Class of '18 nattering as they head in different directions.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

Hope this works. On phone with dodgy signal.

Chocolate adding my good luck wishes to your dd.

Also best wishes to those starting Freshers or Introductory weeks this week.

I suppose the boxes not arriving is a learning curve for her. She has had to adapt - something she finds difficult. She does have her powerchair so can get about but the manual is more manoeuvrable e.g. in the kitchen.

I just cannot begin to contemplate the extra hurdles your dd has to go through. Hope she is enjoying it and that the boxes turn up soon.

Thanks ursula. She has actually had a lot of support from both accommodation and the university disability services. One advantage of being so visibly disabled is that she is already known to the reception staff and the head of her house accommodation services and the catering service (in a good way).

Are you still on holiday?

Yes. Heading home tonight. Had to pay €100 to keep the room for the afternoon. Can't be doing with wandering the streets.

What's the weather like?

Currently 13 degrees in South Yorkshire. We went to Sicily last year and loved it. Which part are you in?

DD is off on 22nd but DS26 came down yesterday and be kept saying how he couldn't believe his little sis was off to university!
I honestly don't know how I'll feel on the day. Proud and excited for her but I'm trying to imagine what it will be like at home. Me and DH don't have a great relationship anymore. She and I chat about tv shows, music, fashion etc and have a laugh, so it will be very quiet without her.

We are staying in Ortygia. The island bit off Syracuse. Really beautiful. Someone on MN recommended it.

chocolate
Best of luck to her!
loni
We have a referral to them. Hopefully she will be sorted soon

Dd has some new insoles to help with walking and make her walking less painful

It’s just dawned on me dd goes next week! She has her last 2 shifts at work this week and then done

That sounds fabulous Ursula. We stayed in Cefalu last year and absolutely loved it. The transfer took ages though, so anywhere nearer Catania would get my vote. I will investigate further.

For a five second window this morning my heart lifted as granny was just for once showing an interest in her youngest grandchild.

"Have you got rid of him yet then?"
"No, he goes on "

and that was as far as I got before she interrupted and started reciting the travel arrangements for the other grandchildren. She doesn't know when he goes, she wasn't bothered about hearing the answer. The others are older so they've all been there done that and he doesn't get to be the first to do anything because it's all been done before. The things he's done that they haven't done aren't worthy of consideration, I'm sure one of my nephews would have done it better if he'd ever wanted to.

I am still angry, what made it worse is that just for a moment there I thought we were going to talk about my child but no - wham - straight over to the nieces and nephews. No change there then.

That is just so awful. Our hearts are surely big enough to love and care for all our family.

knitting that is hard. Is there any reason behind it or is it just blind prejudice?

How does ds feel about it?

The eldest grandchild causes the sun to rise in the morning and the rest are less blessed according to age. It is that simple.

Knitting. That is rubbish. Saw my in-laws in the supermarket last week. Could not be less interested in my DDs and didn't even realise that DD1 had had A level results and is off to uni. My girls just said "Well that was awkward!" Sadly they don't expect anything more.

I hope your dd has had a good day today Chocolate.

marmite ours are the same but actually live a few doors down from us. I don’t think they would even recognise my DCs in the street. It suits us, it’s their loss isn’t it!

NoHaudin for your poor DD. I hope it doesn't cause too much of a negative impact to her first few days. So frustrating when you'd planned everything so carefully.

Knitting that is really sad. It's her loss and I hope your DS knows that.

Chocolate how did your DD's first day go?!

Bakery yes it is totally their loss. The other Grandparents they have are great and have enjoyed being with them since they were babies. So they are lucky in that respect.

marmite same, we have one set of grandparents who do the job of two sets! They have a fab relationship and the other set are not missed, the good set always say they are glad they don’t have to share the DC’s!

knitting I have the same thing. Conversation gets turned instantly, sometimes with a brief criticism before it's turned. No interest. It makes me really sad and hurt.

The only interest was in her results, of which they boasted about to people.

Knitting we have the same here from grand parents, and there is only one set. And also from extended family on DH's side. DD's uncle who is also her godfather has rung us twice in the last 2 weeks to find out numbers for his major life event next summer, but not mentioned anything about DD. (And he did know, because when DH mentioned it to him he said 'Oh yes, he'd heard about that'.

In your situation though I think it is especially mean.

We're all rooting for your DS though!!!

I have a question. Has anyone's DC done any MOOCs?

After yesterday's meltdown DD has knuckled down today and made some plans. She has applied for several jobs, and is applying to do some voluntary work at the hospital.

She is also going to do some MOOCs - mainly covering subjects that will be relevent to the subject she wants to study at university (biomedical science).

Any advice would be appreciated.

The boxes arrived and halls staff unpacked them for her and took the packaging away. Apart from a cosmetic dent on the wheel rim everything is fine.
She seems really upbeat on the whole. She bumped into some people she met on the autism transition course and they have arranged to brave the societies fair together which is really encouraging.

That's good news NoHaudin