September 2022 has seen the circle of life go around literally and fictionally – with Queen Elizabeth II’s death and the new reign of King Charles III. Then on stage, I saw the royal circles change within the African Pridelands in The Lion King Musical. Meanwhile, I’ve been going around virtually doing endless work and watching numerous TV series.
Disability Horizons
Another productive month at Disability Horizons. Like with every journalist in the UK, our hot topic is the energy cost crisis. Therefore I had the glorious task of putting together a detailed guide on how disabled people and their families can save money on their energy bills. Soon after publishing it, it ranked fifth in google searches and reached more than 1,000 views.
I also published a couple of news stories, an article on disability and periods and a shop blog, all of which you can view here:
- Meet the candidates representing disability in new show Make Me Prime Minister
- Deaf representation on TV – John & Joe Bishop: Life After Deaf and Handmade: Britain’s Best Woodworker
- Breaking down taboos around disability and periods
- 5 wheelchair exercises you can do on the Fusion Wheel all-in-one gym
All my Disability Horizons content is now available to view in one place on the Emma Purcell Author’s page. This link can also be accessed on the “Disability Horizons” button on the menu page on the left of this site.
My featured content, product articles and sponsored posts for Disability Horizons can be viewed in my Journo Portfolio.
To read my latest news stories, interviews and featured articles regularly, as well as browse other content from the rest of the amazing DH team, subscribe to the Disability Horizons newsletter.
RIP Queen Elizabeth II
I would say I’m not much of a royalist but neither am I anti-monarchy. I wasn’t sure whether to share something here but being the biggest and most historic event of this month (besides the cost crisis), I thought I should give it a mention.
I wasn’t totally surprised by the Queen’s death. I mean she was 96, frail and had poor mobility. It is sad and she was a very well-respected woman who worked hard for the country. I feel the saddest part is a family has lost a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and they couldn’t grieve like a normal family.
I felt most sorry for Charles having to travel up and down the country performing events hours after his mother’s death.
The bittersweet moment for me was the Queen died a year after when our beloved Sasha passed away. So the 8th of September will now have greater poignant in the future.
The Lion King Musical
Two years, eleven months and six days after booking these tickets, my family and I finally stepped onto the theatrical African Pridelands to see The Lion King Musical at the Mayflower Theatre in Southampton.
I’ve published a full review that you can read in my blog roundup below but I will say The Lion King Musical is a spectacular show and fun for the kids and the child in you. If you’re a fan of Disney and the animal kingdom, then this is the perfect show for you.
Books
This month I read the latest instalment of J. K. Rowling‘s Cormoran Strike series The Ink Black Heart. I found this book to be rather long and complex at times. The actual crime mystery part of the story I felt was too complicated to follow and at times rather boring. I got to a point where I wasn’t too bothered about the crime and was just enjoying the storyline between Strike and Robin.
I’m now starting to read the killing Eve book series by Luke Jennings based on the TV series of the same name from the BBC. Although I know a majority of the story from the TV series, I’m still curious to know how it is portrayed in the book and maybe it can answer some of the questions I didn’t understand in the TV series.
TV
Although it doesn’t feel like it, I actually ended up watching a lot of TV this month. I started with the third series of Locke & Key on Netflix, which was awesome, full of magic, drama and emotion.
I also watched on Netflix Heartstopper, a high school sitcom about LGBTQ and romance, First Kill, a drama about vampires and monster hunters (almost like a modern-day Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and another sitcom called The Chair, which is set in an English department at an American university.
Channel 4 has given me a few awesome shows too this month. Rosie Jones’ second series of Trip Hazard has been incredible, She travels the country with other celebrities to try out a variety of tasks from clay pigeon shooting, sky diving, sailing, ballroom dancing and rap battles.
Make Me Prime Minister is a new reality show in which 12 candidates do a range of political tasks to prove they could become Britain’s alternative Prime Minister. It is interesting watching what really goes on in UK politics and it is entertaining watching different people try it out.
I’m also pleased to say the new series of Taskmaster has returned to our screens. I swear the tasks the comedians do get crazier and more ridiculous every series.
Audio Description petition
My campaign for audio description has continued throughout September 2022 and the petition has now gained an outstanding total of 3556 signatures, which is incredible!
But I’m eager to reach thousands. The more signatures we get, the more likely changes could be made within the TV & films industries. Please, please, PLEASE continue to sign & share my petition!
Guest Bloggers Wanted
I’m still eager to collaborate with even more bloggers in 2022. So, if you’re a lifestyle, disability and/or music blogger, send me your blog stories. Plus let me know if you’d like me to feature on your blog as a guest blogger.
I’m flexible with any type of blog post; life story, disability awareness, music event, musician promotion – basically anything to do with life, disability or music!
In addition, I have a guest blog series called “RFD Question Time with…” where I interview disabled people and/or bloggers. If you’d like to be interviewed in this series, please also contact me.
Blog post roundup
In case you missed any of my blog posts this month, here is a roundup of them:
- Music Interview: Black It Out
- Channel 4 strengthens guidance for the portrayal of disability on TV
- Review: The Lion King Musical at Mayflower Theatre
5 favourite blog posts
Here are my 5 favourite blog posts I’ve read this month:
- Life With Septo-Optic Dysplasia at Fashioneyesta
- Stage & Screen – The World of Television at Life of Sophie
- What does courage look like to me? at You Can Always Start Now
- Catching Covid + Social Life Update at A Life On Wheels
- Everything feels surreal at What Defines Me?
