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