A slight case of overblogging

Shoulders

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 14:38:40 GMT

Saw private physio: shoulder mobility is already reduced in right arm, though not as bad as the left. I winced a *lot* as she poked it. She gave me some numbers of how far each arm can move and what is the normal range.

Got an appointment through from Huntingdon! I shall be going to Hinchingbrooke on Friday 10th July. It's a 45 minute initial appointment

GP called me back today, I decided not to push for a steroid injection in the right since I'm seeing the NHS physio in a week, and I don't want to mask symptoms at all. Hopefully they won't mind looking at both! He's sending through another Naproxen prescription to keep me going though: I might not think it helps much, but I am feeling a bit worse a week after the last lot ran out, so might as well continue!

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Oh dear

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 14:34:58 GMT

I ordered new blinds, for the kitchen, loo and bathroom. They're twist fit ones, which don't require any tools (except theoretically drilling holes to attach the thing that holds the chains safely out of reach. I used the laser measuring device to measure the three window recesses into which the blinds will fit, and cunningly decided to pay 10% extra for their MeasureGuard service: because guess who measured two of them wrong?

They're making me new ones, which hopefully (having been remeasured by me and Mike together) should actually fit. Normally I'm supposed to send the wrong ones back before they start on the new ones, but for some reason they've just said "nah, keep them". Perhaps they've had a lot of returns recently? Anyway, does anyone I know want a pair of *very specifically* measured blinds?

Loo is 849mm wide, with a drop of 1136
Bathroom us 809 wide, with a drop of 950

They'll probably fit 5mm width either side of that, but not, as we discovered, 9mm smaller!

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Shoulder updates already

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 14:14:09 GMT

Ha, posting all that earlier helped unstick me a bit.

I phoned Dynamic Health, they have moved me to the Huntingdon waiting list (and I have warned my boss I may need to take more time off for appointments as a result!) and confirmed they're now starting to see referrals from early April, so hopefully only 3-4 weeks before I hear from them? *fingers crossed*

I filled it the GP's triage form with a request to see someone about my second shoulder, and whether it's possible to get a steroid injection early before it freezes, they've texted to say a GP will look at my case on 2nd July and may call or invite me to come in. I particularly love that it will be two weeks before they get back to me when the course of naproxen they prescribed will run out in 4 days, but hey, could be worse. If it actually helped noticeably I'd send an admin request for more to keep taking in the meantime.

I've got an email back from the Spire saying they can't give me a table of expected costs as it depends on the consultant, so I think they're out in favour of Bupa if I do go private, but I'll hold off on that for another month and see if I hear from Huntingdon!

And I've booked another session with my private physio for Friday, in case she can give me some more useful tips for the meantime.

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Stupid shoulders

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 08:30:27 GMT

That's a technical term. Addenbrookes have a helpful page on what it is and how it's treated

https://www.cuh.nhs.uk/patient-information/frozen-shoulder/

I've already got as far as painkillers, exercises and a steroid injection, none of which have helped much, and I'd like to look into hydrodistension, which my GP told me at the time of the steroid injection would be available via Dynamic Health, and suggested I self-refer immediately, because the waiting list might be quite long.

So I've been double checking my physio referral. I've checked the dates, and somehow while I submitted the form on 13th April I only got an email to say they'd received it on 23rd April, and then a text to say I was now on the waiting list on 5th May. I've also double checked the FAQs, and basically you definitely have to go through this process for any musculoskeletal issues which might need further treatment before you can see a consultant. And finally the current waiting list for Cambridge is about 35 weeks.

https://www.dynamichealth.nhs.uk/appointments/waiting-times/

In the meantime I contacted Cambridge Spire (who a friend was treated with via their insurance) to see if I could get a price for how much it would cost to be seen privately. They tried to ring me once, arranged by email on the Sunday 9th of May to call me back on Monday, and then vanished. Someone (two different someones) finally called me back yesterday, having found the open enquiry down the back of their ticketing system, and they sent me a list of four consultants working out of the Spire Cambridge Lea who do this sort of work, with initial consultation appointments available in the next couple of weeks, who take self-pay patients. Initial appointment is £200-£300. It wasn't entirely clear how many steps there are after that, but £350+ for the MRI guided treatment (and possibly separately more for the MRI itself?) and then at least a follow-up appointment. And probably physio, but they didn't say how much that would cost. But I was thinking we're adding up to around a grand. This looks like the most likely of the consultants:

https://www.spirehealthcare.com/spire-cambridge-lea-hospital/consultants/mr-niel-kang-c4719317/

(One didn't have an option for self-pay, and the other two didn't specifically mention frozen shoulders)

And then Ruth mentioned Bupa, so I looked them up, and they have an actually useful table of the costs for hydrodilation (also known as hydrodistension, the specific treatment I'm hoping to have), and that would be £1200. Which is maybe a bit more, but at least is a concrete number. I've asked the Spire if they have a similar table anywhere!

https://www.bupa.co.uk/health/payg/muscles-bones-joints/msk-physician-consultation/msk-injections/hydrodilatation-high-volume-injections

So now I'm wondering exactly what to do. I think the first instance is to ring Dynamic Health and say I'd be willing to be seen in Huntingdon, instead of Cambridge, if it really does get the waiting list down from 35 weeks to 13 weeks, but when does that start counting. And then maybe speak to my GP, because the *other* shoulder is starting to hurt, but hasn't yet lost any mobility. Maybe they can do a steroid injection at this phase, and it might head it off? I don't know.

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Reply from Pippa Heylings

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 13:01:20 GMT

Thank you for getting in touch to share your concerns about the revised EHRC Code of Practice which was laid before Parliament on 21st May.

As a Liberal Democrat, I am committed to respecting and defending the rights of everyone - including all LGBTQ+ people - and rejecting all forms of discrimination, wherever they happen.

I am deeply concerned that so many trans, non-binary and intersex people in our country were left feeling worried, fearful or uncertain after the supreme court ruling, and questioning whether they would be able to enjoy the same rights as their peers. The EHRC interim guidance that was published soon after the Supreme Court ruling did not in any way counter the anxiety, confusion and disruption surrounding how the ruling will be interpreted, and how it will work in practice. At this time I wrote to the Minister for Women and Equalities to convey these concerns and to press the government to show more leadership, provide more clarity and to ensure everyone’s rights are protected, including ensuring that the transgender community feels safe and do not face any discrimination.

It was essential that the new guidance issued by the EHRC gave individuals and organisations guidance that worked in practice and ensured that everyone was protected from harassment and discrimination. I do not think that the new Code of Practice meets this demand.

I completely understand the concerns of the transgender community who feel that they will be shut out of vital services, and unable to go about their daily lives and , worse still, will be at risk of harassment and victimisation. And many of my constituents also fear the risk of “gender policing”, where women can be challenged simply for not looking “feminine” enough. Businesses, societies and organisations are left worried about the costs of complying with the guidance and the legal challenges they may face.

I am pleased that Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey and Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Women and Equalities Marie Goldman MP have written to the Minister for Women and Equalities to convey these concerns, to urge that the guidance is withdrawn and that a cross-party committee of MPs be established to conduct a post-legislative scrutiny of both the Gender recognition and the Equality Act 2010, taking advice from all of those who have been impacted in order to propose new legislation or new guidance to ensure that existing rights are upheld and protected. Like them, I am committed to both women’s rights and transgender rights, do not agree that the two of these are in conflict and will continue to campaign for legislation and policy that upholds these rights and prevents discrimination in all of its forms.

Many thanks again for writing to me to share your concerns.

Yours sincerely,

Pippa

Pippa Heylings
Member of Parliament for South Cambridgeshire

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Letter to Pippa Heylings, LibDem MP for South Cambs

Fri, 22 May 2026 15:56:20 GMT

Dear Pippa,

I'm writing to you as one of your constituents. I am a non-trans woman, who believes that trans women are also women. I'm sure you've had a lot of emails about this today. No doubt the LibDems are working on a reply which I would be happy to see, but I'd also appreciate your own thoughts.

Yesterday the government finally revealed the new updated EHRC Guidance to the Equality Act. There are updates to several areas, but the ones I want to talk about are those affecting trans people.

There is an attempt to say that gender reassignment is still a protected characteristic, but the vast majority of the changes are about how service providers and others are now not only able to, but *expected* to exclude trans people from the places which match their lived gender, or in some cases also from places which match their official sex at birth.

I know you have lovely trans colleagues who you were campaigning with in Cambridge recently. I know you don't think Yannifer should be expected to use the men's toilets. But according to this guidance we are all expected to treat her as a man from now on, and we are asked to believe that this has always been the legal reality of the Equality Act, and that previous guidance was merely mistaken in ever having said otherwise.

Trans people with GRCs have sworn an oath that they intend to live their lives going forward in their acquired gender, and if this guidance is accepted then they will no longer be able to do so.

The guidance itself even accepts that there is no way for any of us to adequately prove to someone who asks whether we are in fact trans or not. I could be refused service if someone *thinks* I am trans, and does not believe me when I say that I am not.

I am not surprised to see this guidance, because it has been clear for some time that this has been coming. I am still shocked and appalled that the government is just going ahead with it.

Please can I ask you to speak up. Speak up for trans people. Speak up for clubs and services which wish to remain trans inclusive. Speak up for other women, who will experience harassment because they are suspected of being trans, but even more so for trans people who will experience increased harassment and fear too. Speak up for those who are now excluded from taking part in sport, even if their clubs and leagues welcome them.

The government could legislate to change this, to change the Equality Act to mean when it had always been understood to mean. They choose not to. I hope you and the LibDems can choose better.

Yours sincerely,

Eleanor Blair
Great Shelford, Cambridge, CB22

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No stuff - but beer?

Tue, 12 May 2026 10:04:03 GMT

I've got very little of interest to report :) I had a lovely visit to Wandlebury with Becky and Stu with a picnic lunch and photos of dead people. (Very dead, roughly saxon/viking era archaeology, which is interesting given it's an iron age feature). Since then I've mostly been reading and playing minecraft and whinging about my shoulder. I've asked the GP if there's anything else I can do until I hear back from the waiting list for NHS physio/possible hydro-distension and a GP will get back to me on the 21st. I've contacted the Spire to ask how much it is privately and they said they'd call me yesterday morning but didn't.

But I am going to do things next week! Heading to London on Sunday to see Jess, Paul and Emi in the pub (they're visiting back from the US), and then BEER on Tuesday 19th. If the weather co-operates I'll be at the beer festival all afternoon and possibly into the evening. And the week after next is half term and we're off to Whitby for a week, which will hopefully be lovely

Do come join me for the beer!

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Life update

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 14:50:26 GMT

Apart from the health things, and the usual collection of computer games, Lego and painting/crocheting, here are some other things what have been happening:

Matthew had a birthday at the end of March:

There was easter, and we had chocolate eggs, and decorated boiled eggs for rolling down a hill

We went on a bike ride, 38 km from Audley End to home, via a nice pub

And we finished off the Easter hols with a bluebell walk from Elsenham to Newport

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Health things

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 15:45:23 GMT

Frozen shoulder:

After a three week wait I got a phone call from the GP, who agreed it was probably a frozen shoulder after all and a steroid injection would be appropriate but should be done as soon as possible. so I came in that afternoon. Injection duly done I noted that one of the listed possible side effects was "doesn't work" which was dryly amusing. I asked about the possibility of hydro-distension (injecting the joint with sterile water to manually free up the stuck bits) if that was the case, and was sent a URL where I could try self-referral for that (though warned of a long wait). Initial response to the injection was promising, very increased movement the next day, though without much decrease in pain. It's now been a couple of weeks, and the range of movement is still quite limited, but I think overall I'm able to do things for longer before being in pain. Still very achy yesterday after a day of walking (bluebells!) and computer gaming. I investigated the self-referral webpage today, and it seems to be *physio* referral, but I filled in the form anyway. Depending on how long the wait for that is it's probably worth it compared to paying £60 for 40 minutes with the private physio, and perhaps they'll be able to arrange the hydro-distension too. Now we wait

HRT/coil:

The first GP I "saw" about the shoulder also started me on combined oestrogen/progesterone patches for HRT, with a referral to get my Mirena coil changed early, so it would provide the progesterone component once changed. I got a text message a week or two later with a link to book a coil clinic place, but the first one was the following lunchtime (too short notice) and the next ones were while we're away in May. I checked back again today in case more dates had become available, and there's one slot in a clinic at their Linton practice on 16th May. Linton is too far away to practicably cycle home from after having a coil inserted, so I've contacted them via practice's admin webform to ask if there are likely to be any other dates available in the near future in Shelford or Sawston, or should I just book the Linton one and get a taxi. I fear by the time I hear back that won't be an option any more anyway at this rate! Now we wait :) Edit: SMS from GP receptionist "Please keep checking back for new appointments". I may try calling the local sexual health clinic - but I don't know if they do coils for over 50s!

Other: I was due to go give blood today (being long enough after the steroid injection and not currently awaiting any investigations) but I've got a bit of a cold, so I've postponed until next week. Always feel bad about cancelling on the day, but better than donating with germs! Once the blood donation is done I need to book in the second Shingles vaccine dose too. More things for awkward arms :) Matthew had his HPV vaccine recently though with no ill effects, and I'm so glad that's available now. That reminds me, I need to fill in the paperwork with his phone number - now he's 13 he's allowed to be responsible for his own healthcare decisions to some extent and they want to be able to contact him directly. Also looking at sorting out his email access now he's old enough to have his own account properly (rather than me running one for him). That's a bit off-topic though :)

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What even are bodies?

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 09:47:32 GMT

It's looking increasingly like a have a Frozen Shoulder. It's been getting more stiff and painful since around Christmas, my range of motion is decreasing, and neither physio nor Naproxen (from the GP last week) is making much difference. I am trying not to think too much about the fact this can take 2-3 *years* to resolve, and have now asked for a referral for a steroid injection, which I understand is the next phase of treatment. Though I may been to ring up and ask again. The webpage says to ring for urgent requests, or use the form. The form for non-urgent requests says after you've posted it that it can take up to 3 weeks to respond and if you need a response more quickly to ring. I think we have different ideas of urgent. (I'd class this as being non-urgent myself, but more urgent than 3 weeks given the Naproxen runs out tomorrow, and has no repeat option.)

https://www.cuh.nhs.uk/patient-information/frozen-shoulder/

Edit: Yup, I have a text message saying they'll review my form on 26th March - the Naproxen runs out on the 11th. Tried calling, and got the automated message which wants to know which of their practices I want to speak to, and then got stuck because I don't know! I'm based at Shelford, but the doctor I spoke to last week is based at Sawston.

Relieved edit: Called reception at Shelford, and they checked my notes, apparently Dr Hasan who will look at my form on 26th will probably ring to speak to me, but can do the steroid injection, so will probably arrange it then. And the receptionist will request some more Naproxen for the meantime. (Ring back in a couple of hours and ask how that's going). The SMS doesn't even specify which doctor it was! The receptionist even said she had it done and it was amazing :)

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Cycle Crossing planning stuff

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 09:28:25 GMT

So last year in March the Greater Cambridge Partnership published a number of TRO proposals for Great Shelford/Stapleford, the main one of which is a proposal for road narrowing and a raised crossing to help cyclists and pedestrians crossing Hinton Way between Chaston Road and Mingle Lane.

Camcycle noticed it at the time, and publicised some problems with it, and asked people to object. Their blog includes the original diagrams:

Camcycle blog post

21 days was given for responses, and having read the proposals and looked at the diagrams I put in an objection, because I honestly felt that the proposals as given could make the road less safe for cyclists, particularly those trying to make other journeys - e.g. from the centre of the village along Hinton Way, rather than just crossing Hinton Way. This is the email I wrote objecting:

18 March 2025
Good morning,

I am a resident of Great Shelford, and I am writing to formally object to TRO reference PR1094

The proposed crossing of Hinton Way in order for cyclists to travel between Chaston Road and Mingle Lane is completely unsuitable. Not only does it make the junction more complicated for cyclists making that particular journey along the greenway it also makes things more difficult for cyclists travelling along Hinton Way, where it will be unclear if/when they should leave the carriageway to join the shared use pavement. As a local resident who uses this area in all directions this design needs rethinking and more consultation.

This junction will become more difficult for pedestrians, those on bikes, and for motorists.
I would also appreciate some clarity on whether the proposals on London Road include widening the existing shared use pavement, as the current width is unsuitable, particularly on bin collection days, and this is not very clear from the diagram.

Yours, etc

Today I was emailed to say they're meeting with parish councillors next week to decide whether to go ahead with all the proposed changes, and there's a document here:

TRO Report

From the report:

PR1094 Great Shelford & Stapleford Traffic Calming, Parallel Crossings,
Shared Use Cycleway
66 total responses 5 positive, 3 neutral, 58 objections.

The basis for the majority of objections was on the proposals for the narrowing of Hinton Way, crossing point and shared use path. Other issues raised are set out in Table 1 below, with the GCP recommendations in response to the concerns raised. Sawston Greenway has been through 3 consultations with residents and key stakeholders, and the scheme has been developed in accordance with Local Transport Note 1/20 (LTN 1/20) - cycle design good practice guidance issued by Government. This means that schemes have been developed to ensure that users of all abilities can walk and cycle on the Greenways

Table 1
Objection:
Narrowing of carriageway and priority measures unsafe and will cause congestion.

GCP Recommendation:
The narrowing is required as an additional safety feature that will reduce speeds and increase intervisibility between crossing users and other highways users. The priority will be on traffic travelling northwards thereby reducing impact on the level crossing.
The scheme on Hinton Way has been designed to accommodate those walking and wheeling (providing a wider path) and is in accordance with LTN 1/20.

I'm baffled that they can sum up 58 objections to a proposal with just "Narrowing of carriageway and priority measures unsafe and will cause congestion". I've posted about it on Facebook, and forwarded Camcycle the email I got about the Parish Council meetings, but I don't know where we go from here. Do we just let it go ahead as maybe better than no crossing and then try address any problems as they arise? Is there a way to find full details of the other objections and see how well they've been addressed?

Not being a cycle infrastructure design engineer I'm unlikely to come up with an alternative proposal that meets the relevant design standard - certainly not before the 29th! It's a staggered junction rather than straight across, which doesn't help - so its not an easy one. I'd like to see what (if any) other options they considered, and what thought they've taken for cyclists making other movements. Basically I'm willing to be convinced this is good - but they don't seem to have tried!

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Another year older

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 10:40:45 GMT

Yesterday I turned 50, which feels like it should be a bit of a milestone, but in reality has just been an excuse for a lot of cake.

We went away as a family at Halloween, as it was the end of half term and meant we could get a slightly longer weekend away. Three days in a collection of cabins in the Forest of Dean, with Forest Holidays. We nominally had a halloween party on Friday night and a birthday party on Saturday but it was kind of hard to tell which bits were party (having an age range from 7 to 73 makes for rather varied party requirements) but there was cake and fizz and cocktails, and we did an outdoor puzzle game with the kids, and Mike and dad joined me in trying axe throwing, and we had a nice walk through the forest down to the river Wye with a very sulky Matthew and generally had a good time :)

Yesterday I decided not to take the day off work, and instead took in cake to share in the morning, and took my immediate colleagues to the pub at lunchtime (though they wouldn't let me pay for drinks). We had pizza and fizz and more cake for tea, and a generally chilled out and lovely day. Matthew has an inset day on Friday, so Mike's taking the day off too, and we'll go out for a visit to the Botanic Gardens and lunch at Browns. And I've invited some friends round in the morning to help eat up cake, instead of meeting them at a coffee shop (which is my usual Friday routine).

I suggested to Mobbsy and David that we should do a celebration of 150 years between us, given what a good party we had for our joint 90th, but I never did get round to throwing a party this time. We shall try and make it out to the pub next Wednesday evening instead. And next Friday our little coffee gang will be going our to the village annual wine tasting/dinner - organised by the twinning association. And then I think I'll be more or less done with birthday celebrations for the year. Thanks so much to everyone who found me elsewhere on social media (or text message, or card) to say Happy Birthday, it's been very much appreciated!

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Clocks

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 15:17:21 GMT

A short list of clocks which do not update themselves:

Matthew's bedside alarm clock. Several experimental button pushes to remember how.
Matthew's travel alarm clock. Fairly self explanatory
Small clock in the dining room. Turn the time knob, not the alarm one!
Oven. Doddle.
Microwave. A bit of poking, but not too bad.
Bike computer. Putting this one off as it requires a cocktail stick and remembering the right runes so you don't accidentally completely reset it. Write down the odo distance first before attempting!

The electronics (and the big living room wall clock, and the heating controller) all look after themselves, which is just as well, as there are quite a lot of them.

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Other Stuff

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 17:32:37 GMT

I note I am doing other stuff, not just being grumpy about the EHRC, but this is a kind of handy place to keep track of the EHRC activism.

We had a good summer, with trips to Devon and Yorkshire, involving a lot of hills and waterfalls :)

Now we're back into the routine of school and work, but Mike and I had a nice day off together to celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary.

I'm also starting to put together plans to celebrate my 50th birthday in November. Well, the birthday is in November, some of the plans are actually for the end of October because that's when half term is and we can go away for a few days with family. Extra long birthday :)

Still not sure whether to try do a big party, or just declare a pub and invite people to join me. Sadly mid-November is not the best time of year for outdoor events, and I'm not sure how to filter venues for "has really good air filtration system".

Got my NHS flu jab booked for next Friday, and my expensive covid one for the following week in town.

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EHRC Guidance

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 17:28:00 GMT

Wrote to my MP yesterday. Still dreading the point when the guidance actually drops, and we have to actually stand up and say "No, we will not comply" at work. (Yes, I'll be saying that too, even though I'm not trans myself - and I changed my record in Employee self service so I now decline to answer the question of whether I'm trans or not).

Dear Pippa Heylings,

I'm writing as one of your constituents, to ask that you press for the new EHRC guidance in the light of the Supreme Court ruling to be discussed in Parliament, and not simply approved by the Minister for Women and Equalities without any further consideration as to its impact on trans people.

When I filled in the consultation I was appalled that the guidance did not give any advice to individuals or organisations who wanted to be trans inclusive, and I am concerned that the feedback of me, and many others like me, may not have been taken into account.

I note that the "Not in our name" petition, on behalf of women in the UK who do not wish trans people to be excluded, has now been signed by over 50 thousand women like me.

https://notinourname.org.uk/petition/not-in-our-name-women-in-support-of-the-trans-community/

As a member of staff at Cambridge University, and a member of the UCU branch committee, I would very much appreciate the opportunity to meet with you, even briefly, to discuss how important an issue this is, and how detrimental to society it would be to exclude trans people from being able to participate freely in everyday life as their true lived gender, in their place of work, as well as in healthcare and leisure settings.

But most important is ensuring that this guidance is not brought into place without government scrutiny, so I beg you again to try and ensure that it is discussed in parliament as soon as possible.

Yours sincerely,

Eleanor Blair (she/her)
[address supplied]

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On weight loss medication.

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 07:56:54 GMT

I wrote this on Bluesky last week, but wanted to save it in slightly longer form

On obesity and weight loss and medication

As a well off, educated, active person, who likes food including healthy things, but still has a lifelong struggle with my weight I do find even the best intentioned discussions around obesity hard. I'm currently heading towards a healthy weight/waist size using Wegovy, but that's a short term aid. What happens when I stop taking it? The advice from my practitioners is that obviously unless I keep up enough healthy changes I will gain weight, and I know that. But I don't know *how*. How to not eat when I'm hungry. How to never want to eat the foods that other normal people eat. I can book in some one-to-one sessions with a dietician and psychologist when I'm closer to trying to maintain my weight, but I honestly don't know how much it will help.

‪

The first time I lost a big chunk of weight I was *sure* I wasn't going to be one of those people who gain it all back again. But I found it so so hard to stay where I wanted to be that eventually I couldn't face trying any more. I do wonder if in future a very low dose of GLP1 agonists or similar will be a long term maintenance option for people like me. Its not an option now. When I hit a BMI of 23.5, or reach 2 years of taking them, I'll be cut off. Then we get to see what realistic help is available at that point. I don't want to have to battle my weight forever, and right now it's not a battle. But how do you even prepare for that?

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Joint Union Statement

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 17:00:12 GMT

We did finally meet with the university senior management on 10th June, over a month after we originally requested a meeting. It wasn't a complete success, but we did come out of it with assurance that the existing policy on gender reassignment was still in place, and trans people can continue to use the toilets that match their lived gender, that no-one should be challenging people in the toilets, and that any changes to the policy would not happen until after the EHRC guidance is published in the autumn, and would involve a proper consultation, and a full Equality Impact Assessment of the changes

We asked them to respond to the EHRC consultation as an institution, and gave them a deadline of 20th June to communicate the above facts with all members of staff, including information on how to seek advice and support (other than just the staff counselling service!)

Instead they published a statement on Sharepoint on Tuesday (24th June), which did not meet our requests. The unions have put out a joint statement today (drafted last week, but it took a while to get it online) as a result:

https://www.ucu.cam.ac.uk/joint-trade-union-statement-on-the-supreme-court-ruling-on-the-equality-act/

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EHRC Consultation

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 16:52:35 GMT

Finished my response and submitted at 11:30 last night, having had to start from scratch on Sunday because a browser refresh had lost my previous attempt. I copied and pasted my responses into a document before submitting, as I'd been warned it wouldn't save them or send them to me. Tired now, and too hot today too, but glad I got it done.

Not sharing it all here, but from the final question:

Overall, as a trans inclusive feminist woman, I find this Code of Practice to be incredibly upsetting. I want to be able to include trans people in my life. I want to accept them in their lived gender. I'm happier with women's places which include trans people than I am with ones which exclude them. I want to have advice on how I can do this, and it's completely lacking here.

The Code is unclear in many places not just on how trans inclusive policies can work, but also on how the suggested trans *exclusive* policies can work in practice. It relies too much on the idea that you can always tell which people are trans and which people are not, and it seems willing to change existing practice significantly even where this will disadvantage trans people.

I don't think this is what the ruling in the Supreme Court was trying to achieve. The changes here are so incredibly broad, and so much at odds with other legislation, that they seem to go far beyond what is necessary, and it feels like an ideological stance to exclude trans people. If this is not the intention than it needs re-writing considerably.

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EHRC nonsense

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 10:27:44 GMT

We still haven't met with Senior Management: it's now due tomorrow, in person. I'm gently trying not to panic.

There's still been no message of support to all members of staff and students from the University, and nothing at all from the department. Though I understand they're still in discussions in the background. This is frustrating.

The subject was raised at a recent All Staff meeting (in which people submit questions as text, and senior management attempt to answer them). We were given broad assurances that the university values and supports trans people, but nothing actually useful or genuinely supportive was said.

In the meantime a new EHRC chair is due to be appointed, and they're considering a person with a known anti-trans background. There's an Open Letter available to sign in protest, written by a very good friend and colleague: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe_Y77t7CQqKjdGifNa0lE3HKjDAb1UoJdjuLAbInhIQsRMhw/viewform

I've also seen a good template if you want to write directly: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1865KMfu24JgmwnWmYXaVc3jlzj5uQFEq69hXMxKP6BU/edit?tab=t.0

And I wrote my own version:

9th June 2025
Dear Women’s and Equalities Select Committee and Joint Committee on Human Rights,
Cc: Pippa Heylings, as my MP

I am writing to express my grave concern about the proposed appointment of Dr Mary-Ann Stephenson as the Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

I won't include a string of references here, because I think you will have seen them all already, but I think it is imperative that the next person appointed as Head of the EHRC should not be seen to have a strong anti-trans background. Trans people are currently scared. Scared for their jobs, if they cannot access their workplace in safety and dignity. Scared of being assaulted if they go to the "wrong" toilet. Scared of being outed as trans in public if they try to follow the new guidelines.

And I am scared as a cis woman, a woman who is not trans, at what is happening in our country, and what this means for my friends and colleagues and for trans people in general. For intersex people, non-binary people, and any woman who might be mistaken for being trans. Other women need to feel safe too, but excluding trans people is not the way to do this.

The EHRC needs to stand up for the rights of everyone, and to be seen to do so. I sincerely hope you will take this into account.

Kind Regards,

Eleanor Blair
Great Shelford, Cambridge, CB22

I'm not even going to attempt to get into the member of the EHRC who was quoted as effectively saying that trans people have been misled about their rights under the Equality Act for the last 15 years, and there will now be a period of adjustment, but they should just get used to having fewer rights than they thought they did. The Guardian changed their headline and reporting three times as a result of her protesting about being misquoted, but that seems to have been the gist of it. Not mentioning that the "misleading" guidance came from the EHRC themselves, and was based on the previous understanding of the Equalities Act and entirely consistent with it. FFS

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Trans rights and the supreme court

Tue, 20 May 2025 09:20:05 GMT

Unions now have a meeting on Thursday with the Pro-VC, senior HR and EDI people. I'm going to be attending on behalf of UCU, along with our Equalities Officer Amanda. Our main requests are better communication of actual practical support for staff and students, not changing policies without consultation based on the rushed EHRC interim guidance, and asking for them to contribute to the consultation. There's a lot more subtle stuff involved, but that's kind of the absolute minimum.

It turns out I'm now having trouble getting back to sleep if I wake in the night, because I'm too busy thinking about how the hell we communicate this properly, and what our chances of success are in ensuring trans, intersex and non-binary people continue to be treated with dignity and respect and remain safe at work. Because that feels like a really basic thing to be asking for when you put it like that.

My HoD finally got back to me yesterday, to reiterate support, but it's meaningless if it's only said to *me*, and not to all staff and students.

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Letter to my MP

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 12:43:38 GMT

A letter to Pippa Heylings, Lib Dem MP for South Cambs, about the Supreme Court trans ruling

Attn: Pippa Heylings MP
South Cambridgeshire

Tuesday 22 April 2025

Eleanor Blair
[Address redacted]
CB22 5AE

eleanorb@gmail.com

Dear Pippa Heylings,

I'm afraid I think this message may be a little incoherent at times, but I needed to write now, while it is still fresh.

I am enormously concerned by the recent Supreme Court ruling on the use of the word "woman" in the Equality Act, and rather more so at the disproportionate response to this ruling by various organisations. In particular today both the BBC and the Independent are reporting that the minister for equalities Bridget Phillipson has said that trans people should use the toilets matching their biological sex, rather than their gender identity, and the alarming news last week that the British Transport Police now state that trans women (males) should be search by male police officers in future.

Someone asked me earlier today if I would be happy with males using women's changing rooms, and this was my response:

---

Yes. As a cis woman, a "biological woman" if you insist, I am absolutely happy to share changing rooms with trans women or with young children who are not independent enough to change on their own in the men's changing room.

And I also think *all* changing rooms should have at least some locking cubicles for privacy regardless of this opinion because not everyone can face being naked in front of other people even of the same sex. For all sorts of reasons from embarrassment to periods to colostomy bags to religion to previous trauma.

Stop thinking this is a gotcha, it isn't.

I'm *not* happy that British Transport Police have immediately officially changed their policy to state that trans women must be searched by male police officers. Or that the government are now saying the NHS must reconsider same sex spaces too.

It was *always* possible to exclude trans women from women-only spaces *if there was a legitimate and proportional reason to do so*. It seems that this judgment has shifted the bar considerably as to what is being considered proportional and that worries me, not just for "biological" women who will inevitably be caught in the cross fire (don't tell me it won't happen, it already does) but also for trans women and trans men and non-binary people who just want to get on with their lives in peace and not have to campaign for third spaces which don't currently exist in order to do so.

---

I don't know what you can do here, but I would like to see you speak out against this over-reaction to the Supreme Court ruling.

Yours sincerely,

Eleanor Blair

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Medication update

Tue, 08 Apr 2025 09:03:16 GMT

Got blood tests on 14th March, used GP form on 26th March to request a GP review my medication in light of the blood tests. Text back from them to say a GP would look at my request on 7th April(!) - presumably the one GP who specialises in diabetes was on leave or something? I dunno.

Finally got a text message this morning to say I can reduce my Metformin dose though, from two 500mg pills twice daily, to one 500mg pill twice daily, with another HbA1c in three months time, and then a review with the diabetic team if needed. I best put a reminder in the diary to book the blood test.

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A long weekend...

Mon, 31 Mar 2025 09:51:56 GMT

I wrote this for Blipfoto, over four entries, and thought I'd share here too.

Thursday: Welcome to Belfast

Straightforward flight over to Belfast, and good to spend the afternoon and evening with family. I was struck with amusement by this machine at the airport.

Friday: Farewell grandad

No photos from the funeral, but I wanted to share this one from happier days, a long time ago when Grace and Loudon were married at 18.

The funeral was good, as these things go. The vicar spoke well about grandad's life, his work and family and love of flying. The organist for the funeral parlour sang Abide With Me beautifully, for us to join in between the tears, and my cousin David read a beautiful poem about flight. Then we followed the coffin up the street with various family members taking a lift along the way, before a final ceremony up at the graveyard where grandma is buried too. The heavens opened and the wind blew a gale and it felt like a rather epic farewell!

And then, as the vicar put it, it was time for dor the living. There was a funeral tea at a local hotel with the family and friends, and then we moved into the hotel bar, and kept each other company until they closed, and it was good to be there and to share the time and memories with family and to be together in our sadness

Saturday: Five Go to the Beach

Down to Ballygally after breakfast at the hotel. Two of us paddled, and the other three tried to avoid getting caught up in the spring tide, and I didn't do a great job taking a photo but we were glad to be there despite the rain. Then it was time to gradually say goodbye as we three girls headed off over the course of the day to get our planes home.

Sunday: Mother's Day

Matthew was glad to have me home, and was ready to welcome me with a beautiful card and jigsaw. The flowers were a posy from the church, brought round by some of the girls from our street, and offered to me as a local mother, which was rather lovely. A quiet day of games and sunshine and relaxing, just what I needed.

[My mum's present has now gone *back* in the post, as I foolishly managed to get it delivered to my house instead of hers!]

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Loudon Blair, 20th August 1933 - 24th March 2025

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 20:43:12 GMT

Sad to say my grandad Loudon died on Monday. He was 91, and had been ill for a while, but he'll be very much missed. I'm flying out tomorrow to Belfast, ready for the funeral in Larne on Friday

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Diabetes update

Mon, 17 Mar 2025 12:33:43 GMT

Having been on the Wegovy since November I asked my GP to do another HbA1c test, to see how my diabetes is responding to the additional drug and weight loss associated with it. HbA1c is down from 43 in November to 36 on Friday. That's the first time below the pre-diabetic range (42-48) since well before I was diagnosed in November 2020. Now waiting to see what GP wants to do with this information. (Suspect I no longer need to be on a high dose of Metformin though, which is why I wanted them to check).

My iron levels are also still low-end of normal, but it looks like I can now safely give blood again too, so I've booked that in for the Friday after next. We'll have to see how long it takes them to recover from that!

ETA: It's now the 26th and I still haven't actually heard from GP what they think about the results. I asked for an update from the admin team and just got a "result is normal" text, which wasn't very helpful, so have sent the medical team a request to review. Will see what they say!

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