Brought tears to my eyes (again)

It was that time of the year again, last week Stevens school was in the Rock Challenge, they did a sports theme. with the Olympics and football being part of it. Steven was in a 'Pompey' strip, which was quite fitting, seeing we (hopefully) have tickets for the FA Cup final at Wemberly next month.

It was lovely also seeing another one of Stevens friends also in the 'Pompey' strip (the one who had the brain tumor removed) come bouncing on the stage, as he loves Match of the Day music, that made it extra special for his parents and friends as we didn't think he would be fit enough to play a part, but to come on so happy, (normally he just walks on, like a typical teenager looking bored, lol).

We had the wheelchairs, speeding round the stage as if they were in the slalom, (their faces were a picture, you could see that they were loving every minute of it, they just loved the speed of zooming round) and another lot of students dressed up in rugby gear and doing the 'hacker' dance and chanting. It was fantastic, and at the end we had five students whirling ribbons round like the Olympic rings, the concentration on their faces as they did it, said it all. I cried all the way through, and even remembering it now, brings tears to my eyes.

We came away with 2 awards this year, which was yet another fantastic achievement, well done to all the staff and students who took part, and a big...

...Thank you for making it a fantastic evening.

Managed it

To find somewhere to stay that is,

check out www.thebreconbeacons.co.uk

roll on next month, cannot come quick enough...




(the only trouble is, Sam is staying home for the first time, what will my house look like when we get back).

Totally CHEESED off

The other night when Clive phoned he said about his contract was ending soon, but they want to re-new it for a further 8 weeks, which he agreed to, but was taking 2 weeks of at the end of the old and the start of the new.
I was fine with this, then Clive actually said why don't we go away for a few days, I was in shock at this, as Clive is NOT one for wanting to go away, and I am always jealous of people who's husbands like to go away.

Well this was great, thought as Steven has a couple of inset days off school soon, we would take the rest of that week off, but NO the head would not give us permission as Steven was due to go on a school trip the following week, she said he needed preparation for that. While I sort of understand about going from one holiday to another would not be good for Steven, but it shows she does not know my son, as Steven does not need preparation, he has no concept of time, so whenever we are going or doing anything you don't tell him to the day otherwise he totally gets confused.

Anyway Clive and I thought we would take him out the 2 days before his extra days off, and she said she could not see a problem, so right now where will we go.


First of all, thought of Ireland, as it's a place Clive has work in, and I've always fancied, and now Sam won't be coming on holidays with us, (she would have found it boring), we could do it. But after looking into that Clive, decided he wanted to take the car and have a good look round, so we would need more time, (note this was after a week of me getting Ireland/flight information, lol).
So we settled on Wales, as they have some trains there and some lovely views and walks, (it was not a place from my "I want to do" list, but saying that, have fancied going on the train up Snowdonia, so not to bad, well that is where the real problems started.


If we change Steven for a dog, we will be fine...


We have just wasted 2 days on the computer and phone, trying to find somewhere to stay, mid wales, where we can have a bed in our room for Steven, NO JOY, we did find a couple but they allow dogs (I'm allergic to them), in fact every Hotel, Bed and Breakfast we looked at, and we have looked at 100's, believe me, we have, all but ONE yes ONE, allow dogs.

SO WHY...

...is it, that a few weeks ago, I was over the moon, at Clive wanting to go away for a few days, what with the school having a moan, and now not finding anywhere to stay, I want to cry, it should not be too difficult to take our son away in this country, we never have this problem aboard, so why do we here.


and NO still have no where to stay, how I feel at the moment, I don't know why we should bother, maybe it was not meant to be, maybe we should just stay at home and vegetate, (and in my case, have a little cry).

It's Official.....

.....Clive has lost 3 stone in weight...



I am so proud of him, especially as he has been working away for 4 days a week the last 8 weeks, and still managed to lose over half a stone in that time.

He has been so disciplined, he even brings home the little bags of biscuits they leave in your room, (for Steven's packed lunches). But like Clive said tonight, if he had not started when he did, getting over the initial start before he went away he does not think he would have done as well as he has.


It was because of his life style, he put on the weight in the first place, staying on Hotels, eating full English breakfasts every morning, driving to work, sitting at a computer desk till 10 - 11 at night, driving back to the hotel, eating the biscuits while waiting for room service, having a couple of beers with his supper, then the same the next day, in fact the same everyday.

But things have changed now that now he is a contractor, HE decides when to finish working for the day which is usually not later than 6, (so not eating so late in the day), also where HE is staying, also where HE wants to work.

Wembley

We were lucky to requirer tickets for the FA Cup Final at Wembley

On the Saturday we took a trip by coach to Wembley to see Pompey play West Brom, the first half was a bit scrappy but the 2nd was well worth going for, they played well and we came home with a win, so 'Pompey' are in the FA cup final on the 17th May, first time since 1939.

It was a long day, getting up at 4.45 a.m and Steven was a little confused, he thought we were going on Holiday with such an early start. As we were approaching Southampton Airport, he got excited pointing out of the window, thinking we were going on a plane (what made me laugh is we have never caught a plane from there. Clive had years ago, we use to drop and pick him up, when he was working in Scotland, and Steven remembered this).

Well it was the same as we approached London and Steven saw the Heathrow planes, again with the excited and pointy finger, felt quite sorry for him really. He seemed to enjoy the game, there was over 87,000 people there and we managed to bump into Steve and Steven (Kelly from mine Steven's class, dad and brother) Matt (Nick's brother from class) and Andy was directly seating in front of us, he works for Beechside, (the place where Steven goes to respite), so very small world. When Steven saw Andy his face was all of excitement (thinking of Beechside) but they turned to one of 'hang on what are you doing here?'.

That reminded me of a time we were flying out to Gran Canaria for a summer holiday, and Helen, one one Stevens teachers from school was off to Turkey and heard Steven so come over to say hallo. Well Steven gave her such a horrible look, and then completely turned his back to her, as if to say, hang on here, you are not coming with me to make me do some school work, lol.

With Steven everybody has a place and if they fall out of it, it takes a while for him to except it. Whenever I drop him off at school or Beechside I am not allowed to stay and tell the helpers anything, I just have to go, he pushes me out the door, but when I pick him up I am not allowed to ask questions, as again it's time to go home and he drags me out to the car.



I think if we are lucky enough to get tickets for the final, Steven will enjoy it more, as he will know what to expect. Whenever we go anywhere new, it takes Steven time to get his bearings, then when we go back, he feels as if it's his comfort zone and enjoys himself.


''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''PLAY UP POMPEY''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

No win situation

Well have finished both the ceilings, the dining room the other month and the now the lounge one. I managed to rub it down, sugarsoap and seal it last week, then this week primed, undercoated and glossed the coving and 5 coats of silk emulsion on the ceiling, so that's it, now a rest for 2 weeks.

The reason I have 2 weeks off of decorating, is because it's school holidays down here, managed to finish glossing on the coving this morning after putting Steven on the bus, being at his school at 10 for a meeting and him breaking up at 1 p.m.

It's funny, last night was looking up at the ceiling, thinking, oh my goodness I've still got the coving to finish, and was actually getting fed up with decorating, now I'm sitting looking up at the finished ceiling, thinking, 'Oh No' I cannot do anything for 2 weeks now,


and am quite disappointed,


you can't win, when you've GOT to do something, you don't feel like it and when you have NO SPARE time you wish you had some, as you are in the mood for doing it.

Oh well will have to think of what I need to buy for the next step, whatever that is, lol.