SmileyAli
@smileyali68.bsky.social
I mostly cycle, run, walk and crochet in the High Peak, with added multiple sclerosis content. Some say I should have a link to something here, but I've come up with nothing!
My #MSFriday musings are about the oddness of MS fatigue, the helpfulness of categorising it as physical, cognitive, social, emotional. Cognitive is my killer. It's been a week where I'm trying to think about and apply intentional rest. Remembering cognitive rest is the goal. It's a journey.
February 6, 2026 at 8:48 AM
My #MSFriday musings are about the oddness of MS fatigue, the helpfulness of categorising it as physical, cognitive, social, emotional. Cognitive is my killer. It's been a week where I'm trying to think about and apply intentional rest. Remembering cognitive rest is the goal. It's a journey.
So 12 minutes on the yoga mat before I crawled into child's pose and refused to move. Frankly I'm taking this as a win. I'll build back up.
February 5, 2026 at 5:51 PM
So 12 minutes on the yoga mat before I crawled into child's pose and refused to move. Frankly I'm taking this as a win. I'll build back up.
Twenty years later I finally sell two rope bags my husband had really liked and I hadn't felt able to part with.
February 5, 2026 at 10:00 AM
Twenty years later I finally sell two rope bags my husband had really liked and I hadn't felt able to part with.
One of my three top priorities for my wellbeing today was to figure out the right crochet edging for the hood of a thing I've made. It needs just the right edging. I'm snug and warm, finished work for the day and the dog is still out with the Wednesday walker. All is well in my world.
February 4, 2026 at 4:18 PM
One of my three top priorities for my wellbeing today was to figure out the right crochet edging for the hood of a thing I've made. It needs just the right edging. I'm snug and warm, finished work for the day and the dog is still out with the Wednesday walker. All is well in my world.
My job would be entirely manageable if I didn't have a partner, a dog, a disability, and if I did have a cleaner, or perhaps lived in a one bed flat, no garden, no expectation of social life and no neighbours.
February 3, 2026 at 3:23 PM
My job would be entirely manageable if I didn't have a partner, a dog, a disability, and if I did have a cleaner, or perhaps lived in a one bed flat, no garden, no expectation of social life and no neighbours.
Just a woman sitting here, pondering intentional rest.
February 3, 2026 at 1:54 PM
Just a woman sitting here, pondering intentional rest.
Because of the way life sometimes comes full circle I realised with horror the main diary I'm attempting to unstick is for the guy whose diary I first worked with 25 years ago. Our working relationship is as long as many of my oldest friendships.
February 3, 2026 at 9:54 AM
Because of the way life sometimes comes full circle I realised with horror the main diary I'm attempting to unstick is for the guy whose diary I first worked with 25 years ago. Our working relationship is as long as many of my oldest friendships.
I was once a bloody good PA. I have skills and need to remember this. I'd found a date for a call that worked for 95% of people - 9th Feb. I got put under huge pressure to get it to happen today. Unsurprisingly, we're now down to 65% and the remaining 35% are having a catch up on ... 9 Feb.
February 3, 2026 at 9:34 AM
I was once a bloody good PA. I have skills and need to remember this. I'd found a date for a call that worked for 95% of people - 9th Feb. I got put under huge pressure to get it to happen today. Unsurprisingly, we're now down to 65% and the remaining 35% are having a catch up on ... 9 Feb.
Considering the resilience agenda February introduction on stepping off the burnout treadmill. Meaningful recovery rituals. I'm not sure if I have these or not. What, I wonder, would that look like? Is it a cup of tea, is it walking the dog (which does not feel like recovery). What do you do?
February 2, 2026 at 10:19 AM
Considering the resilience agenda February introduction on stepping off the burnout treadmill. Meaningful recovery rituals. I'm not sure if I have these or not. What, I wonder, would that look like? Is it a cup of tea, is it walking the dog (which does not feel like recovery). What do you do?
If you haven't come across protest with yarn, you're missing out!
🧶If you're knitting up the Melt the ICE Hat pattern for solidarity with Minneapolis & need Red yarn Wool&Co still has red Berroco Ultra Alpaca which makes a lovely thick hat. I'm using the Berroco Ultra Alpaca Light, a DK. It makes for smaller stitches but lighter. Free ship & ball winding
#knitting
#knitting
January 31, 2026 at 4:48 PM
If you haven't come across protest with yarn, you're missing out!
I'm moving at leisurely pace through the MS Society's online course in fatigue management. There are occasional penny dropping moments.
January 31, 2026 at 4:46 PM
I'm moving at leisurely pace through the MS Society's online course in fatigue management. There are occasional penny dropping moments.
Today's #MSFriday musings are on the contribution of chronic stress to this disease. I'm so used to just living with chronic stress / depending on it to get me shifting on things that it's very hard to change my reaction. Stress has become a reaction I realise I've sought out rather than avoided.
January 30, 2026 at 2:07 PM
Today's #MSFriday musings are on the contribution of chronic stress to this disease. I'm so used to just living with chronic stress / depending on it to get me shifting on things that it's very hard to change my reaction. Stress has become a reaction I realise I've sought out rather than avoided.
Turns out having lunch was the stretch goal but a goal is a goal so at 2:30 I finally had a brew and something from the "emergency lunch" stash of Merchant Gourmet grains.
My three wellbeing top priorities for today reflect that I can see it's not going to be an easy day just because of what's in the diary. So they are to take pauses, to remember to have lunch, and a stretch goal of find time on the yoga mat.
January 29, 2026 at 4:45 PM
Turns out having lunch was the stretch goal but a goal is a goal so at 2:30 I finally had a brew and something from the "emergency lunch" stash of Merchant Gourmet grains.
My three wellbeing top priorities for today reflect that I can see it's not going to be an easy day just because of what's in the diary. So they are to take pauses, to remember to have lunch, and a stretch goal of find time on the yoga mat.
January 29, 2026 at 10:30 AM
My three wellbeing top priorities for today reflect that I can see it's not going to be an easy day just because of what's in the diary. So they are to take pauses, to remember to have lunch, and a stretch goal of find time on the yoga mat.
Football on the TV nights mean I chill out on the rocking chair in the cozy loft with crochet and a podcast, surrounded by books and tempting projects. Sometimes I even pick up a kettle bell.
January 28, 2026 at 9:05 PM
Football on the TV nights mean I chill out on the rocking chair in the cozy loft with crochet and a podcast, surrounded by books and tempting projects. Sometimes I even pick up a kettle bell.
A rare moment when my #poemfortoday is available online from a credible source and I'm not worrying about copyright. Favourite line - I can remember much forgetfulness. allpoetry.com/poem/8497295...
Forgetfulness by Harold Hart Crane at Allpoetry
Comments & analysis: Forgetfulness is like a song / That, freed from beat and measure, wanders. / Forgetfulness
allpoetry.com
January 28, 2026 at 3:01 PM
A rare moment when my #poemfortoday is available online from a credible source and I'm not worrying about copyright. Favourite line - I can remember much forgetfulness. allpoetry.com/poem/8497295...
My boss said in front of a lot of my colleagues he's really pleased with the progress being made in the area I have responsibility for. I'm still of the belief I haven't got a clue what I'm doing.
January 28, 2026 at 10:40 AM
My boss said in front of a lot of my colleagues he's really pleased with the progress being made in the area I have responsibility for. I'm still of the belief I haven't got a clue what I'm doing.
Smallest ever wellbeing goals for today. Warm shower, comfy clothes, just pause long enough to consider the question what do I need today, and the stretch goal is ten minutes with the Headspace app.
January 27, 2026 at 9:12 AM
Smallest ever wellbeing goals for today. Warm shower, comfy clothes, just pause long enough to consider the question what do I need today, and the stretch goal is ten minutes with the Headspace app.
I input into AI how to phrase an I statement to explain how it makes me feel when my partner says "I would just" when I'm struggling with something. I already feel validated.
January 25, 2026 at 10:14 PM
I input into AI how to phrase an I statement to explain how it makes me feel when my partner says "I would just" when I'm struggling with something. I already feel validated.
I'm so politically homeless right now.
January 25, 2026 at 9:40 PM
I'm so politically homeless right now.
Eyeing up a knitting pattern for a pair of mittens which require use of a cable needle. Having had to google image what is a cable needle is a minor matter, of course I can do cable, right?
January 25, 2026 at 11:17 AM
Eyeing up a knitting pattern for a pair of mittens which require use of a cable needle. Having had to google image what is a cable needle is a minor matter, of course I can do cable, right?
If anyone's discovered a granola or a granola recipe compatible with the #overcomingms I'm interested.
January 24, 2026 at 7:11 PM
If anyone's discovered a granola or a granola recipe compatible with the #overcomingms I'm interested.
Huge success. Dog had a bit of fabric caught on his lower tooth. He tried and tried with his tongue to shift it. I had him sit, held his jaw at the hinge bits (sorry no terminology), and when he opened his mouth with his scary sharp teeth I reached in, fiddled around, eventually got the stuff out.
January 24, 2026 at 10:44 AM
Huge success. Dog had a bit of fabric caught on his lower tooth. He tried and tried with his tongue to shift it. I had him sit, held his jaw at the hinge bits (sorry no terminology), and when he opened his mouth with his scary sharp teeth I reached in, fiddled around, eventually got the stuff out.
I do actually love my perfectly imperfect life. I like my house (and all the things that need fixing and changing and redecorating), I like my location, my community, my partner, my dog, my job and the senior management. I quite like me too. All the things are joyfully flawed.
January 23, 2026 at 3:11 PM
I do actually love my perfectly imperfect life. I like my house (and all the things that need fixing and changing and redecorating), I like my location, my community, my partner, my dog, my job and the senior management. I quite like me too. All the things are joyfully flawed.
I haven't done #MSFriday musings in a while. All the navel gazing has been part of my consciousness that chronic stress, permanently raised cortisol levels are really bad for MS. I am doing a huge conscientious effort to deal with this. It's a lot, and it's not going to be "fixed" quickly.
January 23, 2026 at 2:51 PM
I haven't done #MSFriday musings in a while. All the navel gazing has been part of my consciousness that chronic stress, permanently raised cortisol levels are really bad for MS. I am doing a huge conscientious effort to deal with this. It's a lot, and it's not going to be "fixed" quickly.