Sallya

My bug bear "youve got your hands full" really? I hadnt noticed. or is he always like that? or he needs a good smack or have you tried a routine? Ds reply to one old man was "if you dont stop moaning they should take your teeth away" copied from the song Always look on the bright side of life

I passed my test at the end of last year after 4 tests in a manual. I had lots of trouble with left and right, especially when reversing. In the end, I wrote it on the back of my hand. It took 14 months of lessons, and a very patient driving instructor. I first took lessons at 17, but never got around to taking the test,and had 2 more instructors, who got to a certain point with me then I gave up after I failed my first test 9 years ago when I was pregnant with 1st child. I didnt try again until 2 years ago, and this time I was really determined, and totally fed up of trying to get around on buses and trains, and struggling with shopping and 2 small children, and coping with the public when they were staring and making comments. The main problems I had with driving were anticipating what other road users were doing, and not going off into a dream world. Roundabouts would scare the life out of me. Nerves were a big problem, and on one of my tests, my knees started to shake. When I did pass, I had motorway lessons as well. Now I love driving, Ive overcome my nerves, and mastered reversing. This will be the first summer holidays I can drive. Now Ive passed, I dont care it took 4 goes, it was just when trying to pass the test it was an issue. The roads are busier, and drivers are more aggressive than ever, and beware of any one in a flat cap travelling along at 20 miles an hour( never had an accident in 40 years, but seen plenty)and the actual test is easy to mess up. Anyone could find it difficult to learn to drive now, but its worth doing, a good instructor wont let you give up. xxx

Perfect TM, I couldnt get the milk tray man to deliver the choc, but will the milky bar kid do? I still need some ideas what to do this holiday, HH wont put up with my smelly feet for very long, so when MIL has gone, I will have to check out. Was thinking about going to the enchanted forest, we went at half term, and the kids loved it. Need things to wear them out. After school yesterday, daughter climbed up the net curtains, and ripped them, emptied a bag of sugar on the floor, and son took all the drawer handles off, threaded them onto my dressing gown belt, and tied it to the windows. Then he attached his toy soldiers on with sellotape, so they could slide down it. He cut his socks up with sissors. Was complete bedlam, and holidays are not here yet, would like to enjoy the holidays this year and save my house from mass destruction..........

On second thoughts...can I join you in the padded cell.....??? The MIL WANTS TO COME HERE FOR A WEEK. Is valium allowed, and can I bring chocolate?

....summer clubs are expensive, I have been putting cheap outdoor games away to fit in the boot of the car, like plastic golf clubs ,cricket bats, etc, so Im planning lots of picnics to country parks, one big day out each week, a bouncy castle in the back garden for one day, swimming once a week, and we live near the beach, so thats a good day out. Aiming to spend as little as possible, its so easy to spend a small fortune. And Im not going shopping with them...any other ideas?

Im thinking, how can I get out of cooking dinner, might get a grab n go chicken from Tesco.

Im very, very proud of him for the way he has coped this week. The meeting for parents went well, apart from one little incident when we all went into the hall to find seats. There are 3 of his friends in his class moving to this school, which is out of catchment area. 2 of the mums were sitting down already, and I had to walk past them to find an empty seat, they ignored me, 2 minutes later, the last mum came in with her hubby, and as soon as they saw her, they budged up and made room for both of them with lots of "come and sit with us". I felt a bit like billynomates, and had to bite the tears back. His full day at school went well, although he wanted to go back to see his own teacher afterwards. He took part in the yr 3 school morning performance "the happy prince", but was too scared to repeat the evening one, so the teach said he didnt have to do it. His letter has disappeared, so it was lucky I took some photocopies of it before he went to school. The best bit about this week, was he managed to get on the computer, and wrote another note, it just said I LOVE YOU MUM XXX

Snap. Sometimes I see lots of posts I want to reply to, but cant find the right words, so I send a hug or short message because what I want to say isnt sounding right. xxx

Thank, TM, Bid, and Carole, I cant settle, both schools are trying really hard to make things easier for him. And he is going back in September before term starts to remind him of his new class and teacher, they are taking some photos today, to make a book for him to look at in the summer holidays, Im happy about everything they are trying to do, just cant help worrying.... xxx

Hes back! Very, very quiet tonight. not like him. They filled a camera with photos. Teach filled me in on the day, and they talked about his letter with his new teacher and SENCO, and answered each of his questions. He kept his coat on all day;( lots of pictures of a little boy with his hood up) and he just said he wants to stay at his school forever. He had 3 children who were at his school last year show him around, he met the head, the SENCO, secretary, head of year, French teacher, PE teacher and was shown a picture of the music teacher who he will meet tomorrow. Im so glad he is going to this school, it was worth visiting all 4 in the local area, and changing my mind twice! Ive got a meeting tonight there with all the other parents. Just tomorrow to get through now. S xxx

D is going to see his middle school today, with his class teacher, they are going in a taxi together. He met the head of year 4 last week, and thought he was cool. I woke up this morning, and found a letter from D. Bless him, I cried when I read this; I am fritend and sceared but I am trin to bee brave? are thre any bad boys? aretheteachers goingto shoutat me Iamagoodboy Iamsumtimes worid willIget taktime? (Take time is 5 mins of exercise so he can settle down to 15 mins of classwork) I wonder how he is getting on, tomorrow he is spending the whole day there,and he is going with his friend. I have given this letter to him, so he can show his teachers, and remind him of the questions he wants to know.

Come back soon Flutter, I will miss your little snippets of wisdom, and you make me chuckle. xxx s <'>

<'> Hope you feel better soon xxx

phone number from website 0870 241 2555 moved address recently, only just twigged s xx

All the appointments have started to come in thick and fast for the assessments, but I just wanted to tell you about today; we saw the LEA Ed Psych this morning- the one who wouldnt see D when I needed new evidence when I was trying to change the LEAs mind about Stat assessment- anyway- I was not looking forward to it- but- he is going to base his report on the Independant EPs report, and was in total agreement with everything I had to say about the new funding system (that it shouldnt be up to parents to monitor the way the school is using resources, and as there is very little monitoring of the new system, he needed the protection of a statement, as he is very vulnerable in mainstream school.) He is also going to send me a copy of his report before he sends it to the LEA, in case there is any wording that I want changed, or not correct. Sorry to still be boring the pants off you all again, just wanted to share that, and I promise not to keep going on about it any more

You have probably done it right, I thought "is that it?" after all that panic. Hope you hear soon.xxx

The Early Years first visiting team are different, they come into the pre-school/nursery to share strategies/ disscuss what is going well and aid transition into first school/ pass records on to first school.

Hi Viper, I avoided filling in the form for as long as possible, but when I came to fill it out, it was quick and easy to do the bit about assessments,so that sounds right. You should recieve confimation that your form has been recieved in a few days, but if you are not sure, try the helpline on the front of the how to appeal book. I hope that helps. S xxx

I confess, while you were off line, I looked for another autism site, there are some very strange ones out there, and none of them beat this one S xxx

Nellie, I just want to send you and your family one of these <'> best wishes S xxx

D was in tears last year when they had sports day practice, so they put him in races with children of similar ability, and no tears on the day <'> s xxx

Pim, thats wonderful news. I hope it goes well for you. Take care s xxx

Thanks, Kathryn. x

HH, thanks, am at stage 2 they are doing the stat assessment, think they are trying to rush it before the summer holidays start, so they have knocked a month off.

I have been given 6 weeks from the LEA to send in my parental evidence, and for all the assessments to be carried out, they will write with a decision whether or not to issue proposed statement by the 1 Sept; I thought it was 10 weeks? S xxx