Welcome to my brain, buckle up and enjoy the ride

“Suppositories are my worst enema”
This attempt at suppository humour did little to deter the eager nurse standing over me with a tiny shovel, her tool of choice for encouraging my lazy rectum. It did, however, make her laugh and I was satisfied. While I might be naked, covered in my own filth and wearing my bladder in a convenient sack around my thigh, I could still elicit a chuckle. This struck me as fabulous at the time, humour would be my ticket to freedom. I was of course playing to a truly captive audience of bemused medical staff and senior patients who were to become my saviours.

Substack had been a vague concept that I had been too shy to engage with. A wonderful colleague and inspiring woman Huda Syyed has a page so I joined when checking out her work. Sharing ideas and stories are my shield against mental illness and recovering from trauma. I believe stories have the power to heal and transform and that responsible, intelligent journalism is more important than ever.

The best communities are inclusive, respectful and brave, and that’s the community I seek to always belong. I respect the opinions of others when they are delivered with respect and rooted in truth. I don’t always feel like being serious and want the community to embrace the absurd and the value of finding an escape through sharing big ideas. I think I have a 250 word limit before jokes seep in, which has garnered mixed academic results.

My stories are often borne of tragedy with a comic flair to soften the blow. I am also a passionate media and journalism student and love delving into popular culture, the arts, politics, sociology and religion. My washing machine mind will often dictate the stories I feel compelled to share.

I look forward to (hopefully) entertaining, stimulating (ooh matron), and engaging you with stories and ideas.

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