So, how was your day?

[Doolhof]

I've had a busy kind of day that went very well. I have managed to work, go for a swim, had lunch in a park, enjoyed a coffee and biscuits with a client and looked at the second hand tent we have just bought ourselves.

I went down to the chook house to check on my "ladies" and had a chat with them while they clucked away waiting for me to feed them. I also had a look to see where we can set the tent up in the garden this weekend to try it out. I'm already thinking of places nearby where we can go camping. I will also ask my sister and nieces if they would like to join me sometime.

Please feel free to contribute and share how you have spent your day.

Cheers for now from Mrs. Dools

[Doolhof]

Hi Neleke,

I have just written you a message, but not sure if it actually went of to Cyber Land or not as I think I forgot to press Post this reply.

Just in case it shows up, I won't repeat myself, but will catch up with you again later.

Cheers for now from Lauren

[Doolhof]

Hi Indra,

It is lovely for you to share a bit of your day with us as well. I have worked in the past with a few children with Autism and realise there are all sorts of different aspects and levels to it.

Do you have help and assistance with your son? I'm sure he provides you with a lot of love along with everything else that Autism can bring.

What sort of things does your son like to be involved with?

I was down the beach recently and stopped to talk with the mother of a son with Autism. She said he can not speak nor is able to use the toilet himself. He was having a wonderful time running up to the water then away from it again.

Hopefully your Mum will soon be feeling a lot better.

Cheers for now from Lauren

[Doolhof]

Hi again Neleke,

It does seem like my last message disappeared into Cyber Land!

If you don't mind me asking, how old are your boys and what do they like doing?

When you are wanting to cook and do your crafts have you thought of setting things up for your boys to do so they don't become a little bored and then misbehave?

Depending on how old they are, have you ever made play dough for them? You can find a recipe on the internet. If they are old enough they might like to help you make it, that way when they are busy playing, you can enjoy your crafts.

So what are you sewing? I am making a crochet blanket at the moment.

Pancakes for breakfast, that sounds wonderful! I haven't had pancakes for ages.

Thanks again for sharing your day with us all.

Cheers for now from Lauren

[Doolhof]

Hi Everyone,

I did have a lovely day yesterday. We had a really nice service at Church. The singing was great, as everyone else seemed to know the songs so my voice was not sounding in my hears ! Singing is something I enjoy but am not at all good at. Ha. Ha.

I spent most of the day in the garden pottering about, letting the chooks out and chopping or breaking heaps of sticks ready for the wood fire.

In the early evening I had a walk, watching the colours in the sky as the sun set beyond the hills. It was amazingly warm and quite pleasant.

Later today we are expecting rain so I am so pleased I worked on the stick pile until it was completed.

I'm hoping to get to the pool today between clients and maybe go for a walk as well if time permits.

My husband and I are going out to dinner tonight to a favourite pub in a neighbouring country town so I am looking forward to that. The hotel restaurant

has local artists paintings on the walls and all the pictures are for sale. They have some wonderful pieces on display.

Hope you all have a great week. Cheers for now from Lauren

[Doolhof]

Dear Anne,

Hi. Yes the chooks are very amusing. We had a fox trying to make its way into the chook house recently, so I don't let the chooks out of their run unless I am in the garden with them.

I like the idea of having a café across the road. Sounds like a nice idea to treat yourself to a coffee, read the paper and have a leisurely time. We sometimes go to our local bakery for a coffee and pie or pasty for lunch. It is a very popular place.

Yes, I suppose you do have to think about what you can send to your son. Many years ago now a friend of a friend was in prison because of vandalism so I went to visit him with our mutual friend.

It really was so different going into that kind of an environment for the first time.

The security remind of going to the air port. We have been on a few over seas holidays and I always seem to get pulled up to have a drugs test or to go through the scanner more thoroughly.

Last time we went, the security lady pulled me over and I immediately put my arms out. I told her I would have been disappointed if she hadn't called me over as I would have felt like I was missing out! Ha. Ha.

Hope you have a lovely day Anne and your week goes well.

Thinking of you, From your cyber friend Lauren

[neleke]

hi lauren, thanks for replying.

I have two children a girl marissa 13 and a son james 11. James mainly loves sports,he just likes to play up when dad is not around. LOves to annoy his sister.

I suppose my main problem is trying to ignore them but it gets on your nerves after awhile.

I like to sew patchwork quilts and clothes. I just finished knitting a blanket for marissa, am now crotcheting a blanket for james. I have already made a quilt each for their beds.

what have you been up tp?

neleke

[Hopefullseeking]

Hi Neleke, Indra and Lauren,

Nice to meet you Neleke and Indra,

Lauren - I live in the suburbs and this café has only just open a couple of months ago. I hope they do well.  So far it is mainly coffee, cakes and sandwiches or rolls as yet they are waiting to put in a kitchen.  They do really well on the weekends.

I suffer from Agroaphobia which also means having a fear of not only open spaces but being locked in with no escape, so you can imagine how I would feel visiting my son.  I always managed to hold it together until I got out and then would fall to pieces.

I went to NZ several years ago, as that was where I was born and wanted to see old relatives  and was pulled over and had to sit and wait, they were after someone with the same name but different nationality.  It was the first time I had travelled over seas on my own so was naïve as to why I was pulled aside, just as well I didn't know as I would have had a panic attack for sure.

I am at my volunteer work place today.  Already I have given out 2 food parcels to two young ladies,  Both had partners and children, they were extremely grateful. Makes me feel good to give the food parcels out to people who really appreciate the food.

Have been really bust this morning so better go before the phone rings again.

Anne

[Indra]

Hi Lauren - thank you for responding to me. It actually cheered me up and that is no mean feat as I have really been struggling of late.  There isn't a lot of support out there - especially if you can't afford to pay for it yourself. I am lucky however the special high school he is in is very professional - especially being in  country region. We have the normal ups and downs but comes down to trying to find things that make him happy. His 4 year old brother is on the waiting list for diagnosis  at this stage for high functioning Autism - thems the breaks though. I guess for me I am alone alot of the time and desperately miss having friends - disability can be very isolating. Anyway thank you again  for taking the time to say hello 

[Indra]

Hi Anne - thank you for saying hi. Your agoraphobia must make  things very tough for you at times, but I am glad to hear you are doing well at your volunteer position. I am a stay at home Carer now for my older son and my younger son is waiting for diagnosis, so I am fairly limited on being able to do much having to be on call at a moment's notice. I was reaching out on here because I am struggling with having no friends and little contact with people. I find it hard  to things for myself because it has been such a long time that I have.  Thank you for saying hi and for your acknowledgement. 

[Doolhof]

Hi Indra,

I am so pleased you have managed to find your way here to Beyond Blue. I hope the contact you have here with people helps you.

Are there any support groups in your region for people with children who suffer from Autism? Are there other parents at school in the same situation? Could you invite them to join you at a park on the weekends so the children can interact together and you can meet new people?

We have friends with two boys who have autism and they seem to take their boys to gatherings and events quite often that have been organised by different organisations in support of the boy's Autism.

I don't know who these organisations are, but I could ask if you like. Of course the support will be different in every state I imagine. I am in S.A.

Cheers for now from Lauren