Tuesday, October 30th, 2007, 4:31 am
I am getting increasingly of the opinion that my own partner has some sort of mild version of Aspergers syndrome and/or dyspraxia, and I'm looking for more information about either or both of these conditions and most importantly, I need to know how to improve things. Sadly, I am getting towards the end of my own inner resources in dealing with the outward manifestations of them (if indeed he does have either or both of these).
To find out more I have looked at the iVillage "all Boards" list, but haven't spotted anything which deals with the various spectrum range of autistic conditions particularly in adults, so I've posted on Children with special needs and ADD support. I've also investigated the various Autism charities' websites for information and some of them have been quite helpful.
Afetr hearing my first suspicions regarding this problem over 3 years ago, my partner is also only now just beginning to take me seriously, and has broached the subject with his mother. Within 3 days she has done her research and can see so much of him in the diagnoses that maybe finally someone is listening. As I understand it though, getting doctors to take notice is a whole new ball game.
The most soul-destroying thing for me however is that I have never heard of anyone recovering from these conditions. They are there for life, pre-programmed in to the brain. The only way I have heard of things becoming managable for the families of sufferers, is for those around the person to expect less of them and make allowances for everything they do. That seems so much like the end of the road for me. As I said above., I have cometo the end of my coping resources and can't deal with it any more. If anyone here has any personal experience of actually improving life, living with someone with either of these conditions, particularly in adult-hood, I would welcome your comments on this blog piece.
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autism, aspergers, carer, dyspraxia
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Monday, October 29th, 2007, 9:29 am
So, 6 weeks down and 6 weeks to go. I have lost 12 lbs of my requisite 22 and at my current weight of 10st 10 lbs, I have only another 10 lbs to go in 6 weeks to get to goal and meet my pledged weight loss.
It's do-able but it'll be hard work. I've averaged 16 points a day this week (the minimum that Weight watchers say you should go down to in a week in order to maintain good health) and I've done a further 20 points of exercise, without eating any extra which WW say you can have if you need it. It's really important for me to stay injury-free for the next 6 weeks!
My skinny jeans are starting to feel looser now. I can slip them off over my hips without even undoing them. Goal seems a distinct possibility, but there's little room for manoeuvre to have a STS or gain week! Come on Mellers, don't lose heart now - you're so close.
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weight loss, weight watchers, clothing
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Sunday, October 28th, 2007, 5:02 am
I'm off on the trek to Portsmouth this morning for the Great South Run.
Now, before you get too excited that I'm actually running in it, I'm not. I shall be cheering on a chum. Good job too actually as it's just started to rain a while ago and it looks like it's going to get heavier!
Mind you, even though the Portsmouth roads have been closed, we have no option but to try to drive down as close as we can get. Going by train is not an option sadly as all the trains in to and out of Portsmouth this weekend have been cancelled due to "essential railway maintenance". Spectacular timing guys!
Ok, this is a quick update to this post, now that I'm back home. It was brilliant. Partner was so swept away by it all he wants to have a go at getting to that sort of distance - I told him he should do a 5k and 10k first! lol!
The weather was appalling - drizzle turning to squalls along the unprotected sea front and I pity the poor runners who had to do the last 2 1/2 miles against what felt like a force 8 wind and driving rain! Of course we were only standing in it for 2 hours - they had to run in it!
Our chum did a very creditable 1 hour 25mins and came within the first 1000 of 11,000 runners. He started off in the "green" wave of runners (the slowest) but next year hopes to be in the orange or white waves thanks to his good time. He says if he can knock off the extra 25 mins it would have taken him in to the top 500. We spotted him twice as we positioned ourselves at a point where the race went back on itself and we could see him coming back the other way on the home straight. He came and said thanks today - it seemed to mean quite a lot to him that we went and cheered him on.
One thing I noticed (which I didn't expect) was that some runners stencilled their own first names on to their running vest or t shirt. This enabled me and my rowdy companions to personally cheer them on as they ran past. "Go on STEVE", "Go Sarah", "Come on KEV" etc etc !!! lol! When they heard us it seemed to raise a small smile and spur them on - so it's worth considering if you ever want encouragement from complete strangers when you're racing! Write your name clearly on your top and people WILL cheer you on.
I take my hat off to every single competitor out there yesterday. It was a magnificent achievement. (I'm STILL drying out! lol!)
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running, weather, rain
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Friday, October 26th, 2007, 8:52 am
... well, maybe...!
I've recently joined a drama group where the emphasis is on video related output, rather than theatre. It's all jolly good fun, gets me out of the house, and means I can be the tiniest bit "lovvey" without having to get up on stage and make a fool of myself in front of people.
The current project is to create a teaching resource for medical professionals, to be used in conferences and such like (narrowcast audience, that is), to promote awareness of a particular subject and highlight various lighthearted aspects of the subject. The particular segment we are curently working on involves filming scenes from everyday life, such as might be found on a video diary.
This week they have given me the camera and I shall be talking it aong to the walking group next Tuesday week, to film a few snippets of that (from the back only of course so we don't have any issues of privacy infringement) and I'm thinking of taking it with me next time I go out on my bike! If I can get permission from my french tutor, I may also take it to college to film my A level French class.
The producer (who also doubles as editor/director) has suggested I get someone else to film me runnning and/or cycling, but that's a whole new leap of faith required to get myself in front of the camera! They've suggested domestic chores too, and while cooking and cleaning might be a bit dull, a couple of seconds of gardening, might be something a bit different. Still got to brace myself to get in front of the camera though!
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Thursday, October 25th, 2007, 11:57 am
I don't know what it's been like up North, but dahn sarf where I am it has been decidedly chilly (going on practically Arctic) over the last few days.
Now, I have been sticking to my cycling schedule and still going out cycling in the cold, but cor blimey guv'nor, sometimes it's got so cold I couldn't feel my toes!
Also, I have set myself an arbitrary target of NOT putting my heating on until November. I'm doing this in an effort to be slightly more environmentally friendly, given that it's an entire central heating system for a whole detached house, and I'm here by myself during the day. To be greener, I am wearing extra layers, but at times, including today, it hasn't realy been enough! I am sat here, typing this wrapped up in TWO jumpers - and a 13 tog duvet!
I checked my carbon footprint the other day on this government website: http://actonco2.direct.gov.uk/index.html and whilst I was decidedly better than average on most things (I cycle everywhere, don't use the car and don't fly abroad on holiday) my heating bills and such like, mean that I was worse than the national average on heating my home. It hit quite hard actually as I have always tried very hard to be as green as possible. I have cavity wall insulation, loft insulation, water tank and immersion heater insulation, but DON'T have a special green tariff with my energy supplier. That marked me down pretty spectacularly, so in an effort to redress the balance, I have given myself this arbitrary deadline of 'no heating until November', and have decided that while I'm here during the day by myself even then after that, I will leave the heating system OFF, and only have it on while partner is here.
I hope the environment appreciates it that's all I can say! lol! (brrrr, brrrr)
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