Nice People Thread No. 15, a Cyber Summer

Doozergirl

Lydia, I have similar PT problem. It would be 1hr 40mins using buses, or about 1hr 15 if I drive to the station and she catches train then the bus from the city centre. She's not big enough yet.

What I think I will do is a 15-20 drive to a bus stop where she goes straight to school in another 20 mins. It isn't that far on to school from there but the traffic is dire.

Based on mileage and average speed, I've already calculated that I've spent 24 solid days in my car since last April. Not including traffic jams.

Now DS is almost certainly moving to sixth form college in Worcester. We planned to leave him where he is, but he has been offered a very special rugby opportunity that cannot be turned down.

My kids are going to be schooling 30 miles away from each other!

zagubov

GDB2222 wrote: »

We have to get from London to Bruges for DS's graduation ceremony. Any suggestions for the best way to travel, please? Eurostar to Brussels and then taking a local train is the obvious way to go, but it's surprisingly expensive. Putting the car on the train is a lot cheaper but that leaves me having to drive 200 miles each way, which I don't fancy. Any suggestions gratefully received!

I wonder if Wheezy would have some good tips on this? He checked in here last month sometime didn't he?

We drove through Belgium a while back and found it to be very straightforward. You could combine it with a shopping trip in France on the way back. I gather that there's a town along the route where all the MSE smokers buy all their ciggies, not that I'd want to encourage that foul habit.

silvercar

I have always felt irrationally nervous when my kids are driving.

We also had a rule that they weren't to carry passengers in the first few weeks after passing their test. (I'm thinking distracting mates rather than parents.)

GDB2222 wrote:

We have to get from London to Bruges for DS's graduation ceremony. Any suggestions for the best way to travel, please? Eurostar to Brussels and then taking a local train is the obvious way to go, but it's surprisingly expensive. Putting the car on the train is a lot cheaper but that leaves me having to drive 200 miles each way, which I don't fancy. Any suggestions gratefully received!

https://www.rome2rio.com/s/London/Bruges has many suggestions.

Pyxis

Lydia, re. the wheeled backpack, for yourself, I would strongly recommend one with four wheels, preferably of the spinner type.

This would put virtually no strain on your spine, compared with a pull-along one.

The only problem is that they are much more expensive.






When I was in my early thirties, I didn't have a car, so I bought a Sholley trolley, for when I went to shops within walking distance.

I could get loads of shopping in it, and would hang bags of loo rolls from hooks on the sides! I couldn't possibly have carried it all.

Because it has four wheels, it's as easy to push as a shopping trolley. Easier, actually.

All these years later, I still have it, even though I've had a car for a long time.
It has been useful for other things, from time to time.

michaels

Perhaps Lydia needs one of these to protect her hair?!

zagubov

silvercar wrote: »

I have always felt irrationally nervous when my kids are driving.

We also had a rule that they weren't to carry passengers in the first few weeks after passing their test. (I'm thinking distracting mates rather than parents.)



https://www.rome2rio.com/s/London/Bruges has many suggestions.

In Northern Ireland, newly qualified drivers have to display amber R plates on their car for a year and can't go over 45 mph.Jolly sensible idea/ In some parts of the US you're not allowed to drive with passengers until you've reached a sensible age. Not a bad idea either.

GDB2222

silvercar wrote: »

I have always felt irrationally nervous when my kids are driving.

We also had a rule that they weren't to carry passengers in the first few weeks after passing their test. (I'm thinking distracting mates rather than parents.)



https://www.rome2rio.com/s/London/Bruges has many suggestions.

Thanks so much! I'd never even heard of that site before.

Pyxis

zagubov wrote: »

In Northern Ireland, newly qualified drivers have to display amber R plates on their car for a year and can't go over 45 mph.Jolly sensible idea/ In some parts of the US you're not allowed to drive with passengers until you've reached a sensible age. Not a bad idea either.

Yes, I do wish it were compulsory to carry P-plates here.

A speed restriction would be good, too.


What does the R stand for?

zagubov

Pyxis wrote: »

Yes, I do wish it were compulsory to carry P-plates here.

A speed restriction would be good, too.


What does the R stand for?

New drivers are officially Restricted drivers for their first year.

SingleSue

Had a very interesting and rare conversation with youngest last night regarding his autism.

It's rare as he hates the fact he has autism and tries to deny it all the time plus because of his autism, the issue of feelings has always been a bit of a trigger point for him.

Apparently he still feels very overwhelmed in social situations, the world still confuses and scares him and although his lack of empathy protects him at times, it also worries him as he just doesn't 'feel' things like his friends do and as a consequence if a friend is going through a worrying time, he can sometimes upset them by his no nonsense or non understanding replies.

He also gets annoyed that his brain never switches off, he can't just take an overview of things like his friends do, his brain is constantly observing, taking in information, noting every little thing around him and analysing which can overwhelm him at times...almost like an information/sensory overload. Yet at the same time, he recognises it is this which gives him the ability to learn so well and so quickly.

Socially his life is one big pretence, he has observed how others react or behave and mimics that so that he doesn't appear odd but at the same time, his responses to social interaction (i.e someone telling him something in confidence but without actually telling him it is in confidence) or his one track focus on education over everything else, does mark him out as different and it is frustrating him.

As I said, a very rare discussion with him but at least he has opened up a little bit (even if some of it has concerned me!)