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Antony

10 Books I’ve Read That Have Stayed With Me

By Books & Authors, ThinkingNo Comments

Here are 10 books I’ve read that have stayed with me:

10) Mum Can You Lend Me Twenty Quid? By Elizabeth Burton-Phillips

This is a book written by the mother of two twin drug addicts. Elizabeth Burton-Phillips takes us on an emotional journey, as she describes what drugs did to her family.

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9) The Magician’s Assistant by Ann Patchett

Sabine looses her gay husband, but is about to find out hidden family secrets. This beautifully written novel is fantastic and the characters have stayed close to my heart.

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8) Born This Way by Paul Vitagliano

This book shares childhood stories and photos about growing up gay, mostly in the USA. What was great about this book, is how life affirming it is at making you feel less alone as a gay man.

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7) In His Secret Life by Mel Bossa

This is a wonderfully written gay love story set over decades, with if I remember correctly an eventual happy ending. It was so great to read of a gay couple where love triumphed.

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6) a million little pieces by James Frey

This book is another about drug and alcohol addiction and how Frey turned his life around. Well written.

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5) Reasons To Stay Alive by Matt Haig

This is an upbeat book about mental health and gives you plenty of reasons to stay alive. A brilliant, easy read by Matt Haig.

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4) Misery by Stephen King

Misery sticks in my mind because of how creepy it is.

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3) A Street Cat Named Bob by James Bowden

This is the true and uplifting story of a street cat named Bob that helped his human (Bowen) recover from drug addiction. A truly heart warming and easy to read book.

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2) The Neuroscientist Who Lost Her Mind by Barbara K. Lipska

Imagine, if you will, starting to lose your mind. This is the story of a Neuroscientist who felt like she was losing her mind due to a brain tumor. This story stayed with me and is wonderfully well written.

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Diary-of-a-Young-Girl-by-Anne-Frank

1) Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

We all know the story of Anne Frank and her family. But reading her experiences in her own words really resonated with me.

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Write soon,

Antony

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Sunday 20 April 2025

How Would You Survive A Zombie Apocalypse?

By ThinkingNo Comments

My two zombie novels:

Most of us have asked ourselves how we would survive a zombie apocalypse. Here’s my survival plan:

1. People
Other people are going to be the key to your survival. You can’t do everything yourself. We all need help sometimes.

As well as loved ones, I’d recruit a Doctor/Nurse, a Weapons Expert, a Logistics Professional, a Farmer and plenty of people who can take care of themselves and others in a fight.

2. Weapons
In the UK guns are a rarity, plus they have the problem of needing ammunition. Much better to go for a weapon such as baseball bat, cricket bat, crowbar, or something similar. Bow and arrows are great for taking out zombies at a distance, but no good in close quarters.

3. Food, Water/Drinks, Petrol & Other Resources
A good supply of food, water/drinks, petrol and other items (to both use and trade) are essential. I’d probably loot a stocked heavy goods vehicle that was originally destined for a supermarket. I’d focus on tins and other ambient goods. I’d also collect medications/medical supplies at every given opportunity.

4. Medications
As a Type 1 Diabetic I’d need to find insulin regularly. This would be the biggest risk, more than the zombies. Without insulin, I would die. In the long term, I’d probably have to learn how to extract insulin from pigs and other animals, like they used to do for diabetics years ago.

I’d set up my base near several sources of food, water/drinks, petrol stations, pharmacies, etc.

5. Base/Place
I’d set up a base behind tall brick walls. I’m unsure if I’d go for a city, town or rural location. A rural location would mean less zombies, but also less resources. I’d make sure it was defendable, not just from zombies but from other people.

If The Walking Dead and the many zombie films I’ve watched have taught me anything, they’ve taught me: Sometimes it’s the living that are the danger and not the undead.

How would you survive a zombie apocalypse? Leave a comment below.

If you enjoyed this blog post, you’d love my two zombie apocalypse books. See the Z-Virus Series page for more information.

Blog soon,

Antony

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Sunday 20 April 2025

Larry Dean Live at Salford Lowry: Funny, Sexy & Fabulous

By Friends & Family, Gay, Gigs & Shows, Happiness & JoyNo Comments

Today, my good friend Simon and I went to see the funny, sexy, fabulous and proudly gay Comedian Larry Dean. We had front row seats for his energetic performance where he mostly spoke about his relationship with his grandma (who had dementia), his autism diagnosis and his partner.

Dean was performing at the Lowry in Salford Quays. Dean had the audience laughing loudly throughout his over an hour long set. My face ached from laughing so much. Dean oozed sexyness and fabulousness. I think it goes without saying, that I’m a Dean fan boy.

I had a great time and can’t wait to see Dean live again soon. Here are some photos of Simon and I taken just prior to the gig:

Write soon,

Antony

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Saturday 19 April 2025

Recovery Goals: Healthy & Happy

By Happiness & Joy, Health, ThinkingNo Comments

I’ve been thinking a lot about recovery from an addiction to alcohol or other substances. I’m a Specialist Addictions Nurse and author of The Alcohol Therapy Workbook.

For someone with an addiction professionals often ask them about their goals in relation to recovery. It’s an important question: What are your goals in relation to your drinking and/or substance use?

Afterall, everybody’s definition of addiction recovery is as unique as they are. Asking clients this question and developing a care plan that works towards these goals is at the heart of every treatment system.

But what I’ve been pondering lately is what about the professional’s goals? Are we open and upfront about our goals for the client with the client and their relatives?

We know that professional’s goals maybe influenced by many things including: the ethos of the organisation they work for, their individual values, their feelings about what would be in the best interests of the client, etc.

It got me thinking about my recovery goals for the clients that I work with. I have two goals when working with clients: To make them healthy and happy. These goals are no mean feat.

On first impression these goals don’t seem SMART. But when you explore what both health and happiness mean to the client and how they would like to live their life, they do break down into measurable SMART goals.

If you’ve got an addiction to alcohol or other substances, contact your GP or local community Drug and Alcohol Treatment Service for support.

My Best Wishes,

Antony

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Friday 18 April 2025