On being fabulous

Sometimes I just can't help it, I'm fabulous! Other times I'm just me.....

This week I've been spectacular in a few ways.....I have indeed

- taken brisk morning walks

- organised support group meetings for which I will not be present because I've double booked

- started a paper diary to keep it all together
- produced two fantastic radio shows from my own home
- started my poster for the WPC poster displays
- planned the borders for a quilt
- talked with great people around the world

Not so splendid in some ways, but no need to dwell on that, onward and upward!!

Another thing that really is fantastically wonderful, is having contact with interesting people with great ideas. The world is an amazing place and I am so grateful for all the friendships and inspiring works that people do, whether it be artistic or altruistic or just plain fun. The people that have been on my Radioparkies radio show as special guests are spreading hope to persevere and offering an alternate view on life as they see it.

DJMadonna wants you! 

The motto of Radioparkies web based radio station is "Let Your Voice Be Heard". Radioparkies started over five years ago as a collaboration between Jean Paul De Cremer and George Hanks. Both men living with Parkinson's disease, Jean Paul in Belgium and George in England. Sadly George died a couple of years ago, but the dream to provide entertainment and information continues.  The radio station provides 24 hour music interspersed with DJs from around the world.....Australia, Belgium, England, France, Romania, Germany and USA. 

Guests on my radioshow are people living with Parkinson's, carers, family members, health professionals, PhD students, professors, Nuerologists....a self recorded talk is emailed to me and I play it on the show. It is easy.

I believe everyone has a story, will you share yours?

Send me an email at parkies@live.be put DJMadonna in the subject line, I will send information on the process. All the people who have done a talk for the show have said it's a liberating experience. 

Friday morning  show

https://www.mixcloud.com/radioparkieswebradio/radioshow-dj-madonna-on-29-07-2016/

Wednesday night radio show
https://www.mixcloud.com/radioparkieswebradio/radioshow-dj-madonna-on-27-07-2016/

Sometimes things don't go as planned

Last week, some of the radio shows on radioparkies.com could not be broadcast as there was something happening that was out of our control. The best efforts were made by our technical team to get the shows out, but to no avail. So what did I do? I had the night off!!

So this week on Wednesday at 8pm Brisbane time,  I will endeavour to produce the Whistling Songs show from last Wednesday.

Whistling Songs - All the songs on the play list have a little or a lot of whistling . The greats of music have put out songs with a little interlude of whistling, sometimes at the start of the song, in the middle or at the end. Fine robust sounds or breathy imperfect sounds, the whistle is an instrument itself. 
I have always loved to whistle, especially whistling along to Billy Joel's song Stranger and Bryan Ferry singing Jealous. But I find my whistle is not as loud as it once was. Is this due to Parkinsons? At the park, I call my dog Indy with a very soft whistle, which she can hear, I'm sure she can, she just wants to keep playing.   

Friday morning DJRobert sat in for me while I went to Melbourne with my Craft Group. Rob had a great show lined up, but alas, there was an issue with that show also. This time I think the gremlins or pokemons were the cause of the problem, but Rob did his best and held his own.

I travelled to Melbourne for the weekend to meet up with an amazing, supportive group of crafters and artists for Christmas in July lunch. Ah what fun!
While in Melbourne, I caught the newly opened exhibit - Making the Australian Quilt, at The National Gallery of Victoria. A beautiful and simple display of intriguing Aussie quilt history, some immense works of art still as vibrant in colour as the year they were made and others made from samples of suits or old clothes. So many stitches, so many stories, one of my favourites was located at a Melbourne market about ten years ago as a cover for merchandise. It is made from a wonderful collection of 1960's dress fabrics. Its maker is unknown. So, don't forget to make a label for your quilts, the next generation will want to know who the clever and industrious sewer was. The label I am embroidering is not finished, I think it needs a little more.....  

Patience is a virtue

There was never a more true statement. 

Finally, a quilt I've been working on sporadically for at least 18 years is finished. It's been an organised event, I collected offcuts from all the projects that ever crossed my cutting board and those were cut to one and three quarter inch slices and kept in a Tupperware slice container. Over the years this was added to until the container was full, then I felt a bit more variety was needed, some different pieces that I wouldn't have chosen. I placed a request on Facebook and received four packets of fabric from around Australia and a special parcel from Israel also. The collection was complete. 

I was working on the oldest Bernina sewing machine, in fact it's older than me. My sister in law Robyn, who sews and sews and knows so much about machines advised a new machine was in order, something with modern conveniences. So I got a Pfaff..... Wow! Into the new age I limped, I'm not as fast as some, but slow and steady.... The quilt is eight rows of eight blocks, it has been quilted professionally, the binding hand sewn and finished on Friday while I listened to my radio shows with my elderly parents. The last thing is a label, more on that another time.

This week on the radio show the special guest, Robert Clarke aka DJRobert, talked about his interests, one of which is building his own car. The process is taking a long time, I won't tell you how long, you'll have to listen to the show if you haven't already. 

The Wednesday playlist is Songs about Birds, so many birds have been captured in song:  I like Birds,Rockin Robin, Bird on a Wire.... 
Friday is the ''L List"

Friday morning radioshow and Wednesday night radioshow

https://www.mixcloud.com/radioparkieswebradio/radioshow-dj-madonna-on-14-07-2016/

https://www.mixcloud.com/radioparkieswebradio/radioshow-dj-madonna-on-13-7-2016/

Life is full of surprises

I have a choice

Recently an article has been circulating that is so good, it must be shared. But not all at once! Oh no, it's good to ponder it piece by piece.

I always have a choice - It may not be an easy choice, but I have a choice. I did not choose to have Parkinson's disease, but I can choose how I live with it.

That is a powerful statement, there is truth and honesty.

This week on the radio show, a gentleman called Mark Ereira talked about the happiness of living in a care home and being able to give back by entertaining the residents with karioke and playing the harmonica. Mark played Fly Me to the Moon on the harmonica and sang Mona Lisa which were recorded for the show.
https://www.mixcloud.com/radioparkieswebradio/radioshow-dj-madonna-on-06-07-2016/

During the process of interviewing I have learnt the basics of editing which is sort of fun when the save button has been remembered is clicked on. The 'undo' is my favourite symbol. A new program has been installed because I'm trying to make a catchy jingle for the start of my show. Thanks Mr Tech! Hmmmmm, not managing very well, actually managing to do nothing but crash the program and fall asleep at the computer. If there is anyone out there with some jingle skills.....would love a cool intro to my show. Pretty please.
Actually, why not make it a jingle competition, the winner will have the glory of having the jingle played world wide on Radioparkies, send entries to parkies@live.be

Sing a happy song

Show Tunes

Music can take you anywhere and show tunes definitely make me feel happy, except for those annoying ones. Can't think of any annoying show tunes at the moment, my head is full of happy songs and the verve of the music I've been listening to whilst preparing for the Wednesday radio show.

Happy talk....you've got to have a dream, if you don't have a dream......

Oh happy days.....

Fly me to the moon....

If I were a rich man.....

Music therapy
Studies show that people with music in their lives on a regular basis have a more positive frame of mind. It's great to belt out some show tunes and researchers working with elderly residents in a USA care home showed marked improvements of those who sang along with show tunes compared to those who just listened. A recent episode of Compass on ABC Australia TV showed remarkable changes with elderly people involved with music therapy.

Attitude
Science tells us that the attitude of gratitude is a good health choice and being grateful often makes us more optimistic and happy. When you are conscious of your blessings and are grateful for them, you are focussed on the good things and this sends the brain a good message.

Interview  with Mark Ereira, entertainer, book binder and Parkie philosopher.

Let Your Voice be Heard

Turn on Radioparkies listen live at 20:00hrs Brisbane EST Australia http://www.radionomy.com/en/radio/radio-parkies

Look for a Timezone close to you
http://www.radioparkies.com/radiogids.htm

Happy Friday

Happy New Year! With the new year comes new beginnings, another chance to start anew. Have a look at life in a fresh way. Planning a NFY resolution? I am!  Here it is......Get more sleep 

The takeaway message from Linda Rondstadt in the interview below is really vital for everyone and especially for people living with Parkinson's. 

The recording of Friday's show is below. 

https://www.mixcloud.com/radioparkieswebradio/radioshow-dj-madonna-on-01-07-2016/

Further to what was mentioned in the interview,  LSVT BIG AND LOUD are treatments that specifically address the freezing symptoms that can occur with speech, walking and other activities of daily living.

There is  free webinar opportunity coming up on Wednesday 13 July 2016, give it a go.

www.lsvtglobal.com

Smaller steps and shuffling walk are classic traits of Parkinson's, it is possible to retrain your walking style. There are videos showing the exercises for LSVT BIG available on YouTube, it's all about big movements: big swinging arms, long steps and striking the heal first when walking. 

A soft voice is also very common with Parkinson's, LSVT LOUD is about speaking loudly and using the voice with intent, projecting the voice and making your voice be heard. 

Next Wednesday on my Radioparkies radio show

Show Tunes! Yes!  Special guest is Mark Ereira, Sydney

Get ready to sing along to your favourite songs from musicals old and new. 

Be transported to another place and time......

Send your requests now to 

parkies@live.be

Let your your voice be heard!