A new 'tougher' thread... and so it continues

gardenia101

Fuddle - I agree with all the others about wanting to hear good news. It is all so doom & gloom that hearing about Mr Fuddle's job has cheered me up. I don't think you were insensitive at all - yes, I'm struugling to find a job but that doesn't mean I want everyone else to struggle too :rotfl:

Love the post about the solstice festival/celebration ICTD. I hate Xmas so much that I was starting to slide into my well of grumpiness that overtakes me in December. But I think I'll pinch your ideas if you don't mind as they could alter how I feel about the whole festive season. Thank you.

Hope all of you are keeping warm & well (hope all OK Taurus) & those in windy places aren't suffering too much - I've friends near Penrith who live on a hill & they are quite scared by the howling noises which are much worse than anything they have heard before.

Kids have been choosing what goodies they want from the Iceland Xmas mag, which is a but of a tradition now. They love all the mini bits & bobs, & they are always happy to go shopping there but hate all the other supermarkets. Wierd.

Feeling virtuous as I've written all my cards ready to psot tomorrow, & I've already posted all the overseas ones. Doesn't always happen before the last posting dates . Pressies also bought, not many this year, & wrapped. Have I been taken over by some MSE virus?

redlady_1

Fudds, fantastic news and just before chrimbo too.

Living where I do the Solstice is a big thing here. For me Christmas is about family as I go home and see them all. I do miss them. Even FK comes too.

Softstuff

Congratulations Mr Fuddle!

Hope you're still hanging on to your sweeties Mardatha.

I don't know what to make of the whole Euro thing. Though we're geographically far removed everything that happens in the world seems to have an impact here.

I'm planning to have a sit down soon and work out some new ideas for 2012, ways to make the food budget go a bit further.

hornetgirl

Yay, well done Mr Fuddle. Not insensitive at all - we're all thrilled for you

Mardatha, stay safe and warm - and anchored.

kidcat

Softstuff wrote: »

What about a Christmas pudding? Brown hat or beret, topped with white sauce and holly....

something like the one on here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sp_sandsteel/page4/

Thanks for the idea softstuff- I didnt have a brown beret, so have set about a pink cowboy hat instead with a glue gun. It is now covered in red tissue paper and some tinsel, and then has a giant homemade cracker bursting open at the top, tomorrow I will add some stuff to be bursting out as it were. I have to say I have owned a glue gun for years and never used it, but it did make the job so much easier, I wondered why I had never bothered before? DD is really pleased with it and to top it off we have managed to write half of her class cards tonight too.

Unfortunately that was the only good news today as DS7 is having major problems with school. There are a group of boys from the mainstream bit picking on a couple from the ASD bit. The teacher seems oblivious and no matter how much we have mentioned it she has done nothing to address it. Today matters reached a head wen we were in school and saw a boy grab him by the neck, DS bit him. Now DS is in trouble with school and had all privileges removed.
I have told DS that biting is in no way acceptable but e just doesnt understand that if the other kids are hurting him why he cant retaliate.

His behaviour since has been appalling as he is really upset and angry that these boys keep hitting him.

Am now exhausted and looking forward to the break next week.

Softstuff

kidcat wrote: »

Unfortunately that was the only good news today as DS7 is having major problems with school. There are a group of boys from the mainstream bit picking on a couple from the ASD bit. The teacher seems oblivious and no matter how much we have mentioned it she has done nothing to address it. Today matters reached a head wen we were in school and saw a boy grab him by the neck, DS bit him. Now DS is in trouble with school and had all privileges removed.
I have told DS that biting is in no way acceptable but e just doesnt understand that if the other kids are hurting him why he cant retaliate.

His behaviour since has been appalling as he is really upset and angry that these boys keep hitting him.

Am now exhausted and looking forward to the break next week.

Kidcat, I have to say if someone had me by the neck, biting him would be pretty darned acceptable. It always occurs to me, that in school when teachers don't stop physical bullying and also tell the kids that retaliation is unacceptable, that what they're essentially doing is telling the bullied child that it's fine for them to be a punchbag. I'm not surprised your son is angry and upset. I hope you can get some more support from the school.

Over 15 years since I was in school, but I still remember each incident of being bullied. Sending hugs to your son.

ginnyknit

I am so sorry kidcat, being bullied is hell, I do hope with your help and support your boy gets through it, he has enough on his plate without this. One good thing is you actually know whats going on instead of him withdrawing into himself and you not knowing why. And well done with the hat - you will have the glue gun on the go all the time now!

The weather is getting a bit lively round here tonight, just reminds me that our far northern friends are having it a damn sight worse than me :eek: I got a Christmas tree given to me for helping Dd's friend of late and me crochetting her a throw - thats my kind of deal.

prepareathome

Oh Kidcat I hope you can get this sorted, we had something similar, not because of any disability but because we were poor and rich kids picking on son. He used to come home with shirt ripped, blazer in tatters etc and when I spoke to school was told they didn't see anyone ever attacking son but he was always seen hitting back and so was the 'criminal' they actually said he tore his clothes himself when no one was looking. Have to admit this went on a few years until son came out of school with swollen face and blood and I found out a three of boys had jumped on him ( again when playground attendant looking the other way - the boys would get others to distract her, and they were only 9) and jumped literally on his face. I took him straight to hospital and they found both is cheek bones were fractured as well as a broken nose. Of course I told the hospital where it had happened as did son. Went to see the headmistress the next morning and as usual before she heard what sons injurys were she was trying to tell me my son has a problem in self harming to get attention. I told her his injuries and she actually asked me if I had told the hospital where they had happened, I said yes and she went white and said I should not have told them, I was livid, she wanted it covered up. I then told her my next port of call was the police, she begged me not to do that and asked what it would take to stop me. I told her removal of the boys from the school but I would still be reporting it to education dept. She didn't like this as those boys parents had paid big money to the school every time their darlings caused problems and school had a new library, blinds, new assembly hall and other things all paid by their parents - put about as kind donations by those said parents and how they were praised. She realised this time she couldn't brow beat me into compromising and I sat in secretary's room while she informed said parents how their darlings were being expelled from the school. She hated me from then on, but I did tell the education debt and with in a year she was gone ( supposed due to ill health) but they could see as so many parents did that all she cared about was money and making the school a seemingly wonderful place at the expense of many of the pupils.

Through the grapevine over the years we heard about the darlings, one is now dead due to drug overdose, one killed himself in a car crash in his fancy brand new car 3 days after his 17th birthday and one is in jail for 20 years - killed his parents in a fit of rage when they said he couldn't have any more money, as the fathers business had gone bust, his sister still bares the scars from the attack.

This was in the 1980's before schools really bothered about bullying. I would have taken son out of the school but he loved it apart from them and didn't want to go.

I am not saying what happened to my son will happen to yours but get it stopped asap, get on to the head, education dept, your mp, call your local paper anything and everything you have to do. I wish I had done so earlier and saved son from those injuries, thankfully no scars physical or mental ( well he has a lot of sinus problems to this day and I do wonder)

Now wonder you are so tired and looking forward to the school break.

Hugs to you and son

Byatt

kidcat, my daughter is ASD, (25 now), and was bullied badly in school. Totally understand how exhausting and distressing it is. She was often hit and kicked but as soon as she retaliated, she was blamed. I think it would be a good idea to have an appointment with the head teacher and bring in the governors if necessary. Schools even now say they don't have bullying; it horrifies me that nothing has changed since my daughter was in school. Definitely tell the head what happened and whilst you don't condone your son biting, he is learning their behaviour. Tell the school you witnessed what happened. In ASD impulse control is difficult at the best of times, but bless his heart, he will be frustrated when he see these boys getting away with it.

xxxxx

bloomerang72

Hugs to all who need them.

Take care all those on the receivig end of the horrendous weather.

By the by for all those with underactive thyroid on thyroxine (and it may be for those with overactive and on medication) you are entitled to a prescription exemption certificate (ie free prescriptions). I got a form from the Gp filled it out and that was that - covers all prescriptions not just the thyroxine!!