Visit to Leuchie House respite centre

Leuchie House (https://www.leuchiehouse.org.uk)is a place where people with MS and other long term conditions can go for a break, either alone or with their carer. I went to check it out recently. It’s about a 45-minute drive south from Musselburgh, just outside the seaside town of North Berwick, in rolling green countryside. The mansion house, … Continue reading →

Springtime at the River Esk

The River Esk walk way is particularly beautiful in spring, with the trees bursting into fresh, green leaves, wild garlic perfuming the air and swans nesting. I managed to photograph one of the nesting swans taking a drink at the weir, where I guess the water is cleaner. For more information please see the link …

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Cherry Blossom time

I always feel that spring is finally here when the cherry trees near my home burst into bloom. A wonderful cherry tree overhung my balcony where I lived in Budapest while in Istanbul there were trees in the gardens of older properties. Their blossoms, along with the street vendors selling bunches of daffodils and barrows … Continue reading →

My experience at Vraz Spa, Part 2

THE TREATMENTS I think that most of the treatments were designed to increase blood circulation and consequently mobility. The first one I tried was to sit with a vibro-cushion under my feet, which are often cold. They were still cold after ten minutes of this and I didn’t have it again. Next I had a … Continue reading →

My experience of Vraz Spa in the Czech Republic, part 1

Vraz Spa is a beautiful chateau, built in 1875, situated in South Bohemia’s verdant countryside, dotted with lakes and forests, around one hour from Prague. http://www.lazne-vraz.cz/en/ I first heard about it from my Czech friend, Helena, who loved swimming as much as me. She also had MS and sadly died after a stroke last year. … Continue reading →

The Anne Rowling clinic’s research and the effect of simvastatin on multiple sclerosis (MS)

Once a year I have an appointment at the Anne Rowling regenerative neurology clinic at Edinburgh’s Royal Infirmary. This state-of-the-art clinic was opened in 2013 and was financed by J.K.Rowling in memory of her mother, Anne, who died of MS.https://www.annerowlingclinic.org/research-trials/find-project/ms-stat2 Despite its modern up-beat appearance and the glossy posters proclaiming the latest research, it has … Continue reading →

Bohemian Rhapsody

I recently went to see this film about the rock band Queen and their singer, Freddie Mercury. It was incredible, especially the music, which has been buzzing round my head ever since. Rami Malek’s performance as Freddie was breathtaking, his resemblance to the rock star uncanny. I learned that Freddie was born in Zanzibar in … Continue reading →