Musings from a Stonehead

Last Offices Prompted by ageing politicians who refuse to relinquish power, Last Offices considers status, irrelevance and the denial of death. In sealed chambers, rulers demand larger portraits, arrest those who ask the time and cling to chairs taller than graves.... https://stoneheadcroft.com/2026/08/04/last-offices/

More paperwork, more discrepancies An ESA claim stalls because an NHS employer’s termination letter, SSP1 form and final payslip contradict one another. The paperwork is wrong, the benefit cannot be processed, and a household losing £2,200 a month moves towards running out of money.... https://stoneheadcroft.com/2026/07/31/more-paperwork-more-discrepancies/

Relaxation Relaxation may help with stress, but pain, stiffness and diarrhoea remain stubbornly unimpressed. Repeat until calm—or morning.... https://stoneheadcroft.com/2026/04/04/relaxation/

Poetry Month I find myself writing at 5am. Meaningful activity, apparently, has flexible hours.... https://stoneheadcroft.com/2026/04/01/poetry-month/

Pacing No conquest, no triumphal procession—just another day survived. Veni, vidi, vici, reduced to its practical minimum. https://stoneheadcroft.com/2026/08/03/pacing/

Contribution Contribution, apparently, is measured differently when illness enters the room. https://stoneheadcroft.com/2026/04/16/contribution/

Out of Balance The app advised a quieter day. I cleaned the kitchen, vacuumed, dusted, got stuck on my knees and called for help. Later I walked for tonic. There was already gin. Recovery, apparently, proceeds in carefully managed stages.... https://stoneheadcroft.com/2026/05/09/out-of-balance/

Perspective Severe hip pain made all other pain seem less. I kept mowing until my leg failed, released the machine, fell through the back door and lay on the tiles. The household stepped around me. At least the mower stopped. https://stoneheadcroft.com/2026/05/30/perspective/

The biopsychosocial trap A recent Substack article from Long Covid Advocacy argues that the biopsychosocial (BPS) model has become so loosely defined that it permits psychological explanations to displace biomedical investigation.... https://stoneheadcroft.com/2026/07/30/the-biopsychosocial-trap/

Beyond Help A GP says my condition is now too complex for the surgery to manage. No practical help followed. No referral arrived with tools. Only the sentence remained: clean, efficient and remarkably useful for transferring responsibility elsewhere.... https://stoneheadcroft.com/2026/05/05/beyond-help/

Eighteen Years A consultant neurologist had eighteen years of experience and no familiarity with my file. He diagnosed inactivity, fear and psychology, interrupted disagreement, and donated an hour of his time. Apparently, that settled matters.... https://stoneheadcroft.com/2026/05/20/eighteen-years/

Audit Every system demands an account. I list six years of symptoms, answer the same questions and supply further evidence. By evening, I am accurately recorded, comprehensively assessed and too exhausted to continue existing.... https://stoneheadcroft.com/2026/06/03/audit/

Lurching Has Advantages I walked to the village because lying down had become intolerable. On the way home, my leg stopped cooperating, cars kept their distance, and I fell through the back door. Reheated pizza marked another successful expedition.... https://stoneheadcroft.com/2026/04/19/lurching-has-advantages/

Dirty Old Man Drying myself after a shower, I fell while both hands were occupied with a towel. No injury this time. Another ordinary task becomes a hazard. Soon, perhaps, remaining unwashed will count as sensible risk management. https://stoneheadcroft.com/2026/04/15/dirty-old-man/

Evidence I walked five kilometres to demonstrate I was not inactive. My body stopped me twice. I continued, then spent the afternoon on the floor, satisfied that I'd produced the required evidence. https://stoneheadcroft.com/2026/03/31/evidence/

Installation Installing a Hills Hoist took two days, one fall, a steel spike and help. Once, I planted strainers all day. Now one washing line takes two. It is still standing. The shirts are dry. That will do. https://stoneheadcroft.com/2026/05/24/installation/

Final Inspection Preparing for an NHS Stage 3 hearing, I assessed my own condition, declared myself unsafe and unfit, and completed the paperwork. The employee was written off. The process remained serviceable. Management retained the warranty.... https://stoneheadcroft.com/2026/06/14/final-inspection/