Busyknitter

One of these days the Department of Work and Pensions will cotton onto the fact that Ted’s autism actually isn’t going to go away and let me off filling in those ghastly forms every two or three years.

Sam ironed a shirt yesterday, no-one hurt.

Able to whistle two notes at once
Can eat 2lb grapes at a sitting
Resistant to all known forms of hair cutting
Strong enough to pull a radiator off a wall

Happy Birthday T, seven today!

1. The location

2. Fellowship with most of our church family

3. The teaching
Andrew Gardner from Fulwood Free Methodist preached over the course of the weekend on Genesis and Community. He also did Ephesians but I missed that as it was my turn to look after T. He was great. The invitation to think of Genesis 1 as God behaving a bit like Rolf Harris was truly unforgettable (in case you are wondering it is all about describing creation with broad brush strokes – the detail comes in Chapter 2)

4. The Yurt

5. The rain

What can I say, we had a completely awesome time. Huge thanks to my good friend who came to help out with T; couldn’t have done it without you. It was also great to spend some time with my brother, who is a Greenbelt old lag (compared to me that is)

As for the little fella, he loved it! Quite the little autistic party animal he was. He especially enjoyed any event with music.

As Greenbelt newbie, it took me a day or so to work out what was going on and when. But we still did loads. Beer’n Hymns was a particular highlight (two nights in a row!) As was a talk by John Swinton on the theology of disability. Also one by a bloke who walked the entire route of the M62 and wrote a book and a blog about it. And then there was the Taize worship. And the dinner I had from the Pie Minister stall (almost a religious experience in itself). Oh, and the Iona Big Sing. I could go on.

Camping with T was not too bad at all. The first night’s sleep was a bit rubbish; we went to bed at 1am and T woke us up before 4 and that was that. But Saturday and Sunday were a lot better.

And I spent a small fortune on books

Here’s a few pictures. There will be more on facebook.

Here are some piccies from our week away.

The House

The Pool

Inside

A very jolly time was had by all

Not much happened.

Took T to the church holiday club for a little while in the morning. I couldn’t leave him there as they aren’t set up with enough workers to give him the attention (but I think I will start asking for them to lay something on next year).

He really enjoyed it. When we arrived, there was just one chair placed in the middle of the school hall with all the activity going on around it. T plonked himself in the chair as if he were waiting for church or school assembly to start and just sat there happily waiting. It was very sweet.

Then some girly shopping; face cream, mascara and a new nail varnish. I also got collared in the street by someone flogging a promotion for a local hair salon and Oh My Goodness I signed up for it (which is quite out of character). essentially I’ve prepaid for six months worth of hair treatments – cuts colour, head massages, styling etc. If I use everything, i’ll have paid £55 for £350 of treatment. Now I know I won’t do that, but even if i get two cuts and a colour out of the deal, I’ll be quids in. They’d better be good.

And here is some free advertising for them Spencer Hair Company

T’s respite carer thinks he is starting to echo back simple phrases that people say to him.

Watched the Ingmar Bergman movie in the afternoon.

Carried on working in the evening. It’s very dull but I am making good progress with what i need to do.

Ooh, and I made a huge batch of cauliflower cheese for tea and the freezer. Though i say so myself, I make the best cauli cheese on this planet.

Not much reading going on this week, though I have finished Buddenbrooks at last (Poor Hanno!). Must look out a good stock of books to take away next week.

I have a sore throat.

I am very excited.

Following the success of our trip to Newcastle, we are planning two nights in London, hopefully staying in an apartment hotel somewhere central. We’ll do fun stuff with the boys during the day and take turns to go out in the evenings. Mr. BK is planning a night out with some of his pals. But I’m plotting to go to a Prom, which is something I haven’t done for over twenty years. Wheeeeee!