Mr Chalk and myself had the pleasure of a long awaited theatre trip yesterday evening. Although it was not really Mr C’s cup of tea, I had booked for us to see the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical ‘Tell me on a Sunday’ at that beautiful gem of a theatre, the Theatre Royal in Bury St Edmunds.

It’s a one-person show and was performed by the amazing Jodie Prenger, you may remember her from winning a tv competition some years ago to play Nancy in the musical ‘Oliver’. She has the most wonderful voice and she played the part so beautifully.

I explained to Mr Chalk that this musical is quite literally a sound track to my life in the 80s, pre him. Not wishing to garner any sympathy but I did spend a large part of this wonderful decade being dumped, like the heroine in ‘Tell me on a Sunday’. I didn’t have such a glamorous New York existence, but the songs did remind me of a time when I lurched from one relationship to the next, always hoping that I would find ‘the one’. I was even quite ceremoniously dumped in our local night club, in front of all my friends. Whenever people mention the ‘Maltings’ now, it sends a shiver down my spine.

I despaired of ever finding someone who wanted to stay, but then I had a blind date with this quite lovely, funny and kind man. Dare I hope that he could be a keeper, at long last?

That blind date was 34 years ago and yes, dear reader, I am still with the lovely Mr Chalk. Perhaps it was necessary to kiss all those frogs, to then experience the joy of finding my man.

The sound track to ‘Tell me on a Sunday’ took me back to those unsettled, unsteady but it should be said, sometimes quite exciting times in the 80s. But then at the end of the performance I was quite happy to take Mr Chalk’s hand and walk back to the car, looking forward to a nice cup of tea back home.

So very grateful,

Wendy x

I was interested by a programme on TV last night which screened a live operation of someone having a rhinoplasty, more commonly known as a ‘nose job’. There were 4 young people in the studio watching on, all of them having considered this procedure for themselves. They were each joined by a friend or loved one, in some cases this other person was very much opposed to them having the procedure.

To me they all looked absolutely wonderful, good looking young folk. But I am not of the Instagram generation. One lad, an influencer, said that he actually apologised to his audience for his slightly crooked nose. Another girl, absolutely beautiful, felt self-conscious about her nose which she recognised as being like her father’s, very much an Indian nose.

This all seems incredibly sad to me. That people can be so adversely affected by what they see as ‘imperfections’, and have this desire to all look the same, without any inherited character traits. I was looking at my old school photo the other day (70s, a lot of hair!) and it struck me that we all looked very different, individual and somehow, characterful. These days there seems to be the ‘homogenised’ look, certainly for many young girls, the long blonde hair, thick eyebrows and plumped up lips. There almost seems to be a fear of somehow looking ‘different’. It reminds me in a sinister way of the film ‘The Stepford Wives’.

This programme was in sharp contrast to the one I had been watching previously, ‘the world’s fattest man’ where a compulsive eating disorder led Paul Mason to have a complete disregard for his body and health, to ultimately become a life threatening 80 stone. He had a gastric band fitted and initially lost a lot of this weight, but was sadly now putting the weight back on.

Both of these extremes seem to show a disrespect for the self and an inability to regard oneself with kindness and compassion.

It just goes to show that whatever medical procedure we resort to, it can only go so far in changing our perception of ourselves.

I see many young people in my practice and it has been truly wonderful to see how hypnotherapy can help them to see themselves as amazing, even with (or should that be especially with) all their imperfections.

Wendy xx

It’s a little bit odd (or maybe not?) but I tend to see a pattern in the issues that my lovely clients present with. Sometimes, like buses, you don’t see a particular issue for ages, then several come along at once.

Just of late I have been helping a lot of people who would like to reduce – or even eliminate – their alcohol intake. It maybe that throughout lockdown and beyond they have got into a habit of drinking more and cannot find a way to stop. With some folk, they have reached the conclusion that it is actually best to stop drinking completely.

Alcohol is still very much accepted, perhaps even encouraged, in today’s society. We do not tend to see it as a substance which causes harm, except in huge amounts. Smoking is the real baddie, isn’t it? However, recent studies have linked even moderate amounts of alcohol with health issues such as Alzheimer’s, cancer and heart disease. It can also be linked to a number of mental health issues. With that in mind, it is important to consider reducing it, at the very least.

With some of my clients I actually suggest giving up alcohol completely as this sometimes is easier than cutting down. If the person has an addictive personality, then giving it up is the only way to be honest.

Hypnotherapy treatment to reduce or stop drinking alcohol can be really effective, as it works with the sub-conscious mind in order to manage any withdrawal issues, helping you to feel calm and relaxed.

If you feel that you would like to address a problematic drinking habit, do get in touch. I would be happy to help.

Wendy x

This may sound a bit strange but I have a peculiar guilty secret. I have become addicted to a programme called ‘Inside the Ambulance’. It is not the gruelling one on BBC which focuses on the emergency call room, but instead the one which follows teams in the UK as they go about their daily work.

The crew have cameras fixed to their uniforms so you have a direct view of what they are doing, from attending little children with fevers or elderly folk who have had a fall, to suspected cardiac patients. It also gives an eye view of the lovely working relationships the paramedic teams seem to have.

It is evident that they carry out their work with the utmost professionalism and efficiency but what is most obvious is the kindness and care the paramedics show to the patients. Many of the call outs are to people with mental health issues and they seem to know exactly how to speak to these people, treating them with deep respect and kindness. Sometimes all a person needs is a listening ear and some gentle guidance, and this gives them a massive boost. Very often the crews are called out to people who are terribly lonely and just need to speak to someone.

Changing the subject a little bit here, we are all aware that provision of mental health support in the UK is poor, but I do not think it needs to be complicated.

Here’s a suggestion.

At the moment there are many people who are waiting months just to see a CBT counsellor and sometimes this is not even face to face. I think paramedics are brilliant at talking to people with mental health problems, so wouldn’t it be a great idea if there could be a paramedic available in GP surgeries at all times for brief immediate help/counselling?

But maybe I’m being unrealistic? After all, many GP surgeries are still only available on the phone or on zoom. Don’t get me started.

I’m off to watch another episode.

Wendy x

Apart from addressing specific issues, such as anxiety, addictive behaviours, as well as all sorts of fears and phobias, hypnotherapy is a deeply relaxing experience on its own.

Sometimes I liken it to a ‘mental massage’ in that the hypnotic voice is compared to the hands of a masseur, gently soothing and comforting, easing away tension and stress. My lovely clients often say that they feel wonderful after a session, lighter and as if they have had a total clear out of the mind. Sometimes people liken it to having had a ‘reboot’.

Many of us are completely frazzled by work, life, family and all the nonsense of the past 18 months, so if this sounds like you, please do get in touch and book your own personal ‘mental massage’.

I look forward to seeing you soon.

Wendy x

We are all beginning to take tentative steps out into the world after a long, long time of strangeness. This is inevitably leading to bouts of anxiety and panic, for some people at least.

There may be those gregarious souls who are revelling in the fact that they can party once again but equally there are those who have actually grown quite used to being tucked away and have very little desire to come out of the woodwork.

There could be a number of reasons for this anxiety about returning to ‘normal’ life again. For some there is a hesitancy about socialising with others, a fear that they have lost their old social skills and will not be able to converse or mix easily with people. For others, there may be a fear of catching covid (all too real) or indeed the other nasties that are more easily caught now we are doing without masks or social distancing. This type of health anxiety is very common.

Or maybe for some, they have found that they have simply enjoyed being at home with their own company and really have no desire to go out at all, even though they can. If this carries on it can lead to a sense of isolation or even agoraphobia, where the person has an extreme fear of going outside their own house.

All of these fears and anxieties are quite natural, bearing in mind what has happened over the last 18 months. But, with covid figures coming down daily, this does seem to indicate that we can begin to resume our lives in a normal way.

Hypnotherapy can help enormously to overcome these fears and anxieties and tends to be very quick and effective compared to standard counselling treatments. By working with the sub-conscious mind, we can allow you to feel calmer, more confident and happy about stepping into the world again.

Wendy x

I do not have many regrets in life but one of them is not having chosen ‘Eternal Father Strong to Save’ for my dear dad’s funeral. You see, like Prince Phillip, my dad was a navy man, albeit a lowly rating, I think they were called ‘able seamen’ then. Also very much like the Duke my dad was orphaned in childhood and then becoming a naval cadet at the age of 16, he felt he had found his ‘family’ at long last. Dad was so very proud of his navy years and we had a wonderful group of navy veterans bearing standards at his funeral 5 years ago.

Therefore, I shall be watching the last journey of the Duke of Edinburgh this afternoon and singing along to that wonderful hymn, thinking of my beloved dad.

Whatever you are doing this weekend, have a lovely one.

very best wishes,

Wendy x

How are you? This week has been a significant one on the road back to ‘normality’ with shops, pubs, gyms and hairdressers opening again. It really does seem like we are stepping out – albeit cautiously – into the sunlight again. It was wonderful for me to be able to see clients again after so many months without face to face contact.

I have to admit to feeling a little bit nervous and I think many of us have been somewhat hesitant to get back to normal life again. In some ways it has been a little bit like a hibernation, a chance to rest, spend more time with loved ones and perhaps take up new hobbies. With a bit more time on my hands I bought myself a new sewing machine and have been doing some dressmaking, with varying results, but at least I have enjoyed it!

After a while, however, I think there is a yearning for that social connection, seeing friends, work colleagues and clients again. After all we are social animals and we need that human contact.

Even though we still have to wait to hug once again, just being with others and enjoying the warmth of human connection will be so wonderful.

I am so looking forward to seeing clients old and new. So, do get in touch if you are in need of my help.

Very best wishes,

Wendy x

I have been privileged to have been able to help many people over the last few months with all sorts of issues.

One of these is a problematic relationship with food, where the person is constantly on the roller coaster ride of dieting then bingeing, and so it goes on. This issue has been exacerbated by Covid and lockdown, as many of us are confined to our homes, where food is all too accessible.

This is definitely an issue close to my own heart as I have myself had a problem with weight management at various times in my life. I do have a tendency to put on weight easily and for those who say that ‘it’s just a case of eating less and exercising more’ are vastly oversimplifying the problem.

I have just finished reading Gary Taubes’ latest book ‘The Case for Keto’ and in it he argues very strongly that there are some of us who are extremely carbohydrate sensitive. For these people, even eating what would normally be termed a healthy diet of lots and fruits and vegetables just puts too much sugar into their systems which causes heightened insulin levels. High insulin invariably leads to weight gain. The only way of correcting this is to eat a very low carb diet. This tends to keep sugar levels balanced and steady and is now recommended for people who have diabetes, or who may even be in the pre-diabetic range. Dr David Unwin is a British GP who strongly recommends this way of eating and he is now advising GPs throughout the country.

When clients come to me wanting to lose weight, I do not advise them to go on a particular diet but instead to really listen to their own bodies. For me I am aware now that my own body thrives on a low carb diet with meat, cheese, butter and vegetables but little fruit. I have found that this type of eating means that I have lots of energy, I am mentally much sharper and I do not feel so hungry. For somebody else it may well be that they feel better on a mostly plant diet. Whichever way of eating is best for you I do advise steering away from processed foods.

Hypnotherapy can help you to begin to be kind to yourself and your own body and be aware of feeding it in a way which feels good for you. It gives you a calmness and serenity around food and you find that you are naturally drawn to those foods which nourish you as an individual.

Our lives have been turned upside down over these past months in so many different ways. Back in March when all of the strangeness first began we tended to think ‘well, a few weeks of this and then we can all go back to normal again’. Five months on and we can see how the world has changed beyond recognition. To me it feels like there is no return to how things used to be but this does not have to be a bad thing.

Obviously there are some people who are undergoing the most awful hardships due to covid and the lockdown. We cannot ignore the fact that certain areas of society – already experiencing severe challenge – will have been suffering all the more because of covid. In particular poverty, domestic abuse, mental health issues, loneliness – these are all things that have been exacerbated over the last months. These issues need to be addressed.

In my own personal life I have found that the lockdown has given me some time to think about how I want to live my life in a quieter, simpler way. This is not to say that I did not feel incredibly fortunate in having been able to travel, regularly see live music and theatre performance and having the joy of going out to restaurants. But maybe we did not really appreciate all of this. Today I went out with my two grown up sons to have lunch at a lovely pub. This is the first time I have been out for a meal since lockdown and I can honestly say that it was all the more pleasurable for it. It felt like such a treat!

I think that I am enjoying having a simpler life, where going out will occur much less frequently but will be all the more special because of it. I have been reading loads, going out on my bike, doing the garden, visiting the coast and it has been lovely. Before lockdown it was all about planning the next far flung holiday, arranging an event, booking meals or the theatre, so that this all somehow became run of the mill, no longer exciting.

This is not to say that I do not want the arts and the hospitality industry to come back, my children’s livelihoods depend on these sectors returning.

However, I am going to be much more mindful of trying to live a simpler, calmer life because I have found that I do really quite enjoy it.