards to make too.

Todays Plays

I was asked by my Mum to make a 80th birthday card and a get well card, one in pink and one in blue. Thing is I cant remember which was which and as Ive already phoned this morning to check I'm hoping she will be ok with them both being pink lol

The bird cards are made using the free calender from Card Making and Papercraft(last year), the wood pecker will be going to my Dad for his birthday. As Ive mentioned my parents moved house at the beginning of the month and just before they moved Dad mentioned he wanted to stay where he was because after 30+ years in the house they'd got a woodpecker in the garden and he didnt have 30+ years left for one to move into the new garden. Sadly its the wrong woodpecker but the thoughts there lol

A gap again

I know I say I will keep up with the blogging and then disappear for weeks on end but there is always good reason honest lol.
This time my parents moved house, not only that but they managed to pick the most snowy/icy/cold days possible! It was chaos lol. i do not recommend moving from a big victorian semi to a bungalow without really starting packing until theres a week to go...
Anyway Im exhausted but slowly recovering so hopefully will actually make a card some time soon

Cards again

Today's cards are really for my Mum and Dad. Last week Mum asked me for a sympathy card for Monday so did that first.

She also asked me to make a new home card so that when they move they can leave it for the next owners so I did that

I then thought that I really should make a new home card for my parents as well. Ive been putting it off until it was all organised and going through but I'm not sure when that will be. They have a moving date of 3rd February but up to yesterday the buyers hadn't signed the forms even though they are sending people round to measure and design a new kitchen!

Good Play day today

Well this is very unusual but Ive actually made ANOTHER card!!

This was made using the free stamps that came with Cardmaking and Papercraft issue 62.
Definitely a first for me though I bought the magazine this morning to look at over coffee and made a card this afternoon suing the free gift.