billabong

I misread the caption for Mitzi; thought she trying to appear 'alert'. Anyway - ahhhh! We're getting closer to getting another cat - or two. Home is not right without the old boy (ie the cat, not the DH!) who was put down last autumn. There may be kittens in the spring (is that a song?), in which case there will be some very 'ahhh!' photos. Keep posting yours, please. Billabong

Singer

One-way rules? Never!! By the way, it was whatever kind of chocolate you wanted. As I'm not too keen on Galaxy, you can have the whole bar to yourself (I had a spare). Enjoy (but it doesn't usually have that effect, does it?) Good luck. I'm going to get round to doing emoticon cards so husband can tell what I'm feeling without misreading - I've been reminded to get on and do it by him, as I'd said I would. Whatever works ...

Cake

I'm glad it's not just me not being too impressed with the journalistic licence (ie misrepresentation or misunderstanding of facts). Bid's 'different basic wiring system' is just how I'd describe it - we've all got our good and not so wonderful points, some of them to do with our wiring, some to do with our individual personalities. My AS husband says AS are 'normal' but that everyone else is odd - but I know he's teasing when he says that. Oh yes I do!

Hi Sammykin Welcome to the forum. I don't have kiddywinks but I do have a husband - not diagnosed AS but even he recognises himself when he reads about it and according to any of the on-line tests he's done, he's definitely AS. It can be such hard work sometimes - I have it easy with just one of them! Anyway, you get my full <'> >< support, sympathy, bar of chocolate (apart from the bit I ate). Take care of yourself, Billabong

Oo-ooh! Does that mean you are going to train or go running in them? I was feeling stressed at work and went into someone's office - and they offered me some of their chocolates! (I could have refused, I know). Billabong

Did you read the article in the Sunday Times on 5 October? Sorry I don't have the link and, as I'm rather dopey recovering from a lurgy, I can't remember much of the content - something to do with a relatively high proportion of highly able mathematicians being on the autism spectrum. The journalist described autism and AS as 'mental afflictions' - a quaint description! Billabong

That was a useful 'bump' It sounds as if the lecturer might be at least a bit understanding, hopefully more so having spoken with you one-to-one. At least she should be on your side, as splitting the group will be to her benefit too. That is so rude, talking through the lecture, I would get really narked at that . Maturity's not just a matter of age, is it? I hope the little blighters decide to hop off elsewhere or start taking notice instead of yakking. And I hope there's good progress next week. Billabong

piggy

Oh my goodness, I'm not surprised you found that hard. (I would probably have turned around before entering the room and slunk off, and felt very hoping no-one would notice - and I'm 'NT'). I thought it was meant to be academically challenging, not a mental/physical/emotional Iron Man challenge. Hope some progress was made in the meeting. Billabong

Decide (do you get it?)

Hi Suze Mine was reduced from 20 to 10mg and I was fine for a few months but then life events (OK, just life!) got to me and I couldn't work out why I was so miserable and tearful all the time, so asked for 20mg again and I'm much better for it. Possibly not the 'answer' you wanted! One GP says I'm just one of those people who are more prone to being and anxious, and that there's a case for long-term use (and I don't have a problem with that, sorry, I'd rather feel OK than ). So maybe now's not the time for you, or maybe life just isn't as easy for you as for some people (those dear little challenges in life!). Look after yourself <'> >< <'>

shoes

What a heartwarming read. Must admit I only read it in the first place because I automatically thought the thread was about a chocolate biscuit having a head. Doh! (That and anything with chocolate in it). I've been around my literal-minded DH too long! Well done your boy. Billabong

I agree, this is really interesting - and thanks for the comments re your own and your family's experiences, Jb. Certain smells as a child used to make me heave - DH still reacts that way to certain food smells. I hate bright lights - especially if there's a spotlight which I can see from the corner of my eye - and, even though I like music, I prefer not having background music. Re hearing, now I think about it, nephew seemed to be forever having grommets (not Grommit) fitted as a child. Hm, think I need to ask my brother a few tactful questions.

I've washed - in the washing machine - clothes that are labelled 'Warning - dry clean only' - and do you know what? they came out perfect. But I have put adult-sized clothes in before - not 'dry clean only' - and they have come out as 'ickle people's clothes.

Thanks for the replies so far. My nephew wears hearing aids (well, he does when he can be bothered) so has been diagnosed as having a hearing impairment. I'm intrigued by the similarities between ASD people and 'highly-sensitive' NT people. I'm one of the latter and identify entirely with what I've quoted above. I even had a hearing test and was told that my hearing was perfectly good. There's no way I can hold a conversation with DH (AS) while the radio is on, I can't pick out voices if there's lots of background noise and I'm forever saying 'pardon'. I used to cover up my ears as a child if the vacuum was on, and still find it unnerving if someone else is vacuuming. Guess it's over-sensitivity, however you're wired. No, I'm definitely not AS. Anyone else with the same experience?

There's a yummy cake covering recipe which has evolved over recent months. Sorry no quantities but it goes along the lines of bung some icing sugar into creamed butter (there's posh for you) or margarine, add some nutella and, to neutralise the fattening ingredients, add some low-fat soft cheese. (Make sure it's plain variety, not garlic and herbs; I almost had a nasty accident once). Spread on cake. Then decorate top of cake with the most tacky decorations you can find. Barbie sparkly bits are good, as are icing sugar flowers and silver icing balls. I don't do sophisticated.

I don't know if this really counts as kitchen equipment, but it's certainly lurking at the back of the kitchen cupboard: a cafetiere jacket in the design of a dinner jacket. I have a photo of our (sadly deceased, dearly beloved ...) cat wearing the jacket but I don't get it out for everyone, in case I get reported to the RSPCC and get blacklisted . I suppose I could scan it one of these days. Billabong

My nephew is in his mid-twenties and, the more I'm learning about AS (with an AS husband), the more I suspect that my nephew - on my side of the family - is AS. I can see traits in his mother and his grandfather. They are all hard of hearing, particularly my nephew. Thanks for any advice - I'm sure it will follow. Billabong PS did you like the double-negative?

Thank you for that, Cariad. My DH is Asperger; although not diagnosed, we've read enough about it for us both (thankfully, no longer just me) to recognise that he's AS. Sometimes it is incredibly hard, but I strive to remember to pick up the right guidebook and stop wishing I was on another holiday! The sense of bereavement for what I'll never have can return out of the blue with sudden intensity. But the dear man wouldn't be who he is if he wasn't on the spectrum - a lot to be grateful for. All the best to you amazing mums, dads and carers . Billabong

Doctors

Or you could be my little niece who just nibbled the icing off the front of the cake and kept turning the cake round so that no-one would see, or so she thought. Clever, eh?

Quiche