Contact

A Friendly Village & A Love Story

Mauchline village sign which features a bust of Robert Burns on top of the name Mauchline

Mauchline. The name of a village in Ayrshire, Scotland. This is a place where everyone knows each other and treats each other with friendliness and helpfulness. Home of poet Robert “Rabbie” Burns, this village has at its heart a busy road junction, where the B743 & A76 intersect. How does this small space connect with a love story? How does this junction in particular play a part? Read on…

Main entrance of Rotherham hospital

It’s 2019, and I’m living in Rotherham, working at the local hospital, and single. I registered with a dating site for disabled people. I soon get chatting to a lady from Scotland who seems interesting and interested. Our online chats evolved into phone conversations over several months; I was surprised by her pronounced Scottish brogue. I express this surprise to her for some crazy reason; I mean, what did I expect? That faux pas doesn’t seem to put her off, thankfully.

After a couple of months we agree to meet for a date. This is exciting for me for two reasons: the usual first date nerves and the road trip. There is a distance of 250 miles and, according to the sat nav, this will take around five hours to cover. I love a road trip!

A scenic shot which features a sweeping landscape and a white car

My route comprises picking up the A1 north from Rotherham, leaving the A1 at Scotch Corner and jumping onto the A66 to cross over from east to west before then taking the M6/M74 north and crossing the border into Scotland. The drive is scenic; I have the music up loud and life feels good.

Leaving the M74 at junction 12 I take the road to Ayr (A70), which I follow for quite a few miles before turning off onto the B743 signposted for Sorn, and loving the drive on this twisting country road, where villages and hamlets pass by almost in a blur. Rounding a bend on top of a hill, I enter a village whose sign declares it to be Mauchline. Aggressive speed bumps menace the downhill. To the right is what appears to be a school, explaining the speed humps. I come to what looks like a large junction, controlled by traffic lights. The sat nav guides me to turn left and then turn right to continue on the road to Ayr. I see a gift shop named Many Thanks, and there’s a pharmacy and a Co-op. I left the village behind and didn’t think any more about it.

I will follow this routine every weekend for the next three years. Sometimes I leave on a Friday evening after finishing work for the week, sometimes leaving Rotherham early on the Saturday morning instead. I pass through the village of Mauchline on every journey, never giving it a second thought. It’s just a set of traffic lights and a junction and it flashes by.

In 2022, I was retired from my NHS role due to ill-health and an inability to continue to fulfil my role. Later in the year, my lady and I go to Blackpool for a weekend. My partner books tickets to two shows, with the second being a country music tribute night. Unbeknownst to her, I’ve arranged with the venue to propose to her on stage before the show starts.

Calling my lady onto the stage, the host tells her she’s won a prize. Bewildered, she makes her way onto the stage and I follow. Upon my arrival, the host handed me the microphone, and my mind went blank. Perfect timing. I’d had a bit of a speech planned and rehearsed, but that all goes out the window, so I just look at my lady and then sink to one knee, pull the ring box out of my pocket and utter those famous words, “Will you marry me? The answer is yes, and the ring fits perfectly on her tiny finger, as I’d craftily found out her size from her mother.

The audience cheers, and we leave the stage, back to our table and me shaking and struggling to leave the stage. When the first act appears, he dedicates his set to us and wishes us well for the future.

At this point I’m still making the 10-hour round trip to and from Ayr but, having retired, I don’t have to be back home for work on Mondays. While we make plans for our wedding in 2024, we also look for places we could make our marital home. We investigate places in Girvan, Ayr, and other places, and eventually find a nice, quaint-looking bungalow.

A bungalow with its drive way

Can you guess where this house might be? I bet you can. Of course, it’s in Mauchline, just a few seconds away from that junction I mentioned earlier. The one I’ve been casually driving through for the past three years without a second thought. In January 2023, I moved in and discovered how friendly the people of the village are, from our neighbours to the ladies in the pharmacy among others.

Daniel and Elizabeth Anderson-McIntyre. Daniel is wearing red tartan and Elizabeth is wearing a white and red wedding dress.

In 2024, my lady moves in with me and on August 31st 2024 we are married at the Fairfield House hotel in Ayr, in a humanist ceremony.

A white peugeot 3008 with red wedding ribbon attached
Pink and red t-shirts. The pink one reads Wifey established 31/08/24 and the red one reads hubby established 31/08/24
A plate holding some sweet treats. It has the text Elizabeth and Daniel 31/8/24 piped on in icing.
Daniel with his brother Paul and sister Donna
Daniel and Elizabeth hold hands while the humanist celebrant reads their personal vows out.
DAniel and Elizabeth look at each other as Daniel is speaking into a microphone.

I still adore the village, even after two years.

Crip Monologues Project: A Writer’s Journey to Recognition and Inspiration

So back in November I spotted a Facebook post which mentioned that CRIPtic Arts in London were looking for writers for a project named the Crip Monologues.

Writers were invited to pitch ideas at the CRIPtic team and from those pitches 12 would be chosen to develop a script for a 10-15 minute monologue, with the subject being scrutiny; people who are stared at when they enter a room or go shopping; people who look different to the “norm”.

I was one of the 12 commissioned, which was obviously exciting for me, and I quickly had to learn how to write a script, having never done this previously. The commission for this piece was paid into my bank a few days after completion and that then made me officially a paid writer. For the first time in my life someone saw value in my writing! This has reawakened the buzz inside of me to get a book finished and out there. I believe the Crip Monologues will be performed this year (2024.)

Meet the writers:

Riding the Waves of Motivation: Staying Afloat on Off Days

The Highs of Motivation

We’ve all felt it — that surge of energy when motivation courses through our veins. It’s the fuel that powers us to tackle our goals, the wind in our sails pushing us towards success. On these days, we’re unstoppable, checking off tasks with a vigour that seems to come from a boundless well.

The Lows of Demotivation

But then, there are the other days. The odd ones where that well of motivation seems to have dried up overnight. We wake up feeling like we’re wading through treacle, every task an insurmountable mountain. It’s normal, yet it can make us feel isolated, as if we’re the only ones struggling while the rest of the world charges ahead.

Understanding the Cycle

It’s crucial to recognise that motivation isn’t constant; it’s a cycle. Like the ocean’s tides, it ebbs and flows. Accepting this can be liberating. It means that feeling down or unmotivated isn’t a failure — it’s part of the human experience.

Strategies for the Low Days

So, what can we do when motivation is scarce? Here are a few strategies:

  • Start small: Tackle the smallest task on your list. Completing it can give you a sense of achievement and might just kickstart your engine.
  • Seek inspiration: Sometimes, we need external sources to light our internal fire. Read a book, listen to a podcast, or watch a TED talk — anything that resonates with you.
  • Connect with others: Reach out to a friend or colleague. Often, just talking about our lack of motivation can help dissipate it.
  • Be kind to yourself: Remember, it’s okay to have off days. Be as compassionate to yourself as you would be to a friend in the same boat.

Embracing the Journey

Motivation is not just about the highs; it’s about learning to navigate the lows. It’s about understanding that our worth isn’t tied to our productivity on any given day. So, on those odd days when you’re feeling down, remember that the tide will turn. The key is to ride the wave, not fight against it.

Interoception: The Inner Sense That Shapes our Experience

Introduction

Along with alexithymia, my autism diagnosis also made me aware of my lack of interoception. This has been a lifelong issue for me.

What is Interoception?

Interoception is our ability to perceive and interpret signals coming from within our own bodies. It’s an internal sense that informs us about the physiological state of our body, such as hunger, thirst, temperature, and internal pain. This sense can be both conscious and subconscious, and it plays a crucial role in maintaining homeostasis and facilitating self-awareness.

The Causes of Interoceptive Dysregulation

Interoceptive dysregulation can arise from a variety of sources. It’s often associated with mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, panic disorder, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, PTSD, OCD, ADHD, alexithymia, somatic symptom disorder, and illness anxiety disorder. Misrepresentations of internal states or a disconnect between the body’s signals and the brain’s interpretation of those signals are suggested to underlie these conditions.

Treatments and Techniques for Managing Interoception

Several approaches exist to enhance interoceptive awareness and regulation:

Mindfulness and meditation: These practices can enhance one’s awareness of bodily sensations and help regulate emotional responses.

Talking therapies: Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) and other psychotherapies can assist individuals in better understanding and responding to their interoceptive signals.

Interoceptive training: Specific exercises that focus on recognising and responding to internal bodily sensations can be beneficial.

Aligning dimensions of interoceptive experience (Adie): A novel therapy that involves interoceptive heartbeat training to align interoceptive experience.

Conclusion

Interoception is a vital but often overlooked aspect of our sensory experience. By understanding and managing our interoceptive signals, we can improve our emotional regulation and overall mental well-being.

Understanding Alexithymia: The Challenge of Emotional Blindness

Introduction

In my autism diagnosis journey, and after several sessions meeting other autistic people through the National Autistic Society for Scotland in their Embrace Autism group sessions, I have come to realise that I can’t, and have never been able, to pinpoint what I’m feeling (emotionally) at any given time. This is a condition linked to autism that is named Alexithymia.

What is Alexithymia?

Alexithymia, often described as “emotional blindness,” is a condition characterised by difficulty in identifying, expressing, and describing emotions. It’s not just about being less emotional; it’s about having a hard time understanding what you’re feeling at any given moment. People with alexithymia might find themselves confused when asked how they feel, or they may struggle to recognise the emotions of others.

The Roots of Alexithymia

Although not fully understood, the causes of alexithymia could be influenced by genetics, brain structure, and early life experiences. Some studies suggest it could be related to damage in the insula, a part of the brain involved in empathy and emotional awareness. It’s also associated with various mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, and autism spectrum disorders.

Living with Alexithymia

For those with alexithymia, everyday interactions can be challenging. They might appear distant or uninterested because they don’t express emotions in a typical way. This can lead to misunderstandings in personal relationships and difficulties in social situations.

While there’s no specific treatment for alexithymia, therapy can help improve emotional awareness and expression. Techniques like cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) and mindfulness practices can assist individuals in better understanding their own emotions and the emotions of others.

Conclusion

Alexithymia is a complex condition that affects how people perceive and express emotions. By recognising its presence and understanding its implications, we can create more supportive environments for those who experience the world differently.

Presuming Competence in Autistic People

How to Presume Competence Without Dismissing Disability Support Needs.

Benefit Sanctions Cause Poverty And Destitution

I’ve been writing about benefit sanctions for years but I thought that I’d write a timely reminder of the harmful affects that imposed sanctions cause. Here’s a list including and not excluding others: Harm to mental health Harm to relationshipsIncreased debt and reliance on credit cards and loansFood poverty and fuel povertySurvival crimeIncreased risk of […]

Benefit Sanctions Cause Poverty And Destitution

Autistic Social Hangovers

Autistic Social Hangovers

DWP Work Coach Shortage

DWP Work Coach Shortage Unable To Cope With Increasing Unemployment. Safestyle Goes Into Administration.