a really nice break in Wales

half term, sunshine, farm visits, walks, sea, sandcastles, care for Ix so we could go out places altogether and also split for doing separate activites eg him on tour bus, girls on pier rides... and dinners cooked by mother... could not ask for more

more car issues!

driving to school, blue van pulls out in front of me...he loses his bumper, i get a dented wing...but we still get to school on time.

a few days later and its apparently £900 for insurer - while the scratched door i asked for estimate as optional extra would be £600 - so will remain scratched...

but we have a nice hire car in the meantime. which plays CDs not tapes! which means "pitufos"...rather than Queen's greatest hits....oh well..took a while to get used to gears again after automatic. car should be repaired by 23 December (snow and parts permitting).

meanwhile mobile phone dies....is also in repair with new hand set to cover. realise contacts were stored on phone not SIM card. and the back up of contacts is on the broken laptop... aargh... need some time to extract from its hard disc...

end of term feeling, the children all finish on Friday but I don't stop work til 4 pm on the 24th, hmph. but ocado.com delivery is booked for 23rd, so all should be fine....

summer's end

It's raining. warm rain. getting ready for school. Ix has already started school and is happy with new class. His LEA have ordered his new communication device, woo hoo.

but during the summer we found a beach

a windy one



we had a room with a view




we walked we cycled we went to the circus



he was very attentive



to scantily clad girls twirling hula hoops




while girls liked the range of animals including


a high rise goat, monkey, llama, dogs...

not a beach....

but hot and sunny Spain, with friends, lots of children around, small town with main square to have coffee with ice (me) coca cola/lemonade (kids) and crisps...afternoons in the pool, friend organized a local man to help with Ix, someone who has been working with disabled children, so it worked out very well for the afternoons at the pool.

(wondering just why we never went to the pool when we used to go with the ex to Spain? it was always a problem - too hot, too cold, too this, too that...)

madness ryanair, delays and extra costs due to too many kilos of luggage, vomits on way out but thankfully Ix fine on way back, tho kept asking for toilet - regardless of seatbelt sign on....skipped thru passport control avoiding queues, kudos to Stansted customer services for understanding that one tired autistic boy doesnt do queues. thank you!

back to work, one week, and playschemes, then off again!

wake up those muscles...

went to new forest and rode ponies - suffered for two days after! muscles not used to it...
G and L loved it.


but was great and good weather.


Girls are great travellers, I so enjoy taking them places. On the train down to Brockenhurst, there were no seats, so we sat on floor next to bicycle rack. absolutely fine.... still cannot help hearing in my head what the reaction would have been from Ex: oh this is terrible, we should not have come, you should have booked a different train, you should have, should have,,, bla bla bla.

once we went swimming, when G was small, taking all three to the disabled swim session. so few people, everyone accepting...but the ex made such a fuss over the changing rooms, over the bags, over this over that....we never went again.

anyway back to the wonders of Brockenhurst - wandering in the forest, watching cars splash thru the fords...


lost in the forest...


Ix was at respite - D. took him there in her open top MG car so he was well pleased.

here, there and everywhere

girls are off school, out and about.

weekend we all saw Going on a Bear Hunt live http://www.bearhuntlive.com/ which Ix really enjoyed, followed by bus to Disney store where he fell in love with a ariel toy. first time in his life he has insisted on buying a soft toy...

sunday Ix went with M to see his dad...me and girls went to animal rescue home open day and saw tippitoes from Britain's Got Talent!
<

rolling around in Wales

so that is what the hamster felt like...

...and Rome....

intense planning paid off:

packing done, picked up Ix from playscheme central London and up towards M25 to drop off at respite; drive back to leave car, pick up luggage. train to Gatwick; plenty of time for eating...plane then taxi organized by hotel, who had emailed to ask if I needed it. not cheapest way but needs must on a late flight...

so a late night but ready and eager the next day for sightseeing, meeting up with Sister and BIL in the morning. who had travelled by train via France to save the environment...

L studied Romans last term so was excited.

G age six was happppy to wander, see, too.

coloseo fun for all...



G particularly liked walking on the "big cockle stones" - "can we go again please?"




and the "mouth of truth" was a big hit



you cannot beat Italian gelati:




we climbed many steps... the Spanish ones of course





and spent time in the park, including on hire bikes





It was a great trip - the Sunday we got up, had breakfast, packed, paid, took train to airport - just missed one train and got stuck in security queues but boarded flight just in time.

arrived back - Ix had been picked up by his carer and was absolutely fine.

could we have done Rome with him?

yes - with a carer in tow, with plenty of downtime with DVD, computer, wholly organized, less "oh let's go this way...".

but ultimately, his needs are different and it is OK to spend time differently - and with the other two. who also need some "attention".

While he was well cared for and happpy in his own room at respite residence, and with a routine he knows well.

"I went to bed at respite" he told me proudly on his computer when we were all back and ready for bed at home again.

It is all about creating memories, good memories, good times...

they were the best of travelling companions, with each other, with me.

will do it again sometime!

next holidays will be with Ix, based around his needs as well as the girls; but the way is open to take advantage of the residential respite and go on many more mini-adventures...