Philip (Phil) England

  Blog Entry: Saturday 23 rd July 2022 Had a doctor’s appointment on Thursday just gone, well actually it was with the diabetic nurse, I’ve lost weight, 5kg, so happy with that. As you know I suffer with brain fog and tend to forget taking some tablets during the day, so have been put on to time release Metformin instead of the normal one. This should help my diabetic control.   I found out today that a very dear friend of mine, Angela Byrne, has passed away. I volunteered with her at Dragon Bands, a youth project she established. It was a community project for the youth of Torfaen. I really enjoyed helping out there, gave me a purpose in life at a time when I needed to keep busy.   After my Mum passed away, Angela was there for me when I needed to talk to someone, she was like a mum to so many of the youth in the area. Angela had her own family, and I felt like an extension of it. I was planning on meeting up with her just as Covid hit. Covid really has a lot to...

Really fed up with my left eye. Floaters and blurriness.  Went to the hospital on Monday, had eye drops and then pictures taken. Went in to get eye examined. The specialist confirmed that there had been a bleed at the back of the eye, but couldn't see the source of it, so decided not to zap with laser to fix the issue. My eye seems to be producing lots of gunk, keep having to wipe clean, some mornings have to unstick my left eye. Using gentle eye drops which seem to help. A further appointment for Monday 13th December has been made, so this blog post will be updated further then. Now, the eye problem is diabetes related, on the Friday before I saw the diabetic nurse, good news, blood sugars are down close to where they should be, it is still the intention to get me off the Insullin as soon as is possible. Also my cholesterol is in a good place.  While in with the nurse, I chatted to her about how I was feeling. Told her that I am fed up, and that I can't bring myse...

I'm fully vaccinated, no, I don't know what's in it - neither this vaccine, the ones I had as a child, or other treatments…whether it's for cancer, AIDS, the one for polyarthritis, or vaccines for infants or children. I also don't know what's in the medications  I take for my health problems, or the pain killers I take that help with my aches and pains.   There's a lot of things I don't know and never will…  I just know one thing: life is short, very short, and I still want to do something other than just staying locked in my home. I still want to travel and hug people without fear and find a little feeling of life "before". As a child and as an adult I've been vaccinated for mumps, measles, polio and quite a few others; my parents and I trusted the science and never had to suffer through or transmit any of the said diseases. I'm vaccinated, not to please the government but: * To NOT die from Covid-19. * To NOT clutter a hos...

Phil's Video Blog 227 - https://youtu.be/ijBjcLb7pjg On this video blog a look at what I got from Home Bargains yesterday.  Looking ahead to later this evening (Saturday) and a moment of cuteness. NOW, why not check out some designs that I have created if you suffer with Chronic Pain or Fibromyalgia Chronic Pain - visit https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/90959680?asc=u Fibromyalgia - visit https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/90962177?asc=u You can get the designs on a tee-shirt, hoodie, bag, badge or even a mug! Don't forget my radio shows , which you can listen again via www.radiocatchup.site Saturday Breakfast - 7am til 10am via www.moorlandsgold.co.uk In The Groove, Saturday - 10pm til 11pm via www.islandsfm.org In The Groove, Sunday - 11pm til 12mn via www.broradio.fm Check me out on the socials: www.philengland.com/socials has the full links www.facebook.com/philengland www.twitter.com/philengland1 Skype @philengland1 Instagram @england_phil TikTok @philengland2020 Sp ecial p...

Phil's Video Blog 224 - https://youtu.be/Fr1kM-1xanI What a week for horrible weather its been!, and it is turning yucky again today, as I type this at home in Swansea! Halloween is here, kids going out to do 'Trick or Treat', but with Covid cases still on the rise, think to yourself, is it wise? Plus a plug for my new show that starts on Islands FM on Saturday 6th November - check out www.islandsfm.org NOW, why not check out some designs that I have created if you suffer with Chronic Pain or Fibromyalgia Chronic Pain - visit https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/90959680?asc=u Fibromyalgia - visit https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/90962177?asc=u You can get the designs on a tee-shirt, hoodie, bag, badge or even a mug! Don't forget my radio shows , which you can listen again via www.radiocatchup.site Saturday Breakfast - 7am til 10am via www.moorlandsgold.co.uk In The Groove, Sunday - 11pm til 12mn via www.broradio.fm SOON In The Groove, Saturday - 10pm til 11pm via www.is...

Phil's Video Blog 223 - https://youtu.be/w3PAhPkir5s this is also in upscaled UHD/4K In this video blog a bit on the dreaded man flu.... it seems to have gone! Last two covid tests were negative! Some pictures - pies for the microwave.... yuck, just no!, plus my mind is like an etch-a-sketch! NOW, why not check out some designs that I have created if you suffer with Chronic Pain or Fibromyalgia Chronic Pain - visit https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/90959680?asc=u Fibromyalgia - visit https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/90962177?asc=u You can get the designs on a tee-shirt, hoodie, bag, badge or even a mug! Don't forget my radio shows , which you can listen again via www.radiocatchup.site Saturday Breakfast - 7am til 10am via www.moorlandsgold.co.uk In The Groove, Sunday - 11pm til 12mn via www.broradio.fm SOON In The Groove, Saturday - 10pm til 11pm via www.islandsfm.org Check me out on the socials: www.philengland.com/socials has the full links www.facebook.com/philengland ww...

FROM THIS MORNING, 7th August 2021 :-  Wales has moved to Covid alert level zero, meaning social distancing rules and most other restrictions have now come to an end. PLEASE NOTE: This applies to everyone in Wales and all those from everywhere else who come in to Wales, with no exceptions! Almost 17 months after Wales' first lockdown, nightclubs are allowed to reopen and meeting indoors is permitted. Face masks are still required in most public indoor places, but not in pubs, restaurants or schools. T hey will still be needed on public transport  across Wales. From 6am on Saturday, August 7 many of the legal Covid requirements will be lifted.  This will include the fact that masks will no longer be required in hospitality settings. Social distancing is also no longer a requirement. But First Minister Mark Drakeford has warned against a "free-for-all". On a personal note, I would say to keep wearing masks in crowds, and with in large indoor gatherings eve...

 I was invited by the ZOE COVID-19 app to order a Covid anti-body test. I have the ZOE C-19 app on my phone and report how I am feeling on a daily basis as I am in their symptom study. The package arrived with lancets, a little test tube with lid and alcohol wipes. I followed the instructions, and filled the tube with blood from my middle finger. I packaged the tube up as requested and sent it off, I dropped it in to the Royal Mail Sorting Office Priority Post Box on Friday morning. I had an email on Sunday morning saying in the last six months it was unlikely that I have had Covid. Now, with restrictions easing in England from Monday morning, I was shocked to read about a selfish member of the Royals, which one I hear you ask, Prince Charles. If others follow his example then it will be clear that a huge number of people living in the UK are actually sheep that follow the flock and ONLY DO THINGS when told to. Everyone has a brain of their own, why on earth don't you use it?. Thi...

Since the Covid-19 situation started, my mental health has been all over the place, a roller coaster ride of ups and downs. Now that things are looking like they are easing I am scared, frightened to be mixing with people. The friend I am in a bubble has noticed that I have changed. I am not sure I can mix with people again, my mind is not up to it, I am not sure I know how to properly anymore.  As daft as it sounds, I think being social for me is out of the question. I am scared to be social in person with people out in the world. Scared I will catch something, scared I can't get on any more, scared I can't live life again. I feel like I will be trapped in my mind when everyone else is venturing out in to the wide world to live again. I have breathing issues, blood pressure problems and depression, all of which Covid has impacted and amplified. Attempting to go to shops to get fresh produce that I really like to choose my self has led to shortness of breath and panic attacks...

 Now I am not one to panic or worry but..... nahhhhh, who am I kidding PANIC! WORRY! PANIC SOME MORE..... 😱 I have just read this on Twitter The Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine has been suspended in the Republic of Ireland Ireland’s health ministry NIAC recommended the move following reports of serious blood clotting events in adults in Norway, BBC News reports. Meanwhile, WHO said countries should not stop using the vaccine due to there being no link between Oxford-AstraZeneca and an increased risk of developing a clot. The Public Health Agency in Northern Ireland said it would "closely monitor" the situation. Photo via @Reuters @BBCWorld News said, In a statement, Northern Ireland's Department of Health said it administers vaccines under the "expert direction of the MHRA". It said it had received guidance from the MHRA in light of the vaccine's suspension in the Republic and that the "roll-out of Northern Ireland's vaccination programme will ...

So, Saturday I had the first part of the Covid vaccine . I had the Oxford AstraZeneca one. Don't get me wrong, I am over joyed to have been called up for it, but the side effects since are not too good, but as people keep telling me, "it's a sign it is working", geee, thanks for that! Before I go any further I want to say a massive thank you to AstraZeneca and also the University of Oxford, and the Swansea Bay NHS health board for getting this out. During yesterday afternoon my arm started hurting and then I started feeling as if I had a head cold coming on. Later in the evening my mind got a bit foggy. Day two since first part of vaccine jab,  I was woken at about 5am this morning. Feeling worse,  , woke up in a pool of sweat, and somehow managed to squash my pillow up and out of its pillowcase in the night. The sweat I could have done without, it was horrible waking up to that, when all I wanted to do was stay in bed, waking up in sweat just made me have to get up s...

I read on a friend's Facebook wall that "life as we know it ended last March, and will never be the same again", this is a negative way of looking at it. I want to shake my world up, get things sorted health wise so I can claw my life back and start doing long walks again, hence why I'm looking towards India for their health care Life as we know it may have ended, but soon enough with the vaccine and science life will be back, and may be better than before.  This time has given us all time to look at our lives and take stock. I did an online journalism course and got a pass grade, bettering my self in the process. Look to the future, life is what you make it. Learn something while we are all restricted, better yourself for your future. The future is yet to come, make it a positive bright one. Things seem gloomy right now, but that will change, the cloud cover will clear. As George Burns said 'I look to the future because that's where I'm going to spend the...

I have been living with mental health issues for too many years to remember. A few years ago I was put on anti depressants at a low dose, which helped. Back in March last year when the whole UK was thrown in to lockdown it felt like the end for me. I was cut off from all my friends I had relied on for support, both mental and physical. With various measures in place in Wales, things started to play on my mind. With a stubborn Father, who kept going out for long drives to goodness knows where, my mental anguish and state of mind really took a wallop.  I was on the verge of a mental meltdown. I found myself crying on the phone to my sister. She phoned our Father, who then phoned me. I pleaded with him to stay close to home, and travel no further than 5 miles away, which when I told him about my mental state of mind, he was happy to do. Shortly after this, my medication us increased, which was something I didn't really want, but knew it was needed. Living with mental health is one thi...