Grief, ED recovery, Mental Health and all the lovely things that give my Sisyphean rock meaning
A day in Cardiff for appointments, coffee, and small joys - Lego dragons, plushies, and people-watching - followed by the quieter truth that comes after. A reminder that good days are real, home matters, and sometimes the recovery lasts longer than the outing itself.
Turning 42 wasn’t perfect, but it was mine. Between cramps, cancelled plans, free Starbucks, Jellycat penguins, and Biscoff cake, I found glimmers I didn’t think I’d feel again. Even though the gold didn’t last all night, it existed - and that alone felt like a tiny miracle in the dark.
A day in Cardiff with my son: blood tests, NHS rage, plushies, coffee, and the reminder that recovery — though exhausting — is worth it. We celebrated with bath bombs and bears, laughed at cathedral flats, and found light in the dark, together.
I can’t believe you’re 20. Two whole decades of you in my life, shaping me just as much as I’ve raised you. Watching you grow into your most authentic self has been the greatest privilege. No matter where life takes you, you’ll always have me, quantum entangled, forever
I never expected this. Jellycat reached out and sent me a surprise package—and not just a little keyring, but a full Jellycat haul! As someone who’s never been ‘picked’ for things, this meant more than just plushies. Here’s what they sent me—and why it mattered so much.
When everything crumbled — blood tests, eating disorder relapse, endless chaos — I leaned into maximum entropy. Physics couldn’t fix it, but it made sense of the mess. So, while our universe succumbed to entropy, I bleached my son’s hair. Order emerged in the chaos, his hair flawless, my new Jellycat pig, Hamilton, watching.
Frankie Frog, my son’s Build-a-Bear, became a harbinger of connection during a dark year of grief and relapse. We threw him a birthday party with cake, sandwiches, and Froggy wine. He’s more than a plushie — he’s comfort, chaos, and a reminder that love and joy persist, even through the fog.
When my psychiatrist appointment was cancelled during a mental health crisis, I felt adrift. Instead of spiraling, I escaped to Cardiff—a place that usually feels like home. This is about frustration, yes, but also continuing to keep on keeping on when the system fails to show up.
Plushies have always been a love language for me, symbolising comfort, connection, and hope. From my son's Jellycat birthday cake to earrings that reflect my journey of healing, each gift tells a story of love and resilience. This birthday gift haul reminded me how deeply I’m seen, valued, and celebrated
The author shares a reflective account of their particularly eventful Thursday, starting with collecting new glasses from Specsavers. Excited about clearer vision, they enjoy a day filled with family moments, coffee at Starbucks, and an unexpected cluster headache. Experiencing beauty in small details, they find joy and clarity in everyday events.
Absurd Universe 