To laugh is to risk appearing the fool,
To weep is to risk being called sentimental.
To reach out to another is to risk involvement.
To expose feelings is to risk showing your true self.
To place your ideas and your dreams before the crowd,
is to risk being called naive.
To love is to risk not being loved in return.
To live is to risk dying.
To hope is to risk despair,
To try is to risk failure.
But risks must be taken,
because the greatest risk in life is to risk nothing.
The person who risks nothing, does nothing,
has nothing, is nothing, and becomes nothing.
He may avoid suffering and sorrow, but he simply cannot learn,
feel, change, grow or love.
Chained by his certitude, he is a slave; he has forfeited his freedom.
Only the person who risks is truly free.

by Janet Rand

For someone who doesn’t traditionally suffer, but knows many who do, this is a first for me! I woke up this morning, gently rolling from side to side to gauge the severity. Wonderful, no pain!! So I swivel around, feet now inches from the floor, and gently push myself up into a sitting position. Brilliant, still no pain!!! I’m really confident by now, so attempt standing. Here’s the cautionary warning; as body weight transfers to the feet and you begin to stand, you’re caught unawares by that sudden jab of lower back pain, immediately assuming the Tina Turner (more on that in a mo) which instead of continuing propulsion in an upward motion, your upper body is thrust forward. Now such an action would be perfectly acceptable if there was adequate clearance between you and the wardrobe next to the bed. Luckily I was conscious enough to realise I was about to do a Zidane, hence, narrowly escaped damaging the wood veneer on my wardrobe. Beware!!

So the Tina Turner. This is the traditional stance assumed by people with lower back pain. The buttocks are pushed aft and the upper body and shoulders are angled forward. Obviously the stilettos are not advised although the flouncy frock is optional.

If you find yourself adopting the Sumo: 1.You shouldn’t be standing. 2.You shouldn’t be sat at your computer reading this. 3.Your pain relief isn’t strong enough. 4.You need a better Osteopath!

Remember to do the exercises the Osteopath gave you.
Gentle walking is often recommended.
Hot and cold compresses may help.
I make good use of hand reflexology (charts available online).
Acupressure is another good complementary option.
See an acupuncturist.

As always, first seek qualified medical advice and any suggestions made on justapollo.co.uk are from an unqualified member of the public who is responsible for himself only.

It’s official.. Pirates are alive and well and living in Totnes! It’s true! I saw one, so there must be more lurking in some narrow back-street. He was serving behind the counter in a certain shop (it will remain nameless, unless I receive a large enough bribe). Not a word of a lie – he had been attending the Captain Jack Sparrow School for Pirates. It wasn’t just the carefully sculpted facial hair, or mildly camp mannerisms, but when he gave the woman working with him the most intriguing drunken-devilish stare, in total despair at her actions, that I knew for sure this was no ordinary man!

(For fear of character defamation, can I add; this man was devastatingly good-looking and incredibly good at his job)

It has been said for years that Pirate numbers are increasing and this only goes to substantiate the fact global sea level rise is a direct result of the increased number of Pirate ships cruising the oceans.

Remember it’s International Talk Like A Pirate Day on September 19th