Today is my 34th #worldaidsday as an HIV positive woman. Today, I remember and honour all those lives lost to AIDS, including my former partner Ian. I recognise my fellow peers who live openly with #HIV to challenge stigma and breakdown misconceptions and I thank the NHS staff who care for me.

Start of a busy 10 working days, travelling just under 1,000 miles across the UK to deliver 14 Positive Voice #HIV talks in 12 different schools. Estimated 1,800 young people hearing a first hand account from my diagnosis in 1991 to life as a long-term survivor today.

Currently travelling back from Edinburgh in 1st class (thanks to B for upgrade) with @lner.co.uk and just wanted to acknowledge the wonderful service provided by Ksanti on the drinks trolley. What an asset to the company, polite, friendly and fully focused on delivering the best customer service.

First 4 Positive Voice talks in November delivered at 1) Sir Robert Woodard Academy 2) Oxford High School 3) The Grange School 4) New Hall School Over 500 young people hearing up to date information about #HIV including the #UequalsU message. Sharing my experiences from 34 years living with #HIV.

Yesterday I returned to speak at Notting Hill and Ealing High School for the 29th year. I first spoke here in 1993, just a couple of years after my #HIV diagnosis. One of the pupils from those early years hearing me speak is now a teacher here and still remembers the impact my talk had.

Forgot to tag @adaywithhiv.bsky.social

13.32pm, Windsor Great Park #adaywithhiv During my 34 years of living with #HIV, it is taking time out in nature where I have been my happiest. Today's walk with my husband B to photograph fungi in Windsor Great Park. #adaywithhiv #hivpositive #hivlongtermsurvivor

Marking 34 years ago today that I received my #HIVpositive diagnosis by heading off to deliver a Positive Voice talk to pupils in High Wycombe. Eternally grateful to everyone in my life who has contributed to my survival since 1991. #longtermsurvivor #HIV

A week into the new academic year, two school visits to Harrogate and Sedbergh done, and 41 more talks booked in before the end of this year. Love each opportunity I'm given to share my Positive Voice talk to educate a new generation of young people about #HIV.

Day trip to Paris yesterday to see the David Hockney exhibition at Fondation Louis Vuitton, one of my favourite buildings. A joy to see over 400 pieces of work on display, lots of inspiration for my current creative burst. #davidhockney

With my school talks on summer break I get to fill my days with creative endeavours. Just finished this painting to sell at my friend's open studio later this month. It's mindfulness set loose with paints. Really enjoyed this one, mostly listening to @brucespringsteen.net while I worked.

I cannot speak highly enough of all the wonderful NHS staff at Chelsea & Westminster Hospital who are currently treating B on the AAU. Triaged within 5 minutes of arriving at 4am Thursday, straight through to Resus, emergency endoscopy, CT scan all within 12 hours. Staying in until he's stable.

Took advantage of the Members Early Morning @painshill.bsky.social, arrived just after 8am to enjoy nearly 3 hours of walking through the landscape before the rain. Some much needed time-out from caring for my partner who is in the midst of another mental health crisis. #painshill #natureheals

Today marks #ZeroHIVStigmaDay. I chose to live openly as a woman with #HIV within weeks of my diagnosis in 1991 and have continued to educate about HIV for over 30 years to help tackle stigma, raise awareness and challenge stereotypes. #hivpositive #zerohivstigmaday #hivstigma #tacklinghivstigma

Honoured to have been interviewed for Poz Planet.

56th birthday. Never expected to be here when diagnosed #HIVpositive in 1991 aged 22. Originally told 8-10 years to live, so every extra birthday is testament to the amazing NHS care, HIV meds and most importantly the love of my inner circle, including B and my sisters. #birthday #longtermsurvivor

Participated in the priority setting workshop led by @richard-ma.bsky.social yesterday. Looking at research ideas for older people with HIV. Very interesting to see the variety of topics suggested. Grateful that as a long-term survivor I am facing older age, never expected to when diagnosed in 1991.

Very poignant to see the #aidsquiltuk this afternoon at Tate Modern. Seeing names of people I knew from the early years of my diagnosis remembered in their quilts. We must never forget the past and all those people we lost to AIDS.

" Roughly $12 million worth of #HIV-prevention drugs and contraceptives purchased by the U.S. Agency for International Development will likely be destroyed after President Donald Trump dismantled the organization"

Today, June 5th, is HIV Long-term Survivors Awareness Day, largely a US event but I want to acknowledge all of us in the UK who've been living with HIV for decades and live with the battle scars of life before treatment. 34 years since my diagnosis, living a life I never expected to have. #HLTSAD

B and I attended the Governor's Review at the Royal Hospital this morning. Wearing my late father's military medals for the occasion. Wonderful to see the #ChelseaPensioners parade and hear the military band perform.

At Highgate cemetery to visit Ian's grave, 32 years ago today he died from an #AIDS related illness at Patrick House hospice in Hammersmith. Place a yellow rose on his grave so his spirit knows he is still remembered with love. #whatisrememberedlives

A day of self care yesterday as I took a train out to spend the afternoon @rspb.bsky.social Rye Meads before walking back along the canal for a couple of miles to Broxbourne. A day for quiet contemplation in nature, just listening to birdsong for a few hours.

Are you living with #HIV & aged over 50 in the UK or a carer for someone who is? What are your health and care concerns about HIV and ageing? Please help to create a "bank" of research questions to improve the health and care of older adults with HIV app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/socs/have-...

23rd April 2017...8 years ago today I was running the London Marathon, marking what was then my 26th year of living with #HIV, hence 26 Red Ribbons sewn onto my running vest. Finished in under 6 hours which was my target time, having only done 150 miles in training runs!

Day trip to Hastings with B today, beautifully sunny day to explore the seafront and castle, enjoyed best fish 'n' chips at Maggie's. Enjoyed visiting the Fishermen's and Shipwrecks Museums, and discovering the unique Net Stores.

In 1993, the late Sr Dorothy Bell took me with her to #Woldingham School to speak to pupils about living with #HIV. It was the start of more than 3 decades of visits to educate pupils. Today I returned for my 31st visit to speak with a fantastic Year 11 audience as part of their Thrive programme.

Huge respect to everyone working in A&E departments. Spent 12 hours yesterday dealing with a medical emergency with my partner. Firstly at Chelsea & Westminster Hospital before being transferred to Charing Cross. Everyone we encountered were kind, compassionate and professional.

It's #nationalhivtestingweek I contracted #HIV when a condom failed, my boyfriend at the time then told me he was HIV+ If he'd said nothing, I would never have thought someone like me should take an #hivtest and I'd be undiagnosed. If you’ve EVER had unprotected sex, take a test #knowyourstatus.

10 years ago today I was in Paris, came back from that trip to spend my first night with B. So on our 10th anniversary today we had a civil partnership to legally recognise our relationship. I feel incredibly blessed to have found someone to spend my life with. ❤️

Yesterday marked 23 years since I established Positive Voice to deliver #HIV education to schools and businesses across the UK. Since then over 360,000 pupils, staff and parents have listened to my story of #HIVpositive diagnosis in 1991 to long-term survivor today. Photo: TEDx Guildford

Using my festive break from school talks to be creative. Hand sewing the weaved strips and circles I've created on my looms onto blank canvas cushion covers to make a bright addition for my sofa. #creativity #weaving

We’re proud to launch our U=U community quilt! Get involved in this large-scale community art project and submit your selfie and help us celebrate the powerful message of U=U! Find out more about the project and get involved here - www.positiveeast.org.uk/uequalsu/

Over 35 weeks of 2024, I've given 87 talks in 76 different schools, travelling just under 13,000 miles around the UK. Approx. 16,500 pupils hearing about living with #HIV including the vital #uequalsu message. Thank you to all the teachers who continue to support my work in their schools.

Remembering my Dad who died on this day 49 years ago when I was just 6 years old. Very proud to be a Sapper's daughter. #RoyalEngineers

At the launch event tonight of HIVstory, the HIV Story Trust's National Lottery Heritage funded project. I'm honoured that my story is one of 44 selected from over 120 interviews to be included in the exhibition which will be touring the UK and available on the website. www.hivstory.org.uk/about/

I always give pupils the opportunity to ask any questions in my talk. Today I was asked 'Are you worried that you are going to hell? Somehow I kept my cool and responded in an appropriate way, the teacher thanked me after for handling it so well. But it's left me shocked, sad and angry!

What a fantastic Year 12 audience at Bourne Grammar School today. Over 250 young people learning facts and up to date information about #HIV including the #uequalsu message. Lovely to chat with some pupils after the talk, very much appreciated their feedback on how amazing the talk was.

My 33rd #worldaidsday since being diagnosed #HIVpositive in 1991. Remembering all those who died from #AIDS as well as those living with #HIV today, particularly fellow #longtermsurvivors who may feel forgotten or invisible. Proudly wearing my @theaidsmemorial.bsky.social t-shirt and #RedRibbon

Travelled at peak commuter time on tube and through Kings Cross St Pancras en route to Leicester and didn't see a single person wearing a #RedRibbon. Outside of our collective #HIV bubble, it appears to me the general public is not engaging with the HIV cause anymore.

A pleasure to return to Merchant Taylors' School for my 27th annual visit to share my #HIV talk with Year 12. On my first visit in 1997, I had been diagnosed HIV+ for just 6 years. I could never have imagined then that I would visiting today as a #longtermsurvivor having lived 33 years with HIV.

Over the next 2 weeks I will be visiting 9 schools, travelling over 1,100 miles, sharing my Positive Voice #HIV talk with approx 1,200 pupils and staff. Everyone will hear up to date information about HIV including the U=U message. #HIVEducation #WorldAIDSDay #UequalsU

Arriving at #Merchiston for my 19th visit since 2006 to speak to the Shell pupils about #HIV. Another wonderful audience, very attentive pupils with many asking excellent questions. I shared up to date knowledge about #HIV and personal experiences from over 3 decades of being #hivpositive.

It was my great pleasure to make my first ever visit to Dollar Academy in Scotland to share my Positive Voice #HIV talk with senior pupils this morning. Thanks to everyone for such a warm welcome. Delighted to see so many taking Red Ribbons at the end of the talk in advance of World AIDS Day.

2 Positive Voice talks delivered today, firstly to Year 12 at Halliford School and then to 6th Form pupils at Burgess Hill Girls' in West Sussex. Delighted by the response from both groups of pupils, lots of excellent questions asked allowing me to share up to date knowledge about #HIV.

As well as posting about HIV, I'll also share other parts of my life that all contribute to my health and well-being. Anti-retrovirals alone are not what keeps me well and healthy. Today a beautiful autumnal walk around #Painshill Park in Cobham. #autumnwalks

What a superb 6th form audience this morning at St Helen's School, Northwood for my Positive Voice #HIV talk. So wonderful to see everyone so engaged in my talk, asking lots of excellent questions and then so many staff and pupils taking a #RedRibbon in advance of #worldaidsday.

For those who dont know me, here is my TEDx talk...15 minutes to try and share what was then 27 years of living with HIV, now up to 33 years Hopefully gives an overview of the past and a look at the present. #HIV #longtermsurvivor #UequalsU youtu.be/mIwVBagbxMQ?...

I've been speaking at #KingstonGrammar School since 2004. Back this afternoon to share my Positive Voice #HIV talk with the current Year 13 pupils. A wonderful audience, great to see so many of them taking a Red Ribbon for next month's #WorldAIDSDay.

Will be posting regularly on Bluesky from now on. Follow my travels around the UK delivering my Positive Voice #HIV talks to schools and businesses. Education about HIV is not just for #WorldAIDSDay so I'm busy all year round.