How would this affect you?

It would be wrong for people who have conditions such as Parkinson's to have to hide in case their appearance causes distress. The distress that the Parkinson.s victim suffers mentally is probably greater than the physical syndrome.

I had a friend who retired from the British Army as Regimental Sergeant Major of 1st Royal Anglians - six foot two inches of ramrod rigidity. He took work as cellarman in my local pub, and kept his beer (real ale, not fizz) in immaculate condition. He acquired Parkinson's, and was reduced to having to drink his beer through a straw and his son had to fill his pipe and light it for him.

Nobody in the pub flinched - we had known him when he was fit, he had fought in N Ireland and the Falklands and we supported him and stuck by him. One person did object, and was booed out of the pub, never to return.

And, were this chap be alive today, he would not even be able to smoke his pipe in the pub, thanks to our rotten anti-smoking laws. That would be his thanks for fighting in killing wars for the UK.

I've worked with people who have parkinson's disease. It is very distressing for them. How I feel is irrelevant. What I do to help counts.

As my Dad has Parkinson's I'm well used to it....

But I have to admit we get a lot of starers, when we go out as a family and It really winds me up....

He can't help it, stop looking at him....

I would treat it with compassion, that's for sure! And be thankful that it ain't me.

OK