Gum on My Shoe

Two of my greatest passions are coffee and writing. I thought it would be fun to share a selection of cafés and coffee shops with particular links to my work. Over the years, my writing has moved through several phases. For ten years (1996 through 2005) I ran Middle-earth Reunion (“The alternative Tolkien Society”). I designed and maintained the group’s website, and published our quarterly journal and newsletter. I wrote articles and short stories which explored the consequences of asserting Tolkien’s role as translator of authentic Middle-earth texts. You can find many of these writings on the Middle-earth Reunion website. My next major focus was High Tide, Low Tide: The Caring Friend’s Guide to Bipolar Disorder co-written with Fran Houston between 2012 and 2016. My blogging career began with the launch of Gum on My Shoe in 2013. I’ve written for many other blogs and organisations , including bp Magazine (Bipolar Hope), Mental Health First Aid England, I’m NOT Disordered, Bipo...

As our website and Facebook page declare, “Gum on My Shoe is a creative partnership between best friends Martin Baker and Fran Houston.” That’s clear enough — and true — but you might wonder why we chose such an unusual name and what it means. It dates back to a conversation Fran and I had not long after we met in 2011. “You’re stuck with me now, Fran. I hope you realise that.” “Like gum on my shoe...” The phrase stuck (pun intended!) and when we began planning our book late in 2012 it was an obvious working title for the project, and for our new online platform. You can read the concept statement for our book here . We announced our Facebook page in April 2013. Our blog gumonmyshoe.com launched later that year. Welcome to Gum On My Shoe! I have created this page as a sort of travel diary as I journey along the long and winding (and glorious) road towards publication of the book I am writing in collaboration with Fran Houston. The book’s working title is “Gum On My Shoe: M...

Today we’re talking about “faking fine,” that thing we do when we pretend we’re doing better than we actually are. Why do we do this? Is it a good thing? What happened to being honest? Let’s start by looking at a few scenarios. Fake It Till You Make It This popular aphorism “suggests that by imitating confidence, competence, and an optimistic mindset, a person can realize those qualities in their real life.” This is faking fine to ourselves, although its impact may be felt in our interactions with others. It’s an example of positive or affirmative thinking; of facing your fear and doing it anyway. If you are interested in learning more, I recommend Susan Jeffers’ book Feel The Fear And Do It Anyway . Faking Fine as an Escape Hatch Faking fine can be a way to escape awkward social situations or explaining yourself. Fran expressed this with characteristic aplomb in her essay “Lessons of the Night.” “How are you?” Another hated and seemingly innocuous question. The simple ...

Organised by the World Foundation for Mental Health (WFMH) and observed each year on October 10, World Mental Health Day (WMHD) is an opportunity to raise awareness of mental health issues and to mobilize efforts in support of mental health. This year’s theme is “Mental Health for All: Greater Investment — Greater Access.” In the words of WFMH president Dr Ingrid Daniels: Mental health is a human right — it’s time that mental health is available for all. Quality, accessible primary health care is the foundation for universal health coverage and is urgently required as the world grapples with the current health emergency. We, therefore, need to make mental health a reality for all — for everyone, everywhere. You can read Dr Daniels’ full statement and find further resources including a downloadable information pack on the WFMH website . A joint release on WMHD 2020 by the World Health Organization, United for Global Mental Health and the WFMH is here . Individua...

Check out our top posts for the past month. Posts are listed by the number of page views they attracted during the month, most popular first. How to Write the Best Acknowledgement Page for Your Book Let It Out! How to Vent Powerful Emotions Safely “You’re shaking!”—When Marty Met Frannie Selected Articles for #WorldSuicidePreventionDay 2020 I'm on My Way: Thoughts Inspired by Ed Sheeran's "Castle on the Hill" Our Top Posts of the Month (August 2020) Bipolar and Saying No: Why I Can’t Always Do Fun Things with You Shoes Win Prizes! Enter our summer book giveaway! Exploring Bipolar Disorder and the Sister Diagnosis of Schizoaffective Disorder. Is My Friend or Sibling Underdiagnosed? Bipolar Disorder and Psychosis: There Is Help and There Is Hope Our most visited pages were: Contact Us Resources News and Appearances About Us Our books Testimonials