Well that's me back and (almost) fully recovered from this years Frightfest and I have to say I needed that! After what must go down as THE shittest week I've ever experienced that culminated in a very public Autistic meltdown (alongside having to cancel my hospital treatment due to how my stress levels had affected my Psoriasis) it was so therapeutic to get to retreat back to my safe place, 2 full days of horror films in a dark cinema where I could lose myself in the sounds and visuals. And seeing my work on a huge screen - as well as emblazoned across folks chest on T-shirts may have helped my sense of worth and belonging. I got home Sunday morning to see my skin visibly less blotchy and sore and with an (almost) clear head. True our home no longer feels like ours and we still have a few more battles along the way but cinema has empowered me like it always does. And for that I'm grateful. I'll probably not post much in the way of what's occurring over the next...
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Lights, Camera....Action!
Regular readers will no doubt be aware that I talk about cinema a lot and any readers of my other (very NSFW) blog will know that it's mainly in regards to horror cinema. You could say it's my 'special interest' as absolutely no-one outside Autism 'professionals' call it. Anyway, after what will go down as THE shittest week imaginable here - including a fucking awful (and rare) meltdown which almost scuppered my plans Frightfest is finally upon us! The annual film art is complete and online , the guest portraits are done and dusted and I'm about to spend the next 48 hours in my happy place watching a random assortment of movies of which I know nothing about save the synopsis. Not only that tho' because when I take my seat I'll be looking at this... Autistic horror cinema fan goals achieved. See you on the other side.
That Monday Feeling.
Spent the day dealing with housing, the police, social work AND all whilst having to get Amelia and Embeth to and from college (at different times) plus shopping, finishing up artwork and entertaining Cassidy. Bloody hell and it's only Monday. more when I've actually processed this. And I'm less angry obviously. And here's me thinking things were going well.
Good News!
Just a quick update for anyone(?) following our (ongoing) housing saga and my medical adventures to brighten the weekend. Well I'm a third of the way thru' my photo-therapy treatment (well kind of, I finish up the end of April) and the staff have remarked as to how well it's going, no longer are my legs covered in 1/4 inch dragon scales and I've even got a healthy almost tan to boot. Yes it's itchy as f#ck and I smell of shea butter but at least I can walk with cracking, bleeding everywhere and I'm actually able to sleep! And the staff at Gartnavel (in sunny Glasgow) have been absolutely fantastic so far and are well on their way to getting there own medical issue Autastic award . An actual photo of me undergoing light therapy. Relax ladies, I'm not single. Even crazier than that tho' is that in the last few days things have started moving on the house repairs front....yup finally after nearly 6 years of collapsing floors, low water pressure, broken...
Gray Day 2025.
Seeing as it's the annual Alasdair Gray 'Gray Day' I thought I'd repost my contribution. His portrait Frances Gordon, Glasgow Teenager inspired my collaboration with Glasgow Open Museum and guests of Glasgow City Mission in creating 'portraits' focusing on their interests rather than in a traditional style. You can find out more here plus you can read about the project from an autistic perspective here . Enjoy. Portrait of Frances Gordon. (c) Alasdair Gray, courtesy of Glasgow Museums collections.
