Outside the Autie-verse and in real life it's been an odd few weeks what with Brexit, Trump attempting to buy Iceland and the UK turning into a community centre remake of V for Vendetta rewritten from memory by a child high on Haribo and cheesestrings.  We do indeed live in interesting times as someone famous once said. All of that fades into insignificance - to me that is - when you realize just how bizarre the world has actually gotten with the release of the low budget horror thriller The Fanatic. Directed by Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst (?) it's been pitched as Rain Man meets Taxi Driver, starring as it does the comeback king himself, John Travolta as a hideously cliched autistic mentalist named Moose who ends up stalking and the torturing his favourite actor due to, um, reasons whilst quoting films at him. And if anything from the trailer it is indeed actually more offensive than it sounds. And you too can see the trailer here .

Sorry for the lack of updates (well actually I'm not - I'll get round to it at some point) been a wee bit busy. Luckily this headline gave me the kick up the arse I need to get my house in order.... So good news everyone....only a decade left till we're all gone forever and you can shop in peace on a Saturday morning without fear of the music being turned down. Tho' you'll probably really miss us cos we're kinda kooky - except for that bit where we kill ourselves at seven times the rate of the general populace.* Oh hang on that's just us 'mild' ones and we don't count according to Tom Clements in The Guardian. But don't worry if you're feeling left out because  it's being reported that scientists in America have created a wearable device they say can predict 'aggressive outbursts' in people with autism. No really. Worn on the wrist, the tech detects signs of stress by monitoring heart rate, skin temp...

Just back from a fantastic afternoon with the really rather wonderful Tony Slattery - If there ever was a nation treasures national treasure it would be this man. Not only is he a story-weaving wizard but an all round top bloke. Anyway, it's a little known fact that in 1995 Tony Slattery auditioned for Doctor Who, so to celebrate I did an illo' for him. He liked it so I did a few more and now he's the proud (I hope) owner of them. Plus he signed one for me. Which is pretty cool really.

Been away in the sunny West Midlands visiting friends and as part of my annual trip I have to pay homage at the James Whale memorial in Dudley. And here it is.  

Sorry for the lack of updates of late but a mix of school holidays and the like have been taking up most of my time which at least puts paid to the myth that we're awful at parenting at least. Anyway I recently attended/observed the Glasgow City Council Autism Aware Initiative day (which was very good - full report to follow) and this got me thinking as to what actually constitutes good Autism Aware practice and makes a venue/event Autism accessible? As regular reader(s) - If I have any - will know the vast majority of venues I've visited/reviewed have been absolutely great - and that still holds true a year into the initiative which is pretty good going but is there a chance of places getting complacent or even worse - just doing enough to be seen to care? The biggest bugbear of all has to be the infamous Autism friendly quiet hour so beloved by everyone from shopping centres to museums and all in between, now I've covered this before ( here if you want a look...

Regular readers will no doubt know that I've got THREE shows on at this year’s fringe festival - OK I've got three posters on show) but may not be aware that there are quite a few Autastic productions on this year too. And here they are:* Stealth Aspies – Aspies Anonymous Sarah, Alain, Janine, Hannah and Paul return to Edinburgh to share the life stories of other autistic people. Stories, poems and anything – you never know. The show is written from our online surveys and the company members' experiences. Be moved, amused and empowered. Meet us afterwards if you want. Share our lives. 'The sense of community in the room is unmistakable – slang and inside jokes explode in a collective glee, and empathy buzzes in the air. Here no one need be anything other than themselves' - (AYoungerTheatre.com). 'Funny, touching and terrifically fast paced, Stealth Aspies is a brilliant chance to see like-minded (literally) folk demystifying ...

Yup, it's one of those day job posts. As well as the top secret cops 'n' robbers style  project I've been working on - alongside the Get Your Genki releases - There a a few shows on at the Edinburgh Festival that I produced the artwork for this year that I thought I'd (re)share here, alongside info on where to get tickets . Both of these shows are from the utterly fantastic Emily Carding, whose audience immersive production of Hamlet I reviewed here alongside last years Stealth Aspies show, for whom this year I've producedthe art for member Paul Wady's solo production Guerilla Aspies Year Five – Not an Autism Puppet Show. Enjoy and do go and see them!