The Vital Space

I was aware of Linda sitting in her chair, searching the internet on her iPad. Despite being an adult with learning difficulties due to Williams Syndrome, she is also stubbornly independent and rarely asks for help. I had no idea what she was looking for on this occasion but to occupy her for this length […]

Oh What a Beautiful Morning!

There are real trials and tribulations living with and caring for an adult with Williams Syndrome. Of course, I’d known and loved my sister for over 40 years. We grew up together until I left home to go to university at 18. I knew what Linda was like but until she finally moved in to […]

Musical Streams of Consciousness

I’m sure you are well aware that adults with Williams Syndrome are reknowned for their love of music… goes with the condition, somehow it’s in the genes. Linda is no exception. She loves all types of music in many different formats and she particularly likes singing. Today was one of those moments when the contrasts […]

Sing For Water

If you know anything at all about Williams Syndrome you’ll probably have heard how Williams people are musically gifted. It’s probably more accurate to say that they are obssessed with music though it’s true that many are particularly gifted. Linda, a typical Williams Syndrome adult loves to sing. Her singing voice is as good as […]

Black Swan Story

Linda was visiting a local park with a care worker today. Together they strolled through the gardens and around the lake watching the wildlife as they went. Linda’s bookshelves are groaning under then weight of nature books, particularly many different bird identification books, certainly numbering in double figures. This might be an interesting fact and […]

What a Busy Birthday Month!

As you might have noticed, it’s been a while since my last post. The delay was initially down to technical problems – my laptop experienced a power failure so when the battery finally ran down it was dead and not resuscitated ! All data safe thank goodness. By the time I was re-juiced, August had […]

Listening to Music With Linda

Many of the symptoms of Williams Syndrome are well known to parents and carers: distractability, short attention span, ADHD-like symptoms. We also know of their musicality, tendancy to sing, shout or squeal with delight, to jiggle and dance and twitch with life… Well, in the words of the Porgy and Bess song, it ain’t neccesarily […]

Williams Syndrome musicality will out!

I blogged previously about Linda’s lusting after a xylophone she saw while on holiday. Knowing how much people with Williams Syndrome love music and musical instruments this didn’t surprise me. Truth was, the said xylophone was well overpriced and Linda, spending her pocket money on other gifts never got close to buying the instrument. But […]

What Does Williams Syndrome Mean?

Linda, my sister, is a woman in her 40s. For more than 10 years I have suspected she has Williams Syndrome. Nine months ago a FISH test finally confirmed that Linda has Williams Syndrome. Since then I’ve certainly discussed this with Linda on many occasions. I’ve even tried to explain about a genetic deletion using […]

Musical Easter

We’ve just celebrated Easter and Linda has, once more demonstrated the musical gifts that accompany Williams Syndrome. As part of the many church services there’s an abundance of new music – and Linda will not be left out. She can’t read music but can recall a tune pretty much after a single hearing. When it […]