Post #97: Travelling Anxiety

A friend of mine shared a really helpful article on Facebook earlier, it was a link from the BBC News Website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/disability-39489898. In a nutshell, the jist of the text is that travelling can prove difficult if you have a mental health condition, such as anxiety, ADHD, OCD and depression.  I should know, I am currently in the process of renewing a passport which expired back in 2009, mainly because I haven't left the UK since 2006.

Why is that you may ask?  Well, allow me to explain: I don't mind flying, I don't believe that the great metal bird I'm strapped into is going to plummet from the sky, but what I cannot abide is the person in front reclining their seat into my personal space.  It first happened back in 2005 when myself and my husband boarded an Al Italia flight from London Heathrow to Rome.  It was a midday service, but as soon as we were up in the air, the Italian bloke in front of me decided to fully recline, until I politely asked him to wind the seat back up. Being Italy's flag carrying airline, he quickly beckoned to the Italian stewardess and a heated exchange, all in rapid Italian ensued.  The stewardess, an overpainted skinny harridan, implored me to 'show a little consideration' for his plight. Consideration?  On a midday flight?  I know that most southern Europeans seem to believe that women should be seen and not heard, but this is a post feminist era and even Italian men should realise that everybody deserves respect?  He ended up moving his seat back up to the semi upright position, probably after getting rather tired of my foot's location in the small of his back.  Seriously though, if you're blonde and busty, Italy's a great place to go if you enjoy men staring at you incessantly.

I also got into a row on a flight back from Spain the following year, in the year of Our Lord, 2006, when some old English git made the decision to stick his head in my lap.  I honestly thought that they'd call the armed guards to remove me from the 'plane, like they did with that bloke from REM did back in the 1990s.  That didn't work well for him, an no it wasn't Michael Stipe, but the unlucky Georgia bluesman later was charged with air rage at Hounslow Magistrates' Court, or whatever.  I could Google the incident, but I cannot be arsed; you get my point.

Having Asperger Syndrome is very difficult at times.

*Update*

This very subject has been hotly debated on Mumsnet's Am I Being Unreasonable? AIBU message boards, here: https://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/2911606-Airlines-seats-passive-aggression

I have read through 2 of 7 pages of opinions, which seem to be divided between those who think that reclining their seat is a divine right and others, such as me, believe that some consideration is required.  I didn't contribute to the debate as I've had issues on Mumsnet before with other posters being rather hostile and I'd personally rather steer clear.

Post #34 - More Internet Woes

From reading my blog you'll no doubt notice that I'm both a sensitive and somewhat arsey individual at times. Whether that's due to my Asperger's or something deeply embedded into my personality, I don't know? It does annoy me though.

I've recently decided to utilise my written ability

 to its fullest extent by complaining about substandard items or customer service. Mind you, I've been doing that for years, but now I've stepped it up a gear. Some people may accuse me of taking it all too seriously or getting 'het up' (yeah, that's you bleedin' Mumsnet!) But it's a big deal for me.

Post #32 - Internet Forum Jargon

Although I've been on the interweb for many a year now, I haven't learned all of the various acronyms and shortcuts, but here's a handy aide memoir courtesy of Mumsnet: http://www.mumsnet.com/info/acronyms

I particularly appreciate this particular entry:

YABOS

you are being over-sensitive

That's about right!

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.

Post #10 - Mumsnet: Neurodiversity support thread: Women with suspected/self-diagnosed/diagnosed ASC & ADHD

Back in late 2013 when I was first trying to work out whether I had Asperger Syndrome I ventured upon a thread on Mumsnet and posted a few times under my old username.  I changed my username recently after the cyber attack on the site and because I wanted to be known by a different moniker.

Anyway, here's a link to the new thread: http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/special_needs_recommendations/2399562-Neurodiversity-support-thread-Women-with-suspected-self-diagnosed-diagnosed-ASC-ADHD?msgid=56752860#56752860  I'm finding it an absolutely excellent source of support.  There are a number of amazing posters on there and the way I learn about everything Aspie is to read recommended textbooks, blogs and forum posts.  It's ironic in many ways, since being diagnosed as an Aspie I can't get enough of reading about the condition and how it affects people, especially women.

I've never really known what I wanted to be in life - some people knew at school that they wanted to be a nurse/bus driver/builder etc or go into the family business, but believe me when I tell you that I never really did.  Like many people growing up in the 1980s, we inputted our details into a huge computer and the associated print out suggested that we may wish to be a bramble picker or a shop assistant.  I drifted into a career in the public sector, but it wasn't a great fit for me.  Now, I know that I want to work in the field of Autism in some way.