New blog

Well here goes link to where i am now...Some got this in email but i've probs missed others as i only go from comments left...None of which remain as you will notice i made this public again

Ups, Downs and the Bits Inbetween

Confused

Okies must say am confused...Are all journals being moved by AOL to blogger or just american ones...Being technically THICK to say the least i can't fathom the intstructions for saving a) this journal and being able to re-read past entries b) saving stuff i have on the FTP space and c) how to save the websites i have that are hosted via AOL as am sure they go through hometown...I really need my whole journal saved as i don't have the time to go through all the back entries to save the stuff that is extremely important...Can we transfer these journals to blogger if AOL don't???? AOL have been gradually doing away with everything that made them and ISP that people were willing to pay a premium for...As far as am aware AOL are still one of the more expensive ISP's yet they have nothing to make them worth that premium...Ok AOL aren't technically an ISP anymore, not since CWP bought the membership but people still regard them as an ISP...Every single part of AOL that was community based be it groups, journals, message boards, chatrooms have all been run down or done away with over the last 2 years...This started before CWP bought the membership actually...Am expecting chatrooms and message boards to go next which means that there won't be any point in AOL existing anymore

Oh and does anyone know how to transfer fave places from AOL to the faves on internet explorer????

not much of anything

Garath started uni this week...Well he starts properly on tues 23rd but he had induction and freshers week this week...Not that he did much of the freshers stuff...He went to the freshers fayre but left after signing up for 2 clubs because it was getting crowded and noisy <sigh> He went to a gaming day yesterday in the student union...His student ID card has a right doozy of a pic on it lol...You know like the passport pic or the driving licence one...Really awful doesn't look like you much pic <G> Rather strangely his bank has changed his account into a student one without being asked to or being given permission...Both him and Mikey got info through from the bank asking if they wished to convert their accounts to student ones but neither of them gave the go ahead...Hmm weird...He's joined the snowsports club and the gaming club...The gaming one is console/computer games not role playing ones like warhammer etc...He did speak about looking at the football club, basketball club and swimming club...But he didn't sign up for them at the fayre so am trying to encourage him to look into it through the union instead.

It has been an eventful few weeks hence i haven't been posting anything...Can't say much except that i've been supporting and been there for my best friend recently...Mikey appears to be enjoying college although i still have reservations about the course...Am not the only one either so at least i know am not alone on that score...Not that we can do anything anyways <sigh> Kerry is up for a few days as she was speaking at a 'training' evening thing about autism on thurs...Well it was her and Mikey who were actually doing it and no-one else...It had been organised by the guy who is in charge of local council youth committee as he had heard Kerry before...Apparently Mikey spoke really well and wasn't nervous whereas Kerry was shaking like a leaf...But he's autistic of course he wasn't nervous lol...Actually could be a good thing if he is willing to talk in public about how life has been for him and how he feels being autistic...See Garath would never stand up and do anything like that as Garath is shy as well as aspergers...But there are a couple of young people here who have done talks and well Mikey could be another added to list of any of the organisations IF HE wants to do it.

I really need to get some decent pics done and start creating a website...I keep chopping and changing name i would like so often i think when i go to buy a domain name i will just write the names on a bit of paper, close my eyes and stick a pin in and choose that way ROFL...Need to go for now but will try not to leave too long before next time i write here

Toodle pip tc xx

Catchy up

Sorry i haven't written for a wee while...One reason being that i have been in one of those can't be bothered with anything moods, i wasn't too well the other week and i've spent most of this week with a horrendous migraine...When i say wasn't too well remember those implant injection things i was having well they ain't exactly worked...Yes i had that 'monthly' curse again in it's truely most unbearable form <sigh> So i suppose i better see my GP again not that i can see any point in doing so...I've always had problems and nothing has ever helped...I can't get a hysterectomy because that entails staying in hospital and although the boys are 17 & 18 i can't really leave them on their own overnight...Sometimes i do wish i had been born a bloke instead of a woman LOL...The migraine well i know what caused it and it's just one of these things...Onions and anything onion family are what cause mine and it's not always possible to avoid and this week i couldn't avoid.

On a much better note Garath has his copy of the assessment report and the itemised list of things he is getting...Now am not that much cop with computers as in i can use one but i dunno much about the hardware or software...He is getting a laptop with a 200gb harddrive, 3gb ram, windows vista professional, a dvd and a cd drive...Now those things i kinda know a bit about and that seems pretty decent...Am presuming the graphics card is half decent as i know naff all about them...It's an intel core 2 dual processor which means not a lot...I've not heard of the security suite he's being given but again am presuming it is half decent or they wouldn't use it...He's getting an expensive backpack, accessories kit (mouse, keyboard etc) and a flat screen monitor...Never knew you could plug a monitor into a lappy but i did know you can plug a proper mouse and keyboard into one lol...Everything he is getting comes with 4 year warranties and special insurance and stuff like that all paid for...He's getting microsoft office 2007 which am hoping i can put on here rofl...3 programmes specifically to help him because of his dyspraxia...The dictaphone after adding the vat on is closer to £300 in price than the £200 we were told...The PDA is also some expensive bit of kit that i just hope he remembers to use...All well and good having the PDA to help to organise yourself but you have to rememberto input the date first lololol...Oh a flashdrive even though he already has one...Delivery and set up and installation of all software and training for Garath on using it all...He's also been allocated money through the DSA for a buddy for 2 hours a week and support from the NAS...DSA is disabled student allowance...NAS is the national autistic society...Used to be that you got a disabled student grant which was for equipment and a one off during the length of the course...Then you get a different allowance that was for other kinds of support and help...Now it all comes under one umbrella but is still divided into differing amounts depending on type of help needed...the support from the NAS is called non medical helper...Now if Garath had moved away from home to go to university he would have had help via that section to provide him with fully supported accomodation, internet access, phone access and such like...I think if he wishes to move out of home during his course even if it is still in the city i stay in he could still get help towards living 'independently'...But we'll see if that happens...Am not gonna be some horrendously ultra strict mum laying down the law although there is rules regardless in the flat...But put it this way if he's out at a party and doesn't get home until 4am then so what...So he may not bother wanting to move out LOL...All the equipment you get is yours and you don't hand it back once you've finished your course...am just glad that some kind of continuity is happening from what he had at school.

Mikey has started college now...Last fri was his induction day and this has been his first week...He has mondays off which he's rather pleased with...Am still not impressed that he is doing work at a level he is well beyond but hey ho...He's 17 and i have no say in the matter...There is a chance he may get to do the level at IT that he is capable of though which is good...Basically it's like schoolwork they are doing and life skills...No objection to the life skills but surely the college could have a course where the academic work is a level geared towards those with special needs who are just a wee bit behind...And keep the level of course they have at the mo for those who are a lot further behind...Is that so wrong to think that should be possible????? I know they do it at other colleges and the one he's at is supposed to be the biggest in scotland...Maybe thye should get rid of the patronising eejit woman in charge of the SEN students and then the course may just develop a bit better.

One of my aunts died last fri but i didn't manage to get to her funeral cos of my migraine...Funeral was up north and she had been ill for some time so it wasn't unexpected...I could say more but i won't as better to just let her rest in peace

My best friends wee lad started school on tues...He looks so smart in his school uniform but so old as well...It's really weird her lad starting school as my 2 lads start college and uni...Dunno if i should feel old or young now lol...Anyways better go as i have been writing this for hours but keep being distracted by the phone and i really need to try and eat.

Toodle pip tc xx

PS: we have had lovely weather here despite it being a bit iffy elsewhere in the uk...So whoever says weather in scotland is always drab and dreich is wrong <g>

This n that

The funeral is in the morning :o(  Mikey has decided he is going to it to say goodbye...The other two of his classmates we are in touch with have decided not to go...The other one who goes to same respite as Mikey wasn't sure last tuesday but will know tomorrow...There was an article in the local evening and daily papers about the lad...He had been seizure free for 3 years due to new medication he got from Great Ormond Street hospital...He'd suffered from epilepsy from 18 months old and had seizures very regularly...He had a massive seizure last weekend which caused his death :o(  Mikey is extremely cut up about it and has been an absolute nightmare to live with...It says that formal wear need not be worn but Mikey wants to wear his suit, shirt and tie so that's ok with me...He is considering wearing his AFC footie scarf as well as his friend was a massive fan of the local footie team :o) I just hope Mikey copes ok tomorrow morning and i have bought plenty tissues for him.

On a lighter note exam results came out last tues...Mikey got the best grade he could for the level of standard grade he was sitting so that was good...Garath isn't happy so better not say much...I just hope that the school appeal at least 1 of his results...But he also got an official letter from UCAS saying he had his place on the Masters degree on tues as well...He phoned RGU and they confirmed it so that's brill :o) On tues he was at the disability bit in RGU being assessed for disabled student grant...So he is getting a high spec lappy...Reason being he needs a high spec one to run the software for the top of the range expensive dictaphone that he needs...So he's getting the lappy to run software LOL...Actually he is also getting a couple of programs on the lappy that will be a big help to him...One helps to organise writing into proper paragraphs etc and the other speaks what is on the page to you rather than you having to read it...He's also getting a PDA to help him with his organisation which as i have said many times is chronicly bad...Mind you you have to remember to organise the PDA to organise you LOLOL...That will be my job until he gets used to it...That is disabled student grant which you only get once during the course (must be HND and up level of course) and is for equipment you need because of your condition in order to do the course...You won't get something that everyone would need regardless...If he didn't have a need for the programs and the dictaphone then he wouldn't get the lappy as he wouldn't need a high spec one but an ordinary spec one that any student would have these days...Disabled student allowance you get every year and that is what support from the NAS and the buddy system his uni have and support for exams etc will come through...It all seems to be going fine just now with everything so fingers crossed it stays that way.

I watched the olympics opening ceremony and was like 'WOW' amazing spectacle...I do hope that the organisers of the london olympics don't try to match or outdo beijing because they can't...Wonder if they will have the wee amateur pipe band from mains of fintray at london as well though <g>  Must admit i was sat there watching the ceremony with Kerry and was like do i really hear bagpipes LOL...See us Scots get everywhere <ggg> They were representing the whole continent of europe at the ceremony...Was quite cool hearing the didgiredoo (sp) from the australian group, the drummers from africa and the others from america...Nice idea that having a musical group representing each continent...Oh well swimming to watch at 3am grrrrr...Why oh why do they have to cater to american telly and have the swimming heats at night and the finals in the morning chinese time...It's topsy turvy and stupid for the swimmers but hey ho american telly must take precedence...Probs cos of Phelps although i must admit it would be fantastic to see him win 8 golds...I remember watching Spitz win 7 in munich and it firing me up to love swimming even more...Anyways must go have a bath

Toodle pip tc xx

:o(

Got a phone call this afternoon to tell us one of Mikeys classmates from school died on sunday :o(  Completely out of the blue and unexpected...Mikey is extremely upset and being really narky with everyone as he just can't cope with the emotion...Am shellshocked...It was the lad who's 18th birthday party Mikey was at back in may just before his own party...So sad especially when not expected as he'd not been ill...He had a massive seizure on sat which am presuming caused his death...He'd been fit free for well over a year at least

Lots of pics of this n that

Kerry is home for a week :o) So now i have all 3 of them arguing and being a pain rather than just two lol...Seriously it is nice to have her here for a wee bit...Exam results come out on tues and our postie doesn't arrive until nearer midday...Which is a pain as Mikey is at respite playscheme and Garath is being assessed for disabled student grant at RGU...How long Garaths assessment will take i dunno...One of my friends her daughters assessment took over 3 hours...I feel like writing a list for him to copy in his handwritting of things that he could need...His memory is so crap, unless academic, that he will forget...Plus am worried he is just going to sit there and mumble and just nod his head instead of speaking to her properly...A PDA or whatever those electronic diary things are called i think he will need...So he can use it instead of his lappy, so he can have everything timetabled into it and set alarms for when he is due somewhere...Anyways this all means neither of the boys are going to be in when their results arrive which is going to be so annoying for me...Also Garath needs to phone his uni to confirm the Masters degree place if he gets the required pass in the higher physics.

In the main the weather has been glorious here...Except on fri morning we had thick haar (sea fog) and rain so we missed the eclipse...And earlier in the week we had lots of haar but it was still warm...I've been taking loads and loads and loads of photos of this, that and loads of stuff...Stuff that people would wonder why i took a pic LOL...But it is all for using for designing from...So things like railings, fancy brickwork and such like i have been clicking away at...Along with loads of flowers, plants, rocks, pebbles, and water droplets on stuff...I've been experimenting with pics of jewellery so they're not dead boring...Not gonna post those as most have been a bit pants...Have posted a couple of pics though of two jewellery items...I still have another 2 to do and am gonna call these ones 'Seasons'...I thought the colours in first one were autumnul so i decided i'd do winter, spring and summer as well...Spring is proving a bit so so as i haven't managed to put colours together am happy with yet...Summer will be bright colours and i know which ones...The only 'colour' am repeating is the clear crystal...I've been pricing kilns and they are horrendously expensive...Like for a small microwave sized one (very small microwave) we're talking at least £500...However i have seen a teensy weird looking table top one that is about size of a sugar bowl that is a lot cheaper...When i say a lot cheaper it is still anything between about £150 and £200...Maybe one day if i can't find anything a lot cheaper 2nd hand...The teensy thing would be fine for doing one off enameled pieces but at same time then all the paraphenalia to go with that costs loads...And i didn't win fridays euromillions or i wouldn't be sat here typing just now LOL

Watched the F1 this afternoon...Hungaroring has to be one of the most boring races on the calendar...And in the main it still was apart from i felt really sorry for Felipe Massa as his car blew up 3 laps from the end whilst he was well in the lead...Andy Murray won his first masters series tennis title today which was brill :o) And i am a true saddo and am looking forward to watching the olympics...Not just the athletics but mainly the swimming, diving, rowing, sailing, cycling...And well just in general

Toodle pip tc xx

Some necklaces

 

It was my best friends birthday on sat and she wanted something with both red and green on it...So light siam (bright red) swarovski crystals, semi precious peridot chip beads and some red & green venetian style glass beads...The peridot chips are teensy and although they do look fine i was a bit disappointed that they weren't bigger...Mind you now i wouldn't mind having other semi precious chip beads teensy like these LOL..Hope she likes it...The other pics are just some necklaces that are almost finished...They need fastenings on them but that's all...Bit miffed with the pics as it's a gorgeous sunny day and they look as if the tungsten setting has been used...Hmm

Venetian style or more correctly murano style is where there is either silver or gold foil on the inside of the glass bead...Glass can only be called Murano if it has been made on the venetian island of murano itself...True murano glass beads have genuine gold or silver in them...Other places it is base metal in gold or silver colouring...Even so i intend to buy some genuine murano glass beads at some point.

Toodle pip tc xx

Mishmash

It's been a beautiful day here today...Garath went paintballing and although not many were able to go they all enjoyed it...The site has been expanded a bit so there was more area than just a field to play in :o) Surprisingly the cost was still the same as a year ago...Must be one of few things that haven't gone up in price of late...He got a lift from one of his friends so i didn't have to take him :o) Mind you i've never met these lads from the school he went to so i was a bit on tenterhooks that the lad didn't crash his car...Ok that may sound a bit OTT but there have been so many accidents in the north east of scotland this year it is unreal :o( That accident last monday took the total deaths to 19 so far and it is only july :o(  And there was another accident later last week with 2 deaths but it was nearer inverness.

The accident last week was the driver of the van's fault...Apparently he had briefly nodded off at the wheel...No-one speeding (that was determined by the gizmo's in each vehicle) and it was a tragic accident...So as i said last week it doesn't always pay to jump to conclusions and lay blame at a young drivers door for an accident...The lad who died i used to work with his mum in a local chippy after school and during the holidays when we were kids although i haven't seen her for years...The mum of the girls i knew all my life basically although i haven't seen her for years either...We grew up on the same street, our parents were friends and she was married to my brothers best friend...I say was because he died not long after they got married just before my 16th birthday...I remember that week vividly :o(  There have been other tragedys with that family as well over the last 29 years :o(  Now this is something that i kinda would like to know peoples views on...Usually at a funeral we all wear dark clothes or our 'best' clothes...The girls funeral the announcement says 'No funeral clothing to be worn by request'...So my mum is at a loss as to what to wear...Being the age she is most of her 'best' dress could be deemed funereal...Personally my view is for someone young then funeral clothing shouldn't be worn but something bright or cheerful instead...But many people don't hold with that view...I know if something was to happen to any of my 3 then i couldn't face seeing everyone dressed in black or dark colour...That's despite 90% of my wardrobe being black...When my dad died me and my brother went to stupid lengths to find something black to wear...Well him a jacket and me a pair of shoes...I paid a fortune for those shoes and never ever wore them again and they're still in a box in my wardrobe...Daft really as am sure my dad wouldn't have minded if i wore my black punky boots or my bright red boots or shoes i had at the time...Does it really matter so much what we wear at a funeral as long as we pay our respects to those who have passed away???? Think i may stipulate that everyone must wear purple or blue to mine :o)

I've started a course studying at home...It's wierd this distance learning malarky...Am studying counselling skills and will move on to the other courses as i hopefully pass each one...I have to keep a reflective blog of my thoughts and feelings whilst am doing it eeks...Fingers crossed that i manage to pass this one by christmas...Being distance learning you work at your own pace and can take as long as you want...Well within limitations as you are expected to do it in a year...The tutor i have been assigned said most do it in 6 months...Am afraid that this last week all i can think of is that accident and it's brought back memories that i really don't want at forefront of my mind...On a lighter note i  want to thank everyone for all the nice comments you leave about my jewellery and recently the headbands...You're all far too kind :o)

Toodle pip tc xx

Headbands

The pics above are of a finished headband...Believe it or not the actual headband is supposed to be adult sized but i think it is better child sized...I used to do these years and years ago and sold them ridiculously cheap...This one is covered with velvet ribbon but i also use satin ribbon as well...Everything is hand sewed on with the embellishments being sewn on before the ribbon is sewn to the headband...The inside has satin ribbon sewn on to a) hide all the sewing and b) to look better...Not all of them had these embellishments or the 'pearls' round the outside...I did do other designs as well...I think they make great head pieces for flower girls but maybe that's just me...They were extremely popular when i made them in the past but that could possibly have also been the price...I used to charge £1.50 for a satin one and £2.50 for a velvet one...Now even 14 years ago that was stupidly cheap considering the materials were just about covered lol...Now sadly the embellishment shown here i haven't been able to find for about 9 years...I do have a very limited amount of the pale blue, royal blue and red ones...I have a fair few emerald green ones though...However i have found gold ones and silver ones in a shop in town...Well i say silver she has none left and hasn't been able to get any more although she did say it's mainly at christmas she can get them...She's never seen the white ones with the coloured diamante centres...I have found black ones online that are different looking and i bought a metre of them...Problem is them being black with the clear diamante...Would rather have white as white goes with any colour...I know the pics are a bit fuzzy again but i just took them quick to post on here...White satin or velvet with the coloured embellishments looked really pretty and am so annoyed i cannot find them anymore...John lewis and other haberdashery stores used to sell them...I have looked and looked online and could only find the black which i will post a pic of when i finish that sample headband...Mind you it is hard to search when you don't know what they are called...They come on a strip not individually but obviously you can cut them up into individuals...If any ofyou have seen them or similar on your travels please let me know.

Apart from that i haven't much to say really...Our council apparently are in deeper animal poo than originally thought...So goodness knows what will be cut back on now...Councillor pay!!!! HAHAHAHA fat chance their's and high up heads of depts are protected...Less expenses perhaps!!!!! seriously doubt it...It's going to get worse because they were ordered to employ a troubleshooter for 6 months to sort out social services....He's costing them £100 grand for that 6 months!!!!

The weather was lovely until today where it has been a bit overcast but still not that cold...Sadly on mon there was a big road accident up near mums which even made it on to national teletext news pages...3 young people were killed in the head on collision...When i was at the corner shop yesterday 2 of the old men there were going on about young drivers speeding and killing themselves...They weren't that impressed when i chipped in and said from the photograph i don't believe the young 22 year old driving the car was at fault...The transit style van is the one in the photo on the wrong side of the road and the 2 men (in their 40's) in it survived with minor injuries...But the 2 girls (sisters) and lad come from my home village :o(  That makes 4 young people from there to have been killed in a road crash this year :o(  So tragic and at times am glad that Kerry is unable to be given a drivers licence and that the boys don't wish to learn to drive...Garath is off out to the cinema and has just been texted to ask if he wants to go paintballing on mon...Just as well i haven't yet thrown out his jeans that are beyond decent use and he does have a couple of old tops left that still haven't gone in the bin...But i did chuck out old trainers recently <sigh>

Toodle pip tc xx

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Good news

I went out to the university disability office this afternoon and handed in the letter that Garath needed from a medical person...I did point out that despite this school gp putting down that he has dyspraxia that he has never been tested for it or diagnosed with it...But i did say his writing is shocking to say the least...His writing is the kind that when GP's had to write a prescription it would have been suitable LOL...Messy and mainly unreadable...Which doesn't matter so much in the world today as most work is typed up not hand written...Hsi disability officer did get an email from MrsP which she found extremely useful :o) But MrsP did forget to mention his panic attacks...Now i know Garath won't speak about them so i made sure that his disability officer does know now that he gets them...The woman from the NAS that does the support will work on those with him which is great :o) Although he hasn't been assessed yet his disability officer said that he will get a laptop <phew> and a dictaphone <bigger phew> Bluntly put his memory is bad unless it is something academic...By academic i mean having read in a book or been taught by teacher/lecturer...He'll need a dictaphone so he can record meetings or record tutorial groups...Of course he will have to ask permission of those involved and if any say no then am sorry but i wouldn't have any respect for them...It's not like he's going to record anything to pass on to another party...He's only going to record so that he can remember so he can take part and get his share of the work done...So to me anyone obkecting to that is only caring about themselves and not their fellow students...But my mind is more at rest now knowing he will get those two pieces of equipment at least...I know that nearly every student needs a computer of some kind nowadays but he specifically needs one or he couldn't do the course...He will be assessed once his disability officer is back from her annual leave which she starts on mon, not sure for how long, and not just equipment but support will come into that assessment.

I've been sat making up jewellery samples most of the week...I really want to make up tiara samples but am running out of crystals and beads and i can't afford to purchase much more at the moment...What i want to do is purchase the factory packs but they're expensive (well cheaper in long run) and i have a lot of bills until mid august...My share of the roof repairs and road tax and renew car insurance...Car insurance is thankfully paid monthly...I want to buy a years road tax this time but it's going to have to be 6 months again...My share of the roof is £509 <ouch> Then i'll need to contact my home insurance and see if i can get my bedroom repaired via it...Otherwise am stuffed cos i can't afford to replaster the wall let alone everything else...The outside wall is soaking cos of the roof leak :o(  My bedroom is not fit to live in so it's a dumping ground just now so i need to clear it out before i can have it checked over...At least it;s not as bad as the flat directly above it...The bedroom in that flat is so bad with wet and damp the whole room is BLACK with mould and that mould is creeping into the bathroom and kitchen of that flat...We really need the roof leak fixed LOL...None of the other flats are affected only mine and that one upstairs...The one on that side on the top floor is in the roof so the leak hasn't affected it...Anyways am offski cos i've been sat here typing this for ages...I phoned my mum midway through so had a stop for that

Toodle pip tc xx

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Just stuff

Well school broke up for the summer holidays last fri...Mind you i can't really say they are on school summer hols as they have now both officially left...Mikey starts college on 24th (i think) aug...Well whatever mon in august is around that date lol...Garath doesn't start university until near end of sept...It's proving damned hard for Garath to even apply for a part time job because of his button phobia...Everywhere we've looked at so far is no use because the uniform has buttons on it...Also he can't do barwork because it would be too noisy for him...So his phobia ans sensory issues are now a far bigger problem than they used to be when he was younger :o( 

I bought a sewing machine on sunday in Lidl's...It comes with a 3 year guarantee so i thought it would be ok...John Lewis didn't get the one in i was going to buy from there...This one has a dial on it for different stitches that goes through the whole alphabet lol...I also bought their el cheapo sewing threads set...Some cheap threads are cheap and nasty and break easily but i've been told these are ok...I mainly bought the set for the gold and silver reels and the two transparent reels but there are some pretty colours as well...As they are for using on card then they should be fine regardless...For now though i am making up lots of jewellery...Nacklaces, earrings and bracelets as i will need to have a stock of some kind...What i would prefer is that they are samples and then people can order the same design but with the colour of crystals they prefer...Well earrings don't need to be like that they can just be sold straight away unless someone wants in a specific colour...My niece liked her set and that is all am really going to say about it...Except my sis wasn't too happy with the price...The price i gave her only covered the materials and the postage & packing...I didn't charge for time and she was taken aback at price...Thing is she wouldn't give me an idea of price upfront and i couldn't say a definite price upfront...So possibly a bit of confusion on both sides...All i know is she wanted something pretty and what my sis was thinking of spending wouldn't have covered a necklace let alone a whole set...Plus every time i phoned to discuss it she was too busy and didn't phone back...Oh well ce la vie i don't want to fall out with my sister and if she won't compromise the wayi suggested then not a lot i can do about it...Am a bit upset to say the least and knocked for six and well my confidence is way back down again.

My mum loved her stuff and has banned me from giving her anything for her birthday in october...Well that's what she thinks LOL...She wore her new jewellery to the wedding on sat and as i said to her mum you are a walking advert <g> same as Kerry is...Kerry was back here over the weekend :o) It was lovely to have her home even if it was just fri evening to sunday evening...Our new multi million pound bus station still has NO drop off/pick up point for anyone let alone people with mobility problems...Kerry has always been fobbed off as have i when asking about it...Well on sunday i spoke to a very nice man at the station who told me to complain...Apparently it isn't finished yet and still belongs to the builders...The bus company aren't happy either but i guess complaints from users would have more clout...I know our taxi firms have complained bitterly about it as they of course will be losing trade...Well my letter of complaint ain't going to the bus firm or the builders and i told the very nice man that...He actually grinned when i told him where my complaint was going...Gordon Brown unlike Tony Blair has an email address <g> So all 3 of the councillors for my ward, the head of our council and her deputy, the 3 MSP's for the city, the 3 MP's who's constiuencys are within the city limits, Alex Salmond, whoever is for transport at Holyrood, Ruth Kelly and Gordon Brown are all getting this email from me LOLOL...I have checked up and it is illegal to have no parking for disabled at the bus station, even if it is not finished...Our train station managed to make temporary provision so they can too...Someone somewhere MUST be able to do something into forcing provision to be made...And there is another issue i find really ludicrous in a way...Scotland has had the free Scotland wide bus travel for OAP's and disabled for 2 years now...It was changed slightly about a year ago and there are very specific criteria now...Now the boys get their bus passes because they get middle rate care of DLA...They also get a +1 on their passes because of being on middle rate care...That means someone can accompany them for free as well although they don't have to have someone with them...People on high rate mobility DLA also qualify for a pass however they don't qualify for the companion element...Now that strikes me as a bit daft...Surely someone who has mobility problems with using the bus is in more need of someone accompanying them than someone who doesn't have mobility problems...Even if it is someone to be with them so they can actually get the bus to stop at the bus stop they wish to get off at...Many a time the bus has gone past the stop Kerry wants to get off at because she hasn't been stood beside the door waiting...Thing is she has to wait until it stops before she can get up and stand to get off...Hmmm maybe i should write to holyrood and my MSP about that as well.

As you know our council is broke and needs to make £27M in savings...Well they wrote to the place Mikey goes to for day respite playscheme on fri and told them they won't be funding the last week of the summer holidays...We've been advised to contact social work and complain...Now i don't have a named social worker and it won't affect mikey because he wasn't going in the last tues anyway...But maybe i should still complain...Thing is they have us over a barrel because quite frankly i am scared to phone social work just now because of all the cut backs...If he loses what he currently gets then he will get NOWT

Better get back to finishing off the necklace am currently making up...And there won't be pics as i said am trying to get some stock done...Will be getting better pics done and i need to talk someone into modelling for me...As you can see i've stopped calling them K, G and M as i decided it was a bit daft to keep doing that when this blog is private...Only took me just over a year to decide on that one LOL

Toodle pip tc xx

A wee greet as we say up here

Every year Mikeys school has an awards ceremony at the end of the summer term...All the pupils get something as they make certificates for them all...This isn't so that no-one loses it's just so the pupils know how well they have done and get recognition for it...Being a special needs school they don't sit regular exams...When you see how disabled some of the pupils are and how much they have to overcome it is a very moving experience going to the awards ceremony...This year was even more poignant for me as Mikey is of course leaving...I deliberately put on some make up so i wouldn't cry (have a greet)...HAHAHAHA i was still dabbing my eyes very carefully to not streak my eyeshadow down my face...The school leavers all get a special book called 'record of achievement' and they work upon it themselves...They can take in certificates and other recognition awards from years past to put in it...Well Mikey has had a big surprise as unbeknown to him his report from the college was in it...You know in last entry i implied i didn't exactly endear myself with the head of the SEN dept at college last wed...Actually that's a bit of an understatement <g>  Well i told his school today and the deputy head just grinned at me, his class teacher gave a huge sigh and said 'oh no' when i said MrsK considers qualifications to be irrelevant...Well YABOO SUCKS to MrsK (new mrs hitler IMO) because on his report for Information Technology the tutor has said he has passed the access level 2 (he's already passed access 3 at school ffs) and that he should be doing a minimum of Intermediate 1 but preferably Intermediate 2...In Scotland we have Standard Grades and Highers but inbetween is these Intermediates...They were introduced whilst K was at school...Int 1 is equivalent to top pass at Standard Grade and Int 2 is between the top pass at Standard Grade and Higher...So yes YABOO SUCKS MrsK and i will do my DAMNDEST to make sure the tutors recommendation is put into practise...Oh and i will talk to the school better tomorrow...I can see MrsK taking over from MrsP in my most irritating and hated professional to deal with...Well hated is too strong a word but you know what i mean....Anyways i did cry and if i hadn't had make up on i would have blubbed my eyes out...My baby is all grown up and it's hard...What i have actually found hardest to deal with is both the boys leaving school at the same time...It's scary and it's made me almost begin to feel my age for a short while...But hey onwards and upwards and it's a new chapter beginning which will still take some fights and face downs with the so called professionals...Oh but when i start that 1 day a week course i am under strict orders to not let on i am Mikeys mother rofl.

I've finished mums jewellery and the jewellery my sis asked me to make for her...The pics are dire to be honest but i took them in a rush and i forgot to take better before i sent them off in the post today...I just hope my sis is happy with her stuff for my niece...I've still not come up with a price for her though but i will before end of the week...Mums is same as Kerrys except mums has 3 purple shades of swarovski to go with her purple outfit for the wedding on sat.

Toodle pip tc xx

Not a lot

G as you may or may not know has a serious phobia of buttons...In the past this hasn't been too much of a problem but at the age he is now it is big time...He can't wear a shirt or a dressed mens jacket...I have managed to buy a shirt today that studs up and will look ok with a tie but in the main studding shirts are very casual looking...For trousers what i have managed to do since he was 13 is to replace the plastic button with a jeans type one...So trousers aren't a problem but a jacket is a serious problem...So today i have enrolled on an occasional wear design course at the local college...It's one day a week but the aug-jan one is full up...I have managed to get the last place on the feb - june one and put my name on the waiting list for the earlier one...Sounds awful but fingers crossed someone will drop out...I have asked some tailoring places here but they're not interested or going to charge an arm and a leg...I had phoned to see about the kilt making course and my name is on waiting list for it now...The woman i spoke to is head of the fashion & textiles dept...She said the woman who takes the occasional wear course is a very experienced dressmaker and is interested in things like this...The occasional wear course is the one where you learn about pattern cutting and pattern designing...Now am thinking a design similar to double breasted gents suit jacket but with a zip instead of buttons...I do think i would rather do this myself than get someone else to do it...You never know he may get asked where he got his jacket because it is cool LOL...Then he can say 'it's designer' but i can get the 'designer' to do one for you LOL

My youngest niece has a 'prom' next week...They're doing them now for moving from primary to secondary school!!!!...So my sis has asked me to do some jewellery for her to wear...So i need to get cracking on that tonight...Apart from that things have been pretty quiet...Next week is M's last week at school...Mon is their awards ceremony, tues sports day, wed street jammin!!!, thurs they are going to climb a local hill and fri is his leavers lunch/party thing...He starts college full time on 25th aug...Well full time isn't what it used to be as they have at least 1 full day off a week...Am still concerned about the level he will be working at and i don't want him getting bored...At a meeting last night i more or less demanded that he does Int 1 maths and Int 1 information technology or whatever computing is called...The woman in charge was saying some can move on to mainstream courses after the 1st year of the SEN course...I asked and how can they do that when they don't do proper qualifications that are needed to do the courses...Actually i find her extremely patronising and said this to another mum i knew at the meeting...Honestly you'd have thought we were all 2 year olds the way she spoke to us...Now it doesn't matter what level of ability the students have they shouldn't be spoken to that way...I find that so condescending...Anyways going to watch more tennis and do necklace, earrings and bracelet for my neice

Toodle pip tc xx

For Kerry

 

 

 

I've added this into the body of my journal so you can see the opal chip beads better...I used some paler pink, aquamarine and AB swarovski crystals with them as i thought they went well with the opals...It's a toggle clasp as the chips are fairly heavy when worn and toggle is better to cope with that...In a shop in town there are necklaces similar to this one on sale for between £145 and £189!!!!!...They have a murano glass heart instead and no crystals just chips...And they are selling!!!! Now i know how much this cost me in materials to make and i would be making a heck of a lot even including time and all the other stuff...I think it is ludicrously expensive for an item like this...This is for K as her birthday is in oct and opal is her birthstone...Am going to make one similar for my mum as well even though she is going to be 76 this year...I may use purple shades of swarovski's in hers though as she is going to a wedding in july and her outfit is purple...Basically i would like mum to wear as an advert LOL...But she may think it's too 'young' for her but i think an item like this could be worn by someone of any age...BTW i do like this material as the background for the pics and it is what i bought to use as background for a table to sell from.

Toodle pip tc xx

aoljpictureUpload, aoljpictureUpload_3

This one is mine :o)

Well i've finally made a necklace for myself...It's approx 20 inches in length excluding the heart...The boys like it and it and the one i made for one of my closest friends for her birthday on mon is only ones they have willingly commented on LOL...Typical men eh!!! No sarky comments Stuart <g>  I don't have a pic of my friends one yet because i redid what i showed on the last pic of a jewellery item...I've not given up on that particular design just i decided on sunday night the wire i used is really too thin...So i took it part and changed it on sunday evening quite late...Now it is same designISH but strung on beading thread instead and with a heart on it also...She loves it...So much so she was a bit overcome about it...Both her and her daughter told me a price they thought it would cost in a shop in town and i was a bit flattered and like 'you really think so naaaahhhh' Not going to say what that price was here though...See i think i need some lessons in pricing my wares...And to learn to NOT be embarassed at asking for X price and be more confident within myself that i can do it and can ask for X price and get it.

Anyways i ordered a pile of stuff on fri off ebay...I so loathe the auction thing...Before i used this ebay shop i used buy it now...But they had some stuff in auction same as buy it now and in some cases the items go for a lot cheaper...I got one item for £11 cheaper than the  buy it not price :o) 500 4mm swarovski crystals in 20 different colours...I looked upon that as checking out samples of some of the myriad of colours they do...There's about 4 of the colours in that pack i really don't like much at all and won't be buying again...But i will use them and make one off unique items from them...2 of the colours i can't pronounce the name of so perhaps they won't be bought again either lol...Thing is i do really like them both...The butterflies i bought are rather teensy and don't look the size they were supposed to be but i'll keep them...Jeannette you don't like danglies too much but if you would like some small dangly butterflies in clear AB crystal then get in touch and you can have them with pleasure :o) They are actually ideal for earrings or for a bracelet but not so much good for necklaces...Anyways that is it for now...Am going into town see if someone will chop my hair back mega short cheaply so i can dye it purple again for sat...And yes i am going to the soiree for champagne on the lawn LOL.

Toodle pip tc xx

Some pics

Above are some pics from the party M had last sunday morning...They did the indoor golf first then went on the XD theatre thing (M didn't) then the dodgems then had their food...They all thoroughly enjoyed themselves but i was not impressed at all with the service when it came to the food...I did complain about it on my way out to the manageress...The wimpy bit get given a time when your party will be there for food so that they can have the juice ready and the boxes ready to get filled up with the food...Our juice was ready but there was no boxes and the food took 20-25 mins to arrive...By which time most of them had drunk the juice and were getting bored waiting...Now ok it was a teens party BUT they were informed that they all had special needs and even then the wait was ridiculous...People just going up to buy a meal were served quicker...After food me and M went to the asda across the road to see if they had a pair of their el cheapo black trousers in his size...They did :o) but he went and bought the jacket to go with them EEKS...So he went off to school on his taxi to then walk over to his work experience wearing a suit, shirt and tie...Rubbish pics above...I feel OLD NOW...He's my BABY he's not supposed to be all dressed like that yet <sobs> It was worse on tues as he came home with a large gents umbrella they had loaned him because of the downpour...All he needed then was a flipping briefcase to complete the look...He didn't do the work experience today he went to college instead...Must say he does actually look very smart in his attire though :o) He enjoyed his time in the office which is good.

And G had his last day at school today (WAILS) ...See i am getting very OLD now...He bought a large box of thorntons chocs for the base staff and small box of heroes and big one of maltesers for the boys...He also went and bought a packet of haribo star mix for one of the boys as he has a nut allergy...He gave a thank you card to the base that i made...Which i hand sewed last night but more on that another time as i don't want to give away all my secrets yet <g> Suffice to say for now that i am particularly chuffed with these ones and how i did the wording...It wasn't the wording that was sewn on btw...Am going to stick to this way of doing the wording from now on though :o) I also made a card for his taxi escort and he gave her thejewellery from me and a small box of thorntons from him...His escort was almost in tears when he was dropped off...She's been ordered to stay in touch though :o) Actually she was in tears just not letting them fall for him to see.

Am well pleased with the opal chip beads i bidded for on an ebay shop and won...I've bidded for another string today so fingers crossed...I also bidded for 3 other items today and 1 has been outbid...Going to wait until last minute to see if i bother with upping my bid for that item...They have it on buy now as well and am not willing to pay close to the buy now price as what is the point...Apart from that there's not been much going on that i can write about on here...We have had glorious weather apart from tues when it rained cats & dogs...That was the first real rain we have had for a few weeks and was much needed...Oh am not sleeping well because am burning up again so i think i need to see my GP...The heat at night doesn't help like.

Toodle pip tc xx

Just a pic of another necklace

 

One of my closest friends has a birthday next month...So i've made her a necklace...Birthstone for June is pearl so i used some freshwater pearls and fire opal swarovski crystals...I love the fire opal crystal the colours are gorgeous, yellows, oranges and reds all mixed together on same crystal so it does look like fire :o) The background is material i have bought for using for displaying on...I thought it was really pretty and appropraite with the silver glittery bits on it...I still have some tweaks to make to it...Well i have to file down some bits but that won't make any difference to the finished effect hence the pics above...Think it would make a pretty bridal necklace myself...It took me ages to make (approx 3-4 hours) and well after having a look around some places you already know my conclusion is that prices i was considering are way too cheap...So am not sure but possibly around £60 - £70 maybe??? Am flipping useless at pricing things...When i make this one for other people i will use slightly thicker sterling silver wire...My left thumb is a wee bit sore with it getting poked by the wire i used on this one LOL...Oh well they my fingers and hands used to get burnt and scraped and pricked with holes all the time when i was at art school many moons ago so no change really...I phoned up the number on the invite and have accepted the invitation...The degree show is actually open to the public that day anyway so if am feeling a bit scaredy cat then i'll just have a wander round the show and not bother going to the lawn in the quad for the afternoon soiree of champagne LOLOL...I've emailed and had a reply from someone recommended to me who makes his own glass lampwork beads...When he has more in stock am now on his mailing list so am definitely going to buy some from him...Of course each bead is unique so that will add something else to the jewellery i do and you can charge for that LOL...Rule of thumb from all those many moons ago since i went to art school was that the person we sold on to marked up by 100% then whoever they sold on to marked up by same again...So say in a shop depending on how many middle men there were the item could cost 200% more than the jeweller who made it got for it...So selling for yourself you could add that on yourself...Which i think is possibly a bit cheeky but then again if people are willing to pay then why not...Besides people pay for swarovski because of the name even though they are not always that expensive as such to buy...I have found a site that sells wholesale packs at around the same price as the factory shop itself...That's IF i got my calculations converting euros to sterling right for the factory shop prices LOL...So to save the flipping hassle of converting i'd rather just buy from the place where the prices are in sterling...That place also has an ebay shop and they do auction some of the factory packs as well as buy now...Thing is having watched a couple of the auctions the bidders ended up paying either same or more than the buy now price...So what's the point in hassle of keeping an eye on the auction i ask myself...I've also made a necklace, bracelet and earrings set the same as the set i made for the Wobbly miss Moo but in the sapphire crystals instead of aquamarine for G's taxi escort...Apart from 1 term he has been with the same taxi escort for the whole 6 years he has been in the base...Also she was one of the playground supervisors at his 2nd mainstream primary school...So he's known her for nearly 8 years...She is going to miss him something chronic...I wanted to give her something special as a present this time hence the jewellery set...I do hope she likes it

Toodle pip tc xx

My baby is 17!!!!!!

Well the birthday boy is off to the cinema with the Triple A team to watch the new Indiana Jones film...To be honest i didn't have a clue what to get him until this afternoon...Me and G went out to buy his cards and pressie from me when i suddenly decided to get him a digital camera...So he's actually well chuffed with it :o)  G had bought him the Futurama film on DVD and i got him a pressie from K which is high school musical game for the DS...So far he also has £100 in birthday money with more to come...I'll be asking him for a sub LOL

Yesterday G had an appointment at the disability support bit of RGU...Student only and not parent going in with them...Ok he is 18 and they speak to the student rather than parents as it isn't school BUT when they have a disability i do think it would be better if the parent or someone else was allowed in with them...G came out after 15 mins and had promptly forgotten everything she had spoken to him about <sigh> Basically it was to discuss support and him being assessed for support both in person and for aids he may need...He has to have a letter confirming his diagnosis and stating what he can and cannot do...So G had thought our GP would be able to do it...WRONG he doesn't see the GP about his aspergers full stop...In fact he doesn't see anyone anymore as there has been no need to...He mumbled something about diagnosis within last 2 years...So i gave up and went in and asked to speak to his disability officer...I got impression off him that meant we were going to have to have him rediagnosed again but no we don't need to...This confirmation for SAAS has to be from someone medical...Which is a bit cack as he doesn't see anyone medical...It's not really a medical condition as such where you see people regularly...She said educational psychologist would be ok...Hmmm the ed psych at his school hasn't even met him as they change so regularly LOL...The head of the base isn't good enough for SAAS which is so so so STUPID...She is the one who knows best about him academically and what support he would need for university FFS...Anyways we drove out to the base and lightbulb went ping on way there...School GP could do it for us...Spoke to Mrs P and she is going to ask the school GP and have letter for next week...Today another lightbulb moment so am going to phone Mrs P tomorrow...Going to ask if she can get together with the school GP and dictate what she writes <g>  Which am sure the lovely school GP will be more than happy to have happen...That way we can get what is needed written down for SAAS...He will be seen next in july by the disability officer and get assessment done then...Speaking of RGU i have my annual invitation again to private viewing of this years degree show from Grays school of Art...Now i have never gone along to them in the past but i am tempted to this year...A) because the lecturer i had left at the end of last year and B) because it sounds frightfully posh this year...These invites i have only received over the last 7 years and they always came in the post...For an evening where you were given one glass of wine and one strawberry tart...This year the invite came via email and (puts on best posh voice) it is for a champagne reception on the lawn in the quad on a saturday afternoon...Thing is i won't know anyone and i bets those who go along are all recent graduates...But it might be a bit of a laugh and does sound ever so posh, says she who will pop along wearing jeans and a T shirt <g> As one friend said i may be able to network at it you never know...So should i say yes to champagne on the lawn or not????

I had M's last ever parents night at school last night...I came away very pleased with how he has done and so is the school...His teacher has given him extra work on IT skills to prevent him from becoming bored...Have to bear in mind that it is a SEN school and some on his class are still unable to read or write...They probably will never be able to read or write very well at all...She is concerned as am i that he could end up repeating a lot of stuff at college and end up bored witless...We also say the head teacher and the deputy head teacher as this was his last ever parents night...They both game me contact details to go above the person am supposed to contact for college <g>  The head teacher asked what he would eventually like to do as a job and he said working in television...And there are courses apparently at college to do with that...Not just the media course but other ones specifically about television industry...M had read about them in the prospectus...Which i didn't know he had because he never told me grrr...So even though college are the same and wish to speak to the student only they ain't going to get away with that from me <g> Oh no i will be going in and demaning (politely) to talk to someone who can put us in the right direction...And fingers crossed they can accomodate him doing some work from these mainstream courses to see if he can cope with them...He certainly knows a lot about filming, editing, adding in sound and special effects and so on...I know of kids who have gone to the special needs course at college from mainstream school who have done standard grades or intermediates who have then had to sit and do work well below their academic capabilities...And that is just plain STUPID and POINTLESS...Ok have them do practical life skills but not repeating or going back to academic work they did several years beforehand...We'll see i don't take things lightly anymore and i certainly won't kow tow to any so called professional and take what they say as face value...Am far too long in the tooth at this now to put up with stuff like that.

Mum has hospital tomorrow about her wrist and should get the plaster removed :o) Oh when out shopping for M's pressies i went to Staples for an SD card as i knew their own brand ones were fairly cheap and actually quite decent...Well up until the 5th of june they have 1gb sandisk ones for £3.99...That is a real bargain and i bought all the ones they had left today...And i will be going back and seeing if they have more in and buying them as well...Asda are about £14.99 for exact same SD card lol...Anyways going to go make and watch the rest of the tennis in peace and quiet :o)

Toodle pip tc xx

Not a lot

Haven't written anything for a couple of weeks so thought i better do an entry...Not that i have much to say as such...Says she before she writes a screed lol.

Mum is still plastered but has appointment next thurs so i presume they will take it off then...And i thought kids were bad enough but when mum was shopping in the town my little sis lives in this woman in her 60s/70s went up to mum and spoke about her plaster...The woman was miffed and jealous that mums plaster is purple as she had only been given a plain old white one LOL...Mum actually didn't get asked they just put on the purple one...Me i was bad on wed and bought some of the fresh cooked chicken drumsticks from asda and ate them...Not good as i've spent yesterday and today ill and running to the loo again...I just can't eat chicken at all since the gall bladder trouble 3 years ago...So M smacked my hand earlier LOL.

M is 17 next wed so i went and booked a party for him on wed for sun 1st june...Indoor adventure golf party with dodgems and this XD theatre thing as well as food...But it's at 10.15am as they only do the golf parties early in the morning like that...How stupid is that for crying out loud...Plus the teen parties (bowling or golf) are supposed to be for 12-16...The place it's at do parties for 3 and under, 3-10, 5-11, 6-11, 12-16 and then adult which is 18+....What about the poor 17 year olds!!!!!...Never mind it's booked and so far everyone who has replied has said they're going...M and me are on our own this weekend as G is away with his base on an adventure weekend up at Nethybridge which is near the Cairngorms.

Abernethy Trust Nethybridge Outdoor Centre

This is his last trip with them as that's him effectively left school now...When he first went to the base the trip was to Lagganlia (sp) which is near Aviemore, then for the next 3 years they went to Lochgoilhead over on the west coast, last year to same place as this year...He's always really enjoyed these weekends, mainly because they do lots of watersports which he loves...They did sailing for the first time last year and it's the only watersport he's tried that he didn't like that much...He had his Higher Physics exam this morning before they went off grrrr...Means i have got to wait until monday to find out how he thinks it went...He had his Advanced Higher Maths on tues and he said it was easier that the prelim and went a lot better :o) He is positive that he has definitely improved to a B grade pass but maybe an A...He got a C pass in the prelim and he wasn't happy with it at all...His Advanced Higher Tech Studies isn't until june...Then he has the leavers lunch and that's it until he starts at Robert Gordons University in Sept...He's come on one heck of a journey over the years...From being totally non verbal and eventually diagnosed with autism just after his 3rd birthday to starting to speak when he turned 5, then being integrated into mainstream primary part way through P2...Then for secondary school we were fortunate enough to live somewhere that there is specialist provision for pupils with aspergers/high functioning autism within mainstream secondary school...I am not sure but i think the MICAS bases are unique to our city in Scotland...I know that the one G has attended was unique in Scotland until our council opened more and they have continued to expand to the city now having 5 such bases in different areas of the city :o) I'd love to see some of the people who were around when he was 3 and say 'look at him now' Some of whom held out no hope of him being in mainstream schooling let alone going to university or hopefully getting a job...Even now in this day regardless of where they are on the autistic spectrum there are less than 50% of adults with an ASD in full time employment in Scotland :o( 

M has work experience from 2nd -6th june...He will be working in an office at one of the council buildings near his school...It's the education dept office and he will be an office junior...Am happy enough with that as i really didn't want him working with the janitor or in the kitchen...The original job he was going to do fell through before easter hence this one instead...So although he's allowed to wear his school clothes he is wearing a shirt and tie and smart trousers and jacket...Because that is what you wear to work in an office...So i've bought him another new shirt that has come with a tie and is young looking rather than old looking...He doesn't know but the other one he liked my best pal has bought him for his birthday :o) He will be leaving for full time SEN course at college starting in aug and i am seriously concerned about it but i till talk about that another day after i have spoken to people i need to speak to.

I've decided to try and set my sights on getting a stand at some of the autumn wedding fayres and see how things go from there with the jewellery and the cards...I of course need to make much much more than i have at the mo...As everything apart from earrings has been made as gifts i need to make them up again...And i've spoken to someone about trying to get decent pics done...One of the mums from the weekend away who has what i call a proper camera...In other words an SLR camera rather than wee point and shoot jobby :o) Hope everyone reading is well and happy...Told you it would end up a bit of a screed lol

Toodle pip tc xx

Catchy up

Poor mum ended up in hospital last wed, thurs and fri...Wed she was there for her resheduled cataract op which got cancelled for the 2nd time...The consultant who was going to do the op came through and told them all that he was feeling unwell and wouldn't be able to operate after all...If he was feeling that ill then a) he shouldn't have been in at work and b) he could have let them all know before they travelled to be there at 8am...Not everyone lived in the town where the op was taking place...My mum lives 24 miles from that town and she and my older sis had to be up early to get there on time...Thurs she tripped and fell in the village square and had to go to A&E...Upshot is a broken wrist but no-one there to plaster it on thurs so she had be taken back on fri morning to get plastered...She wasn't asked but the plaster is purple LOL...Been teasing her saying she's all trendy with it being coloured.

G was out on saturday, i woke with migraine on sun so we went up on mon to visit...Poor mum looks tiny compared to the boys now...It was a gorgeous day up there mind you it has been gorgeous since last fri really...It's supposed to get better towards end of the week...M has his maths standard grade tomorrow and am going to take him up there...I will wait in the big park close to the school and take him back down to his sen school once the exam finishes...It's only 80 mins and it's lovely weather so i can just sit in the sun and wait...G has now started study leave and effectively is now finished school...His exams are on the 20th, 23rd may and 4th of june...He's away with school for a long weekend up near aviemore from 23rd to 26th may...Slight problem there am gonna need to maybe find someone to pick him up and take him home on the 26th...Am going to the theatre to see Joseph that evening and that was arranged long before his weekend away...This sat they are both out at seperate birthday celebrations...G is out all afternoon to the cinema and then pizza hut and M is out in the evening tenpin bowling and the dodgems...Shame they're not out at different times but hey ho...The pics of the flowers are from mums back garden...It's full of bushes and flowers and slopes up pretty steep...I really love the peach trumpet daffodils and hadn't even noticed that colour in her garden before and never seen them before...She keeps offering me plants and cuttings but i keep telling her there is no point...I gave up trying to keep indoor plants alive when i was in my early 20s and i think i best give up on outdoor plants too...Nothing grows for me LOL...If you want a plant to die that you cannot kill off give it to me and i will gurantee it dies within a couple of weeks :o)  I looked through some of mums old photos when i was there on mon...I have some to scan in but one in particular...You will really laugh when you see it and when i tell you what M said about it you will laugh even more...That entry can wait until another day though...The others i need to speak to a man who can restore very very old and slightly damaged pics...One i think is beyond repair which is a shame as it is me as a toddler in a rowing boat with my dad at the outdoor pool we went to a lot in the summer when i was a child...I loved that outdoor pool complex...There was the kiddies shallow pool, the boating pool and the deep big pool with diving boards and a chute into the water...The water came from the sea so it was a saltwater pool but they didn't heat it up...It is now derelict and was along the coast a bit from where i grew up on the moray firth coast...Stonehaven just south of here still has an art deco open air seawater pool...Thing is they heat it up and there is nothing more vile than heated seawater in your mouth when swimming...Mum also had a few pics of K,G and M as a baby with her which i nabbed to scan...The very old ones i need repaired are of my dad in his army uniform from his national service, my grandad (mums dad) in his naval uniform from WW2 and one of my grandad in same uniform with my granny...I just need to figure out how to scan as i;ve not used the scanner bit of the printer before.

Toodle pip tc xx

Squirrels

You may wonder why i asked about squirrels...Well at the grand old age of 45 i have NEVER EVER seen a squirrel of either colour at all...That's despite growing up beside the sea but also surrounded by lots of woodland...Playing in the woods, going frog spawn colleting, rolling easter eggs in them, walking home from sunday school through them etc...I have never ever seen a squirrel...Well there was loads of red squirrels where i was over the weekend...They would come right up to the front of the house in the morning or late evening...And guess what...Yups i have still NEVER EVER seen a squirrel...Everyone else say plenty over the weekend...The little sods run a mile when they knew i was out in the grounds <sobs> Saw plenty pheasants and rabbits and hares and other birds but the squirrels avoided me like the plague <SOBS>

Above are some pics i took over the weekend...Ok it did rain a wee bit but still the weather was in the main glorious...The rooms were amazing...I was in the 'turret' as one of the regular people who help run these conferences calls it...In the middle between the front and back of the house...We had no keys for our doors although we could lock them from the inside...Being in the middle of nowhere then the only people around to nick anything were staff and the people staying there for the conference...Am putting a couple of links at the end of this entry about Douneside and the MacRobert trust...We had a book in our room about the Trust and as i hadn't taken anything with me to read and we were basically packed off to bed early i read it...Fascinating read actually :o) The views across the fields and the surrounding hills were fantastic...It was very peaceful and tranquil :o) In the evenings a log fire was lit in the bar area and we divided into 2 teams to have a quiz both nights...The team i was on won the 1st night and lost by 1 point on the 2nd night...I love quizzes and i did get quite competitive LOL...I have in the past written and run a weekly pub quiz for charity...M loves gameshows especially quiz type ones and i was asked if it was me he got it from...I'd never thought about it before and i suppose he does in a way...It may be a good fundraising idea for their Triple A team and i will suggest it at next steering group meeting...M could help me to ask the questions :o)

Have to go as someone wants to chat so will do the rest of what i was going to say just now another day.

History of the Trust

Douneside House Conference Centre and Services Holiday Country House

Toodle pip tc xx

I know it's only april but i look like rudolph lol

Well my weekend away was good but i have a sunburnt nose that is all shiny and red...It's not sore and am covered in even more freckles and am all pink too...Needless to say we did have nice weather but yesterday was very hot and very very sunny...Being in the middle of nowhere then suntan cream wasn't an option...No i didn't have any long lies as brekkie was at 8.30am and the programme for the day started at 9.30am...We were doing lots of workshops and discussions on various issues...To share our feelings and reactions to things and how we coped and dealt with tons of issues.

Am not going to go into details as that would be wrong...What i will talk about is the mechanisms that we can try to create or put in place that can help all of us with dealing with things...We discussed meetings first of all...How we felt before a meeting, during and after...Am afraid that i really don't feel that bad about meetings or nervous about them really...But as one of the facilitators pointed out that could be because am so far down the line now and have been dealing with all kinds of meetings with all kinds of professionals for 16/17 years now for G and for M since he was about 8 months old that am used to them...So much of what i said was things the facilitators would advise to do to help...Oh and i have now come to a what i think may possibly be the reason behind the constant moans about G's appearance...As you all know from what i write he is very capable academically...So they don't really have anything to do in that area for him as such...So i think instead of focusing and helping with the other issues he has that i am concerned about she has to find something to moan about...Possibly to justify to herself why he needs a place in the base...So she picks on his hair and his clothing because she has nothing else to pick on that could be 'bad' and he would need 'help' with...Does that sound plausible???? Anyways i digress as usual...After we all said our piece about our feelings and how we deal with meetings we discussed something called 'Circle of Friends'...Circle of friends is a good tool IMO but it can also be quite emotional trying to think of one and to try and create one...Also we don't need one just for ourselves but for our disabled person in our lives...I have always found it incredibly difficult to try and even just create one on paper as an exercise because there are so few people in my life as such now...But as i had to phone home i missed part of it and didn't have to do one as such as an exercise :o) But i do really need to create a circle of some kind regardless of how small it is...Mainly because i am a single parent...And i can't include family in an area of the circle that i really should have them in because they live too far away...It is very important that your circle know what YOU WANT for your disabled person and what the disabled person wants and NEEDS...The circle can step in when you as the main carer fall ill and make arrangements for more outside care or stuff like that with the professionals...You also need to include on the outmost ring of the circle the people who are PAID to be in your life...Like doctors, specialists, teachers, care workers, respite workers etc...The innermost people in the circle need to know who they are...I guess even though my circle is miniscule when i had the emergency hospitalisation over my gall bladder nearly 3 years ago they kicked in and made phone calls and made social work listen and make arrangements...Not that what social work actually organised was that great but at least the 3 closest friends i have helped K out with that big time :o) Your circle could also give you a kick up the backside so to speak if it is a disabled child you have...Like pointing out that you are still dressing them like a very small child even though they are now a teenager...Regardless of if those kind of clothes are easier for them to wear...Am sure my small bunch of friends and K would have kicked my up the backside if G's hair was making him out to be even more different than he is <g>

Another thing we discussed but briefly is Person Centred Planning...Hopefully if funding can be got then a couple of courses on it will be run which i will definitely go on as it is something i am very interested in...Small view on PCP below

Person centred planning is:

A powerful way to support POSITIVE chane

A different way of working together

A better way to listen and respond to people

Different for different people

An invitation to personal commitment

Working towards inclusive communities

For anyone who wants it

Person Centred Planning is NOT:

A cure-all

Just coloured posters instead of paperwork

Just a more sophisticated assessment

A standard package

A service routine

Just a better way to put service packages together

Just for those who are 'ready'

It's about MOVING FROM planning which is owned by professionals TOWARDS planning which is owned by the person and those close to them

It's about MOVING FROM trying to fix people and waiting until they are ready TOWARDS creating opportunities now and providing support as/when needed

It's about MOVING FROM people being surrounded by paid staff, bound by the service TOWARDS people having friends and strengthening community connections

It's about MOVING FROM packaging people TOWARDS inividual and unique arangements

It's about MOVING FROM designing a service solution to last forever TOWARDS expecting services and supports to change as the person changes

It's about MOVING FROM services trapping individuals TOWARDS services being a bridge into the community

Basically in simplistic form it is all about looking at our disabled person we care for as an INDIVIDUAL with INDIVIDUAL needs and catering for those needs...About looking at them as an individual and looking at them as a person and NOT the condition they have and lumping them into a set category because of their disability...After all we are ALL of us INDIVIDUALS with different needs, wants and dreams...What works for one doesn't always work for another regardless of if they have the same condition...I know that extremely well because i have two sons both with same/similar condition on paper who have very very different needs, abilities etc...I really want to go on a course about it so i do hope funding can be found to run one...The person i know who tries to get courses like this, conferences and other things like the weekend away doesn't believe in parents/carers having to pay an absolute fortune to learn all this info and be trained in anything...Her preference is FREE as opposed to charging but if a charge has to be made then as small as possible...Professionals get trained, parents/carers don't get trained...We have to learn or find out for ourselves...Often after a disagnosis is made you are left to go away with no info on anything...Not even info on local support groups, places you can go for help etc...That hasn't changed in all the time that G has been diagnosed...It's shocking really and it wouldn't be that difficult for say a leaflet to be made up and handed out to a parent at least...With phone numbers, addresses, websites etc...Some of the people there at the weekend didn't even know the carers centre existed as no-one had told them...Quite frankly i find that disgusting and unforgiveable...If you happen to be a carer then your nearest carers centre can be a goldmine of useful information for you.

On sat i ended up in tears in the afternoon about one thing we had to fill in...And i still feel really stupid about it...We got handed a large sheet of paper with 4 sections on it to fill in...And we were only allowed to write in POSITIVE things...You know glass half full and not half empty...Or in my case i always see the glass as empty or at the most a quarter full...So first section was ROLES...Ok that wasn't too bad...Mum, chief bottle washer, chauffeur, general dogsbody and unpaid counsellor...Next was SKILLS...Good listener, give good advice, can drive, artistic...Next section was PASSIONS & INTERESTS...That i found very easy...I may not always have time for them but i managed to write a fair few in there...Lastly was WHAT PEOPLE SAY about you...This is the one that i just couldn't fill in and ended up in tears over...That funeral last week was still on my mind...To me i don't have that many people i know to say stuff about me and why would they say things to my face...But i did manage to put down good listener and good at councelling...Eventually i managed loyal friend as well...But i was really sobbing by then...So two of the others came over and plonked themselves on the floor beside me...One grabbed the sheet and wrote the following: Motivator, Selfless, Dedicated, Compassionate, Outgoing (HAHAHA), Good sense of humour, trivia queen...The hahaha is me adding that just now btw...Am not really it is a front...I did come across on the friday as very confident but i did point out on the fri that i am only confident when it comes to meetings etc to get what i want and what i believe is right for the boys...In every other area i am severely lacking in confidence and have absolutely no faith in myself at all...As i always say who counsels the counsellor...I am pretty good at giving sound, workable advice to others but am pretty bad at heeding my own advice...I ALWAYS come last at the very bottom of the pile and i ALWAYS put everyone else before me...And K has given me a right good telling off about that for years and G is doing it now as well...But hey i did buy clothes for me last week...I spent far too much on new clothes for me last week...I did buy K a new top though because she was such a star at coming home to look after the boys for me to go away...And i refused to take my change back of the money i had left with them for stuff over the weekend...They went tenpin bowling on the sat and the boys paid for themselves!!!!...She managed to get them to clear out a lot of rubbish from their rooms!!!!!...I've been nagging them for months about it...Oh well big sis is easier to do things for than  mean old mum <g>

Am not going to write anymore about the weekend just now i will keep some for an entry tomorrow and possibly the next day...Spread it out a bit instead :o) But can i just ask how many of you have seen a squirrel for real...Grey or red but preferably red...You'll find out why in another entry :o)

Toodle pip tc

 

Question

To those who buy off ebay specifically ebay shops have any of you bought anything where it says it's from china, thailand, usa, ireland etc??? Am a bit wary and asking because some of the jewellery components are mega cheap from china, thailand or usa

catchy up

I went to the funeral last thurs... I found out about it on wed evening and to be honest i was incredibly tensed up about it...I hadn't been in touch with her for a few years and most of the people i knew who would be going don't talk to me any more either...But i had to go for myself as i wouldn't have felt comfortable within myself if i hadn't gone along...There were other people there that i know who i never see regularly anyway so i mainly spoke to them...I felt incredibly uncomfortable but am glad i went along...I do wish she had still spoken to me as i didn't know just how bad her depression had become :o(  I ended up with the worst migraine i have had in a very long time on fri, sat and most of sunday and i think it was because i was so tensed up...I was invited to a 50th birthday in a local pub on the fri but i couldn't go...Not just because of the migraine as i would have popped along for an hour just to show my face...But also because i didn't feel i could face some of the people again...Silly really isn't it...I lost a lot of so called friends during the years after me and my ex split up...The irony of that being that most of them were friends with me to begin with LOL...But it is their loss and not mine but it still makes me feel awkward being in their company.

On to less deep and emotional stuff now :o)  My best friend got a dog last week...I went with her and her kids to pick it up...She got it via freecycle LOL...So because i was the one that Bex was sat with in the car all the way back (approx an hour) she adores me LOL...Now as most reading will know M is terrified of dogs so this is a big problem...But he has said he will not not visit my best pal again...As long as Bex is in the garden or in the utility room away from him then he says he can cope...Am kinda hoping that eventually Bex will help him to overcome his fears...It may be that he still doesn't like dogs much but that he is fine with Bex...She is an 8 month old border collie and she is a wee bit excitable...Me and best pal plan to take her out on long walks which is cheaper than the gym LOL.

I have physio tomorrow morning and i've kinda recovered a bit from my 2nd fall two weeks ago...It aches a heck of a lot but not painful as such now...Ok it still hurts if i type too much or do too much at oncebut hey ho...I had M to the doctors yesterday and i asked our lovely gp what he had injected me with last week...It was an anti inflammatory...I said i wished he'd done it before as i actually managed to sleep for longer than 45mins...He said next time he would do it straight away...I said 'next time!!!! there will hopefully be no next time' And he laughed...Actually if i do bash it again i want it to break so i can have it operated on and fixed proper like...It's swollen and feels weird if touched but not painful...Will see what the physio says tomorrow...I have to drive on fri for much longer distance than since christmas...Am going away early on fri morning and return sunday teatime...It's a weekend oragnised by the carers centre for single parent carers...But as i don't go anywhere or do much i ended up buying stuff from asda last night...Pyjamas, slippers, socks without holes, a pair of trousers and a couple of tops...At the moment i own two pairs of jeans that fit me, some vest tops and some old t shirts and a couple of jumpers...The jeans include a black pair that don't really look like jeans...We'll be having workshops and time to ourselves...I've no idea if we have to share a room but am kinda hoping not...With my sleep being the way it is then sharing a room isn't going to be good for the other person.

I did 3 orders off 3 different ebay shops later on fri evening...Am well impressed that two of the orders arrived yesterday...No mistakes and one of the shops am well impressed that they emailed me saying they had sent my order 1st class on mon...I will be using her again as the crystals were reasonably priced for the amount in the pack...Now i know what some of the colours look like in reality i will be ordering more...the blue zircon colour is as i thought and is a gorgeous teal colour...The only thing is i ordered a mixed pack of pinks...A list of which pinks they are would have been useful...When the other order of st silver wire arrives (hope tis right gauge) then i will be making up some designs...I really need to build up a range and then go and find an outlet...Like the craft group although they may not take me on as they have a few already who do jewellery and a few who do cards...But my cards are different to those others and the jewellery is in the main different to the others as well...Fingers crossed although that will be a few weeks away...Their next craft fair is in may and i can't do one in may as i want to be here to make sure the boys study...Well to make sure G studies for his exams in may...Am going because my shoulder is aching now although i have more to say

Toodle pip tc xx

Klutz or numptie lol

Well am having to use size 14 font now as size 12 is appearing as size 8 and size 10 wants to be about size 24 <sigh> Methinks the font sizes on this blog are trying to give me a message...LOSE WEIGHT AGAIN lol...It will happen but not until i am able to take up exercising again...I can't even do swimming just now which i had thought i could start again despite the council cutbacks...We do actually have umpteen swimming pools in the city it's just finding one that is open at a time i can go there and one that isn't full of people who aren't into swimming length after length like me.

Reason i can't go swimming is that despite now having more movement back in the capputed shoulder i erm fell again...To be exact our stairwell carpet is rather worn...That is really an understatement it's downright dangerously full of holes...Well i caught my toes in one said holes last wed night and went thunk banging the already damaged shoulder on the edge of one of the steps with a vengance...G came rushing down to see if i was alright and to help me...One of the neighbours came in just as i was attempting to get up...Now i thought i was fine and on thurs i felt ok...Winded to start with and just a bit stiff on the thurs...Big error on fri teatime as i drove to sainsburys...Fridge was empty and cupboards looking barren so i needed to buy supplies...As the crow flies sainsburys would be around 5 mins walk but the railway line gets in the way...Boy did i ache when i got back...My best friend called and asked if i would go to the cinema with her so i said yes despite film she wanted to see not being my thing...By the time we sat down to watch it i had shooting pains going up my neck and pins n needles down my arm...If i clenched my fist i had pain in my shoulder joint...The long winded medical name i can't pronounce let alone spell but you know the ball & socket joint that links the clavicle to the ulna or is it radius erm arm bone :o) It got worse over the course of sat and sun so on mon i phoned and managed to see my wonderful GP...Upshot is i have now damaged that part of my shoulder...Loads of internal swelling and stiffness <sigh> More painkillers or an injection was offered so i leapt at the injection...Marvellous as on mon night i actually managed to sleep longer than 45 mins for the first time since before christmas :o) GP told me to let my physio know and to also tell them he'd injected it...What with is anyones guess but am presuming some anti inflammatory...It still aches and i get sharp pains if i move it wrong but hey ho...I also felt incredibly sick all weekend like you do if you fall and bang your head...That according to the GP is from pain...So my movement is restricted again, i have to take it easy and physio will check it over next week when i see him and proceed from there...The stair carpet is getting hauled up and dumped in the street bins as soon as i am able and sod what anyone in the block says...It has been suggested by some friends that i need wrapped up in bubble wrap or cotton wool LOL...Am just glad it was me and not one of the boys...It could have been a lot lot lot worse...No-one cares about the state of the place and as am on the first floor then everyone of course is using that section of the stairs...Soon they can just put up with the wooden stairs themselves as i am not putting down more carpet...So i can type a little bit but it starts to ache a lot after about 4 lines...But it is keeping it moving and that is good, i can put up with some aches.

As you know K is coming up next week on the thurs...To be with M at the YAC agm and to look after the boys so i can go away for some peace and quite...Well M has decided he is going to stand to try and be elected for the vacant MSYP place next thurs...It won't be plain sailing as someone else is standing...Fingers crossed he does get voted in...Ok i will worry about him going away to weekend long meetings but it will be good for him i think...For someone who as yet as no qualifications through school and still has more difficulties than people perceive he is very passionate about people like him...From very young, teens, to older people with an ASD...He is able to overcome his social difficulties to try and make himself heard to try and make the public more aware of people like him and G...To make people realise that it's not special treatment as such that they need but allowances and understanding...Once someone knows it is not that much of a hardship to speak differently to them, to make people aware that yes they can do a job as long as certain things are in place...Not stuff that would cost money as such either...Mainly understanding, explaining things simply and clearly and to not treat them like they are thick or lepers of some kind.

Last night M didn't want to go to club so G took the bus...I couldn't have driven the 4-5 mile round trip anyway...Just after G left i phoned my best friend and she was pissed off...Her fella had decided he was not going to go with her and their young children to view this dog my friend had seen advertised...So i said i'd go with her instead...M was happy enough to be on his own...Well it's just as well i went with her as am a better satnav than his tomtom LOL...It was way out in the country and she had seen it advertised on freecycle...They were giving it away because although she is fine with children and other animals she did try to bully their other dog...So i ended up with a dog in the footwell trying to clamber over me on the way back...M won't be visiting them again <sigh> Mind you perhaps this well get him to be ok with dogs...My best friends 3 year old daughter is dog mad to the point where proper leads and collars had to be bought for her stuffed toy dogs...Although am not a dog lover in the sense that i would have a dog as a pet i will go out with her to take it on walks...It's cheaper than the gym LOL...Now am really aching so am off to see if a soak in the bath will help and attempt to wash my hair.

Toodle pip tc xx