Arthritis diary Handle with care One size doesnt fit all, explains BBC presenter Julian Worricker I recently had a heartening catchup with a friend of mine. It was at my suggestion, because hed posted something on social media that caught my eye. It did so because he was combining a newfound skill with a genuine desire to help people with arthritis. My friend, Christophe, is in the process of turning a hobby pottery and ceramics into something more serious.. Recently, he responded to a request from someone with arthritis. Alongside a photograph of four beautifully glazed mugs, he explained what was asked of him: mugs with a large handle to be able to put the full hand in. As we chatted, he explained that the size of the handle was only half of the plan. The other half related to the weight of the mug. He wanted to make it as light as possible so that when its full of liquid its still manageable for someone with pain in the hands and the wrists. Hes the first to See Christophes work on Instagram at @christophe_ceramics Whoever thought it was a good idea to make the handle so small that only one finger could fit through it? acknowledge that this isnt a new idea, but it struck a chord with me, and thats what prompted me to buy him a coffee to find out more. When my psoriatic arthritis was at its worst, it was my hands and wrists that suffered most. I became acutely aware of the everyday items that didnt seem to be designed with me in mind. Mugs and cups often fell into that category. Whoever thought it was a good idea to make the handle so small that only one finger could fit through it? Serious discomfort was the inevitable consequence of trying to lift it; either that or a spilt drink. And dont get me started on can openers or corkscrews. Some things are unavoidably awkward and painful, and Im not sure theres much anyone can do about them. Top of my list was putting on socks. To anyone whos never experienced arthritis pain, this must seem hard to comprehend, but it was a process that combined two no-nos the wrist was at an unnatural angle and there was tension in the fingers as I eased each sock over each ankle. I can remember tears in the eyes as I tried to complete that manoeuvre. Not far behind socks on my list of hates were tying up shoelaces and combing my hair. Again, ludicrous to those without arthritis. So, going back to Christophe, I wanted to congratulate him on the thought he was giving to his commission. He doesnt have arthritis himself, but after listening to someone who has, he became much more aware of the day-today hurdles we need to get over. If one day in the future he develops a skill for designing mens socks, Ill buy him another coffee. Julian Worricker is a BBC TV and radio presenter and journalist, and has psoriatic arthritis. 21 Inspire Spring 23 pp21 Julian.indd 21 15/02/2023 09:31