Among the items I keep in my red emergency bag is an information sheet for my support workers describing what to do when I’m having a ‘ticcing fit’. Much of it’s about what they need to do to keep themselves safe rather than me.…

Last night, as I tried to settle back to sleep after waking up for no particular reason, I started to shake gently. I wasn’t worried by this because it’s something I’ve done since childhood when I’m going to sleep. In fact I can’t remember a time when I’ve been able to lie still and to go to sleep without it happening.…

Poppy was back at the castle this evening for her weekly turn as my overnight support worker. Shortly before we headed to our beds I had a “ticcing fit.” As is often the case I lost my speech, but this time not completely.…

I’ve described many times how even the slightest emotion can trigger an entirely disproportionate reaction in my body. This happens when I’m happy and excited, during films for example, or even when I simply roll my r’s. The reaction is instant and uncontrollable and can lead me to throw myself across the room, bite my arm, and screech.…

This is my fourth year writing this blog, and right from the start one subject’s been notably absent – romance. There’s a lot of love – the love and care of my family and friends runs through pretty much every post.…

My tics rarely embarrass me, but yesterday one did. I caught myself by surprise during a normal day at work. Here’s how:

I was in the office – everyone was busy so the atmosphere was quiet and concentrated. My regular tics punctuated the silence as always, but no one was taking any notice.…

I’ve described before how my tics make me overreact if I feel any heightened emotion, whether it’s anger, sadness, happiness or excitement.

This evening I was hanging out with Fran and I ticced: “What do you get when you cross a dog and a dick – a dickdog!”…

This evening Zoë and I got onto the subject of dating. We’re both single and we were discussing things that we shouldn’t say on a first date. My tics seized on this and started listing things I definitely shouldn’t say when trying to attract a boy….…

A year or so ago I ticced, “Soft-porn snowstorm” and as soon as I’d said it, Poppy vowed to make one when she’d finished Uni.

True to her word, this evening she presented me with a snow globe, and standing proudly in the middle was a naked woman.…

Because of my tonsillectomy I’ve spent most of this week in bed during the day, too sore to sleep but also too sore to do much beyond lie and look out of the window.

The view isn’t buzzing with activity but I’m very fond of it.…