Emily Bonner, 30, who was diagnosed with limb girdle muscular dystrophy in 2014, tells us what life is like with the condition

WHEN I was young I had a fear of several things; my uncle's eyes, black soap, worms (still do ugh) and owls.

There was a picture of one one my Grandma's stairwell and I couldn't walk past it alone without bursting into tears and stalling. I stall on stairs these days but for different reasons.

I could easily cry on them as well thinking about it but again for other reasons. Both fundamentally for fear though!

Nowadays I love owls, they be one of my favourite creatures. And boy do I wish I had the strong legs of a barn owl.

The barn owl is so significant for me as my last ever birthday card off my mum was of a illustrated barn owl. On the back there is a paragraph of writing about how they shimmer like a royal ghost. I liked that as my mum thought I would.

After she died I ordered a slate memorial plaque for her and drew the barn owl in my own hand for the engraver to copy.

Then included the words "for my Mum Frances, shimmering like a royal ghost". She'd of loved my sketch she was always encouraging me to draw.

There was a barn owl talk at the burial ground's AGM this week and I also learnt a couple of exciting things.

One, they now have a ramp. And it's a small smart looking one at that.

Leading into the roundhouse where it also happens is my mum's 'ghost owl' plaque. It looks towards her and I often reach up to pat it for good measure.

Now I can go in there with peace of mind that I won't have to struggle and haul myself up the step grabbing onto the metal ring that usually holds the shutters in place.

Talking of ramps there's also a newly built one for me at work now albeit less pretty than the one at the burial ground.

Again a huge weight off my shoulders or should I say my knees. Now I can walk with some ease to my seat without having to use the grab rails plus there is no step to fall back down.

Anyway back to the AGM.

Two, there is a stunning new standing stone that's just been erected. Named Tyr's stone after a god, its name also doubles up as a pun due to the many tears are shed at the site, it remembers those that worked the local quarry and who lost their lives.

Each week now I shall make a pilgrimage to the stone as it's a bit further for me to walk and well frankly I need the exercise.

The uneven pieces of stone that make up part of the pathway make me nervous though, as too does the long grass and uneven ground. Oh to have a flat surface!

But with my trusty sticks and ankle splints I should be ok.