Dear World.....

It's been a while, sorry about that but it's simply due to the fact I haven't been well and when my head is in the midst of doing whatever it is it does, writing is pointless.

So, my head is sore, it's been much worse before but like people say, when you're younger, you bounce better!  At 32 the bounce isn't really a bounce but more like a fall flat on your face in a cold custard and fish pie....

There's been something going on anyway, whether it's a small bleed or a slight blockage, something has kicked off in my head!  It's remarkable how I can distinguish between a standard daily headache, to 'there's something going on' headache and a 'all hell is breaking loose and I need brain surgery' headache but this is the one thing I am fluently brilliant at!  So this time, my feeling is that my ventricles are enlarged which means there has been a blockage in my brain drain however (and a massive hoorah) it has flushed itself through and I've avoided surgery once more!

It's been a pretty tiring 4/5 weeks, lots of painkillers, little sleep and a miserable face....it's these times when I forget how to smile.  There's always a gaggle of people banging on about this that and the other and I prefer to hibernate than have to give most of the human race a reality check.  It's a heavy burden I carry around, trying not to think too much about life with lots of pain medication....it's a 'pain vs becoming dependent on painkillers' debate...except there's no debate.  It's more a get over it, deal with it and shut up debate!

Anyway once again, I've made it through (still with a sore head) and I'm back in action so to speak.

Now for the difficult part........I've been ill just over 17 years now and I've finally hit that wall people preach about!  In fact, I feel like I've hit three walls whilst being in the middle of an illegal rave where thousands of people dance over me right before I fall in to a pit with some hardcore scary gorillas ready for a fight.  Yep, that dramatic!  All that determination I had when I was younger, the same determination that got me through GCSE's, A Levels, a Degree and a Masters Degree has now oozed out of my rather tired body.  I hate to say it but all those people (doctors/friends/family) who tried to get me to take time out, I owe you all massive apologies....if only I could rewind, I would so take the time out.  I honestly feel if I did that, I would not feel the way I do right now.  Hindsight is a wonderful thing......

Well, as I can't turn back the hands of time, or time travel, I've made my decisions and so I should be proud.  If only it was that easy!

It seems in this world nothing is easy, it's like everyone has completely lost the plot.  It's a massive pit of doom.  I mean, is anyone actually super happy?  How can you be when people are in pain and people are running from war.....idiots can buy guns and drive cars.....I mean, honestly, people think I'm slightly mental!  Well world, more fool you, you're completely ridiculous!

So, as I sit here writing this, I have taken the decision to stand back, observe and keep calm and quiet.  It's either that or explode in to tiny pieces, and I'm not talking little pieces of joy.  I don't feel brave anymore, in fact I feel weak, pathetic and lost.  I'm not ashamed to say that either.  It says something when I would probably feel more comfortable having brain surgery and taking time out afterwards than just taking the time out because my head is mashed.  I have never wanted to feel like a failure or to feel disabled or as the ticky box people like to call it chronically diseased.  I am though, well not diseased but ill for life.  I know some of you people out there seem to struggle with those of us who are incredibly ill but not visibly ill, I'll make sure I get a badge soon.  People love grouping and stereotyping.  Unfortunately, you'd struggle to fit me in one box, I'd need to be split three ways....lucky me!

Mentally, my head feels, well...mental!  Half the time I don't know if I'm coming or going, what I'm doing or what the hell is going on.  My mind is consumed with what feels like the biggest disaster movie of all time.  I'm talking somewhere between Independence Day, The War of the World and Planet of the Apes.  Now that is some crazy shit going down!  Welcome to my world.  If only there was a pill that could sort that out.  It's the whole box thing again....elements from several things create my world!

On another note, there are so so many articles and comments circulating via multiple social networks about the NHS.  I almost feel I should be apologising for taking so much of their time and money.  This week I actually found out the cost of the rather small tube I have in my brain which keeps me alive....£20,000.  Yes, you read correctly, £20,000 for a little bit of plastic!  This is where we are going wrong!!  It can't possibly cost £20,000 for a bit of silicone.  Now that my friends, is completely ridiculous.  So, in my 17 years of being ill I've had £140,000 worth of tubes, I haven't even bothered working out the costs of brain surgeons, anaesthetic, anaesthetists....the most well payed jobs going probably!  I almost feel guilty and this is one of the problems with the world today.  I'm sorry for using the NHS so much, it wasn't my fault though.....I didn't ride a motorbike without a helmet, or go joyriding or do anything to cause my illness.  I blame life......sadly I can't sue life.

On suing life, wasn't there a film years ago about someone suing God?  Now, I'm not religious and I do not want to offend anyone but if he was real, I'm pretty sure he would have a permanent queue of people waiting to punch him in the face.  Any time I do have a discussion with those people in the world who do follow religions, I always get 'he made you ill because he knew how strong you were'.  Well, take it from me, I could of done without the hassle to be perfectly honest.  Surely there was another destiny for me?  One where I just sat and made loads of money and had everything I ever wanted including several ponies, a couple of castles, an island....well I could go on, but I don't want to depress myself further!  Eeeeh you have to laugh, if I didn't I'd spend 24 hours a day crying!  I allow myself a maximum of 2 hours per day crying, any more and I'd cause flood damage in my house......and there will most definitely be issues with insurance if I'd caused the flood.  I'd have to sue myself!  Crazy times!

So, here's to all of us still trying to get through life.  It's like some crazy playground without the play.  I hope this makes you laugh, I like to make people laugh with my sarcastic and dry humour.  I like the phrase 'dry humour'...it makes you think that there has to be something called 'wet humour'.  For someone who's illness translates to 'water on the brain'...well it's just hilariously ironic.

Also on irony, when I got my flu jab this year, it was given to me by a nurse I'd never met before.  Afterwards she said 'you've got incredibly thick skin'.  I smirked.  Thick skin, that's me!  I can deal with brain surgery but anything else I'm like a quivering mess!  Fun times in the life of me!

I hope all of my blog supporters are well and not crumbling in the world of madness, it has to get better!  I'm trying my best to get a message to the aliens to come and pick a bunch of the loveliest people down here.  I'll let you know if I hear anything.....

Just before I go, a little message to the world.......

Dear World, 

Stop being utterly pathetic, where's your compassion, where's the love?  You've let us all down, this makes me so sad.  I feel heartbroken.  More than heartbroken.  It's all too much for me now, I just want to come out the other side where everything is nice, compassionate and warm.  This won't happen and if it does it's probably too late for most of us but we can only hope that it's easier for future generations.  It's either that or people will be emigrating to Mars or the Moon.  These both seem like decent options at the minute.  I'm not scared of aliens either, I bet they don't have guns or cars or scary gorillas.  In fact, those 'little green men' are probably the most decent people in the world.....obviously I'd prefer them in pink, green just never has been my colour.

With kind regards best wishes 
Laters

Nina (no kiss)

I'm going to leave you with the words of the very cool, sane and down with everything Coolio (laugh man, it's funny)...

As we walk down the road of our destiny
and the time comes to choose which it gonna be
the wide and crooked, or the straight and narrow 
we got one voice to give and one life to live
stand up for something or lie down in your game
listen to the song that we sing
it's up to you to make it be
I guess I'll see you when you see me

I'll see you when you get there 
if you ever get there 
see you when you get there 

I'll see you when you get there 
if you ever get there 
see you when you get there 

https://youtu.be/tP1PXRiVoJw



Much love to you all....

N x

Depression in Wonderland - it's not all smiles, cats and rabbits!

Every few years, I get a sudden feeling of utter dread....is it just me??  I think things like 'what am I doing?', 'where am I going?' and 'do I want to do that?'.....I hope it's not just me.  I have so many big ideas that just exhaust me....I know I can't do them on my own, I don't have enough strength and this annoys me.

I know I'm not the only one who gets exhausted at thoughts of life and surely I can't be the only one who every now and then thinks the world is just too much.

When I began this blog I didn't really want it to focus on mental health or disability however, these things are such a big part of my life I feel I'm probably not doing myself many favours by wearing my happy costume most of the time.  As I am getting older I feel more aware of people looking at me thinking 'how does she qualify for a concession bus pass?' and 'why is she taking so long to get down the stairs?'.  I've recently had similar discussions with the DWP who've recently told me I've helped myself too much.  I honestly feel the world would be nicer to me if I wore a patch over my blind eye and used my crutch full time.  The answer to this conundrum is a) I'm not a pirate and there's no need to cover my 100% blind eye and b) I honestly feel people would look at me like I'm a liar.  There's a problem here and it's not me!  I am aware there are many people who opt to not have surgery for eye problems, the eye will become discoloured or the eye socket may shrink and so on....but because I demanded the eye hospital to blind it or else, I almost feel I have made life harder for myself.

I am well aware most people would feel nervous and anxious when agreeing to surgery however, I cannot see it in that way.  For me, surgery is positive, it's there to save my life.  As soon as I become scared, life will become more anxious.

I really want people to see why I am blunt, why I express strong opinions on health and other matters. So many people seem to see the world with Disney glasses, pop them on and we'll all skip around....now those are glasses I would wear....!  Just to note, I wear glasses full time, so I'm not slagging off anyone who wears them!

This weekend I realised that in some of the activities and events I take part in, my life would be easier with a crutch.  Even just doing the food shopping, when I bash in to someone on my blind side and they look at you like you're some kind of shoving terrorist.  I'd rather not be looked at like that, it makes me sad.  So, would life be easier if I played up my disability?  One million percent yes!  Every time someone gives me the evil eye, it makes me sad.  As I get older and the vision in my good eye is becoming worse, it becomes more of a problem.  So, moral of this story, if you happen to see me with my crutch, give me a high five!

Ok, so back to being a misery!  I get sad....a lot.  It's not easy fighting with yourself everyday, there's never a winner and I just knock myself out!  Don't get me wrong, I love a good fight but fighting with yourself just isn't cool man!

Right, depression....anxiety, sadness, adjusting, living....all these things are hard work.  Harder than any degree or occupation or climbing any mountain.  To be honest with you all, it's not something I preach about.  I don't think it's shame, I think it's more like I've had brain surgery, can anything else be that bad?!  Well it can.  For almost 17 years I have been under a psychiatrist.  I've seen every type of mental health worker you could imagine.  They don't give t-shirts out in the NHS but if they did I'd have them all, I could probably make a patchwork quilt to cover 100 people!

Life is hard.  It's hard when you have no health worries but harder when you do.  I've put up one hell of a fight in the past but like any boxer, when you get older, the fight gets harder!  Depression and anxiety doesn't make you weak, it makes you stronger.  When you're fighting daily and doing your best to achieve, I reckon you're as hard as a proper hard thing!  These days, I've gotten over the fact I have limitations career wise because of illness, I don't see many positions for what I do being offered as part time.  Don't get me wrong, it hurts, but I can't just spend day after day hurting can I?  There are days where it hurts a lot, those are the days where I'll keep myself to myself and will stay at home.  It's not giving in, just time to remind yourself it's ok and everything will work out fine.

As I get older, people naturally get on with different events in their lives.  I would love my life not to be a massive drama however, it's not like my illness will ever go away (despite the DWP listing my condition as one that may improve - clearly there are some secrets about brain transplants myself and my neurosurgeons don't know about).  Holidays are planned around hospitals and how much insurance will be.  Having children involves 3 different consultants, none of which relate to babies. Life will always be one big (planned) drama!  I kind of thought I was ok with this but then I hit 30 and panicked!  Being ill is much easier up until you're 30...

I think having to plan everything so much has done two things...

1. I am a very good and thorough planner and event manager - it's put me in good stead for my career!
2. Made me regimental.  I like things done the right way.  I want to trust in karma and hope that one day it'll show up!

The latter of these points is the one I think has a negative effect on my life.  Similar to the 'why me' question, it makes you feel like you're being punished and you want horrid things to all the not very nice people in the world.  This statement is my downfall.  Many people living with chronic illnesses feel angry, I am one of them.  I'd like to think that one day I'll feel less angry, or to perhaps accept the anger and just get over it.  I know I am not alone here, I know the people who love me have felt angry but they've managed to accept it and almost put it in a box.

To be honest I think that other people and what they think has a huge impact on how I feel.  There are so many misconceptions about living with an invisible illness.  There are many articles about this on the internet so I don't want to just repeat what other people say but it's worth a google if you can! Just to pick some of them out which strongly relate to how I feel and live....

1. If chronically ill people are enjoying themselves then they can't feel that bad.

Really???  Are people still saying this??  I'll stay in the house every day then eh?!  It's madness this! Wise up man!  I've done so many things with a splitting headache, doped up on strong painkillers!  I've worked with lots of bands and at festivals with a headache that would floor most people.

2. You look fine, so probably are fine.

Dear the rest of the world,

Please don't make me shave my hair off so you can all see my scars and my lovely shunt, you'd all freak out and vomit.  When you ask me if I'm ok and I say 'fine thanks'.  I feel you'd like me to go through my medical info for the last 7 days.  Do you want to know how many painkillers I've had that week or how much sleep I've had? I don't want to bore you with complicated medical information and neurological terms!  Oh, and if I'm smiling, I'm being polite, I'm putting on a brave face, I'm not without pain or anxiety.

Yours,

Nina

3. You're drinking wine so you can't be that ill. 

Now I know most of you get told not to drink alcohol when taking medication, you will struggle to find a brain surgeon who will say this.  To be fair, I no longer drink huge amounts of alcohol, not because a doctor or consultant told me too though, but because at the age of 30 I realised I felt better off without it!  I reckon most of you would feel that way, but I'm not preaching, do what you want! Please note though, there are some medications which you absolutely should not drink with!  You can generally tell by the way the doctor says to you with a look of utter shock and disgust on their face!

4. I'm strong and brave.  

I'm not.  I don't have any choice.  You get on with it or you don't.  If you don't you see the hurt and pain in your loved ones faces.  When you do, you get on with it.

5. Everything will be ok.

It won't, not unless I get that brain transplant which would obviously change who I am.  Things may get easier, then they'll get harder and then they'll get easier and then they'll be harder again.  Honestly there are more ups and downs in chronic illness than the yoyo of the best yoyo user in the world.

I've been so sad recently, I still am.  I know I've done lots and should be proud of myself but sometimes I think this is part of the problem.  I one million percent agree that you bounce back when you're younger.  I felt like a ninja for many many years.  I think within the past few months, the lack of bounce has been apparent.  I'd almost say there's no bounce at all a lot of the time...kind of like throwing an egg on the floor....you just get a splat!  I feel like a splat.  A massive splat at that!  I've had hard times before and I know I'll come out the other side, it's just harder now I'm older.

I'm coming back to the statement I say to myself regularly...'It's not brain surgery, look at what I've achieved as an ill person', that and 'I'm one of the luckiest people in the whole world'.  What a big fat lucky duck I am!

Happy days keep dreams afloat!

Until next time people of the world!

N x

Newcastle's first Unity Festival

 #‎NUfest2015‬

So this year, I'm dead proud of being part of Newcastle's very first Unity Festival!  In short, it's an open air, totally free music event which has been set up to proactively challenge all forms of intolerance and promote unity...

We're putting the unity back in community!

This weekend, in two days time, you'll find us in Leazes Park in the centre of Newcastle upon Tyne.  There are many amazing acts along with some awesome DJs, a kids area, a debate tent and a dub area!  We're all very excited and hope to see lots of very lovely and very happy faces having lots of fun at the weekend!

You can still contribute financially to the festival, every penny counts and it will all go to ensuring the festival is fabulous.  It will also give us masses of confidence that we will be able to run the same event next year with even more fabulous acts!

Here's the link should you have any spare pennies to give, then please do!  You'll be thanked! 

http://www.gofundme.com/Nufest

There'll be all kinds of wonderful stalls and an amazing selection of lots of fine food!  There will also be cake!  We all know how important cake is!  Your tummy is in for a treat!

There's a bar too....you've got to be a grown up to get an alcoholic drink mind!  So, if you're like me then bring your ID (it's ok, I'll look 30 when I'm 45)!

So lovely people, in short, if you're in Newcastle upon Tyne this weekend then there's only one place you should be - LEAZES PARK, 1 - 8pm, SATURDAY 23RD MAY!  Be there or be not very cool!

Ode to my hero (dad)...

My dad suffered an injury in the Army, he then was struck down with Wegener's Granulomatosis is a very rare autoimmune disease. He's an awesome man with many tales about his life experiences!

MASSIVE shout out to my mum here. She's almost lost her child and husband yet she's the strongest woman I know.

So recently i've been struggling with the words to explain,

what it's like to see my dad in less pain...

From an every day thing to just once in a while.

It's been over 15 years since we saw his true smile,

My dad is my hero, was an everyday GI Joe.

But we lost him to illness abut 15 years ago.

When I say we lost him - well he was still here,

He just was a different man, me and mum shed a tear.

Now that he has his love by his side,

You'd think they were on a magical carpet ride!

There are no words to help me explain,

What it's like to see my gorgeous happy dad again.

I knew he was in there somewhere,

He was drowning in 'life's just not fair'.

The world doesn't stop when you struggle with being ill,

You've just got to keep up, to plod along until...

And once more, with relief, things will be different once again.

...there you are, back in the game,

Stay strong, be positive, you've got to want to live.....

...he did, he's back and has so much more love to give...

Superhuman or Superhero - the life of a chronically diseased person!

Personally I prefer the Superhero term over the superhuman or chronically diseased.  Whilst other people are ecstatic on winning the lottery or bunch of flowers, when this never happens to me.....I have to remember how really lucky I am....luckier than most!

Yes.....that is right, you just heard me say I'm lucky!  Without a doubt, surviving brain surgery 8 (or 9?) times makes me pretty much a Superhero!  The fact that I can see out of one eye albeit not very well and walk and think and know what the hell is going on makes me, without a doubt one of the luckiest people to ever grace this planet....

....which brings me to my next point.....Superheros.  So, why I think I'm ok to call myself one...well, they've all got issues these Superheros.

Spiderman - bitten by a spider and therefore horribly diseased with spider webs squirting from his wrists, clinging on to buildings and such like.

X-men - many of them are some what disabled in the real world yet their powers enable them to be superhuman in the not so real world.  Whether they have additions to their physical beings or not.  They're all not quite right or different!

The Hulk - well, he clearly has some serious anxiety issues, is he even a Superhero? Superhuman more like, I can only be thankful I don't turn green when I'm having a rubbish day, feeling angry or down.  That would not be good, he's got it quite bad don't you think?!  I mean no one likes a massive drama queen and to me, he probably could put good use to some anxiety medication!

Batman - poor little soul he is, major anxiety issues and stress problems after the loss of his parents.  Oh and also, he's really scared of bats.  I'm thinking he probably has some kind of severe OCD going on there.......bats are not that scary!  (Unless you believe in vampires then you probably have ever right to be scared.  I wouldn't like to rule out vampires - I am more of an inclusive kind of girl.  They wouldn't want to drink my blood anyway....or would they?!)

There are many more too - Daredevil; well he's blind which leaves his other senses hugely heightened.  Although I am not blind in both eyes, I do no that your other senses absolutely become heightened.  Sadly, being blind in one eye (like me) does not leave any kind of heightened sense.  Just the ability to pour drinks all over a table instead of in the glass, misjudge the height of steps and my favourite power - the walking in to door frames and lamp posts.

Now, this is something I missed - probably because I'm not that in to Superhero comics or films so you all may know this but I certainly didn't!  Iron man, that thing on his chest.  Well, not just a thing!  It's basically a pacemaker!  Who knew?!

Anyhoo, most people can and will never understand the massive drama life can be when you're chronically ill.  We're all warriors in our own way.  We're the people when 7 on the pain scale is a good day!  I personally don't expect anyone to understand what it's like.  Especially when you can't see it.  I get that it's not an easy thing for people to not judge others on appearance but there are plenty of us.  I think I can speak for all of us when I say, please don't judge us on the fact we're standing tall with a smile on our faces.......judge us on the superhuman strength we have to stand there with a smile on our face when inside we're damaged and hurting.

You without a doubt change who you are when you're in a position like mine.  Just as experience and environment can change everyone as people.  Pain and hurt and sadness has changed me.  If you ask me how I am, my standard reply will be 'fine' or 'ok, thanks'.  After 16 years of being ill I find it easier to say that than bang on about the same thing for 16 years and the rest of my life!  It's so much easier to pretend to be 'fine' than to explain what ever pain or trauma I am going through.  I feel very much like I can't expect people to understand, it's too rare and complicated, plus to have to go through a load of medical terms and whatnot repeatedly would just get so so boring - for me and you.

So, I suppose what I am saying is that I'm constantly fighting, I have to.  If I didn't then I may as well give up and stay in bed.  I don't think many people would blame me for that but it just isn't me.  I have a feeling that one day this may change, i'm hoping it's when i'm really old though.  There will most likely come a time when brain surgery just isn't easy anymore.  Right now, it has to be, I have to look at it as a normal life occurrence.  If I didn't I would worry about everything a whole lot more.

Today I read an interesting quote...."Scars are tattoos with better stories" - and what a story I have!  I do have one tattoo and it was something I got because of my illness - it says "C'est la vie" - french for 'That's life'.  It reminds me every day that brain surgery is life and that's ok.  It has to be ok, if it isn't then I've got problems....it's only brain surgery.

I'd rather not write about the things that could go wrong during brain surgery, although I am well aware, as are my family but it really isn't something you want to think about.  I recently read a one of these 'Keep Calm' posters with regards to brain surgery - 'Keep calm, it's only brain surgery'.  It's only brain surgery indeed.....perhaps when you hear people complaining about runny noses and sore throats, you may think of this!

As I am getting older I feel it's more important to remind myself of the above, I was a much stronger young person.  If brain surgery had of been a person, oh by goodness they would of experienced the nightmare of Nina but it's not!  I have to remind myself of the strength it takes for me to be who I am and do what I do and be proud....really proud.

I hope I can inspire other people and young people with awful illnesses to not feel bad when they need a day in bed or just want to hibernate for a while.  It's fine.  Don't ever feel like the world is passing you by or that you aren't living life to the full.  It's ok, it's life, it's my life and your life.  I may never make millions from working but I will have done amazing things as a person who has been through a lot and achieved a lot more.

Be back soon!

N
x  

Life, drama and me....

So after my last post about planning the perfect Christmas party, I hope you all realise that there is a lot more to me than a dodgy brain!  To be very honest with you, I'm not feeling that great at the minute and haven't really felt like sharing much with the world.  In fact I've a few words to say to the world at the minute, well maybe not the whole world just certain inhabitants!  I try my very best each day to be useful and meaningful but some times it (life) beats me!  I've been stressed and because of my immune system not being that great I've ended up with a pretty rubbish skin infection on my face and so I've been in hiding.

Now I understand that me being in hiding won't quite match my 'I don't care what people think of me' attitude but if there is one thing I personally don't like, it is to have no make up on and a face full of nasty.  I'm not down with the 'going au natural' thing, not a chance.  I do that when I'm in hospital so why on earth would I want to do that in 'real' life?!

Since I wrote the first two paragraphs of this post, I've started and am now almost at the end of a medication change.  In short, they wean you off one and slowly introduce another.  I'm pretty proud of myself as I haven't yet had any kind of freak out or drama, it's all gone rather smoothly - it's a new thing for me, it's weirdly worrying.  I think, one day, I'm bound to be that person who stands up on a bus and just starts panicking and what not!  That or it'll be a massive drama, like The Little Mermaid meets Les Mis.  Think of the drama.....wow!

This week in particularly has had one drama after another and so I'm feeling extra anxious and not in a happy place. You've been warned!  Plodding on though! Despite the issues I've had this week, I really want this year to be me expanding my career and taking on some new challenges.  I did one pretty crackers thing last year, decided to go back to my drama roots (my first degree was BA (Hons) Performing Arts) and teach some drama clubs.  Despite year 9 boys being the most horrific things I've ever had to deal with (honestly, they're worse than fighting chavs at an event), I am so pleased I did this and this years' group are the best kids ever!  Last year, I needed wine to chill out after most sessions, this year I'm having a glass of wine to celebrate an awesome session!  I've always found working with kids in either drama or dance (mostly) rewarding. Kids are great, most of the time!  I particularly enjoy telling the boys they're annoying.  If you do this wearing a serious face, within twenty minutes one of them will say "do you really think we're annoying Miss?!". 

Taking on the drama club has really helped me to have a varied work life and so it's rare I get board.  Due to my health dictating so many decisions I've made in the last ten years I feel a bit of a daredevil taking on very different roles.  I'm pleased I've done it that way and I know it was the right decision, and one which I will stick with! I must say, I don't think I could do more than 5/6 hours a week with kids, sorry young people (must be politically correct).  They have so much energy, it's quite often very much like being in a room full of excited puppies! I think that's probably why I do it, I like to think I can absorb some of their energy by being a bit daft!

So after having a mad few hours being dramatic, I can go to the non dramatic part of my life at AMV!  I know the boys there will read this and will no doubt be exclaiming 'non dramatic'!!  Yeah, there's not really a great deal of me that isn't dramatic.  My whole life is pretty dramatic, it's extreme highs and tremendous lows!  My life is bipolar (as apposed to my mind).  I like to think I bring a bit of drama to AMV, I'm always there to do any song in a club singer style when Andy is playing piano! 

So, AMV......My involvement with AMV initially began when one of their artists had mentioned me when discussing the wonders of social media and events, I like to think they wanted to fill their office with excitement, power ballads and pink.  After helping them out with a new booking system and some other techy support, I took over the management of their social media.  I've been with the boys over 18 months now and feel happy to be part of the team!

I should say, AMV is Mick and Andy, lovely fellas.  Both very talented, I try not to like one more than the the other, you should never really do that (I do that a lot).  They come as a pair and we all come as #TeamAMV!  

So, a few shameless (not really, I don't feel bad about doing this) plugs to some special people!  To Hannah, my good friend and another mentalist.  Han coordinates and is part of The Shoeshop Quartet; a female Barbershop Quartet! They're awesome and you should check them out by following the link below....

http://www.amvlivemusic.com/artists/north-east-barbershop-quartet-shoeshop

Once you've had a listen to those lovely ladies, please do have a browse of the AMV websites, we've so many fabulous North East based musicians. They're all very talented and lovely.  Please do give me a holla (trying to be street) if you're looking for a musician or band for any events, weddings or functions.  We can help!

www.amvlivemusic.com

www.amvlivevenues.com

As it's been a little while since I last blogged I'm going to leave this one here. Tune in next time to hear about me and volunteering!

Much love and positivity....

Nina! X