Welcome to the Seventh Heaven Tea Room (BYOB. Biscuits, crisps and cake provided)

[Catitainahatita]

Hello and welcome to the seventh incarnation of the tearoom.

If you have found us by chance and/or curiousity you must know that the tearoom is a virtual safe haven for all those seeking a friendly word, a good cuppa and plenty to snack on. By virtue of its magic nature, no food can cause any physical damage, so chocolate, alcohol, transfat and all such can be consumed guilt- (and magically calorie-) free.

We have a wide range of soft-furnishing to relax on; a lovely garden with a swing and a ha ha; a variety of animals; a spa and (for some unknown reason) an apidistra.

Everyone is welcome, if you have one child, ten or none at all. We are a tolerant and fisticuffs-free zone. Instead we employ our energies swooning at Mellors the Gardner cum handiman thinking a silly things to get up to.

Please come in and say hello. You never know, you may end up joining us ...

it's that new silver polish - it does wonders with the candleabra

It's the new thread that's the problem, rather than the one that's now deleted. I'm trying to resolve it, probably badly.

Oh yes, catastrophic overthinking is definitely my problem. It helps to have people telling me I'm doing it, so thank you.

amber, I really don't think that's what anyone intended, as MT says.

you are a shining example really and you would be a great loss. Those couple of people who said that the poem resonated with them weren't having a go at you - they just felt that it DID mean something to them, even though it was felt by you to be inaccurate and horrible. Disagreement with you doesn't mean that they don't value and respect you in other ways.

And you certainly weren't offensive at all! YOU were expressing YOUR feelings as a person with ASD - you are entitled to do so.

Oh I don't mind poems resonating with people, whatever that means. I minded the poem itself saying that we were all like it described, and the poem being copyright which was originally removed from the web by its author. And the poem portraying autism in an horrific way when it could have chosen to do it in a more balanced way that would have enabled everyone to feel respected in some small way.

As I said on there, it's so difficult when I'm trying to get a meeting with reluctant organisations to help improve services, and they read stuff like that about how it's an 'infection' that destroys people and causes disgust. Then they find out the person meeting them is on the autism spectrum, panic, and cancel the meeting. People don't always get why that affects their child and their child's chances in the future. It does. Not just for my meeting, but for any other organisation trying to make contact with that person again. I get it all the time - "Oh but all people with an ASD are dangerous, dribble, are mentally ill and can't be trusted" etc. The negative stereotypes are SO common, and no wonder people can't get a job or an education or fair treatment in places as a result. People are set up to expect us to be absolutely appalling.

I'm rambling aren't I. Someone hand me a slice of toast and a car manual - it'll keep me occupied

He hasn't escaped, because I spent hours dog-proofing under, near and over the fencing (which for 600 ft of fencing round the whole plot is a lot of crawling about in the mud, but it's worth it). He's great, and getting on really well. Some more lead training work to be done, though.

Amber - I don't want to make the tea room and the priest hole less of an escape for you by talking about the other threads but let me say this
(1) you are over processing and thinking about it all too much
(2) nobody said you made things worse - rather the opposite you make things better
(3) as Mistle says, you cannot change people's mind. Sometimes they think what they think. All you can do is say your piece and then walk away I know, that's impossible. At least walk into the priest hole and hide

Glad Mr B is being such a star.

My the little blighters are busy today aren't they

Mistle - on anotehr tack, what is happening re your DH and looking for work? I have rather lost the thread of late, and what about your planned trip to Featherdown Farm? I was reading bout them at the weekend, sound fab and I thought of you?

Daisy, yup, that sounds like me - overprocessing and thinking too much. No off switch. Forgot to install one when they built the brain

I need my pictures, but they're at home

Well perhaps I can proffer another piece of toast, some tea in a mug with feet, but tied down and look! A new stack of car magazines have arrived to celebrate the start of the month

Oh splendid. Thank you muchly.

Daisy - still looking - although was on course which should help a bit - more qualifications.

Amber here's a picture you might like...

MT, how on earth did you know that was going to work ! You're good at this!

Amber

I like fractals. Dh likes fractals (and has whole books about them). I find them absolutely fascinating to look at and get drawn into the details - and further and further.... I just thought that it might be the right way to go - and I do like the naturual ones rather than the 'fabricated' ones better - don't know what you feel. Ferns emerging. Sunflower head centres. Snowflakes and icecrystals... [http://webecoist.com/2008/09/07/17-amazing-examples-of-fractals-in-nature/ here's a nice site - I like the trees and the shorelines in particular]]

Good morning all! We are flying home today (from my mum's back to our home) so I won't be online for a bit. See you all later and have a lovely day!!

Have a good journey JM!

I just wanted to add to the pleas to Amber not to leave. Or, at least, to think again about leaving because she is entitled (of course) to make her own decision.

I didn't see the offending thread, but I think I can say without fear of contradiction that everyone in the tea room values Amber's companionship and humour and we'd miss her terribly if she went. And, despite what Daisy might have implied, it isn't just because she is the All Nations champion at washing up . For a start, who else can assist Mellors so capably with maintaining the various lawnmowers?

JM, have a lovely time

I really really hope not to leave, but I have to be realistic about what I can handle. Trying to put some sensible easy solutions in place.

Well, I've contacted support services, looked at pictures, taken emergency tablets, and feel a bit better now. Best get on with the washing-up of the lawnmower parts in the Tea Room (it's a long story...)

OK, MadBad, just so you know, it wasn't me who mentioned washing up...

Daisy drinks a mug of tea and LO! this being the tea room of requirement it is all washed up and put away in an instant

You mean I've been stood at this sink for months and it could have washed them up itself!

Well, I'm sure the exercise has been good for me

Curiously, I was asked to join a Union Protest today about the closure of University higher education. I've never tried to do that before. I wonder if you have to light a brazier and wave placards, or is that a bit old-fashioned these days? Perhaps they wave iPods or similar instead?

Daisy hands Amber a donkey jacket with flourescent patches on the shoulders

That's a jacket, not Donk herself

Oh thank heavens, I'm not sure that Donk would wish to be carried around on my shoulders during a Protest .

Have fashioned myself a placard from some of the old wood at the back of the Tea Room stables, saying "No To Closures!", which seems like quite a good general slogan. I think I'll wave it from the gardens here in the tea room grounds, which saves me worrying about going anywhere new

The tea room megaphone could be handy, too...

Hello all,

Amber please don't go (I'd sing it á la whatisface, but I think even the tearoom's magic is unable to make me sing in tune). We love you here and the tearoom would be not be the same without you. Even if you take a break (permanent or not) from the other threads, stay with us, please.

Good news A/C unit was installed yesterday (it took all morning!) and now I am enjoying a very cool breeze. Lovely!

Whinge alert Today's my birthday and so far, no one has remembered at all. No cards, paper or internety. I phoned my mum, as usual, in the morning, and she didn't mention it. DH went off for a run, ditto. I'll see if a gentle hint (ie did you remember today is my bd?) later might get him to get me a least a card!

Still, the A/C is working and I'm not overhot today. That's a present in itself.

Aha, an opportunity for the Tea Room Birthday Cake to appear (you'll be pleased to hear I had nothing to do with the making of it, so it'll be edible).

Happy Birthday Catita!!!

How could they forget?

OOh cake... that sounds good (can you tell my nausea is fading?!)

Can it be a triple chocolate one? With white chocolate icing with chocolate button decorations??? [saliva emoticon]

I'm thinking about making a fruit cake in rl, but I'll have to see if DS will allow such frivolity ... (it's a pity he is still too young to "help")

Et Voila! One triple choc duly decorated cake with the correct number of candles (er, no more than 21 for any of us, of course). And Mellors to give you a birthday foot rub whilst the NMBs play a nice bit of music on the tea room piano.

No, NOT that tune, thank you!

So sorry, can't do a thing with them today...