Post #84 - Anxiety in Aspies

Quite a few new things begin this week - firstly it's a 'Beginners' Keyboard' class tonight, which is taking place at my local Adult Education Centre.  Now, as much as I like music, I'm no flipping good at it and reading music is an anathema to me.  I'll give it a go though.

On Wednesday I have to attend WeightWatchers.  Being the comedy fan I am, I keep on imagining a class led by a Margery Dawes lookalike, but I doubt that it'll be half that amusing.  If I can lose some of my lard though, I'd be a happy porker.


Thursday's joy is the belated return of choir, after last week's cancellation due to the snowy weather.  As I've already written, I love singing, but the whole communal and social aspect of attending group activities is very difficult for me.

Finally(!) I was literally shaking earlier when dealing with a difficult situation on eBay.  I won't got into any further details, but it wasn't very nice and I've since deleted both the app and the related email account from my smartphone so that I don't have to receive the messages.

Post #54 - Avoid Selling on eBay

I have been stung and boy, it hurts.

I'll elaborate (without going into too much detail); basically, I sold an item on eBay in late May - it was an item of clothing I'd purchased via eBay and didn't fit, so I duly listed it and it sold.  On 31st May, the buyer contacted me stating that it's defective and that she wants to return it for a full refund.

Now, here's the thing about eBay returns - basically, as a seller, you haven't a leg to stand on.  A buyer can state that an item is defective and even though it probably isn't, eBay will always side with them and issue a full refund.  They can even issue negative feedback and guess what?  You cannot!

So, anyway, I accepted the return and issued a refund.  The funds were then put on hold until she returned it.  I provided a pre-paid Hermes label to send it back with.  She refused and had the audacity to call me a scammer.  She still hasn't sent it back; eBay's customer service is downright useless and they told me to contact the Police, which I've done via the http://www.actionfraud.police.uk/ website and submitted a full report.

I emailed the buyer today stating all of this and that, by keeping the item, that she's contravening the Theft Act 1968.  She replied (in her usual awful syntax) stating that eBay had told her to keep the item.  Yes, apparently they can do that.

I've written to Which?, but I won't get anywhere.  Take my advice though - DON'T SELL ON EBAY!!

Post #35 - MumAspie Tips - Bungee Laces

I wrote a post about purchasing some bungee laces as a life hack/workaround regarding my son's continuing inability to fasten his shoes.  Unfortunately, I drafted the text on the Android Blogger app and it wouldn't publish, however many times I tried, which was a right PITA.  Apparently this is a common issue with the app's efficacy.  Hmm.

The jist was that I bought two x two metres of grey and white bungee cord from a seller on eBay (whom I really wouldn't hugely recommend as he was quite snippy with me), but I duly laced up a pair of my son's trainers and another of his fake Converse baseball boot style ones.  I sealed the raggedly cut ends with sellotape, but on reflection, clear nail varnish may also work for this process - I'll test it and let you know.  I've placed the trainers in my son's school PE kit, so hopefully he won't lose those as well (one of his NEW black size 3 Hi-Tecs went astray prior to Christmas - rahhhhh!) we'll see.  I find that velcro trainers are really difficult to get hold of in his size, which is now a whacking great UK3 (he's only eight, but big feet do 'run' in our family - ha ha!)  Mind you, paying £72 in Clarks the other day for a new pair of school shoes and some black velcro trainers is rather steep to say the least.  I do appreciate the need to retain my son's phalanges though, what caring mother wouldn't?

Here they are:

Post #11 - Diversity and Inclusion at Work

It's currently after midnight and I cannot sleep.  This sometimes happens to me, so I either read something really boring (such as the Radio Times's many articles about a) Benedict Cumberbatch, b) Doctor Who or c) Bake Off), listen to audiobooks or write.  This time I have chosen the third option.

Work - it's a funny old concept for an Aspie isn't it?  Apparently only 15% of people on the Spectrum are in full-time employment, which is pretty low if you stop and think about it.  Why?  Well, from what I know, it's a minefield out there and employers find it hard to place Aspies in roles and the staff themselves, well they struggle, that's for sure.  That's one of the main reasons why I'm working on a communication/training session to inform both the ASC staff themselves as well as their line management.  I've a lot to achieve in the next few months, but you know, I don't think I'm being corny by saying that it's hugely interesting and amazingly rewarding.

This afternoon I was interviewed by our Internal Communications team regarding my role as Chair of the Asperger Syndrome Group at work.  I cannot really say who I work for, nor elaborate much further, but let's just say that it's the public sector and they are still very good at accommodating staff with additional needs.  I hope that I gave a good account of myself during the interview; I was wearing turquoise leggings under my Trinny and Susannah (via eBay from their exclusive QVC range fashion fact fans!) dress and it's too short on me, hence the need for leg coverage.  You don't really need to know that do you?  Oh, I'm an Aspie, forgive me - my mind shoots off in all different directions at times.

I also attended a 'casting call' to find enough people to fulfill the roles for other Diversity projects.  There weren't many people present (well, apart from the panel and the organiser) and there was talk of a representative from RADA to come in and provide some voice/projection coaching, so I'm definitely up for that one.  I hope it's glasses on a lanyard time!

*Edit* - it never happened - I became too ill to participate.