The 2025 Dorm review

Nearly the end of year when I got around to finally typing up this blog entry which isn't tardiness on my part but with dealing with a few health emergencies of the Grump kind across the last week taking up chunks of my time I'd sooner of spent on blogging and other things as a Little.

Blog has been a bit different over the last few years in part due to issues like that, previously Mom's well-being current the Grumps with the usual lack of support from siblings like one who when told he'd not been well just went rambling on and on about his upcoming writs/hand operation which while life changing isn't life threatening like some of Grumps issues.

Indeed one couldn't be bothered to even say "I'm sorry to hear you've been unwell" or "Is there anything I can do to help?".

The other issues affect the blog have been around reduced to time for school day re-runs although I was able to go to one early in the year where for flunking the subject tests I was caned in front of the class which did bring a few points around how teachers did things back in day into light. 

Not that there's anything wrong with spanking me when I could of done something better and opted not to or anything like that.

Long stays were limited cos of demand for spaces and the problems of finding affordable bigger venues but our stay in Devon was memorable even if it seemed many of us sustained injuries with the staircases and despite being careful I went flying landing on the fall with force involving a slippy mat.

I've typed a bit around my own feelings and emotions this year as I feel that's been of value explaining a it more around my life and how things from the past influence the present which doesn't easily fit the format of the other blogs.

Following issues around Similar Worlds took me away from that site it's been helpful.

How 2026 pans out I have no idea but we'll ride it anyhow. 

A word from The Bear

Hewwo. I'm Theodore the IInd I am. I came into Joanne's life today this magical day called Christmas to add a bit of sparkle in

to her life as she just loves teddies bears giving the most loveliest hug to us bears.
I was at a bit of a loose end at the bear home when she told a woman she really wanted me for Christmas and you know what? Not once did she peep at me until today! 

I'm hoping she'll have some great adventures with me.

Regards Theodore II

Christmas pause 2025

 The pause comes earlier to this blog as we prepare for Christmas with quite a bit to do when it comes to visits, shopping and dealing with a few medical issues with dad.

Wishing all a Very Happy Christmas  and all the best for 2026.

 

The nom time of the year

Yes it's getting to that time of the year and guess what? In all this grump messed up craziness I got one!

With the help of the Teddy Bears, I can count down the days toward Christmas while noming on small squares of milk chocolate.

Don't ask what other folks may make of it but if I feel the need to have an Advent Calendar then I do and other peoples opinions don't come into it.

In other news, our community Christmas Tree is up, decorated, fully illuminated and carol singing whereas the Council tree is much smaller but has four penguins by it.

I don't know what penguins have to do with Christmas but still.. 

1,300th post

Do you know something? This happens to be1300th post here at The Dorm which is quite a milestone (not a Millstone) in its history.

 Indeed it almost never really got started between pressures from my career and having an early version of a blogging tool that was used for more mainstream "big" posts  and if you really want to know the truth, actually I'd of much sooner just had this one cos it's everything about me.

When I say everything, I mean starting with having this very much childlike (but not childish) little girl side that has never gone away , enjoying the simpler things of life like dolls, teddies, engaging in children's games and interests.

It's taken me to different places, meeting some remarkable people who share the same side mixed in with their more groan up side all trying to balance both sides of themselves and sometimes with having partners too.

It's also the only blog that deals with an important side of my life quite openly, that I am transgendered and how that taps into issues from my own childhood, having an inner girl child and has lead to me presenting as that female both at home and increasingly in the presence of others, something that has helped me an awful lot.

Our community, the alg community, has supported in its own way, me in all of this.
In this blog I do talk from time to time about things such as music, books and anime which have been great interests of mine for a while but in a different way, more from how they tie into my past and the child within me which sometimes by accident has occurred elsewhere as ultimately I can only be me wherever I may post.

To mark the occasion of this 1,300th post we've taken a break as I was editing iD tags for some music files that were messed up before loading in the micro sd card. We all know that stuff often needs sorting.

The countdown before CatMas continues next week.

School girl tech

Every modern young lady I ever met had some interest in music  whither or not it was just about the look and fashion of the artists, just singing the songs and usually some way of playing our favourite music.

Obviously with changing times, what it is we have changes as some products come to the end of their lives and others replace them and so while I was infatuated at one time with reels of tape, also I was an early adopter of the Japanese craze of the MiniDisc although that technology has come to something of a dead end with the discontinuing of recorders.

I have had personal digital audio players using either downloaded albums or home made copies, not least the Sandisk Clip Zip and a few Fiio models that offered better ergonomics and better sound but the current drive towards everything being Andriod based with swiping action is difficult for some of us with limited dexterity.

But I did need the ability to have bigger capacity cards and be free from the 5,800 song limit for indexing of older players.

Enter the Fiio X5 Mark II.

It's a digital audio player for sure but it is designed from the ground up to sound really good starting with using the same chip to convert the zeroes and ones of digital to analogue sound  as a £400 separate cd player and a very high quality headphone stage that cures at the outset the problem of not enough of and the failure to reproduce fully, the sound even from iTunes or better quality Mp3 albums.

Then there is the fact it also plays not only regular 16 bit lossless (Flac) downloads and home copied files equalling the full quality of a cd, it plays 24 bit better than cd ones too (192/24 being its limit) and it sounds on headphones better than many separates.

Critically it takes two cards that can be indexed together so two 128 gb cards can be indexed which helps with lossless files as to get the better sound they give, they do use more space per individual track.

In the UK you can by cd and better than cd  quality downloads from Presto who do Classical music and 7Digital as well as the French Qobuz company for much else like rock and pop.

Generally I tend to compile cards by genre finding it easier to find the recordings I want that way helping with swapping out - I keep mine in a single plastic pouch per card with the title on a sticky label inside a wallet folder.

The kicker though is it for once has a proper line level output just like a cd player rather than relying on a crummy headphone stage with its built in restrictions, so armed with lossless files it sounds equal to or actually better than a dedicated cd player.

It also has a coaxial digital output so you could use it as a sd card transport to a dedicated hifi digital to analogue convertor too.

Throw in the ability to play from a charger while charging and you too can be listening in really high quality to all those files while being portable enough to carry around with you.

This will work as much as the M21 is the better bet with 24 bit classical downloads for it's massive 2tb capacity.

Looking beyond the nine to three forty-five

The other blog (and it's template) tended to look things from a female explorative and school girlish angle while here tended to centred very around school girl or wanna be school girl life and looks but as time goes on, topics well covered or changes creep in what we post does alter.

It's fair to say what we were posting from around 2014 through 2018 isn't because of changes in circumstances and as ever you've always had to be aware of Bloggers restrictions (and revisions of). 

 

Beyond of that school girl look - some have rooms full of full uniforms - the teen fashion concious girl with skater skirts and big bold strips has always been a favourite of mine.

While with my condition fussy fastenings are something I would need help with and heels being a no go with being very unstable on my feet I do love a more girlie satin dress look with frills and pretty bows as whenever I have managed it it just felt "right".

I'd love to be in that picture. 

Weeks happenings

Well it has been a rough old week with the grump getting super stroppy arguing black really is white, telling you things weren't there when it was they'd put them away in a confused state and refusing to recognize that having having checked with them making plain just what was for them alone, they allege you didn't get what they wanted.

Thankfully we've calmed down somewhat over the last couple of days so at least we were able to watch the Remembrance Sunday parade without any atmospheres.

Somehow yesterday moving from where I was sleeping to getting up I got cramp in my left legfrom just below the knee to a little above the ankle with severe muscle pains so I wasn't able to move at all for several minutes and spent the rest of the day hobbling about with my walking stick going room to room.

It'll most likely subside over time given some rest but carrying things with one hand taken up with your walking stick takes some getting used to.

Thoughts about lessons

 

Well we're still playing catch up here with being away but that was different this time as school was shut so no lessons in ancient measurements that I never use or worse still trying to calculate capacity, area and co to formulas I do understand but involving a whole batch of converting one unit within the same system to another.

When you have well documented difficulties with number work from birth it's expecting a lot for me to do that that especially as generally speaking the Metric system is all tens hundred and thousands and so on and noticably easier for me to use.

I suspect some people never really got over the changes and those in industries that hadn't seen much investment in new equipment tended to stick with old ways as even in the late 1980's City and Guilds were still doing vocational exams in Imperial even though as school leavers we were metricated. 

I much prefer English Literature and the Humanities to be honest especially when they can be combined with Field Trips which okay we have stuff to take in and worksheets you take around and complete it just seems more "real" to me.

Space age living

The week it had to be said  had a turbulent start but ended quite well all be considered gaining a few fans at one place, seeing a misunderstanding led disagreement get to the point of accommodation and finally late autumn weather came to that lead to some photography which is more my idea of fun than dealing with the likes of the DWP which has been central in the last few weeks.

People often hear the groan ups talking about how we live, the type of environment they plan and how that affects things and this taps into some of things we recall of the past.

For instance in the late 1960's and 1970's the way children lived was changing rapidly brought on by both the idea of keeping more green spaces and also using less land for housing.
One famous children's tv series caught it well.

Yes that is a lift to the flat Mary lived in with Mungo the dog and Midge the inquisitive mouse in their town. They had a flat with a balcony that served as their garden and if they wanted more space then they'd go the communal park where fairs and other things go on.

Here's Mary playing with the bright colourful building blocks.

 I often harboured the thought they were trying to prepare us to this more isolated existance where everyone kept themselves to themselves, a far cry from the sort of life my folks had.

For one thing you couldn't just play in each others gardens or on the street, just in doors in the park away from the neighbours and the other is it remove the wonder of seeing the natural environment with it's calming effects.

In your dreams

I love music and often nursed ideas of being in a band with all the disciplines of band practise that go with it.

I never quite go the hang of playing guitar properly and graduated toward the Xylophone but if I'd of stuck with the guitar, this is how I'd love to have practised.

It's just so kawaii.

I am expecting a record this morning as one measure of my interest in music is the number of records and cds around the house - some several hundred - although I try to avoid duplicates in the way some might have regular and deluxe editions, mono and stereo copies and speciality issues by labels like Rhino Hifi, Mobile Fidelity, Analogue Productions and Speakers Corner. 

Totality of Identity II (A kind of an essay but I'm rubbish at them)

Well this thing is taking an eternity to really clear looking at the waste paper basket I was looking at a post from the early 2010's which while I'm nor in great shape could do with a but of of an update as it was written more at and for very much age regressed littles setting following a rather up and down journey some fifteen years before when I had little to nothing of a connection to the internet and much that I did have for a period left me rather conflicted.

There was certainly that age regressed side there which was well nailed but not much mention around how disability affects self exploration some of which I was reminded of several months back at a recreated school day .

I literally needed someone to fasten my school tie, fasten buttons and straighten collars as this was more a senior school rather than juniors  with polo shirts, sweaters and pull on skirts.

That's not something I could easily do just on my own and other things get more involved in that way because I do have a more "Sissy" side which is often fiddly with fastening bras, tieing up corsets when you just have no co-ordination, an inability to walk in heels which is de riggre for nearly all sissies. 

And I mean this sissy can't even pull hur self up by hur suspenders, struggling to fasten then before just feeling tired out and yet to be truthful I'd just love somebody to spend a day or so helping me really dress the part cos when I'm like that I just love it.

Satins and frills rule!

You're not gonna tire yourself silly but you can't deny what you'd sooner do and express those ways whatever the opportunities might be because being you is a Need.

That side was always in the mix so I tend to wear over the knee socks with shorter skirts more  or opaque tights although pulling them on can be a struggle.

More rest

 

It's probably just as well I'm comfortable with my own company this week as I'm really quite unwell and need to stay in having aquired yet another covid variant not making my way in the categories of people who get boosters this year even though my immunity to infection is poor.

I might get out wrapped up with a mask on to do a bit of photography for a bit as I've upgraded the standard zoom on the Nimon to something that's sharper, has better contrast and covers more moderate wideangle to moderate telephoto which cuts out a lot of lens changing given my photographic interests.

Until next week when I'm better, bye for now. 

Restoration post

Hi! It's been a rough old few weeks battling with being poorly here for much of the month to the point of feeling really out of things there are few things to talk about beyond Taylor's new album this week.

Ill health can come in many forms, it may be connected with a childhood condition or disability which it is with me unfortunately for others it's something that develops or occurs later on in their chronological life.

"D" has been a long standing member of our LG group although they do have a slighter older side for more years than I have, contributing to things like bringing and preparing food, helping organize activities with is like cat herding on steroids at times and generally keeping an eye people as people can and do have emotional responses not least those who just haven't had the chance to let the LG side of themselves out for domestic reasons.

An all round "good egg".

Recently she experienced a heart attack - her first - that required hospitalization that has left an impact for her that may well recover in time but also caused much concern to their partner of many years which with being of retirement age too has caused to to consider at least as far attending get togethers that may of been three or more days which involved a lot of travelling too attendance.

Her decision is to pull back from that - not pulling back from being little  - being open for the odd visit and I for one respect that because aspects of this life like travelling hundreds of miles to events takes a lot out of you.

Doing that in a day leave me shattered  and you do need to consider the time you may wish to spend with the rest of your family like grand children which in the bigger scheme of things are more important.

This can happen to all of us, arguably will happen as our bodies age in ways our minds and outlook do not so we ought to be prepared for that, passing the baton on to the next generation.  

Onward bound

"I wonder what this is all about?" I hear you cry especially as we know me and trains have a lot bad memories and you generally won't see many pictures of them here although obviously I do travel sometimes more times than others .

There are times when you do seem to see or act in ways others don't which can be a good thing for seeing what may adrift with other peoples ideas and sometimes not when they appear to think you're utterly weird, struggling to keep up with the connections you make that seemingly they don't.

Yet to you, it's a complete mirror image, their take makes no sense and just where the heck did they get that from?

Thing is really we're all individuals with our own ideas so really we're better off exploring each others traits and seeing what we can learn from each other.

Every cloud has a silver lining edition

Hey people did you know this blog has had over 7000 page views since it's conception and is read people people on two continents? Quite something, eh?

Well yesterday was quite something in a bad kind of a way cos I was halfway on the commute to work when I senses an 'aura' the warning sign of  migraine which are a lot worse than just a bad headache and had to make my way back home.

Now that of itself doesn't bother me but for two things I was feeling dizzy, the local taxis were all tied up with school runs so I couldn't get one home and critically I'd left my cellphone at home on charge!

Not good as I had to walk though quiet country roads home.

Anyway I got home taking my time and ensuring I kept to where there were houses that if needed assistance I could get some from and the weather was pretty good  - so good -  that decided to take a picture by the Trent and Mersey canal that I like.

Frilled edition!

A good good while back anything really "girlie" used to really send me skipping off to the table to hide under but over the years things have changed.

Heck I did mention the odd thing about overall changes within some time ago so something I don't usually talk about  and certainly never something you'll see peeking out all ikky on this blog ever but actually some of us do a bit of the frilly albeit in a restrained way possibly cos we're exploring things. Exploring us even.

In my case probably more I just feel like sometimes being more girlie some of the time at least and something that is relatively plain with fully elasticated legs for a snug fit appeals more than some designs and I feel happy in them.

Plus I got a couple of pairs of these white frilly ankle socks to go with them and these do go just above the ankle which I prefer looking a bit more balanced with the skirt lengths I usually wear.

Tumblring Adventures

Another week goes by and while rather busy here, I have a couple of things to mention of which the Child Online safety bill is having an impact on some sites but in less than wholly predictable ways with some requiring work arounds and others you might of thought would of been not.

 
The other is oddly enough my random jottings littles centric Tumblr appears to be taking off when it comes to followers being in the mid 50's so thanks for all there who do follow it.

It's been going for a good number of years having survived the Tumblr purges, inter age regression communities warfare and a fair number of people just dropping away from Tumblr in general.

Meanwhile and not entirely unconnected with some of the above, this was something I just loved doing at school way back when be it solo skipping or playing skipping games to rhymes in threes or more taking turns.

Given it is the resumption of schooling and the Autumn Term it's rather apt for me. 

 
Such fun!

The Barney Mysteries

 

It's a warm post ban holiday day here as I type this weeks blogs so having been at EBS he old adage "You can't but a good book down would seem to apply around these parts of late  as some more new to me books by Enid Blyton arrived recently that cannot be bought now.

These copies are actually editions from the very early nineteen-seventies where while still in hardback form they have been cheapened by printing the frontspiece and spine direct to the jacket and missing off the rear of what would of been the back of the paper dust jacket the original hardbacks had.

 There are six novels in this series of mystery adventures that feature Rodger and Diana Lynton and their cousin Peter, ophaned, who goes under the name "Subby" in the series and his dog Laddie who are also joined by Barney an motherless circus boy who has been on a quest to find his absent father and who has a money called Miranda.

The "Barney Mysteries" is the title these usually are grouped under although some use "R Mysteries" with the "R" coming from the R in the names of all the titles.

The children visit sleepy villages and seaside towns that it transpires are riddled with intregue and it's that they look into.

One of the strengths of this series is the stories are full of atmosphere and good humour, the strong characterization making for much more depth  than most of her work and more sophisticated language that made it the only series Enid herself recommended just for those of eleven years and upward while still staying within child friendly themes.

Cold smiles!

When some likes go back in time would it surprise you to find actually there's something I do really love?

I first encountered this when I was chronologically little usually in folded over cardboard containers from the frozen food cabinet in our nearest towns store looking for something to have with our Sunday main meal.

Called Neapolitan Ice cream, it has the strawberry, vanilla and chocolate flavours all in one arranged so when you slice it, you get equal portions of each flavour and it went well with jelly!

Just marvellous!

I also had Viennetta for the first time in ages last week with cream and chocolate outer shell and that was delicious.

August musings

Take one early August evening  where it's been very hot during the day even if the activities during the course of were anything but and I usually start thinking about  writing up this weeks blog.
It's always nice to see 'old faces' return to sites even though on some there are issues with sub cultures bullying others which meant I needed to report one person!
It's also nice where you can be in a space  that is accepting of you even if as this great manga cell makes the point, it's your life.

Certainly I live mine as I feel to best extent possible for me although everybody's circumstances are different so limiting what maybe you are able to.

Also I discovered my dormant 7Digital download site log ins as it was in late december 2020 in the throes of Covid that I last used it which is a few machines ago, finding most of the downloads were still there available to be  downloaded anew and I did download a few in better quality than I was using then.

I also got some weights so I was able to use an older cartridge I had not used since 2016 as it just wouldn't balance right on the tone arm .

At the record sharp end...

Way back in 2013 I wrote  a bit about how for those of us who use turntables that use removable (SME) type headshells we could have a easy to fit and install cartridge for getting the music on our records  to our amplifiers phono input so we could enjoy and did produce an update in 2016 but we're nine years on and things are a bit different.

There's always been some controversy in audio circles regarding the best cartridges and styli to use over the decades, the earliest being from the days of horn gramophones covering the shape of the stylus, what it is made from, to  the sort of cartridge it is attached to and so on.

Sometimes it is clear one is better overall such as moving magnet cartridge sounds better and causes less wear than a crystal one to your records but on other occasions its been "swings and roundabouts" depending on what you prioritized such as the moving magnets ease of replacing the stylus over the potential advantages of the moving coil although that has to be re-tipped by an expert (or you use a part exchange scheme to get a new one each time).

While more advanced stylus shapes can by being a  closer fit to the record grove wall, sounding better  for tracing the grove more accurately, some find the demands of keeping a record spotless clean to avoid more obvious noise from debris a challenge.

That is one reason I've decided to go slightly backwards and explore one of the best  regular eliptical stylus fitted cartridges, the Nagaoka MP 110 whose tracking is better than most in its price range.

For a good number of years Nagaoka of Japan had no official importer in the UK but that has changed over some 18 or so months, so they are back on sale with proper dealer support.

As purchased, it was pre-mounted into a SME style headshell to screw into my turntables arm so all the fiddly wiring was done for me and I'm looking forward to giving this ago alongside my  Ortofon Concorde 20 and 30 higher spec but more demanding .

I expect it to sound slightly warmer and with a tadge less extreme high frequencies.

Things afoot

Canvas soled footwear was very much a part of my childhood and for good number a part of their casual side later on in life but the Pastel Galaxy tennis shoes have a allure that's just for us being so cute and girlish.

Shorter Pereline socks can also play a part in terms of a summer look, very much a little girl look but cooler for those warmer days while still being breathable.

Week one of the hols musings

 

Someone may be looking a bit stern faced filling out the punishment book but perhaps it's more about their uniform this time than just attitude and as ever this always talk before school closes for the six week summer holidays around that.

Some has been about affordability, Academies in particular often went for blazers with piping, embroidered badges , branded sports kit often only available from *the* official school supplier which to be fair are often of good quality but quite an outlay especially if you have two or more children in such schools.

So they're trying to de brand things which may ironically make the difference those that can afford the est and the others stick out more.

Perhaps what is needed is a uniform allowance?

The other is for some of us is getting uniform stuff for the kind replicated school we go for which isn't too difficult for generic uniform like plain blazers, skirts things like traditional boater hats for girls and schoolboy caps can be harder and today looking under a school that might feature such items is likely to meet a request for details of the child, class etc as school specific items are often behind a "firewall" so unless you can find used ones it might prove difficult.

Perhaps some of us never got over formally leaving school and would sooner be at one for us?  

Special friends

Much much cooler this week thank goodness as it was really affecting my internal system a lot so it is a time perhaps for some more cooler thoughts around that which is both a need and thing in my life even if perhaps less than before.

Really for me at least, having "that talk" is just a basic from the important angle initially that you do give consent to being spanked whither it is on each separate occasion or a at all times unless you indicate clearly you're not "up to it"  in which they can find another suitable punishment

It also should cover the "how" - the use of any implements - the way any number of strokes may be given as it is too easy to risk injury especially permanent injury if you don't and the "why" such as in what situations you will be spanked.

In some situations a third area for "the talk" might be to examine what you did, how you feel about it and after the person lets go of any anger agrees with you to give you that spanking so they are in full control of their emotions and so can do it safely. 

With love to all those trusted Adult friends in my life who are “Special Friends” sorting me out when I mess up. I’m so glad you’re doing this for me.

Giving me that spanking we talked about helps. 

Life on the hoof

 

Just before I'd normally be orf this week here's this weeks post.You know this is so me as I just adore horses and ponies spending hours petting and talking with them to the point of begging folk to stop the car so I get out to them in the fields.

My brother was wild about horses, still is, taking part in gymkhanas and other competitions spending hours on horseback and subscribing to the Horse and Hound magazine and has a fair bit to do with the Arab Horse society, doing photography for some big cheeses. 

I spend quite bit of my time with him and share the same love of country life and its routines.

Bigger girl talk - The value of work and why benefits matter

I deliberated over where to write this but decided as there were other things I may wish to talk about elsewhere I'd do that here.

The ongoing row over PIP and connected payments shows a lack of understanding that just being disabled means you incur costs in your attempt to be as independent as possible that have nothing to do with your ability or willingness to get a job as without them you wouldn't stand a chance of doing what it takes to take on a job like get dressed, get about paying for assistance and equipment and you may need more space than is presumed for a non disabled person which you don't get any help from housing benefit from.

Greater and quicker intervention when it comes to treatment and therapies would help but that area is facing year on year cuts and even insiders in the DWP admit their access to work programs struggle to deliver employment with over a year delays from assessments to aids for work being delivered which means in practice many employers don't employ perfectably capable disabled workers while governments and the tabloid press gaslight disabled people as shirkers turning down jobs.

A few years back a Government Minister here in Great Britain, raised several eyebrows when he appeared to suggest a major measure designed to set a basic level of pay - the National Minimum Wage - ought not to apply to learning disabled employees and the resultant storm left people thinking the idea was discarded.

Recently a noted personality and champion of disabled people and indeed parent of a 'grown up' child with Downs Syndrome, Mrs Rose Monckton decided to raise this topic again as the person who runs a training program for learning disabled adults.

The essence of her argument run that the output might not justify the National Living Wage for those over Twenty-four years plus the National Minimum Wage of Sixteen through Twenty-four year olds and many lived with their parents and so didn't 'need'  more than say Two pounds per hour as their parents provided for them. Hate the expression, but in essence this two pounds would be more like 'pocket money' for them being used for snacks, trips out and clothes rather than say food or housing costs.
By doing this, she argued learning disabled people would be more included in the work force and more importantly would feel they had a place in society that would be valued.

I suppose the first thing is to I say I share the same objective not least for having learning and developmental disabilities on top of physical ones, believe strongly in a more inclusive society and that even people  with learning disabilities should have employment opportunities.
That's where it stops with me because while some may be content with living with parents or some shared home with assistance -which absolutely is their right- the problem with this is it means they could not look for an flat where they would need to find money even if they claimed back some housing costs though other welfare programs.

The second area of concern is we are purposely exempting people on the basis purely of diagnosis and labelling from the everyday wage expectation whereas in the past 'top up' schemes would of helped companies employ people by paying them so they offered the same wages to a disabled employee.

The third area is if the argument is that some work may be therapeutic in terms of teaching life skills, the 'value' of work, retention of abilities which as someone who is disabled I'd agree with, then there was no reason they could not be  permitted to work in a voluntary capacity, assisted with any necessary travel costs and perhaps allowed to keep a small amount of any money they were given by way say of tips without having to declare everything.
That would provide  for much of this, be more flexible and not compromise the notion of everybody regardless of disability being literally of equal value reflected in their wages.

A message from the Plushies II

Been a bit busy tidying up this week removing magazines that soon build up and the likes and  I thought I'd post about something that is troubling me.

 One group appears to have a "one set of rules for some and another for all else" running through who can be in a private group on a popular messaging site, the way people can know about any group activities - only seeing the information WHEN you've been added to the list so you never know to even register an interest before and not even getting back to your messages.

Ideas for a back up channel if one long running LG site has issues using the same provider are just ignored without comment even though they know the old Yahoo system had ceased working a while back and there is no list on site of Moderators so if anyone has a concern they can raise directly.

 

 Time to just cuddle your plushies while this carry on continues.

Update on the legend that is the Grump

 Well things have moved on a bit compared to where we were last Wednesday starting with the chaos of Friday where the idea of staying in until Monday or Tuesday got rapidly altered to coming back Friday time time as I've just finished watching Blue Peter and am finishing off my Fish Fingers and Chips!

I had been out in the morning doing some shopping but of course that was based more on him not being back so anything for roast like meals was left off and I left much of the salad off as I'd be on mixed packets of salad until early Tuesday.

Yes it is nice to get him back again  but the amount of things that followed was something else, a fair chunk honestly wasn't the result of any meaningful assessment of needs just a package given out somethings of use like a booster cushion to help him get up better and adaptations to make the toilet easier to get in and out of  and other things like a walking frame that really he has little use for and a seat that's really heavy so in narrow cramped kitchen it would difficult to move to gain access to the alcove where the drier lives.

We'll see if getting to the local shop armed with scooter and walking stick will work as we need to feel confident in that before tackling supermarkets and hour long shopping with a trolly but we're cooking and carrying plates.

Paws crossed. 

Making sense of changed situations

This week began not in any way as planned as I had remarked in the odd place a few times Dad hadn't been well for a few weeks with a UTI and that one set of antibiotics just hadn't worked and that after something after a faff last Friday following a doctors visit a second lot had arrived.

Well he seemed to slow down and felt decidedly off colour over the weekend but rallied overnight so although I had worked a way of getting the shopping in he'd agreed to, he was adamant he was going out and attempt to Monday except he fell after some strange double vision eposides.

Thus I got back from doing most of I'd planned only to hear the sorry story but then finding he couldn't get up after a quick check over by the Paramedics so he got taken to A&E.

That meant I've been keeping people in touch with developments but also figuring out the washing machine as for one thing the machine I last used personally was a bit different when Mom was still alive and fighting a battle for control of the washing and while then Powder was still just that and liquids that came in sachets you cut and put into a ball  direct to the drum todays powders and conditioners are different so I needed to check.

No sense in acting in haste and possibly jamming something!

So towels and clothes got cleaned  as I also fixed food.

Hopefully he'll be back in a few days time.

Pride Month thoughts

Rough weekend here but it is the start of a new Month with a few things having come to which I've read or played in the case of cds and records on the stereo but oddly enough going to a forum that is more about music accidentally challenged me to this post.

See, this month is Pride Month, that around the globe LGBTQ+ event where events are held with speakers and all of that and it happened they had a thread on it in Off Topic where those who are gay,lesbian like my bff, bio or Tg posted a bit about themselves and their own feelings.

Now because of the stuff that went down way back in 2009 that involved ex members making a gone rogue site, I wasn't come out with the whole of it but did show my colours cos looking back on it I wasn't doing anything wrong for being openly Tg and a Little off site although a subset of Tg people see that at least damaging to their (higher) status amongst the muggles.

Nobody really is any better or worse for being just who they are in the Tg world and few of us really know about other peoples bedroom or playroom activities.

These day I am even prepared to admit to myself a few more "sissy" traits are in me as much as I keep anything remotely sexual well detached from the little side, at play not least loving the satins and frills in moderation as that uber girlie side does like to come out.

And why shouldn't?

We are all deserve the right to be free-free to be me, be open about ourselves - and enjoy the life it takes us along.

Yours Jo, T gurl.

Ello peoples

Weekend was a bit busy sorting through somethings, finding one cd that was being a bit reluctant to play and then there is never ending discourse around topics like just going at people cos of their gender issues which are in no way relevant to what the individual  and that group do together.

One suggests it's just what happens when one part in power tosses 1% of the population under the bus for 49% of the electorates votes but as one the 24% disabled in the uk, we're frequently tossed under the bus by all the parties as over 60% of people just don't accept disabilities exist or try to marginalize the extent within society.

And Labour are no better on that - hello Atos, Capita, Esa and the disability denying factories all set up under their watch than the Conservatives who did introduce Disability Living Allowance replacing the almost impossible to claim Attendence Allowance for those under 65 having seen people unable to walk being turned down for it.

The problem is prejudiced attitudes really. 

A few reflections along the way

It's certainly cooler than this time last week which generally speaking is a good thing as it was getting really a bit too much but we definitely need some rain as the ground is solid here, grass shrivelled in spots and a whole series of canal locks up in Cheshire are at risk of being shut as there's insufficient water to operate properly and some in the Manchester area are so people cannot  get along part of the network.

Yesterday wasn't too great with a bit of an infection followed by a medium intensity migraine attack resting on the coach between the arrival of various couriers with bits that didn't quite fit in the letterbox usually because they were packed in much bigger than needed packaging with the usual tapping sound on the door.

You wouldn't think we had an electric door bell with a prominent button!

Bitter-sweet

It is a warm start to what will be a very warm day having woken up early to get a few chores done and then have to wait on the honey bees gathering nectar just where the waste bin is to finish their thing before putting it out.

Last night I was watching a tv show on the BBC presented by Chris Packham, the noted environmentalist around ADHD and its impact from childhood to adult life to the point one Woman recently diagnosed in her late 40's was effectively dependent on her children to keep her on track with appointments, family tasks .

it was interesting to see also how in early childhood especially at school age, the start of negative self images and becoming isolated creeping in.

What people call executive functioning is something I am aware I struggle with although unlike many on that show it is less lots of different idea balloons you're doing a  flip-flopping balancing act with so much as not knowing where to start and fear of "blank paper" that leads to paralysis.

That had quite a bit to do with "And where is your homework?" conversations as a child although later on I did quite well with supported open learning in later years probably cos I could create a framework that ensured I got the hours per week and the exercise completed for marking rather trying to fit in someone else's.

Dyslexia is more my major intellectual disability coupled with acquired brain damage with things like having five word memory recall which messes up dictation, very poor short term memory  coupled  associated issues with calculus and sequencing.

The lack of support at the time meant by the time I'd left formal education I just felt I couldn't really learn anything and lacked any confidence  just just further messed things up (and that's before gender issues come in).

It's taken a lot of work and generally remapping things to get to the point of being able to work with ideas and changed situations.

Oh Miss Manners

As I'm typing this, I'm not feeling great to be honest and perhaps it might be a better thing to rest but I'll get that done in a few minutes as this blog doesn't write itself unfortunately.

I did talk on Monday on the other blog a bit about what bugs me about some folks ideas around how as a girl you *should* look and that so I don't really want to repeat but in essence I'm a modern more free spirited  girl who doesn't see why the question should be "And can I do this as a Girl" or "Is that okay for girls?".

We've all moved on from that gender divided nonsense cos we're just girls, being girls. End of.

I did see last weeks post seemed to generate a lot of reads and yes comments - why doesn't that surprise me? - but that's just a posted routed in reality of a real life experience not a fantasy and I like reality to be routed in just that.

I don't mind writing about such events tastefully but they're not going to be every week  or even every month so I'll  continue to write about other things often around emotions and feelings here I think as I prefer to work "from the heart" and less to expectation.

BFN.

Uniform revision?

Last week was rather different in that the prospect of a day of lessons prior to another event had been raised and to which I had agreed

I have a skirt very much like this although at the moment I was required to get although I was offered a tie  although a n other needed to fasten it form me as the person running things is shall we say "old-fashioned" and doesn't believe in clip on ties plus white school blouse.

That takes me to this, a classic 11 plus look I recall from my own childhood complete with ties as junior and senior school children are expected to wear and fasten their own with only some combined infant/juniors having a common uniform across all ages from rising 5's to 11+ insisting on either white or navy long socks be worn.

Also my knickers were specified - nothing remotely "adult" just old school full knickers to match my navy skirt.

Until a few years ago it wasn't unknown for me to be on the receiving end of the odd bit of discipline in a more everyday context although with covid and that things had dropped off.

At a site I've seen and been talking with people including two I know more around school days and especially discipline and I think something like this girls look may be it and perhaps while I often thought more in terms of thinks like hand spanking, the slipper, ruler and paddle how would I feel about caning coming back and what if I had to hold and present it the person who was to cane me?

I had ever done only experienced the odd very mild physical punishment in actual school during the period where it was being phased out and had never attended any kind of an adult school session in the way some do, booking weekends and being "in role", this school day was something new.

We did some Mathematics (aka Math/maths) covering imperial measurements which is not something being metricated I found easy with all the conversions and different forms, science where we looked at how Lava Lamps work, English comprehension and grammar and observation. which I was better at although truth be told being dyslexic, having less than five word memory retention and put in remedial classes for some subjects I did better on.

Being the poorest in the group in individual tests did mean being bent over the desk for a spanking in front of the class but what was more surprising was apart from the familiar feel of your skirt being raised over my back and folded in, I felt a hand around the waist of my navy knickers and felt them being pulled down in full view of everyone.

I was being bare bottom spanked with brisk firm strokes of the paddle loud sounds of it landing on my skin, gritting ones teeth as I felt each stroke before they decided to pull my knickers up and skirt diwn before returning to my own desk.

It was incredible to experience a punishment that was tailored to add humiliation into the mix so directly particularly as the person concerned hadn't really shown much interest in going beyond over knickers before.

While it remains painful, it was a great experience.