A quick real life catch up as it's been a wee bit mad here at the moment. First up, apologies to anyone who missed my dulcet tones on the radio Tuesday , turns out they'd overbooked the amount of English males they needed so I unfortunately got dumped from the panel. I did managed to randomly add a few comments near the end but due to timing they skipped the punchline. Story of my life.  As a (self congratulatory) aside the visuals I produced for the inaugural  David Byrne themed Byrne's Night in Dumbarton seemed to go down a treat!       And on another bright note it looks like there may finally be some progress on the whole house situation that wont have to involve legal action and/or government intervention. Or any more Autistic meltdowns.  Which is nice.     I can't say too much right now except that having such a high stress level every day for almost 4 months certainly takes its toll. My head feels like someone has set a huge bag of firework...

Today isn't just young Master Cassidy's 20th birthday but also the 20th anniversary of the premiere of THE greatest animated film ever too!       So this is a good excuse to listen to the podcast I did with Autism Through Cinema regarding it.   It's Disney/Pixar's Cars if you didn't know by the way. You can listen to the podcast  here if you haven't already. Go on, I'll still be here when you get back.  To be honest, most folk don't expect it to be in my top ten film list (then spend way too much time figuring out where it sits in relation to Suspiria, The Wizard of Oz, Times Square, La Cabina, A New Hope and Bride of Frankenstein...as you can tell I never did get invited to parties as a teen). "But why Cars?" I hear them cry. Well, the Autie-ness of the movie permeates thru' every part of it - from a design point of view the 'faces' of the characters are reminiscent of Thomas The Tank Engine (a huge Autistic favourite...

Well 49 years ago today actually, quite possibly THE greatest film of all time was unleashed (in less than 40 cinemas - yes really, 20th Century Fox had no idea what to do with it) upon an unsuspecting world - and cinema would never be the same again. And neither would my life if I'm honest.   For one thing I'd have had no excuse to talk to the kid in the Star Wars t-shirt the day I started my new school so would never had a friendship that has endured nearly 50 years which is pretty good going for a group that, allegedly, find making friends difficult I reckon.  Plus it gave us the perfect excuse to dress the twins as Luke and Leia for Halloween when they were tiny.  Oh and it introduced Cassidy  to his go to cuddle buddy.   Luckily for us they've embraced Star Wars too (or have I brainwashed them? - answers to the usual address).     Obviously next year is gonna be the biggie - with the original version being spruced up for a timely re-release - but ...

 Happy World Goth Day one and all!   And to help you celebrate here's mine and Rho's podcast on all things Goth from a few years back.

Must have missed this one at the time but seeing as there's a protest in  Parliament Square on Friday, 22 May I thought I'd mention the fact that,  according to new Ofsted guidance, Autistic children as more likely be extremists.   Some extremist Autists yesterday.   First mentioned in a series of 2023 and 2024 training materials for Ofsted inspectors, it seems that Ofsted believes that autistic people are more susceptible to becoming terrorists or extremists because of their ‘special interests’. One of the Ofsted trainings on Prevent indicates that the trainer should tell school inspectors:  ‘Children and young people with Autism are at increased risk of being susceptible to extremism. This is because they are more likely to develop special interests.’  The training does not explain this assertion but does go on to claim: ‘Children with autism are more likely to experience social isolation and so use the internet to find friends. They trust the info...

  To give you all a break from our housing woes and to add a wee bit of cheer to the proceedings (because let's be honest we need it right now) why not prepare yourself for Eurovision 2026 by giving mine and Ro's Eurovision best bits podcast from a few years back a re-listen? You can find it here (but please don't give us nil points). 

Been getting a fair few responses to the whole housing debacle of late so thought I'd post an as in-depth as possible version of the situation in one handy place save people having to read multiple posts (which they still can if they want). So buckle up and here we go: We've been waiting on house repairs for around 6 years now, what started as a small leak just before lock down turned into a huge leak which left us without a flushing toilet for a year (which was finally fixed at least) and a drop in water pressure which meant that we can't use the washing machine or shower. About 4 years after the original repair report - and after being contacted by our local MP housing did in fact attempt a repair (that's when they fitted a new toilet) but the plumber they sent out hadn't realised that the main water supply was behind the washing machine and because no one had told us to move it couldn't actually do anything apart from tear out some kitchen panels, smash a...

  Just a quick update - hot off the press, well phone - regarding the ongoing housing saga .   Me, right now.     It seems that because we were waiting to order new beds etc for the girls till the move and the fact that the house is full of bags/boxes (because we were meant to be moving, yes I keep mentioning this in the hope that someone from housing reads this...or can even read) we've now been reported to social work (again) and the housing association are insisting on yet another meeting about forcing (sorry 'persuading' us) into a temporary move (to the house we were meant to move to that Cassidy is now dead set against going to).   A move that we've told them (multiple times) just isn't workable. Doing the work around us as much as possible with a week or so in an apartment/air B&B (which would be easier for Cassidy) isn't even being considered by them and any reasonable adjustments for disability (a legal requirement as far as I can tell) aren...

 A wee bit of a change from the (by now usual) housing woes and I thought I'd update everyone (anyone?) on the other major thing going down at the moment which was my exciting (to me at least) adventures in photo-therapy up at Gartnavel Hospital in 'sunny' Glasgow. My home from home the last few months.   You see I've just finished my - 3 month - course so I reckoned it was time to review the whole hospital visit/treatment situation from an Autistic viewpoint. I've briefly covered the treatment in a few posts previously (but refrained from posting photos of my oh so lovely Psoriasis scabs) so this is less about the treatment and more about staffing and attitude. Oh and how they did putting up with me for 3 plus months. As regular readers will know it can be a wee bit hit and miss when it comes to medical matters - some folk, like the physiotherapist  I had to see a few years back, have been utterly fantastic - she even incorporated my wrist/hand stims into my treat...

 It's been a fair few years since my dulcet tones graced your airwaves  but it looks (sounds?) like I may be back on Radio Scotland in the next month - but not alas playing a mix of obscure Eurohorror tracks (tho' that might happen if enough folk ask for it).   The BBC are holding a Caring Matters Week with a variety of programmes and interviews which may, in fact, feature me ranting excitingly - and angrily - about various issues around and affecting carers. Including housing support no doubt.  First up is the recording of  the Caring Matters live roadshow next week - now what to wear for radio? - with (hopefully) a few interviews to follow. Updates to follow.    

Well reckoned it was about time for a house update as I'm sure everyone is chomping at the bit to read the next exciting (nay maddening) installment.     Since last time we actually heard back re: my complaint but just not within the 2 working days promised on the website as it took 5 in total (not counting the weekend obviously cos I'm kind). And the reason for the delay? It appears that no-one bothered to check their junk mail folder. Yes I know. To be fair we did get a phone call (which Rho took as I was out getting the girls) followed by a - requested - hard copy which is as non-committal and 'we better not admit to anything in case they sue' as you can get. Examples of this include: When we pointed out that this entire (6 year) situation has been caused in part by the frightening turnover in housing officer staff with a lack of continuity/follow up paper work left we were told bluntly that any complaint over 6 months old is invalid. Which was nice. When we express...

   Celebrating the utterly Autistic (I'm claiming her, deal with it) genius of Delia Derbyshire, the high priestess of British electronic music on her birthday.    Nuff said.  

  Celebrate Star Wars Day with this Sith-tastic mix of Skywalker inspired sounds remixed for your dancing pleasure.  Caution: may contain Gungans.  

 To all those NT folk who've ever 'hung out' with me.  

 Born on this day 1959 - one of the saviours of my turbulent teen years,  David James Ball - producer and electronic musician and one half of the synth-pop duo Soft Cell, alongside Marc Almond.    And if you want to know why he (and they) are so important you can find out here .