Train keeps rolling - its a genetic circuitry thing.

I am having a hectic week.  You know how it goes, a million and one things to do and really not much time to write. I drive everywhere these days and find it the easiest way to get through all my nipping about jobs.  But I sometimes wish I still had the daily hour twice a day commute. Sitting on a comfy seat, with a table, a pen and my notebook in front of me.  Then I would find time to write.

I think my first idea of a train was from a nightly game with my elder sister.  She would send me off to sleep on the Beebo train.  She made all the sounds, chug-chug, whistle blowing, "all aboard" and steam, chuff-chuffs. My imagination carried me away and I know it worked because I never reached the destination.  At least not awake.

My brothers had a vast train set in the loft above my father's office.  It ran all round a large oil tank on a flat board. I was not allowed to play.  I would sneak up and into another section of the huge space, open my sister's ballet costume trunk and dress up.  The boys wouldn't realise that I was there and I was quite often shut in the dark when they left. By the age of six,  a correlation between darkness and trains became indelibly inked on my brain.

At eleven, my dance partner and I won a place in a British team dancing in Switzerland. My sister accompanied me as chaperone and hairdresser. We set off to catch the night sleeper to Southampton from Lime Street, Liverpool.  It was so exciting to sleep in a bunk on a train. It also felt very strange waking up in a siding.  I had thought that the train ran all night.  I still associated trains with darkness.

No surprise then, that encountering the Ghost Train at Blackpool Pleasure Beach for the first time - I felt no fear. I rode it several times, to the consternation of my youngest brother, who was doing his best to scare me. No by then I liked the dark and trains.

My son loved Thomas The Tank Engine. He would read the stories and rewind the videos to favourite parts over and over again. When I was researching the Psychology of Communication Disorders for my degree, I discovered that people on the autistic spectrum often gravitate towards trains because they behave predictably.  Electrical circuitry is the same.  Lots of straight, logical pathways.  He took to electrical work immediately, having tried mechanical engineering first. He isn't autistic but there may be a link? Both my brothers worked as electro-technical engineers. Perhaps it begins with a genetic attraction to trains. 

I decided that WH Auden should deliver the poem this week.  His is an interesting train ride.


Permanent Way 

Self-drivers may curse their luck,

Stuck on new- fangled rails,

But the good old train will jog,

To the dogma of its rails, 

And steam so straight ahead,

That I cannot be led astray

By tempting scenes which occur

Along any permanent way. 

Intriguing dales escape

Into hills of the shape I like,

Though were I actually put,

Where a foot-path leaves the pike

 

For some steep romantic spot,

I should ask what chance there is

Of at least a ten-dollar cheque

Or a family peck of a kiss: 

But forcibly held to my tracks,

I can safely relax and dream

Of a love and a livelihood

To fit that wood or stream; 

And what could be greater fun,

Once one had chosen and paid,

Than the inexpensive delight

Of a choice one might have made? 

W.H Auden.

Thanks for reading.  Adele

                                                                                                          

                                                                                                          

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Animals or Humans?

I like animals, but have never had a pet of my own.  We've had family pets over the years, you know, rabbits, budgies, tortoises, a dog, cats and a fish, but never one of my own. Sometimes I think it would be wonderful to have a cat or a dog, but then I think that I have enough to deal with with my son and change my mind. Hee hee. I've always been more of a people person but even saying that, I think the most beautiful animals are horses. They represent everything I would like to be; loyal, hardworking, elegant, beautiful and wise. Look into a horses eyes and tell me that they're not any of the things I've just listed.

I also believe however that the biggest animals on this planet do not belong to any other species except our own.  The savagery, brutality, evil things people do to one another in a so called 'civil' society makes my blood boil and fear for the future in equal measures.  Other species don't necessarily know any better, they are just following their primal instincts. We however, as a race, are capable of so much good, yet there are elements who choose to ignore that simple act.

I read this week that a 14 year old Autistic boy from the South-East of England, was set upon by 3 males, who not satisfied with hurling insults at this young man, decided to slash his throat for good measure. Why? Because he was Autistic and 'different'?  As a Mother of an Autistic child I know exactly what I would like to do them should they ever be caught. But then, that's the difference between me and them, I know what I would like to do, but would never do it because it would be wrong. I know the difference and act accordingly!  The 3 males concerned may know the difference, but acted wrongly anyway! THEY are animals.

We see the same behaviour again and again in our society, be it in this country or abroad, oftentimes from people in positions of power.  Using the common man as a pawn to fight wars, or gain more power.  It's not right and it has to stop.


Is it you?

Neanderthals live in the here and now,
Use their fists to make their point,
Or weapons if they're cowardly,
the drawing of blood to anoint,
acceptance by their peers,
proof of their manhood,
they're hard enough to join the group,
The gang, the brotherhood.

Savage Leaders live among us,
disguised by suit and tie,
smiling serpentine civil servants,
making false promises and telling lies.
They like to suck up and promise the world,
the abolition of this or that,
the reforms, the referendums,
then do the opposite after the fact.

I am far from perfect,
but even I can see,
we cannot live this way forever,
looking the other way blindly.
There has to be someone,
who will stand up against what is wrong,
injustice, war, poverty,
need solving before too long.

Are you that very person,
who will stand for what is right?
Will take on the corruption,
the fraud by gigabyte.
Are you that very person,
who will stand for what is right?
Negotiating in war zones,
with words to inspire, not incite!



Anyway, thanks for reading. ;-) x

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What really gets my goat?!

Prejudice and ignorance!

In some small degree it could be argued that we are all guilty of those qualities, but when they come to the fore in a greater sense, that's what really gets my goat!

I was brought up to respect others, to realise that we are all VERY different, that everyone has their own opinion of things which may differ greatly from our own. I was brought up to understand that although I may not agree with that opinion, I should respect those beliefs however narrow minded they may appear.  When people voice opinions which are derogatory to my family and lifestyle however, I am just as guilty of rising to the bait as anyone else would be and give as good as I get.  I have a pleasant demeanour and a very long fuse, but you don't want to be on the wrong side of me when I reach the end of it!

Some time ago now, there was an "incident" whilst I was out shopping in a large well known Supermarket, with my son (who is Autistic) and my Mum. My little man was quite excitable that day and when he gets that way he makes humming sounds and flaps his arms around a bit. It is one of the ways he expresses himself as being happy.  As I was waiting to pay after putting my items through the checkout, my Mum was with my Son at the other end in the queue.  I noticed that the people stood behind were talking to my Mum and that she was replying in a more vociferous fashion. I could not hear what was being said, which is extremely fortunate for those other people. They had insulted my son and called him a "Spastic" and said that I should learn to control him. My Mum dealt with the situation admirably, doing exactly what I would have done, as did the lady on the Checkout who had heard the exchange and refused point blank to serve them. My Mum didn't tell me what had happened until we had left the store, perhaps just as well really. I wrote a poem not long after entitled "Ignorance", but it never quite felt like it got across my exact feelings about the matter.  I fully acknowledge that I am one of those people who can never seem to find the right words or insults at the very moment they are needed, always thinking later on: "Oh, I should have said ......".  So for this weeks theme, I've tried to better it:


Judge not, lest ye be judged:

Standing in judgement
Denigrating in a verbal assassination
Your words spew biliously
Through lips used to kiss your Mother.
Who are you to decide
Where I am going wrong?
Your intolerant behaviour towards my son,
Insults tearing at my blood,
Not just through my skin
But that of my Child's.
Contemptible and cowardly,
You've reached an all time low.
Barely pausing for breath
You deem him "subnormal",
Ignorant of the fact
He's more intelligent than you!
Are you really so perfect?
A flawless Adjudicator
Of what is "The Norm"?
NO!
Your pernicious persecution
Shows an inescapable pestilence
In your character!
Look down from atop your Ivory Tower,
Is it very far to fall?
For one day it will crumble
And you will be left
Being trodden underfoot
Of those you have scrubbed into the dirt
Beneath your despicable vindictive tread!


Thanks for reading. x

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Apples are the only fruit ....

They say that if all else fails, write about what you know.  Well, after struggling with the theme of "How many Apples" this week, I thought it best to tell you a little about eating habits of an Autistic Child. Namely, my son's. Sorry if anyone feels I tend to bang on about him.

Autism brings a myriad of challenges when trying to raise a child. Because the condition affects each child differently in varying degree's of severity it can be a steep learning curve at times. Once you've managed to crack it though, get yourself into a routine, it becomes easier bit by bit.

Joe (my son), is on the milder end of the Autistic Spectrum, but that doesn't mean that there are any less challenging situations, just that they are slightly easier in some area's to decipher. One of the frustrating things with Joe, is his diet. It is nigh on impossible to get him to try anything new. He'll try a different food if HE chooses to, and no amount of coaxing, bribing, or shouting will sway him. So, you have to get inventive!

I know it is challenging enough to get kids to eat anything healthy, but Joe will NOT eat any vegetables with the exception of chips for Potato. Full stop. No Pea's, Carrot's, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Cabbage, Green Beans, Sweetcorn, nothing! The only fruit he will eat are Apples.  He likes the taste of some other fruit, but not the texture or look of them.  My head should have a permanent bruise and lump from where I've been banging it on a brick wall.  The seriously annoying thing is that when he was being weaned as a baby, he ate everything!  Grrrrrrrrrrrr.

If you have any inventive ways of getting a child to try new food, especially fruit and veg, please let me know. It must look however, like its their own idea to try it.


How Many Apples?

To my Son, they are THE most important fruit,
No other can even compare,
Their taste and texture are just right,
He won't even eat a Banana or Pear.
You see, eating for him, is sensory,
It must look, smell, feel and taste just right,
Banana's smell and taste really lovely,
But feel slimy when eaten, therefore disliked.
Although Pears may look similar to Apples
Their texture when eaten is grainy,
Another fruit crossed off his edible list,
The look on his face expressing this plainly.
He's tried Strawberries, which smell and taste lovely,
Peaches, Plums and Apricots are much the same,
But the look and texture repulse him,
But now we're starting to play him at his own game.
He'll happily drink pure fruit juices,
Occasionally a Smoothie or two,
It's the only way to get him to consume a variety,
Because Apples are the ONLY fruit for you know who!
Absolutely NO vegetables will cross his lips,
We've even tried hiding them inside other food,
Like Fish Shapes studded with Sweetcorn and Pea's,
But he just spits it all out, oh how rude!
So, how many Apples will my Son eat,
In his lifetime? Who can say?
Although challenging, he eats one thing healthy,
Unknowingly DRINKING others, crafty Mummy hey?


Thanks for reading my waffle. x

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