Thursday, October 08, 2009

Guest Blog from Daragh - 'All Shook Up'

Hello. My name is Daragh Quinn. I'm 16 years old and attend Welshpool High School. I also do a bit of voluntary work for Glyn, and he's invited me to write an occasional post for publication on his blog. This is my first effort, which I have emailed to him, granting permission for alteration as he wishes. I accept that this could be a bit risky.

This morning, we went to the theatre together - sort of. It was a play put on at Welshpool Town Hall, and organised by Diabetes UK, in partnership with the Pyramid Theatre Company, which was formed in 1993 as a specialist 'Theatre in Health Education Company'. The whole event was sponsored by the Wales Young Farmer's Clubs.

The play was about a middle aged lorry driver whose life was turned upside down when he was diagnosed with diabetes. Frank was also an Elvis impersonator, which is why the play was called 'All Shook Up'. He had been feeling very tired, had been losing weight, had been peeing all the time, and had been "having trouble with his lifting equipment in the bedroom department". (Sorry, but Glyn added this line from the script). We learned today that the 'one and only' Elvis was diabetic. The play was a mixture of very funny sketches and serious messages.

Just over two weeks ago I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes myself. Since then I've been in and out of hospitals and clinics, seeing dietitians, nurses and doctors. I would like to give my full support and appreciation to all of them. They are doing a wonderful job. The play was aimed at Type 2 Diabetes rather than Type 1, so didn't apply directly to me, but it was a hugely enjoyable and informative experience.

Sadly, too few people turned up to watch. The question and answer session afterwards was unsuccessful. A great shame. I strongly recommend that anyone who has been recently diagnosed (or is an old hand) should check out where the the tour is going next. You can telephone 01269850329 or 07967456233 to find out. Diabetes UK will be there to offer advice and answer questions. I was very pleased that I went along.

6 comments:

Savonarola said...

Well said, young man.

Thoughtful.

Look forward to your next post.

Anonymous said...

So you're seeing a LOT of nurses. "Say no more brother ... say no more"
















So what's it like seeing all those nurses?

Gaia's memory is longer than man's memory said...

Daragh and his "All Shook Up" ditty brings us nicely to that other 'Goblet of Fire', namely the 'Pacific Ring of Fire' and that upcoming 'meeting (or non-meeting) of minds' at Copenhagen. Then there's Halloween coming up - saw a Halloween ("H") costume wearer today, on an intersection dressed up H-garb holding a board advertizing some business or other - maybe a new car wash.

Anyways/Milliways, some horror for your dimes ... recent seismic events (In re recent Asia earthquakes, some of them approaching 8.0 on the logarithmic scale for such events).

More so called 'green house gases' (CO2) will be released if new volcanoes spew forth along the Pacific Ring of Fire - but the dust that can be thrown up could easily cut-out sun rays leading to a global cool down making Copenhagen meeting something of a moot event.

We forget at our peril that we sit on a natural nuclear fission reactor - the Earth's core is radioactive and the heat generated by each fission event of which there are so many that the heat released by each event, while small, cumulates into intense heat energy trapped in the core of the Earth to be released later like hyperinflation pressures being built up c/o President Ditherer.

If the Pacific Ring of Fire comes to life - the Earth will enter a very precarious phase (not for Gaia or Earth itself), but for mankind.

I suggest a quick two-step for some active carbon filters and a bunch of candy bars that can be stored in plastic containers for instant sugar rush as desired.

No - seriously - we are living in strange times where mankind is taking itself too seriously. The Earth has its own time-table and mankind has very little to do with it.

There are mega-huge amounts of CO2 beneath our feet - we might think they are largely sequestered - but the Pacific Ring of Fire might have a different view-point.

Get those candy bars, filters and some activated carbon, activated charcoal or activated coal - did I not mention? That there are other noxious gases in 'volcanic air' involving gaseous compound with "S" in their chemical formula (sulphide/sulfide - SOx); I do hope it doesn't rain sulfuric/sulphuric acid or derivatives thereof.

My worry is that F1 might have to be shut down for a while. Will Button win in 2011 - will President Ditherer's party get wiped out in 2010 or 2012.

'Smoke and Mirrors' - even the S300 and/or S400 can't intercept all the flying debris from the Pacific Ring of Fire ...

Moving on, "Ford Motor company has come up with a new all electric Ford Focus automobile - there is talk that the latest 'nuclear battery' designs might be incorporated into the Ford electric car ... these babies (nuke batteries) use negative charges generated by nuclear radio-active isotopes therein to drive an electric circuit. These Ford Focus babies can self charge overnight - their batteries will long outlast their car host making them true "long lasting" batteries. Previously only used in deep space and military hardware nuclear batteries are likely to power the x-generation electric cars thus negating the need for retro-fitting parking lots with plug-ins for recharging electric cars ...

Helen said...

How very thoughtful and kind you are Daragh, I wish you well, and look forward to hearing a lot more from you, and of you!!
Thank you Glyn for supporting this rather special young man.

Anonymous said...

Dear Daragh, Excellent blog post - looking forward very much to your next posts. Sorry to hear the diabetes event didn't go as planned. Fingers crossed for the next show. I will check out the tour!

Glyn Davies said...

Wish I could find a way of making myself as popular - and he's only written one ****** post!!