A Winter’s Tale
If you think Christmas is just too stressful, relax — at least you’re not Santa! He’s had to work…
Articles by John Connor
Betwixt and Between
Usually, I have an idea of what I’m going to write. Today, all I feel is a bit meeeeugh ……
The Right Hand of Lightness
There’s a joy in going on a long journey in which I get the luxury of sleeping through the…
In Real Time
So, “it” started on Monday. I have no idea what I’m dealing with. Is it a urinary tract infection,…
And the Good News Is …
Getting started on any career is fraught with difficulty, and the trail that got me to my base camp…
Medical Marijuana in the UK: So Near and Yet So Far
As I’m writing this, my right arm is tight and my right hand is cramped up. I was out…
How I Managed to Get a Scary Halloween Haircut
“You’ve had a haircut — very smart!” was the greeting at work. Yes, but it was in no way…
Every Day Is Like a Box of Chocolates
Each morning, I’m confronted by an adaptation of the conundrum faced by Forest Gump’s mother: “Life [is] like…
Taking a Flu Day
Going to bed late and sleeping is reportedly a marker of intelligence. In that case, I am definitely…
A Black Mark for the Black Cab
Sorry, this story is definitely parochial and about being disabled, rather than narrowly focused on having MS. It also…
Don’t Turn Anything Down!
At the start of all of this, when I was laid low in the hospital by what turned out…
The Morning After the Night Before
Last Wednesday morning didn’t go according to plan. I’m lackluster every Wednesday morn because Tuesday nights are my regular…
A Pain in the Back, Part 2
Second in a series. Read part one. Last week, I wrote about solving my back problems by purchasing…
A Pain in the Back, Part 1
First in a series. So this is what an earthquake feels like? Well, it wasn’t that dramatic, but it was…
Lymphedema: A Growing Problem?
Now, I’m all for complimentary comments on my columns, and in the combative world the internet has engendered, the…
I’m Too Busy to Think About MS
Well, it’s not a cure, but working hard sure takes my mind off MS. In fact, I’m so rushed…
Everywhere I Go, I’m Invited To ‘Take a Seat’
I knew I had MS nine years ago when I went back to see my neurologist. I’d had…
I’m Busy Doing Nothing
Everything takes so much damn time! I’m strangely working — or at least doing things I purport as work,…
Plumbing the Depths
Well, this is going to be a niche market: A picture of a toilet should grab the attention of…
Downbeat, but Upbeat
Most weeks with MS are downbeat. That’s hardly a way to capture a reader’s attention — all of us…
The Graduate
The queue to get into Canterbury Cathedral in bright sunshine seems endless. The quandary of being Dracula strikes…
Phew, What a Scorcher
Phew, what a scorcher. The summer of 1976 was the last time it was this hot in the United…
Steering My Own Boat and Making a Splash
The U.K.’s National Health Service (NHS) turned 70 last week. In England, yes, we are mourning our semi-final…
Down for the Weekend: World Cup Fatigue
Hi, everyone. I’m absolutely exhausted. And it’s all the fault of the World Cup. Not from any sort…
‘Always Look on the Bright Side of Life’
I started out in my professional life as a journalist. This only lasted about eight years and feels like…
A Tale of Two Halves
For those reading this in the U.S., part of what I’m going to write will likely be incomprehensible,…
Anyone for Golf?
A family wedding in the gardens of a grand country house some 30 minutes from Oxford sounds idyllic. And…
MS and My Experience with the Allergy Medication Clemastine
I’ve just dived into the misty world of the allergy medication clemastine. My, there’s a lot already…
Dear Diary
I never kept a diary. I did sometimes muse about it but reckoned I’d never become famous enough for one…
Running (Wheeling) on Empty
Arguments over nothing and everything are, in my experience, induced by extreme stress. When my wife and I were…