Uniformed Wednesday

At one place someone asking about what this thing about uniforms is about feeling at few people seem to go off on a bit of a tangent about that may of been connected with their schooling to the point it's all they ever talk about.

I kinda get that which is why I haven't been about much other than that site I mentioned once I was a at briefly because to me it was really more about being this forever a child legally an adult, having those feelings and perusing as a free running part of it those interests, hobbies and actual 'play' that come from it.

To me things such having more child-like play clothes and wearing a school uniform are just more about changing the outer wrapper detaching in terms of actual image anything more 'adult' from the adult boy of ten I am rather than being an end in itself because it's not role playing it's just dressing more as I am all of the time.

It isn't that I don't like the rules and structure that go with it, but for me it's more that works better for being in my head all the time very much that child and so being handled more that way makes more sense.

Low expectations

One of the biggest challenges with me has been breaking the cycle of low expectations leading to low achievement because in my respects I had been written off by medical prognosis as educationally sub normal  and that any sign of learning was seen so miraculous that little attempt was made to really direct it.
It wasn't really helped by specialized schooling provision being very much less academic, not even at the time required to follow the same sort of curriculum but altered  to take account of your particular needs.
Indeed I recall a period at one such school where I was shocked that we seemed to be at least two to three years behind my last school being more like Junior 1 and so to be honest I was glad to get out to mainstream education where I did do quite a lot better for a low level of support.
Part of that was while respecting my  disabilities and being prepared to assist, I was expected from day one to work to the same standard as any other child, to do any homework and like the others when not smacked in class for it.
As well the work did follow national guidance for our age including examination preparation and taking which that other school by default didn't and in that way actually it was more like my Junior school being a follow on.
It just felt the specialist provision really was just parking me, meeting the requirement to 'be in education' but not developing me.

Weekly reflection

This week as the weather has been  better for getting about so I've managed to get out an actually walk a bit further than normal getting close to what I was capable of several years back so that's been great this week.

It's so great to start to wake up to the dawn chorus now that it's getting a bit bit bright and for longer because it sounds so peaceful and when I'm out walking often I stop and listen out for them spotting them in the trees or just overhead near the fields.

It's strange but all of this actually leads to me feeling less stressed and from that much less likely to lash out at people when it just all becomes too much emotionally and when it comes to stimulation too which is a great help not just to me but Mom too.

As I'm typing this out today it's her day - what the natives here call "Mothering Sunday" - so I got her a card and present while I was in town late last week while I was out exchanging a gift voucher toward a present for my birthday.

I think I'm doing good now. 

Just as this blog is about to go to press, it's been announced Professor Steven Hawking has died who like me is a quadriplegic.

He's been battling Motor Neurone disease since being diagnosed with it at university   being a electric wheelchair user but although he required considerable personal support, he went on to complete a lot of research into the Cosmos to acclaim from his peers and can be credited with helping to popularize science and break down the idea that disabled people cannot contribute to society.

He was an inspiration to me and countless others of our generation.

Coping with the weather and stuff

When I was kid, at least officially I wasn't unlike him in the summer just wearing  shorts, underwear, socks and shoes  enjoying the glistening sunlight on my torso out in our garden or in relatives ones.

One difference steams from the failure to invest me into scouting which is I wouldn't of known about how to cook on a barbecue or even a regular grill because I was also banned from the kitchen which is a good example of how my family failed to teach me life skills I might need in the workplace or at home to take care of myself. 

We begin this weeks entry from last week with the challenges of the extreme weather we had and how that effects me as the effects if you, like me have a physical disability are often more severe.

This week we have snow thanks to a pressure system from Siberia, Russia according to forecasters so part of this week was taken up with taking precautions because I do take some tablets that I find help in managing my conditions so I needed to go into town to get them.

Although it is a bit controversial I do find Omega 3 typically found in fish oils helps in a couple of important ways with me the first being I find it helps my brain to be mentally sharper and less of a fuzzy haze than it is when I don't take them and the other being they do help control the side effects of my badly damaged tendons keeping inflammation lower without the issues I had with non-steroids anti inflammatories  like Voltarol which caused damage to my stomach lining.

So It kinda matters to get them in while I can.

As well, I am making progress in walking having managed Sunday morning to walk a good eight of a mile more than could a few months back which is quite an improvement on how I have been a for good number of years and that despite a full cooked breakfast.
Weekend meals I think probably are bigger in terms of calories compared with those during the week so I may at some point need to look at how to size them down a fraction as I'm convinced  I honestly don't need the cooked breakfast and full evening meal on Sundays.

I stood still and  saw a Blue Tit land on  a branch very close to me which was really nice to see while out in brilliant orange glow of the Winter Sun even if it was just 1 degree C and so I was very well wrapped up with gloves and scarf on.

Yesterday it was a 'special day' that you'll be able to read something about on my main blog although I had plenty of cards, presents and money too which is always useful.