Twenty Four

2nd January, 1993 saw me enter the world.
A lot has happened in those years. Everyone has their story to tell but mine is certainly an awkward, complex, unpredictable one!
Now, I'm not sure what I want to do/achieve this year... I know after 2016 tried to see me off, I'd rather like 2017 not having an scenarios like that, preferably!

- I know I want to raise more awareness for the illnesses I have, not just for my benefit, but for all those that suffer this horrendous pain!
- I DEFINITELY want to see my godchildren more!

But car wise, I'm not really sure. Obviously getting to drive some more cars would be EPIC but 24 is an awkward age for insurance! BOO. So I guess just experiencing some cars would be just as cool!!

Going to explore more of America is certainly an aim, especially the West Coast as I haven't been! (any companies that want to sponsor a car photographer to visit the West Coast... feel free to get in touch ;) worth a shot! haha)
Travelling in general, as and when time/life allows me would be cool. I really love just going somewhere new and discovering new stuff and meeting new people.

But I guess, I just want to better myself.
- Better ways to manage my time
- Find a way to balance my illnesses, with not overdoing it!!!!!!!
- Just become a better person really.

I really do want to try and blog/vlog more this year. Myself and Demi did film some stuff at some events last year, but never really did anything with it!

I said all my thank you's at New Years, to all the amazing people I know and love, but anyone who reads this... thank you!!

Take care
Skully x

Cars & M.E

I was due to write this post during M.E awareness week, which is 11th-17th May. Unfortunately I never got round to it, it's been hectic with events & shows and when I haven't been shooting or editing, I've been trying to recover.

M.E. What is it?
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis. It's a neuroimmune disorder that effects all your joints, muscles & immune system.
I've been bed bound for a few years, I've been house bound and every day.... it's like having the flu, with a hangover whilst running a marathon!
The problem with having said illness is that - it's invisible! It carries a stigma of being "all in your head" as you can't see it. People not understanding that going round a car show is like climbing Everest for me! It's a lot to tackle. When I say I'm in pain, it's not being lazy or unfit.. it's having a painful, misunderstood illness.
Well, I say you can't see it, most days I look like a Ghost Panda. Incredibly pale with big black eyes!

Why am I writing this?
Well I want people to be made aware of this illness. I tend to keep it quiet and just 'mask it' so, act as normal as I can. That is, until pain pushes past breaking point, where I just start to malfunction per say.

Cars have been a passion of mine since I was first born. I was a Hot Wheels over Barbie kind of girl. My plans for after my GCSE's were to join our Armed Forces to work on the military vehicles. I always wanted to be a mechanic and when I missed out on a college programme school did, I decided to combine my passion of serving our country with cars (well vehicles.)
This is where having 2 viruses simultaneously changed these plans. Having 2 viruses crashed my immune system and... hello M.E. An illness I'd never heard of!
So here's what sufferers (or fighters) of M.E deal with... EVERY. DAY.

Post-exertional malaise

• This refers to the body's inability to recover normally after spending even small amounts of energy.

Feeling generally unwell

• Having flu-like symptoms (often called “general malaise” by doctors)
• Recurrent sore throat, with or without swollen glands.

Pain

• aching muscles or joints
• nerve pains or pins and needles
• headache or migraine
• twitching muscles or cramps
• abdominal pain (stomach or bowel problems)
• chest pain
• back pain

If pain, especially muscle pain, is more of a problem than fatigue, fibromyalgia may be an issue.

Sleep disturbance

• unrefreshing sleep
• difficulty getting off to sleep
• waking for long periods in the early hours
• light, dreamy, restless sleep
• sleep reversal (for example sleeping from 4am till midday)
• hypersomnia (sleeping for a long time)

Problems with concentration, thinking and memory (“brain fog”)

• reduced attention span
• short-term memory problems
• word-finding difficulties
• inability to plan or organise thoughts
• loss of concentration

Problems with the nervous system

• poor temperature control
• dizziness on standing or sitting up
• hyper-sensitivity to light and sound
• sweating
• loss of balance
• poor circulation

Digestive problems (which can also be Irritable Bowel Syndrome)

• nausea
• loss of appetite
• indigestion
• excessive wind/bloating
• cramps
• alternating diarrhoea and constipation

Intolerance and increased sensitivity, eg:

• bright lights
• noise
• odours
• some foods (for example dairy or wheat)
• some medications
• alcohol
• other substances.
  
  So yeah, that's what you deal with. Every minute of every day.
  I was also just diagnosed with Fibromyalgia which is mentioned in the list. M.E & Fibro have A LOT of crossover symptoms, Fibro consists of:
• Pain
• Anxiety
• Concentration and memory problems -- known as "fibro fog"
• Depression
• Fatigue
• Headaches
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Morning stiffness
• Painful menstrual cramps
• Sleep problems
• Numbness, and tingling in hands, arms, feet, and legs
• Tender points
• Urinary symptoms, such as pain or frequency
  
  Cars are my respite. I'm trapped in my own body by these pains and symptoms. Shooting cars gets me out of my head as it were. I relax. I enjoy it.
  My dream is to become a professional automotive photographer, even with having to tackle all the above.
  
  So I hope if you read this, you've learnt something new. I'm hoping in future to find a way to combine cars with raising money for charities like Invest in M.E. One day...
  
  Skully x