Awkward and Proud since 1979

Bring on the trumpets!!!! I love the adverts.

For me, it was more the opposite. I made people laugh, cringe or groan rather than relish another person's autism moments. At 2 - 3 years of age, I bit into a chunk of Lard as I thought it was Cheshire Cheese. Learning from there on, I know which I would prefer on my cream crackers - and it doesn't have 'Pura' or 'Kilverts' on the front of the packet. In 1986, I pestered my relatives for a Dennis the Menace jersey, and was peeved to find it was a rugby shirt. The one I wanted was a woollen one, akin to the said Beano comic character.

Call Me Jaded, a hello from me. The school I referred to was the excellent Ewing School on Central Road, West Didsbury (off Palatine Road and great for views of the Wilmslow Road bus corridor). I love the Didsbury area, having had fond memories of my schooling there. I'm all too familiar with Stockport, especially the Plaza Theatre, bus and railway stations, and The Crown pub on Heaton Lane. With over an hour's travel to work each day, I'm surprised I find the time to do half the stuff! Stuart.

Good evening, Coming in from platform 1 off a carriage hauled by a Class 45 Peak (I wish!) is Stuart Vallantine. I was diagnosed with Semantic Pragmatic Disorder in 1986 and spent 3.5 years at a special school in West Didsbury shortly after. Since then, I have created my own website, maintain a thriving weblog on my personal musings and local issues, and worked in the IT industry for 7 years. Over the last five years, I have also been involved in public speaking, having had three dates in Bolton speaking on my experiences on early years provision. I have also been the support act at some of Donna Williams' UK lectures, having read examples of my original work from Middlesbrough to Worcestershire. I am also a keen illustrator, photographer and public transport enthusiast. I have even coded and created my own website which is hosted on www.stuartvallantine.co.uk and designed by myself since 2006. I was regarded as 'autistic' and 'hyperactive' at the age of three, and mute for two years. Furthermore, I aim to use this forum to share my experiences with you all. Bye for now, Stuart.