Updated 19 October 2025.
Hello everyone.
I would like to let friends, readers and subscribers know that I have recently received a confirmed diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease.
I have been on and off medication for suspected Parkinson’s since October last year. Finally, after eleven rather fraught months, I have had the diagnosis confirmed, and I have thus recommenced the treatment.
I don’t wish at present to talk about my condition in any real detail, but I will say that I have found it to be very disruptive for me personally and professionally, particularly the non-motor symptoms.
By that I mean that it can be difficult for me to do research, write, produce my videos, give talks, do podcast interviews. My brain isn’t quite as organised or flexible as it used to be! This is quite common among Parkinson’s patients. Alas, it’s not just a disease with a tremor and shuffling gait.
The good news is that I am gradually increasing the hours I work in my study, and I do have plans for a few projects over the next few months into next year:
I’m scheduled to do a talk for the Kent Archaeological Society on food in the medieval priory of Rochester.
And I’ve been commissioned to write a chapter for the forthcoming Oxford Handbook of the History of Early Medieval England. This is about sex and gender, not food!
And I’m still plugging away at finishing my book on Fourme of Cury.
I would particularly like to thank all my very kind monthly supporters for their ongoing support. And a big thank you, too, to all those who have been recently downloading my recipes at my shop. A very pleasant surprise.
I am taking a holiday for the next few weeks, though I hope to practice a bit of medieval-inspired cookery whilst away. Then I will be moving to Derby, my childhood home city, where, rather fortuitously, there is an internationally acclaimed centre for Parkinson’s Disease. So I am going to be well looked after.
All good wishes,
Christopher
If you want to find out more about Parkinson’s, I have found the information on Parkinson’s UK website very helpful, and this charity has also been very supportive personally.
Image: 14th-century diagram of the brain. Public Domain, {{PD-US}}; Wikimedia Commons
MONK'S MODERN MEDIEVAL CUISINE 
Oh dear – well it’s at least good to know for sure what you’ve been suffering from, especially so you can go fully on treatment. Best of luck in the short term and I’m sure we’ll be hearing from you once you start craving that medieval cooking again!
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Thank you.
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Sending you lots of love, and good luck with the move to Derby ❤️❤️
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Thank you x
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Dear Christopher
I am sorry to hear of your diagnosis.
Thank you for your writing and recipes. I have enjoyed reading your research.
I hope you can continue to explore your cookery even if we dont het to read the results.
Your health must come first.
Best wishes
Michael
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Thank you very much.
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Dear Christopher, So sorry to hear this news. Sending you best wishes for your move and for your future LornaX
Yahoo Mail: Search, organise, conquer
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Thank you.
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It’s good to have a diagnosis at last, but sad news nonetheless. I hope all goes well with the move and that the treatment centre lives up to its reputation.
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Thank you, April.
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Hi Christopher,
I was deeply moved to hear about your diagnosis, and my thoughts are with you. My husband Glenn, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s several years ago, and he opted for a natural approach called Bioresonance. Remarkably, it has been so effective that his specialist now considers the condition resolved. I thought you might find it interesting to explore this option if you haven’t already. You can find more information about it here: http://lifewaves.co.uk/.
I’ve been personally visiting the same practitioner for over a decade, and I can vouch for the positive impact it has had on our lives. Please don’t think I’m overstepping; I just wanted to share another avenue that might be of help to you.
Sending you lots of love and support as you navigate this journey.
Warm regards, Merice xx
Sent from Outlook for iOShttps://aka.ms/o0ukef ________________________________
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Thanks Merice. I appreciate your concern and good wishes. I don’t think bioresonance is for me as it doesn’t address the mechanism of Parkinson’s (loss of dopaminergic neurons). But I appreciate Parkinson’s patients can choose to make use of multiple therapies to improve their general wellbeing. All good wishes to you both.
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Big hugs, my friend. This sucks. I’m sending lots of love and good energy from across the Pond. Love you!
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💓 Big hugs back to you. And thank you.
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Wishing you the very best outcome for the future!
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Thank you.
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