Post #21 - That Was (Nearly) The Week That Was (Tricky)

On Monday I wrote the following sentence: The routine's out already, this won't be a great week, I can just feel it.

Yeah, that's about right so far.  It hasn't been horrendous, but well, it's not been that great either.  I won't bore you with the details, I'll save that for my scandalous memoirs (really?) but I'm not feeling that great.  Like many others I often forget to read the detail in messages/emails/missives etc and forgot to purchase my son a new Cub jumper for his 'swim up' from Beavers on Monday.  

Work's been tricky and motivation, low.  I am due to give a five minute presentation about my experiences of having autism at a 'Celebrating Diversity' event in mid-November, but I'm just hoping that I'll not make a huge tit of myself.  My line manager says that it's akin to standing in a bus stop in your underwear.  I don't want that, quite frankly, nobody would. Even if I was to wear a Miss Mary of Sweden corselette.  There's a bus stop near work which people mainly use as a smoking shelter, so I wouldn't wish to hang around in there either.  

Post #20 - The Best Laid Plans

My son woke up this morning complaining of an itching body and my husband took him to the Doctor's accordingly.  He has developed an allergy, well, another one as he already cannot tolerate strawberries.  We'll have to begin to keep a food diary.  My husband already has a wheat/gluten allergy, so as you can imagine, it's a bundle of laughs in our kitchen.

I was planning to do the ironing today, but with an ASC/ADHD child around, this concerns me, so I had to potter around instead.  My son insisted on throwing my nightclothes around my bedroom and hooking my bra onto the curtain rail.  Nice.  He's lost a gold star for his behaviour.

The routine's out already, this won't be a great week, I can just feel it.

Post #19 - Selling Things Online If You're An Aspie

Now, don't get me wrong, I do enjoy selling stuff online, but the pitfalls are certainly there.  I cannot recall whether I have already stated on this blog that my brand spanking new Android mobile phone was placed in the back pocket of my jeans when I was upset at work - I duly went into a cubicle and whoosh - it dropped down the toilet.  Cue tears of rage and no, it didn't work any longer and nobody appeared to be able to fix it.

So, as it was a Pay As You Go (PAYG) smartphone with no insurance (wail!) I swapped back to my previous model and bought a brand spanking one online (with enhanced memory power..)  I wondered whether I could sell this one as a 'parts only for spares, water damaged' kind of listing on a popular internet auction site?  So I tried.  Me being me, I described and photographed it very thoroughly and stated everything about its background.  Cue: loads of people asking for buy it now (BIN) prices and other such things.  I took it off sale after a few days and tried selling via the mobile recycling company Envirofone  who promised me some money back for it.  I packaged it all up in the free envelope and off it went.  That didn't stop the automatic harrassing emails from them after about 24 hours though - thank you for that.  Anyway, a few days later they offered me the laughable sum of £26.01 so I requested the phone's return.

I made the decision to re-list it on the internet auction site; was I right?  Almost immediately I had people asking to see the receipt in case it was stolen, more offers to sell off of the site (which is against the rules and other such things.)  Last night took the proverbial biscuit - basically a potential buyer enquired whether it was an insurance fraud.  Nice.  When I challenged her she soon became nasty, but put in a bid anyway.  I removed the bid and contacted the auction company's help centre who were really, well, helpful.

So, anyway, I've gone to another company's recycling department and have requested trade ins for two old smartphones and an old tablet computer.  If they're good then I'll try selling this one on.

The conclusion of this tale is: Aspies like rules and they tend to tell the truth and this is often a toxic combination when selling items online.  I like it when it works, but when it doesn't, boy can it be distressing.

Post #18 - Workplace Assessment, ICU, But At Least The Cat's Back

Today was my workplace assessment for autism via NAS.  The person doing the report was great, but like everything, it's often difficult to re-live some of your past life and career.  I provided a copy of both my NHS and private autism assessments, my CV which details all of my various job moves(!) plus a list of competencies, a detailed answer to the questions posed in the proforma and many other things.  Phew!  It was exhausting to say the least.  She spoke to me, my line manager and a colleague.  The report's due out in the next few weeks and I'll have to discuss the contents with my line manager whilst sitting down (well, she didn't overtly state sitting down, but you know what I mean - maybe a hot beverage?)

My BIL's been moved to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) because of his breathing.  He's in safe hands though and there isn't a great deal we can do.  My hubby's visiting him tomorrow.

Yay, my cat returned last night at approximately 20:08.  Hubby was collecting my son from Cubs and heard a pitiful meowing as they passed a neighbour's drive and lo and behold - there was a hungry black and white cat there.  I was very pleased to see her. 

Post #17 - Hospitalised Relatives and A Missing Cat

I won't got into great detail about the background of my family situation, but in a nutshell, my husband has a 90-year-old mother with Vascular Dementia who is now in a residential home and a mentally and physically disabled brother who is in sheltered accommodation.  I explain much more in another of my blogs, Caring For The Carers: https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=744390122599049054#overview/src=dashboard

On Monday afternoon my husband received a call from one of the carers in my brother-in-law's (BIL)'s sheltered accommodation stating that the latter had experienced difficulty breathing and had been taken to A&E at a north London hospital.  He was later admitted; hubby went to see him on Tuesday and my BIL was hooked up to masks, tubes and all sorts - he seemed quite sick.  The Doctor stated that he had fluid in his lungs and his scolosis was making it difficult for his lungs to operate effectively. 

This morning my MIL's care home rang hubby to state that she wasn't well, was refusing to leave her room and becoming more aggressive and at other times, tearful.  We agreed to write a detailed account of her medical history to date, like we did with my BIL.

To top it all, my youngish black and white cat Sophie's gone missing.  I've long wondered whether she was getting her Felix elsewhere, but we haven't seen her since we put her out last night.  Apparently the insurance states that you have to contact the Vet within five days of disappearance.  She's chipped and was vaccinated recently.  Pah!

Post #16 - Getting Stuff Done Around The House

Now, most Mothers know how difficult it can be to keep on top of things and boy, do I have a huge issue with this?  Most of the houses around here are absolutely spotless, mine's not bad, but isn't what you'd call pristine.  There seems to be a great deal of pressure around here to conform, that's partly why I don't want to invite many people round, well, I don't mind trusted friends, but you know what I mean?

This afternoon I sorted out the seagrass baskets in the bathroom (pictured) and feel very pleased with myself.  Sometimes I forget just how many cosmetics we have in the house.

Post #15 - Eurenesis, The School Run and Fat Felines

Last night at about 4am my DH (Darling Husband - it's a Mumsnet contraction I believe) was woken by our DS (Darling Son) who had removed his night nappy and consequently wet the bed. I didn't wake: after a series of sleepless nights I'm dead to the world at the moment, but I will be dealing with the washing and ironing later. We have seen a nurse at the local hospital about this and were given a booklet. I think I'll write about this in greater detail once I've formulated a system  (you've got to have a system - thank you Harry Hill!)

These are my Nike Air Rifts (aka the Cloven hooves) which I like to wear on the school run. They're very comfortable, especially as I replaced the smelly insoles with memory foam ones.

Now, I know that it's a really 80s thing, but this waist bag I purchased from eBay is really useful on the school run. It holds my keys and phone as well as a small purse. Yes, I physically walk DS to school, I wish more parents around here would do the same and there would be fewer cars on the road. I do understand if it's a really long way or you're driving directly to work afterwards, but most return back home and then probably go to the gym. Pffft.

Finally, my youngest moggie has gone to the Vet with DH. It's her annual checkup. She's quite a porky puss and has a dangerous Felix addiction, so it'll probably be the Kitty Slimfast for her.